How Long is Sitting Without Running OK?

[gbw]

I have a JD 4320, 2006 model w/300 hrs. Used mainly for mowing and bush cutting, FEL stuff and other general tractor duty around the place. I don't really need it but it's a lot fun and I enjoy it. Enormous power, e-Hydro trans, a wonderful machine.

Anyhow. It's done for the winter, and very likely I won't have much excuse to use it for intervals lasting several weeks or more. Usually I can find a reason, however flimsy, to run it more often, but not always.

I've been reliable about starting it and running it warm at least once a week, and I've no problem continuing this.

My question, and perhaps it will help others as well, to those who know:

Is starting and driving it to full temp once / week enough, too often, or not often enough to keep everything lubricated and cleaned out (journals, etc.)?

Thanks,

gbw

 

[smstonypoint]

I've been reliable about starting it and running it warm at least once a week, and I've no problem continuing this.

My question, and perhaps it will help others as well, to those who know:

Is starting and driving it to full temp once / week enough, too often, or not often enough to keep everything lubricated and cleaned out (journals, etc.)?

IMO, your current practice is fine. What does your owner's manual say? The manual for my NH TN55 lists some procedures that should be followed if the tractor is to be left idle for more than a month.

 

[gbw]

Well, I'm a little chagrinned to admit I didn't think to look this up in the manual, but I will. Thanks!

But in general, I'm still interested in the question of sitting unused for a diesel engined, hydraulic drive tractor.

 

[yankeerider]

I think once per week is more often than necessary. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what the minimum is. My JD755 was bought new back in 1991 or so. It frequently sits for 3 weeks at a time. Last winter, I think it sat easily for 2-3 months in an unheated Shelter Logic shelter. It started up just fine in early March without so much as a battery tender on it. (I did give it 5-10 minutes of fluid circulating before gently starting it moving out of the shelter) I've never had any issues related to it just sitting.

I think the key is to make sure it is thoroughly warmed whenever it is started, to avoid condensation caused by "partial warming."

...Just my opinion, of course.

 

[ccsial]

My 1910 sometimes sits for two months in the winter. Does not seem to mind.

 

[TripleR]

Hate to admit it, but I have let them set for months at a time in our unheated barn or shed. We have tractors over fifty years old still running. I am not recommending this, just saying I have done it.

 

[brin]

Hate to admit it, but I have let them set for months at a time in our unheated barn or shed. We have tractors over fifty years old still running. I am not recommending this, just saying I have done it.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: Same here ..sometimes the tractors sit for 3 months or more in the winter..We are in the South and have no need in the winter..hopeful always for no snow or ice..

 

[knightrider955]

My Oliver 77 sat in the woods for 10 yrs after my wifes Dad died. Her Mom gave it to us. I had to use a chainsaw to cut down small trees to get to it. All I did was flush the gas tank, throw a battery in it and it fired right up. Never did anything to it sice. Still gets used from time to time but sits for several monthes in between with no issues. Ive never even changed the oil in it, oils probably 20 yrs old.

 

[TripleR]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: Same here ..sometimes the tractors sit for 3 months or more in the winter..We are in the South and have no need in the winter..hopeful always for no snow or ice..

I know what you mean, my dad lived in Jackson, MS for many years and got excited if it snowed; ice seemed to be kind of a novelty. He left our 55 Ford 600 out in the open year round. We have it in MO now and under cover, but it's still going strong with no significant problems.

 

[20 20]

I doubt letting it sit for a month or 2 will harm anything. If you are concerned just go out and fire it up once a month or so, just make sure to run it long enough to get everything up to operating temp. I know a guy that believed he needed to start his every day, he was probably doing more harm, then if he just let it sit.

 

[RPW]

IMO it is probably better to let it sit. Pull the battery and put it on a battery tender than to keep starting it for a short time. Here's my reasoning unless you are going to run it at a decent rpm the motor won't come to full temperature and you will get condensation done in the oil. With diesels this will create sulpuric acid (even with ULSD fuel) which will over time damage parts. What I would do is when done for the year change engine oil check and make sure all fluids are full and not contaminated. pull battery (or just disconnect if inside) and place battery on charger (tender). Wait until next spring hook up battery and go. Letting a tractor sit for long periods won't hurt them. If tractor is outside and you want to keep it looking newer cover with good quality tarp.

Good luck.

 

[/pine]

I have a mid '90's b series (gear) Kubota...

This tractor came with a small block of wood to use on the clutch pedal bar to keep the pedal depressed and the clutch disengaged whenever the tractor is to be stored for more than a few weeks...

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have a mid '90's b series (gear) Kubota...

This tractor came with a small block of wood to use on the clutch pedal bar to keep the pedal depressed and the clutch disengaged whenever the tractor is to be stored for more than a few weeks...

Good Point :thumbsup: Mine has a hook on the floorboards to hold the clutch petal down for "Long storage Times" which is not defined.

gg

 

[Ford tractor]

I've been reliable about starting it and running it warm at least once a week, and I've no problem continuing this.

My question, and perhaps it will help others as well, to those who know:

Is starting and driving it to full temp once / week enough, too often, or not often enough to keep everything lubricated and cleaned out (journals, etc.)?

Thanks,

gbw

It depends on your location and the weather. Just starting it and getting it "sort of" warm once a week is a sure fire way to cause a boat load of condensation to form inside the transmission, hydraulics and engine in cold areas. Maybe not so much down south. Rule of thumb for me is to NEVER run the machine for less than an hour. Especially in the winter. The moisture in the fluids needs time at temperature to get out.

Others may differ, but I would strongly advise you to only start the machine when you are going to USE it and then run it HARD for at least an hour to get the fluids to dry out. Otherwise, you will cause troubles not fix them.

FYI - yesterday I took off the cutter and put on a back blade in anticipation of snow. That was the first time the tractor had been started since early October. The battery in that machine is original from either 1999 or 2000 and it starts up fine when I turn the key. Other tractors haven't been started since August.

 

[crazyal]

My dozer often sits for months or longer without any prep what so ever.

 

[Mace Canute]

It depends on your location and the weather. Just starting it and getting it "sort of" warm once a week is a sure fire way to cause a boat load of condensation to form inside the transmission, hydraulics and engine in cold areas. Maybe not so much down south. Rule of thumb for me is to NEVER run the machine for less than an hour. Especially in the winter. The moisture in the fluids needs time at temperature to get out.

Others may differ, but I would strongly advise you to only start the machine when you are going to USE it and then run it HARD for at least an hour to get the fluids to dry out. Otherwise, you will cause troubles not fix them.

FYI - yesterday I took off the cutter and put on a back blade in anticipation of snow. That was the first time the tractor had been started since early October. The battery in that machine is original from either 1999 or 2000 and it starts up fine when I turn the key. Other tractors haven't been started since August.

X 2. Start it and run it only when you need to use it. There have been/are literally hundreds of thousands tractors and combines, harvest equipment, haying equipment, and even large construction equipment that sit for months on end without starting and it doesn't hurt them one bit.

 

[Craig Clayton]

My father who was a mechanic had learned to start up the army trucks every 30 days and move them the lenght of them selves. In keeping the trucks stored in a bumper to bumper fashion only the first and last could be stolen. Second when you exercised the fleet the line only became 1 truck longer and 1 truck shorter.
Craig Clayton

 

[PILOON]

If you do start and run, get her hot!

That way you 'boil out' any water vapors that are in there.
Those condensed vapors are what will cause internal corrosion. (rings and cylinder walls will suffer the most)
Also I understand that in some cases acids can form that could etch metals.

Damp, humid air can always enter via the intake manifolds=corrosive conditions.

Some clutch tractors (Mitsubishi) can end up with the clutch face corroded to the flywheel. The advise here has been to install a wood block to keep peddle depressed.
Some actually have a hook to hold the peddle depressed.

Now, let's not get carried away. Couple of weeks, even a month will probably not cause any harm but longer, well, if for nothing else run her to charge up the battery.

Start her and go have a coffee or a cool aide!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Ive never even changed the oil in it, oils probably 20 yrs old.

I guess that's why it "runs when it wants to". :confused2:

 

[D7E]

I've never had many problems with machines sitting, The combines sit in a shed idle from november to july every year and most of the tractors sit for 4 months too , And the swather only works 2 months of the year ..never any trouble.
One that interests me is my neighbour has a MF 3690 fwa which has been sitting for 8 years without moving since he sold his farm , I would like to see how that behaves when it next moves ?