Free Guides

Fleet & Plant Machinery Guides

Practical, plain-English guides for UK construction, plant hire, logistics, agriculture and manufacturing — maintenance advice, compliance explainers and buying guides.

Farm Machinery

What Does 15W-40 Mean? Tractor Engine Oil Grades Explained (UK)

A plain-English guide to engine oil viscosity grades — what 15W-40, 10W-40 and 5W-30 mean, which grade your tractor needs, and when to use synthetic oil.

Workshop

How to Test a Tractor Battery With a Multimeter

Voltage reference table, step-by-step testing with real photos, an alternator check and the six most common causes of a flat tractor battery.

Workshop

How to Wire a 7 Pin 12N Trailer Plug (UK)

UK 12N pin diagram, wire colour reference table, step-by-step wiring with photos, and the farm-specific faults that cause most trailer light failures.

Farm Machinery

Tractor Hydraulic Oil Grades Explained (UK)

UTTO vs AW 46 vs HVI hydraulic oil explained for UK farmers — what the ISO grades mean, which oil your tractor needs, and a brand-by-brand reference table.

Farm Transport

Ratchet Strap Ratings Explained (UK)

What LC, BF, STF, WLL and daN mean on a ratchet strap label, worked examples for common farm loads, the strap angle rule, and when to bin a strap.

Dairy

Can You Use Hydraulic Oil in a Milking Machine Vacuum Pump?

No — and here's why. Why hydraulic oil is unsuitable for dairy vacuum pumps, what makes vacuum pump oil different, and a brand reference table.

Farm Machinery

What Oil Does My Implement Gearbox Need? (UK)

GL-4 vs GL-5 explained, why engine oil and UTTO ruin gearboxes, and an implement-by-implement reference table.

Workshop

Tractor Linkage Categories Explained — Cat 1, 2, 3 & 4

Pin sizes, lift capacity, which tractors use which category and how to adapt implements with reducing bushes.

Farm Machinery

Tractor Tyre Sizes: Inch to Metric Conversion Guide (UK)

Full conversion table for 21 common tractor tyre sizes, rim width guide, aspect ratio explained, and brand tyre specs.

Workshop

What Size Generator Do I Need? kW, kVA & Surge Watts Explained

Plain English guide to kW vs kVA, running watts vs surge watts, power factor and how to size a generator for farm and workshop use.

Workshop

What Size Booster Pack for a Tractor or Combine? (UK)

Peak amps, CCA, 12v vs 24v and specific model recommendations for farm jump starters.

Track Everything Automatically

These guides are just the start. FleetBolt automatically tracks service history, oil grades, key specs, maintenance schedules, LOLER/MOT reminders and full fleet compliance — all in one secure place.

Get Started Free – No Card Required

Join UK operators already saving time and money with FleetBolt.

    We use cookies

    We use essential cookies to make FleetBolt work. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.