IT is absolutely imperative that you only invest in machinery that you need and know you will use on a daily basis. Leaving machinery unused for most of the year may mean it won’t start up when you do go to use it. A lot of the time machinery may only be used for an hour a day at most, which means it can last many years once properly taken care of.

If you do buy machinery for your yard there are many steps you can take to ensure its longevity and make sure you get a good return on investment.

You should be diligent about getting it serviced every year. Most machinery will have a mileage counter on it and a sticker indicating when it is due to be serviced. As a rule, you should always get your machinery serviced once a year by a reputable mechanic that is familiar with the type of machinery you have.

A service is quite straightforward and will usually just involve greasing all of the pivot points and wear points and changing the oil and filters. It is also important to make sure you keep on top of changing the hydraulics filters. Keep an eye out for anything strange or broken parts that will need to be replaced.

Most machines now have electrics in them, which is another reason to keep them dry and stored away in the shed when they are not in use to avoid water damage.

It is a good idea to keep a maintenance record of all work that has been done to the vehicle. This way it will be easy to remember when it is due a service.

The easiest way you can help keep your machinery in good running order is keeping it dry. Storing machinery in a shed a shed and keeping it covered from the rain when it is not being used will really extend its lifespan.