Farm Mechanics

Farm Mechanics BSA Supply No. 33346

From the mattock and hoe to the horse and mule, the cotton gin and reaper, the tractor and air seeder—this is the story of farm equipment. Today, most farms are mechanized and farmers can do most of their own maintenance work and make the adjustments needed on their many intricate farm implements.

Requirements

1. List 10 common tools found in a well-equipped farm shop and explain how to safely use each one.
2. Do the following:
   1. List 10 safety devices in a well-equipped farm shop and explain the function of each.
   2. Demonstrate proper safety apparel and equipment to be worn and used when operating a grinder, wire-brush wheel, welder, or drill.
   3. Draw a plan showing a well-equipped farm shop. Point out mandatory safety devices and features in the shop.
3. Explain how power is produced or transferred in a:
   1. Diesel engine
   2. Hydraulic system
   3. Transmission or any other power system
4. Do TWO of the following:
   1. Replace the handle of any tool found on the farm.
   2. Build a tool rack with storage for nails, bolts, nuts, and washers.
   3. Properly grind the mushroom head off of a chisel or punch.
   4. Correctly grind or file a screwdriver tip.
5. Do ONE of the following:
   1. Make the necessary adjustments to ready a piece of farm equipment or machinery for field operation.
   2. Choose a piece of farm machinery or equipment. Check all nuts, bolts, and screws. Tighten any that are loose. Replace those that are missing, worn, or damaged.
   3. Repair broken or worn farm machinery or equipment.
6. Make a list of safety precautions, adjustments, or repairs you make for requirement 5.
7. Do ONE of the following:
   1. On an engine-powered machine: grease all fittings, change oil and oil filter, clean air cleaner, flush cooling system, clean radiator fins, and replace diesel fuel filters.
   2. With any farm machine, do a daily service check for field use. (Do things needed for best field performance.)
   3. Prepare any farm machine for winter storage.
8. Visit an implement dealer. Interview the dealer technician or service manager for hints on good preventive maintenance. Ask why it is important. What are the costs? What happens that causes wear or damage? Report what you discovered.
9. Explain each step in ONE of the following maintenance �procedures:
   1. Tightening hydraulic fittings
   2. Servicing spark plugs
   3. Lubricating a clutch-release bearing
   4. Cleaning a work piece with a wire-brush wheel

Resources

Scouting Literature

Auto Mechanics, Electricity, Environmental Science, First Aid, Plant Science, and Soil and Water Conservation merit badge pamphlets

Books

• Armentrout, David, and Patricia Armentrout. Farm Machinery. Rourke Book Company, 1995.
• Bearings and Seals. 5th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1992.
• Bellinger, Page. Farm and Ranch Safety Management. 4th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1994.
• Belts and Chains. 5th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1994.
• Bowan, Keith. Agriculture. Silver Burdett, 1987.
• Brown, Arlen D., and R. Mack Strickland. Tractor and Small-Engine Maintenance. 5th edition. Interstate, 1983.
• Bushey, Jerry. Farming the Land: Modern Farms and Their Machines. Carolrhoda Photo Books, 1987.
• Fasteners. 4th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1992.
• Fiberglass. 4th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1993.
• Fuels, Lubricants and Coolants. 7th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1992.
• Halberstadt, Hans. Combines and Harvesters. Motorbooks International, 1994.
• Hathaway, Louis. Preventive Maintenance. 5th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1992.
• Hoses, Tubing and Connectors. 1st edition. John Deere Publishing, 1993.
• Jones, Fred R., and W. H. Aldred. Farm Power and Tractors. 5th edition. McGraw-Hill, 1980.
• Kushner, Jill Menkes. The Farming Industry. Watts, 1984.
• Liljedahl, John B. Tractors and Their Power Units. 4th edition. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1996.
• Llewellyn, Claire. Tractors and Other Farm Machines. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
• Marston, Hope Irwin. Machines on the Farm. Dodd, Mead, 1982.
• Olney, Ross R. Farm Giants. Atheneum, 1982.
• Phipps, Lloyd J. Mechanics in Agriculture. 4th edition. Interstate, 1992.
• Plastics Repair. 1st edition. John Deere Publishing, 1994.
• Shippen, J. M., and J. C. Turner. Basic Farm Machinery. 3rd edition. Pergamon, 1984.
• Shop Tools. 5th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1992.
• Smith, Harris P., and Lambert H. Wilkes. Farm Machinery and Equipment. 6th edition. McGraw-Hill, 1976.
• Stephen, R. J. Farm Machinery. Watts, 1986.
• Welding. 7th edition. John Deere Publishing, 1991.

Video

• Farm Machines at Work. One Video Inc., 1984.