CajunRider
Platinum Member
Rita surely will flood out my tractor. I probably won't be able to get to my tractor for 10 days. What should I do afterward to get my tractor back working again?
After the hurricane
- Thread starter CajunRider
- Start date
- Views: 958
Glenn9643
Veteran Member
I've been thinking about you for several days now CjR, as this storm has been developing. I hope you've got everything battened down and have found a piece of high ground.
I'll have to leave it to someone else to give you advise on your tractor, but I would think replace all filters, drain all oil and fuel, and try to crank as soon as possible. Do you expect it to be under for that long, or just that long before you can get to it? I would think that it would be best to try and clean it up as early as possible to prevent the rustworms from getting started. Good luck and God bless.
I'll have to leave it to someone else to give you advise on your tractor, but I would think replace all filters, drain all oil and fuel, and try to crank as soon as possible. Do you expect it to be under for that long, or just that long before you can get to it? I would think that it would be best to try and clean it up as early as possible to prevent the rustworms from getting started. Good luck and God bless.
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
any idea on how sumerged your tractor and property will be? our prayers and good wishes for all you folks down there.
Charolais
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2004
- Messages
- 594
- Location
- south/central Va.
- Tractor
- Deutz Fahr Agrofarm 100, Stoll loader, bucket, forks & root grapple
CjR, I'm sure sorry you're getting hit by this hurricane. I feel for you. I've never been in a flood and don't know how I'd react to that. Hang in there, you'll get through it.
I had an irrigation pump and motor down in a pond once that got covered by water. It had been very dry and we kept moving the unit closer to the water as we pumped the pond down. On night from nowhere came a big thunder storm and it rained for hours. Next morning all I could see was the tip of the exhaust pipe sticking out of the water. I waded out and disconnected the suction pipe and field pipe. Then used a long chain (had to go under water) to hook on the tongue to pull it out.
Got it to the shop and when I pulled the dip stick water shot up out of the tube. Before I drained any of the water out I had several 5 gal. cans of diesel fuel there to pour in. Don't drain the water until you're ready to refill with some type of oil. I drained the fuel tank first and filled with fresh fuel. Then I did the engine. I filled the engine till it ran out the dip stick holes with diesel fuel. Then I turned the engine slowly by hand for a while.(make sure it doesn't fire up when turning by hand) Drained the diesel fuel out and filled with regular engine oil. Then I cranked it up. Ran it till it was up to operating temp.. and drained it again. Refilled it the second time and it was ready to use.
You can do the transmission the same way. Again don't drain it and leave it empty for any length of time. Be ready to put some type of oil in as soon as it's drained. Don't worry about over filling. You'll only turn it over and don't let the engine fire up. Sea Foam makes a product that may help remove the water too. If you can find it use it on one of the oil fills you do.
The rest of the tractor you'll have to fix as you get to it. If your starter and battery are still good you can use that to turn the engine over for a few seconds at a time. Just don't over do the starter and burn it up. And again when flushing don't let the engine start. Make sure you have flushed all the water you can before starting. And make sure those internal parts don't set there with no type of oil on them for very long after draining. You don't want the rust to start.
If you think water may be on top of the pistons you may have to pull the injectors or glow plugs out too. If it is you won't turn it over by hand anyway.
You should be able to clean it out and get it back running. Good luck to you and keep us informed.
I had an irrigation pump and motor down in a pond once that got covered by water. It had been very dry and we kept moving the unit closer to the water as we pumped the pond down. On night from nowhere came a big thunder storm and it rained for hours. Next morning all I could see was the tip of the exhaust pipe sticking out of the water. I waded out and disconnected the suction pipe and field pipe. Then used a long chain (had to go under water) to hook on the tongue to pull it out.
Got it to the shop and when I pulled the dip stick water shot up out of the tube. Before I drained any of the water out I had several 5 gal. cans of diesel fuel there to pour in. Don't drain the water until you're ready to refill with some type of oil. I drained the fuel tank first and filled with fresh fuel. Then I did the engine. I filled the engine till it ran out the dip stick holes with diesel fuel. Then I turned the engine slowly by hand for a while.(make sure it doesn't fire up when turning by hand) Drained the diesel fuel out and filled with regular engine oil. Then I cranked it up. Ran it till it was up to operating temp.. and drained it again. Refilled it the second time and it was ready to use.
You can do the transmission the same way. Again don't drain it and leave it empty for any length of time. Be ready to put some type of oil in as soon as it's drained. Don't worry about over filling. You'll only turn it over and don't let the engine fire up. Sea Foam makes a product that may help remove the water too. If you can find it use it on one of the oil fills you do.
The rest of the tractor you'll have to fix as you get to it. If your starter and battery are still good you can use that to turn the engine over for a few seconds at a time. Just don't over do the starter and burn it up. And again when flushing don't let the engine start. Make sure you have flushed all the water you can before starting. And make sure those internal parts don't set there with no type of oil on them for very long after draining. You don't want the rust to start.
If you think water may be on top of the pistons you may have to pull the injectors or glow plugs out too. If it is you won't turn it over by hand anyway.
You should be able to clean it out and get it back running. Good luck to you and keep us informed.
BigDogues
Gold Member
Make sure you have a lot of WD40 (the WD stands for water displacement) to squirt everything down with. I would use a shop vac to suck out the cylinders the best I could from both the intake exhaust before I tried to turn the motor over. Water does not compress very well and could do some damage if you try.
My thoughts are with you,
Phil
My thoughts are with you,
Phil
texbaylea
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2004
- Messages
- 1,923
- Location
- Brazos County Texas 77808
- Tractor
- Kubota L3130HST w/LA723 loader
After being flooded in 1979 I sprayed down all the appliances with WD40 and avoided having to replace them for several years. Most were usable for their usuall life span. I would recommend using WD40 heavily to wash the water out of the electrical accessories.
Vernon
Vernon
OP
CajunRider
Platinum Member
Just a little update. As expected, the tractor was under 7ft of water. Afterward, I had mud every where, in the engine, intake and exhaust manifolds, in the hydraulic tank etc. I hosed the tractor down, drained the oil and salt water inside and filled it with the cheapest oil I can find. Then I spray it liberally with WD40. Since I am so busy doing hurricane clean up for 3 houses, the tractor goes to the dealer. I've yet to receive a quote on how much it cost.
BTW, I miss my tractor horribly. Those tree logs are so hard to haul to the curb manually. I've got 4 huge pine trees to cut down and haul to the curb for FEMA to take them away.
BTW, I miss my tractor horribly. Those tree logs are so hard to haul to the curb manually. I've got 4 huge pine trees to cut down and haul to the curb for FEMA to take them away.
BigDogues
Gold Member
Was wondering how you made out. Glad to see you made it through safely. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
OP
CajunRider
Platinum Member
We got far away from Rita's skirt and are safe and sound. My two houses had a lot of damage. My inlaws house is untouched, not even a damaged shingles, just have a lot of trees and debris to clean out.
