How do you wash your tractor??

[shane]

I'm of the mind set that about the only time mine need to be clean good is before servicing. Help keep crud out of the places crud don't need to get like filters and such. Also, I prefer a layer of dust as it helps keep down the sun's reflection. Mine don't see rain.

 

[buck12]

Have you ever noticed how you make time for stuff that is important to you? Many here feel like it is a total waste of time to clean their equipment while others are obsessed with keeping their stuff ultra clean. Nothing wrong with either one, each person feels a bit different about their stuff. The guy that doesn't clean his stuff, maybe he gets that much more stuff done. (maybe not) The guy that cleans his stuff, well he just made a choice to use his time to do just that, clean.

Each to his own, neither is wrong, but others do look at you differently depending on the choices you make throughout your life.

Just my opinion, others will vary.

Well stated. Those that keep stuff clean likely enjoy washing stuff while those who leave the dirt consider washing a chore.

 

[JoelD]

I stare at it until the dirt falls off out of intimidation.


I pressure wash with electric, uses less then 2 gpm, I would think your tank could feed an electric power washer. Not sure if you have electricity or not, did not read the thread closely (sorry).

I do not wash the engine compartment, or dash or anywhere I could cause problems with the pressure washer.

Joel

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

WOW---was and wax a tractor weekly? Is that your reward for good behavior at the looney bin? How do they punish you if you're bad?

 

[Dave5264]

WOW---was and wax a tractor weekly? Is that your reward for good behavior at the looney bin? How do they punish you if you're bad?

They Drive it in the mud, take a way my bucket, sponge and wax and make me stare at it all day long. Cruel.....very Cruel

 

[AndyMA]

NEVER, I refuse to be a Yuppie

Andy

 

[cowboy357]

The few times I have washed My equipment just seemed to cause new unwanted problems . So I leave it to mother nature to give it a good wash now & then. But I use Mine in the dirt & mud daily , washing would be a waste of time In My case . Bob

 

[MIKE_D]

The main thing to remember here is to blow everything out with compressed air first. When you wash every thing collects in hidden places, over the years this builds up and can be a lot of trouble. I always blow my equipment out while it is cooling down, take a break get something to drink, then when it is cool wash it. Be sure too blow it out/off first!! If not you will regret it later.

 

[Zephrant]

Now THAT's the saddest picture I've seen today.... Tell me it wasn't a green tractor....

 

[Baucom]

My "tractor" is just a lawn mower, but it gets blown off with the leaf blower after each use. Every winter, after I mow for the final time, it gets blown off and washed, scratches get touched up, I wax it, and I wipe down everything under the hood with Pledge (to help repel dust). Clean equipment is easier to work on when it needs servicing, and it's easier to spot leaks when they're not covered in an inch of crud. If it got muddy it would get a quick squirt with the pressure washer when I finished for the day.

 

[tugboat-2]

Yes I wash and polish my "truck" too,...BUT, while digging my pond,(summer of 2007)...I had to "waller" around in a foot or so of "thick-gray-clay-soup" for quite a few days in a row. First night I came in tired and left it to dry. Next day the entire under-carriage including things like power steering rams, tie-rod ends, CV(type)-joints, tire valves and many other items like brake and motion-pedal linkage etc,....were solidly encased in "concrete". Even standing on your head directing a power-washer won't disolve that stuff once dry!!!

Oh sure, I could have driven around till all the important stuff cracked, split and fell off in little chunks,...but the damage that "might" do, will actually "hurt" me as bad as hitting a rough R/R crossing or bad pothole with my truck,..(and yes I'm the PITA that hits the four-ways and "crawls" over the track and swerves to miss the potholes!!!!!)(Sorry boys but aside from a sort of "personal" connection to my "stuff", it has to last me a long, long time,....I hope!) Besides, I'm proud of my truck and tractor, and like to keep 'em clean. If that makes me a wierdo,..then, so be it, Amen.

So after that experience, I never shut down for the night without first parking over the lawn sprinkler a while, then garden-hosing the rest. My 3520-Cab has never shown any negative signs from having water sprayed "up" from the ground.

ALSOif your interested?) This week I put 6" wheel spacers on each rear wheel. I look forward to the extra room back there to get the power-wash nozzle in under where it was so tight and awkward before. Oh yes my "tiltmetre/inclinometre"(Cdn spelling) still lays right on over on the banks, but,...yes, yes,...my pucker has greatly lessened its factor most considerbly!! (Results: no longer hang clean undies on the FWD lever)

CHEERS !
. . tug

 

[workmytractor]

We get a good rain around here every now and then...that's when my vehicles get a wash. If my tractor is lucky enough it will be out of the barn during the ocational down poor

 

[BigD23]

I carefully wash with an electric powerwasher...So far, so good.

Don

 

[bughouser]

I live in the woods and the dirt, my barn has a dirt floor and my yard is not paved, so if I wash any equipment I end up with a muddy mess. Sometimes I blow off with air. Mark

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I live in the woods and the dirt, my barn has a dirt floor and my yard is not paved, so if I wash any equipment I end up with a muddy mess. Sometimes I blow off with air. Mark

I have the same problem, but I still wash em. I just let them set awhile before I move them out of the muddy area and I walk them out very slowly.

 

[Grrrr]

Ours get a steam clean with a Karcher Steam cleaner (electric pump / diesel heater) whenever they look dirty or more often then not when we fuel up.

Spend a lot of time on the road and at other farms so better present a good image with our name on the side of the tractor.

But I don't really even think where I spray with the steam cleaner, just give any muddy areas a real good blasting and spray lightly over electric looking things.

This is with full size ag tractors though, maybe they stand up to this abuse more!

But I treat the lawnmower in the same way, that gets a good steaming.

The steam also drys out much quicker, so they are not left dripping wet.

 

[Tig]

I do pressure wash mine on occasion but I can't say that I am too fussy on the painted parts. I usually clean the snow and dirt off with a broom before I park it inside. Where I do have an odd obsession is keeping the mechanical parts and the engine clean. When I first bought the tractor I cleaned the engine with a tooth brush. Now I keep it clean with a rag. Just about every time I life the hood something gets wiped. Helps me spot the little things before they cause problems.

 

[Kubota-guy1911]

I blow mine out with compressed air, especially the mower deck and radiator screens before it goes in the shed. I don't use water unless it's muddy, which doesn't happen often. I do wash down areas with spray degreaser as needed before I open any hydraulic fittings or fuel fittings. Gotta keep dirt out of the inside. Also gotta keep the cooling fins on the hydrostat area behind the fan blade clean to keep hydraulic oil temperature from getting hot enough to break it down. I carefully inspect for leaks too. In winter I will broom off any snow before it goes back in the shed.

kj

 

[ampsucker]

obviously, most of you do not have young kids!

i'm lucky to wash and wax each vehicle once a year. (not counting the occasional trip through the auto car wash to blast off the bugs.)

just gave the kubota it's annual pressure washing due to the plugged radiator screen and massive amounts of dust from tilling up the orchard.

amp

 

[CAB/AIR5225]

I will power wash mine 3 or 4 times a year, then use the gas blower to dry out electronics, engine parts, then hit everything with the grease gun and WD40.