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Originally Posted by diane
Thanks.......I remember a couple years ago the adult education department of our local junior college offers a small engine repair class. I think it might be a start now that you mention it. Tractors, chainsaws, log splitter etc. are mysteries to me. I have done a lot ON them, but hubby always changed the impliments and kept them running.
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Diane don't know where you are located, but it is probably a good time to do some simple preventative measures on any tractors and trucks or cars you have before winter.
You could start by:
Locate an antifreeze tester. It will look like a small plastic tube about 3-4 inches long with little colored plastic bb's in the tube, and a rubber hand squeeze ball or bladder on one end. You insert the tube end down into radiator, squeeze ball & release to draw green antifreeze solution into tube. Then read tester to tell you if solution is good to -20F. Needs to be -30F if you live in northern states or Canada. Do this on ALL trucks, cars, tractors.
If tester indicates antifreeze is not proper for this level of protection, you drain a small amount off, and add mixed 50/50 green antifreeze and retest untill desired protection level is reached. If you drain all antifreeze out, refill with 50 % water and 50% pure green antifreeze.
Then locate engine oil dipstick, check to see engine oil levels are full on all tractors& truck, car. Use owner's manuals to find dipstick if needed.
Then look up "HYdraulic Oil filling" in owner's manual on tractors. Locate dipstick or checking location, check hydraulic oil level. Inspect to see if oil is clean and brown in color. If it is green, frothy, or pea soup colored, you will need to drain hydraulic oil and put in new hydraulic oil and hydraulic oil filter before winter. The tractor owner's manual will have a section on how to do this. DO NOT put engine oil in tractor hydraulic oil system. This requires what is called " Hyd/Transmission Universal Fluid" or oil.
Familiarize yourself with what oils and chemicals your husband had on shelf by looking thru them and reading labels.
A good place to start is to find owner's manual's, start reading Maintanence sections, learn as you go.
Another thing you should do is locate "Tire Pressure gauge" and check air inflation pressures on all truck/tractor cars on place. See owner's manuals for proper inflation pressures. Look around shop to see if there is an Air Compressor. It will probably have a red tank, with a small electric motor, pump, and red hose coming from it. This will be used to blow up tires to acheive proper air pressures.
Sorry if explaining things you allready know.
This is just a start, but you have to start somewhere!
One way to learn about tools is to order a catalog fro Northern Hydraulics and look at pictures and names of the different tools to familiarize yourself with what they are called and what they are used for. then walk thru shop, match pictures to what you have!
Best Wishes....
I want to stay here and keep homesteading as long as I am able, but I need to know how to service these tractors etc. I do have manuals for most everything, but I don't even know how to put a socket wrench together. 
