Winter Equipment Storage: Protecting Your Investment During Off-Season
Winter downtime should not turn into spring repairs. For farms and small acreages in San Juan County, off-season care protects engines, hydraulics, batteries, and paint so equipment is ready when irrigation, mowing, and field work pick up again.
If you want a professional once-over, our Service Department in Farmington provides New Holland tractor service across the Four Corners, with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket parts on hand.
Pre-Storage Checklist for Tractors and Implements
Start with a thorough cleaning. Rinse dust and alkali residue, let surfaces dry, and lubricate pivot points, linkages, and exposed shafts. Change engine oil and filters on schedule, top off coolant to spec, and inspect belts and hoses for cracking. Log engine hours and what you serviced — those notes save time at spring start-up.
Fuel System Care (Gas and Diesel)
- Gasoline units: Add a fuel stabilizer and run the engine long enough to circulate treated fuel through the system.
- Diesel units: Fill the tank to reduce condensation, drain water separators, and keep anti-gel on hand in case temperatures swing. Label each machine with the date you treated the fuel.
When in doubt about treatment type or amounts, ask our Service Department; technicians can match products to your model and usage.
Battery Maintenance That Prevents Spring No-Starts
Pull the batteries if the equipment will be stored for more than a few weeks. Store them in a temperate place, clean the posts, apply terminal protectant, and keep them on a maintainer. For multiple machines, rotate chargers on a schedule and keep a simple voltage/Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) log. If a battery shows repeated low readings, replace it before spring field work to avoid lost time.
For testing or replacements, the shop can handle diagnostics during a winterization inspection.
Hydraulics, PTO, and Transmission: Preserve Seals and Fluids
Cycle hydraulic functions to move any trapped moisture out to the reservoir, then park with cylinders retracted when possible. Cap quick-couplers, inspect hoses and fittings, and address seepage or leaks before storage — rubber doesn’t heal over winter. Verify hydraulic and transmission fluid levels and note service intervals you will hit by hours, not just months.
If you plan heavier spring loader work or new implements, consider a service consult to confirm flow and PTO requirements on your specific model. We support New Holland lines ranging from compact Workmaster™ and Boomer™ 35–55 HP to PowerStar™ utility tractors.
Tires, Axles, and Weight Offloading
Inflate to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI and check for sidewall cracking. If a machine will not move for months, blocking to take some weight off the tires helps reduce flat-spotting. Grease wheel bearings on towables, chock safely, and store with parking brakes released to avoid sticking.
Rust Prevention and Exterior Protection
Touch up bare metal with paint to seal out moisture and prevent corrosion. Lubricate chains and exposed shafts. Treat electrical connectors with dielectric protection, and store guards and shields with the implement so they are not misplaced. You can pick up touch-up coatings, grease, and covers through our Parts Department.
Storage Options: Barn, Shed, or Covered Space
Your best storage choice is an enclosed, ventilated space with power for maintainers and rodent deterrents. A covered shed with a ground moisture barrier is a strong second. If you must park outside, use breathable covers, elevate attachments, protect exhaust and intakes, and avoid low spots where water pools. San Juan County winters can swing from dry cold to freeze-thaw cycles, so airflow and drainage are as valuable as coverage.
Compact Tractors on Small Acreage
Compact tractors earn their keep on 1–20 acres, but deck and loader care often gets skipped in winter. Clean mower decks thoroughly, neutralize fertilizer or alkali residue, grease loader pins, and store augers and rotary cutters level and covered. If your work spans pasture, irrigation ditching, and snow pushes, Workmaster™ Compact and Boomer™ 35–55 HP models have the hydraulics and PTO options to match common small-farm implements.
Construction Equipment Winter Care
Skid steers, compact track loaders, and mini excavators need the same attention: drain or protect cooling systems, retract cylinders when stored, grease pins, and stage attachments under cover. If you run New Holland 300-series CTLs or current mini-excavators, check bushings and track tension before storage and again before spring.
One Week Before Spring Start-Up
Reinstall and charge batteries, confirm belt condition and fluid levels, and prime fuel systems. Do a slow walk-around: ROPS and shields in place, lighting functional, tire pressures set. Test hydraulics and PTO without a load first, then with a light load. If anything looks questionable — such as leaks, weak lift, or hard starts — book service before field demand ramps up. Our Customer Support team can help you set priorities.
When to Call the Pros
Call the shop if you see hydraulic leaks, injector or fuel delivery issues, electrical faults, transmission noises, or if you are overdue on major interval services. We’ve provided New Holland tractor service in San Juan County for decades from our Farmington location at 1380 San Juan Blvd., with a full Service Department and Parts Department to keep equipment working through the season.
Keep Your Equipment Ready for Spring
Winter storage is prevention. Clean, protect, document, and stage equipment now, and spring start-up will be quicker and less expensive. If you want a second set of eyes, schedule a winterization inspection with our Service Department, and pick up filters, stabilizers, grease, and covers from our Parts Department. That way, your compact and utility tractors, as well as your loaders and implements, are ready when the work returns.