Winter protection for hydraulic rods?

[jaybrad]

On another thread there has been discussion about putting grease or oil on hydraulic rods that will be outside over the winter. Which got me wondering about what folks do who store BHs in a garage out of the elements?

My BH is on a dolly in a storage room in my garage. The garage is dry and insulated, but not heated.

Looking for suggestions.

Thanks,
Jay

 

[Scooby074]

Inside you probably have nothing to worry about. That being said you wouldnt hurt anything by wiping the rods with a little grease. Just remember to wipe it off with a little paint thinner in the spring before use

 

[Wayne County Hose]

My BH is on a dolly in a storage room in my garage. The garage is dry and insulated, but not heated.

You probably have one of the worst places to store equipment there is. It would be better off outside in the elements. Here is why. When you have any equipment indoors and not heated, the temp changes will create condensation. You have it in a garage and weathered in which means no air movement. Therefore, the condensation has nowhere to go. Classic car enthusiasts figured this out a long time ago. An old car in an unheated garage rots as fast as anywhere. In your situation, if there is no heat, you need air exchanged with outdoor air to get rid of condensation, insulation or not. Don't believe me? Check your equipment on a sunny, cold afternoon.

 

[sandman2234]

I am not sure why you would need to wipe it off with paint thinner in the spring before using, as a couple rags or shop paper towels would probably do the trick and not risk the paint thinner reacting with the seals of the cylinders. The paint thinner might not hurt the wipers or seals, but why chance it? Leaving a little bit of the grease on probably would hurt less than the paint thinner, as long as it isn't full of dust.
David from jax

 

[Scooby074]

A little paint thinner on the rag to break down the grease after storage helps. Thats always how i was shown to do it when i was an apprentice. Dirt and other crap can get embedded in the grease during storage and possibly damage the seals in use. Thinner (ie mineral spirits) wont hurt the seals and get the job done a little quicker.

YMMV

 

[john_bud]

Inside - do nothing. Just wiggle the controls after the engine is off to remove pressure..

Outside, maybe spray with silicone or slather on grease or do nothing. The chrome is a rust barrier.

jb

 

[jaybrad]

You probably have one of the worst places to store equipment there is. It would be better off outside in the elements. Here is why. When you have any equipment indoors and not heated, the temp changes will create condensation. You have it in a garage and weathered in which means no air movement. Therefore, the condensation has nowhere to go. Classic car enthusiasts figured this out a long time ago. An old car in an unheated garage rots as fast as anywhere. In your situation, if there is no heat, you need air exchanged with outdoor air to get rid of condensation, insulation or not. Don't believe me? Check your equipment on a sunny, cold afternoon.

I should have explained that the garage is attached to the house. My wife's car (and my tractor) are in the garage, which means twice a day, the garage door is fully opened as she goes to/from work. I don't remember it every getting below freezing, but it does become a nice walk-in refrigerator for a couple months. The temperature really doesn't swing all that much, even on a sunny, cold afternoon.

My motorcycles have survived in this setting without rotting away.

It sounds like a lubricant/spray and tarp are a good idea, then a Spring wipe down.

Thanks all,
Jay

 

[irvingj]

Hey, Jay-- I'd second Wayne County's remarks-- Please check carefully for condensation. I have the same proble here, but have largely solved it by ensuring ventilation through the garage, adjusting as necessary. Slop from cars I vaccum up with a wetvac and dump outside.

My ol' 360 had developed a lot of "surface" rust pits on it- had to go over the whole thing with Nevr'Dull this fall. No, it ain't pristine by any stretch, but still, I was surprised to see how much had accumulated last winter & over the summer (don't drive it too much) from humidity in the garage....

 

[dirtworksequip]

I think treating the chrome on he cylinders is just more obssessing over our tractors. If the cylinders are of good quality the should not rust unless they have been chipped or scratched. My old Deere 8b bachoe set outside every day I owned it for 13 years. The cylinders showed absolutely no signs of rust. If you want to treat your cylinders........go ahead if it makes you feel better, but I don't think it's necessary. It sure won't hurt. If your cylinders do rust, I'd change brand on tractors on my next purchase.

Sincerely, dirt

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I second that dirt. Most large equipment never sees the inside of a building and the rods never rust.

 

[jaybrad]

Irvingj - cool bike. My first was a 1972 Honda 350 Scrambler..then another Honda...then a few Harleys...to my current Electra Glide. I did very little riding this summer, but did get a lot of tractor time, so it was a fair trade.

I think treating the chrome on he cylinders is just more obssessing over our tractors.

Y'know, Dirt, I think you're right.

The more I've thought about it, the more I think of things that I have in my garage (old saws, mucho mechanics tools, etc.) that are all just fine.

If I were busier using my tractor, I would have less time to ponder these types of non-issues.

Can I write this one off to short days, long nights, and precious little productive tractor seat time?

Meanwhile, I see this stuff sitting in the corner every day and will just keep an eye on it - and also keep praying for some serious snow!

Jay

 

[irvingj]

Don't forget, Jay, that the early 70's Japanese bikes had pretty lousy chrome... and yes, I'm hoping that the 2310's cylinders are a bit more robust in the chrome department. But, condensation can still become an issue in an enclosed space.

(My first bike --that was really mine-- was a '71 CL350. Still kick myself for selling it. Brought it back from Japan in '72. Bought my Blazer in November that year, after surviving two snowstorms on two wheels... not for the faint of heart; but then, I was young and stoopid )

 

[irvingj]

Located a couple of shots.... OK, so this is a tractor forum. Don't need the tractor today, just hangin' around.... dreaming of riding weather.

These are real... first one is in Japan, probably 4/72; second is, I'm guessing, November of '72. Yep, that's me, with left-over field jacket, on my way to work. What a dummy!! (Yes, it was cold.)

...Entertainment, though admittedly feeble, for a Sunday afternoon.

 

[jaybrad]

Don't forget, Jay, that the early 70's Japanese bikes had pretty lousy chrome... and yes, I'm hoping that the 2310's cylinders are a bit more robust in the chrome department. But, condensation can still become an issue in an enclosed space.

I'm sure you are right on both counts - and while my Harley has lots of chrome, I can't seem to find a single exposed hydraulic rod.

My second bike was a CB450 and I thought that was the bees knees. At the time I was in my early 20s and didn't have much money, and apparently fewer active brain cells, because I drove that year round (in central Maine). I remember driving to my parent's house on Christmas day and having a hard time making it up one hill because of the road conditions. Eventually I got there, but it was an ordeal - much easier going down hill on the return trip.

Fast forward 30+ years and I wonder what in the world I was thinking at the time?

We got about 2" of snow here today, and previously I would have just ignored it and waited for warmer temps to take care of it in a couple days. But not today. The snowblower really does better with more accumulation, but that clearly was not the point.

I used the blower and the bucket - and the grin on my face will linger for hours.

My neighbors who drove by will never understand, but my wife does. How cool is that?

 

[jaybrad]

Located a couple of shots.... OK, so this is a tractor forum. Don't need the tractor today, just hangin' around.... dreaming of riding weather.

These are real... first one is in Japan, probably 4/72; second is, I'm guessing, November of '72. Yep, that's me, with left-over field jacket, on my way to work. What a dummy!! (Yes, it was cold.)

...Entertainment, though admittedly feeble, for a Sunday afternoon.

That's the same model that I had, except mine was kind of a greenish color.

I sure had some fun times on that machine and never had a lick of problems. I only sold it to get my "much bigger" CB450 (brown, with a Corbin-Gentry King & Queen seat).

Suffice it to say, I was stylin'

Tractor content: my tractor is even more stylin'.

Jay