When you’re racing the forecast, the implement gets the blame—but the tractor is what keeps the whole operation moving: PTO power, hydraulics for lift/fold, cooling under load, and electrics feeding monitors and lights. The smartest pre-harvest “stock list” isn’t just twine and pickup teeth—it’s the tractor parts that fail at the worst possible time.
Below is a task-based, job-by-job checklist for mowing, tedding, and baling, focused specifically on what to stock for your Massey Ferguson tractor: filters, belts, guards, hoses, and practical spares that keep you rolling.
The “any job” tractor spares kit (start here)
These are the items that cover nearly every hay task because they protect the same high-stress tractor systems: engine, cooling, hydraulics, PTO, electrics.
Filters and fluids (downtime prevention)
- Engine oil filter + correct engine oil
- Fuel filter(s) (especially important during dusty, long-day work)
- Air filter (primary and safety, if used on your model)
- Hydraulic filter(s) (and the correct spec hydraulic/transmission oil for top-ups)
- Coolant + distilled water (as your manual specifies)
Hydraulic filtration matters because it protects valves, pumps, and spool blocks from contamination—AGCO specifically highlights hydraulic filters as critical to system longevity.
Belts, hoses, clamps (small parts, big saves)
- Fan/alternator belt (or full belt set) for your MF model
- Top radiator hose + bottom radiator hose
- A universal coolant hose, plus hose clamps in a few sizes
- A short “sacrificial” hydraulic hose you can use for an emergency reroute (plus caps/plugs)
Guards, caps, and “keep-it-safe” items
- PTO master shield condition (tractor side) and any missing fasteners
- Hydraulic dust caps/plugs for SCV couplers
- Spare lynch pins, hitch pins, R-clips, roll pins
- Spare PTO shear bolts (correct grade/spec for your setup)
PTO guarding is not optional—HSE guidance stresses that PTOs and PTO drive shafts are extremely dangerous and must be correctly guarded and maintained. Find out more on these rules and regulations here.
Electrical “harvest window” spares
- Assorted fuses + common relays
- Work light bulb/LED module (whatever your tractor uses)
- Battery terminal hardware (and a quick test of charging before season)
Job 1: Mowing – tractor-focused parts prep
Mowing puts steady load on the engine and cooling system, plus frequent PTO use and hydraulic lift. Your tractor spares should support cool running, stable PTO, and quick hydraulic fixes.
What to stock for mowing days
Filters & airflow
- Engine air filter (dust + chaff build fast when mowing)
- Cab filter (if you’re doing long days—visibility and comfort matter)
Cooling and belts
- Fan/alternator belt set
- Coolant hoses + clamps
- Radiator cap (cheap and often overlooked)
Hydraulic readiness
- SCV coupler dust caps/plugs
- Coupler O-rings/seals (if your couplers are known to seep)
- Hydraulic oil top-up
Hydraulic quick couplers live in dirt and are a common contamination entry point—manufacturers recommend cleaning and maintaining couplers to extend life and protect the circuit. Learn more about cleaning and maintenance in this helpful guide.
PTO and driveline safety
- PTO shield hardware (clips/fasteners)
- Grease + spare grease coupler
- Spare PTO shear bolts (if your mower driveline uses them)
Job 2: Tedding – tractor-focused parts prep
Tedding is lighter draft than baling, but it’s high vibration, lots of fold/unfold cycles, headland turns, and plenty of hydraulic coupling/uncoupling.
What to stock for tedding days
Hydraulics and couplers
- Extra dust caps/plugs (keep couplers sealed whenever disconnected)
- A spare quick-coupler (male or female) if your farm standard uses one type a lot
- A few hydraulic fittings (straight + elbow in common sizes you use)
- A short spare hose + clamps/ties for a “get-home” repair
Clean couplers aren’t just “nice”—keeping them clean and capped helps prevent contaminants from damaging hydraulic circuits. Read thought this helpful article for more information.
PTO protection
- PTO guards/shields check + spare fasteners
- Grease supplies (U-joints and sliding sections per driveline recommendations)
Safety bodies and driveline manufacturers repeatedly emphasize intact guarding and proper storage/handling of PTO drivelines. More information on PTO safety can be found here.
Electrical basics
- Lighting spares (tedding often stretches into late evenings to catch dry windows)
Job 3: Baling – tractor-focused parts prep
Baling is where tractor issues become expensive: sustained PTO load, heat buildup, constant hydraulic cycling (tailgate, tension, pickup lift), plus electronics for monitors.
Massey Ferguson promotes pre-season tractor checks (e.g., dealer “SMART Check”) to ensure optimum performance heading into the season—baling is exactly the time you want that confidence. Discover more about pre-season checks direct from Massey Ferguson.
What to stock for baling days
Hydraulics (priority #1)
- Hydraulic filters + correct oil
- Coupler caps/plugs + a spare coupler
- Spare hydraulic hose(s) that match your most-used SCV runs (tailgate circuits are common offenders)
- Assorted O-rings and sealing washers
Engine cooling and belts
- Full belt set (or at least the alternator/fan belt)
- Coolant hoses + clamps
- Coolant top-up
- Compressed air line or soft brush kit for radiator/air intake cleaning (not a “part,” but it prevents overheating)
PTO guards and driveline spares
- PTO master shield in good condition
- Spare shear bolts
- Grease and lube supplies
Again: PTO guarding and maintenance is a serious safety requirement, not just a best practice. Have a read through safety requirements here.
Electrical and cab
- Fuses/relays
- 12V accessory/ISOBUS lead (if you run monitors and cables take abuse)
- Work lights (baling pushes into late hours)
Where “knives” fit when you’re tractor-focused
Even though knives are usually implement-related, there are two tractor-adjacent reasons to stock them:
- A heavy-duty utility knife / hose cutter for emergency hose wrap removal, packaging, net/twine cleanup, and field repairs.
- Spare cutting tools for safe cleanup around PTO guarding and hitch areas (reduces the temptation to “make do” unsafely).
(And if you’re buying Genuine AGCO parts for the wider harvest period, MF explicitly groups common harvest wear items like knives, belts, and similar essentials as uptime parts.
A practical stocking rule (so you don’t overbuy)
- Filters: one full service set for the tractor + one extra of the “dusty season” filters (air and fuel).
- Belts/hoses: at least one belt set + the most failure-prone coolant hose(s) for your model.
- Hydraulics: caps/plugs in bulk, one spare coupler, and at least one spare hose you can adapt.
- Safety: PTO shields/guards intact and repaired before the first field.
Always confirm part numbers and service intervals against your tractor’s operator manual—model differences matter.
To wrap it up, the best pre-harvest “parts plan” for baling, mowing, and tedding starts with the tractor systems that power everything: clean filtration, reliable cooling, tight belts, leak-free hydraulics, and properly guarded PTO driveline components. Stocking a small, task-based kit—filters, belts, hoses/clamps, coupler caps/plugs, key fasteners, and basic electrical spares—turns most field failures into quick fixes, protects expensive components from knock-on damage, and helps you make the most of every weather window.
Would like to speak to a member of our team about parts for harvest preparation? Feel free to Contact Us.
You can also buy Massey Ferguson parts directly from our Online Shop.
