How should rice transplanters be maintained during the spring plowing and preparation season?

During the spring plowing and preparation season, rice transplanters should be repaired and maintained. If the use and maintenance of the rice transplanter are inadequate and scientific upkeep of the machine is neglected, the moving parts of the rice transplanter will rust and seize up during operation, which will affect the normal use of the rice transplanter and greatly shorten its service life.

1. Inspection and maintenance before spring plowing and preparation

1 Replace the engine oil. For a rice transplanter that has been used for one season or 50 hours, the engine oil should be replaced. Four-stroke gasoline engine oil can be purchased at a motorcycle parts store. When replacing it, simply unscrew the engine oil drain plug and drain all the original oil. Then unscrew the dipstick, add 500 ml of engine oil through the dipstick hole, and screw the dipstick back in.

2 Clean the carburetor. Buy cleaner at a motorcycle parts store and use it for cleaning. At the same time, remove and clean the sediment bowl. Add fuel and start the engine to test-run the machine.

3 Check whether the seedling needles and transplanting forks are deformed or pinched together. If they are deformed, they can be straightened with a flat-head screwdriver. Pry open the transplanting fork opening, straighten the seedling needles so they are parallel, and keep the clearance between the transplanting fork opening and the seedling needles at about 1 mm.

4 Check and adjust the main clutch. Check the clearance and sensitivity of the handle cable, transplanting handle cable, lifting handle cable, and steering clutch cable. If they are not sensitive or the clearance is too large, adjust the adjusting nuts. At the same time, drip a few drops of engine oil into these cable holes to increase flexibility.

2. Maintenance after each work shift

1 A work shift refers to the inspection and maintenance done after finishing work each day. The main task is to move the machine onto the bank. First wash off soil and other debris from the rice transplanter with water, then drive it back to the shed.

2 As described above, check and correct the shape and clearance of the seedling needles and transplanting forks and apply grease. At the same time, apply grease to the upper and lower rails and to all moving parts.

3 Check the engine oil level, the fuel tank level, and the hydraulic oil level, and add more if they are insufficient.

4 Into the rubber plug holes of the transplanting section bracket and the transplanting arm, add an appropriate amount of mixed oil made of grease and engine oil in a 1:1 ratio.

3. Inspection and maintenance before storing the rice transplanter

When rice planting is completed each season or each year, the rice transplanter should be cleaned, maintained, and stored for future use. The main steps are:

1 Carry out cleaning and maintenance according to the work shift maintenance requirements, and drive the rice transplanter into the machine shed.

2 Start the engine, close the fuel tank switch, and let it stop on its own. While the engine is running, move the seedling box to the middle position. Drain all fuel from the fuel tank. Pull the starter rope to place the engine piston at top dead center, open the hood, unscrew the spark plug, drip a few drops of engine oil into the cylinder, and then screw the spark plug back in.

3 Apply grease to all moving parts, screws, and metal parts to prevent rust. Keep all operating handles in the disengaged and lowered positions. Drip a few drops of engine oil onto the cables.

4 Move the rice transplanter to a dry corner of the machine shed and cover it tightly with a tarpaulin to prevent dust.

Recommended reading:

How to operate a rice transplanter more safely: these points you must master

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