Do you serve your equipment ?

[RobS]

I keep my equipment clean enough to function and to see problems developing. Every now and then I'll give it a better than average bath but right now I simply don't have the time to spit shine everytime.

There is something to be said for cleaning as inspection. At work, we call it inspecting with a rag in your hand. It certainly is easier to see a leak on a clean machine versus a dirty, grimy one. Along those same lines, it's easier to keep it all clean if you fix the leaks as they develop, or better yet prevent them.

I sure do wish I had your neighbors time though. My wife would be most impressed with what I could accomplish in that time... and it wouldn't be waxing my tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[mathteacher]

Mine is new and I have hit it with a hose to get the real bad dirt off. But usually when I am getting off of the tractor I have another project to do. Or it is dark. By no means do I neglect it. But it is a "tool" that will be used as such.

Donald B.

 

[755inNY]

The tractor serves me but your neighbor is the kind of guy that I want to buy used equipment from /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jeff

 

[RayBee]

755inNY .....I'll second that notion!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Wash it? You're supposed to wash it? With like soap and water and stuff? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Steve

 

[Chechnya]

I use a pressure washer and wash between the moving parts to get rid of old grease. I think its absurd to wax your tractor. I leave mine sitting in the rain and all other weather elements and the paint is just fine, little parts are missing from usage.

 

[snmhanson]

Clean it? I actually throw dirt and mud on my tractor after using it if it looks too clean. Also, if it looks like rain I make sure to get it under cover - don't want the rain to wash off any of the grime that has accumulated in the fifty or so hours of use since I bought it. If it was clean my wife would be harassing me about what I've been doing with all my free time. And if I told her I spent it cleaning my tractor it would take her about two minutes to have a twenty line honey-do list for me. With it dirty at least it looks like I've been working. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously though, I've only had it a couple of months and I think I have hosed it off once or twice when it's gotten really dirty. I'll probably do it tomorrow because I have to do the fifty hour maintainance. Our entire yard is dirt right now but once we get the grass in I'll probably give it a good cleaning to reward it for all the hard work. For the most part though, I don't see me doing any more cleaning than hosing it off when it gets too dirty and maybe a good annual cleaning. And of course scheduled maintainance.

Matt

 

[BIGUN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In contrast, my neighbor meticulously cleans every thing before putting it away. let me illustrate:

My neighbor cuts three acres of grass once per week. After cutting and trimming, he carefully power washes his tractor, finish mower, dixon zero-turn (for tight spots), weed whip, and finally, he cleans the power washer too. He then dries each machine with a towel. This ritual requires about 5 hours each week.

So, I wonder. Is his equipment serving him or is he serving his equipment. There's got to be more to life than passionately cleansing outdoor power equipment.

What do you think ? )</font>

We had a neighbor across the street from us when I was a kid that was like that. He had an early sixties model Chevy with gold metallic paint that he babied to extreme. He washed it weekly, and compounded and waxed the paint monthly. After a year or two of this loving care brown primer started showing up on all the edges and corners of the car body. Even then, he wouldn't stop doing this. It really looked like ..... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I say you can overdo anything.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Generally my tractor serves me, however, I do air blow off the brush mower and BH after each use, clean the radiator and screen every day of use, grease the loader and BH after every four hours and grease the tractor about every 15- 25 instead of the recommended 50. I have washed it twice in 3 1/2 months, only when I got so much mud on it that it really needed it. It may or may not ever get a wax job and stays under covered shed when not in use. John

 

[Moon]

Just yesterday I was waxing my boat, getting her ready for the boating season. My Kubota was sitting real close by. After I finished waxing, I felt sorry for my bota. So I took her out and did some bush hoggin! Maybe one day this year I'll wax her, but so far, I just power wash her a couple of times a year. I feel about tractors like to do tennis shoes. If they look too clean it just ain't right. If I get new tennis shoes I'll go out and purposely get em a little dirty. I did the same thing with my tractor.

Moon of Ohio