Christina Thomas
Without doubt the Mississippi River floods that occurred this April and May are among the largest and most damaging along the U.S. waterway in the past century. The flooding has spanned a large region encompassing Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Farms alone could take a $2 billion hit from the flooding, considering much of the land near the river is agricultural.
It is going to take some time for the floodwater to recede, but once that happens producers will not only need to get their fields and buildings back in shape, but it will be essential for farmers to recondition farm equipment.
Gary T. Roberson, Agricultural Machinery Extension Specialist at N.C. State University, couldn’t agree more. “Farm machinery and equipment that has been submerged in floodwater needs special attention before it is put back into service,” advises Roberson. In fact, failure to take proper precautions can lead to extensive damage to the equipment and to possible injury or illness to persons working with or around the equipment.
Therefore, Roberson provides these guidelines to help farmers determine the proper actions and minimize equipment damage and personal injury.
Assess the Situation
- Take prompt action. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of serious equipment damage.
- Never attempt to retrieve equipment from floodwaters if you cannot do so safely.
- Determine how far the equipment was submerged under water. For example, on engine-powered equipment, water depth around the engine area is a critical concern. Likewise, take note of any power trains, axles, or other elements that were submerged.
- If possible, document the situation with photographs or take notes for later evaluation.
Retrieve the Equipment
- Move the equipment to a safe location for further cleanup and reconditioning.
- Do not attempt to retrieve equipment from floodwaters if you can not do so safely.
- Do not start the engine on any machine if the floodwater may have reached the engine level.
- Do not attempt to drive a machine if the power train was submerged.
- Avoid towing equipment for great distances. Transfer equipment on a trailer, if possible.
- Implements may be hitched to a tractor for transport to the reconditioning area.
Exterior Cleaning
- Thoroughly wash or clean the exterior of the equipment. It is important to remove as much dirt and debris from the equipment as possible. Dirt clinging to equipment holds moisture and promotes corrosion.
- If the floodwater was contaminated with waste material, you may want to use a disinfectant to help clean the equipment. Bacteria or other pathogens will not harm equipment but workers may be exposed to harmful bacteria while performing repairs.
Interior Inspection
- You need to look closely inside a piece of equipment for evidence of floodwater contamination or damage. This may require removing some machine components in order to inspect the interior. You may have to remove shields or panels from the sides of machines in order to expose the components behind them.
- For engines or transmissions, drain and inspect the fluid or lubricant or look in the fluid and lubricant reservoirs for evidence of water entry.
- Also check the air intake, engine exhaust, and engine filters.
- Do not start any engine if you believe water may have gotten inside.
- Do not run any PTO-powered implements if you believe water has gotten inside the power train.
- Carefully document all damage or potential damage for later evaluation.
These guidelines are intended to help minimize equipment damage and personal injury. There are no guarantees that the procedures described here will address all potential problems.
If you have any doubts about the reliability or safety of a piece of flood-damaged equipment, get trained professional assistance from your equipment dealer.
For more specific guidelines on reconditioning flood damaged farm tractors read the article Reconditioning Flood Damaged Tractors.
As with the above mentioned guidelines, the article written by Gary T. Roberson also highlights many other trouble shooting ideas that might come in handy while reconditioning your flood-damaged farm tractor.