How often do you clean your tractor?

escavader · Aug 21, 2005

I must be insane then. I wash it after every magor project is complete,and i touch up all the paint on the bucket and back hoe.painted the btm of the fel 4 times now,why i dont know. I have used three cans of paint and a can of primer in the first 100 hours!!!!.Just cant stand to see something with rust on it.Itouch up the new car hauler,from the dings from the chains and binders,after each use.Never EVER store the bota outside,when it rains,i either put it in,or tarp it.I even wipe the tires down with an oily rag to keep them shiny.Iput armor all on the seat after each use.NUTS HUH?
ESCAVADER

Neil_D · Aug 21, 2005

I wash my BX2230 at a minimum once a week, more often if it has been in the mud or heavy dust. Its just too big of an investment to not take care of it. I bought it in May, and the first thing I did was to wax it with Meguire's carnuba. It will be due for another coat before winter starts. I also use Turtle Wax spray on tire foam after each wash down.

Some of the guys at work think I am nuts, but my wife knows I am, so she doesn't even comment about this kind of thing anymore.

I just experienced the same electrical problem that Volfandt described with the hazard switch. After I dried the BX off and parked it back in the garage Fridau night, I noticed the hazards flashing. I disconnected one of the leads on the switch overnight, and by the time I hooked it back up Saturday the switch must have dried out, because the problem was gone. I guess we will have to look for a way to seal those switches.

As far as the comment about it being too cold in the winter to wash it - that's why I put floor drains in the garage at our new house. All of my vehicles will get washed inside over the winter, the tractor included.

I too have to pay my son sometimes to help out with the chores like washing and drying the tractor. Since he is only 4, his going rate right now is 25 cents.

Alan L. · Aug 21, 2005

I used to pressure wash my tractor down at the car wash pretty regularly up until about 200 hours or so. Lately (635 hours) I rarely get around to washing it. If I get it real muddy I try to rinse the mud off. I also rinse it off good if I have been spreading fertilizer.

Don't think I have ever rubbed it down or anything.

Boomerang1 · Aug 21, 2005

I always leave the grease on the zerks because it keeps out the dirt. I wipe them off just before greasing and put a little extra grease on them when I'm done. As I have stated in other posts, I could care less what my machine looks like.

FL_Cracker · Aug 21, 2005

Your just fine. It's good to wash every so often. Just like your car. I hose off the mud when ever I do a wet muddy project. Soap and water wash at 10 hours, 50 hours and now at eighty hours it's getting a bath in the morning.

rdsaustintx · Aug 22, 2005

As often as she gets around to it. Good clean fun /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

zapelectric · Aug 22, 2005

When I die, I want to come back as Volfandt's tractor.

have_blue · Aug 22, 2005

Since I have no water at my land, I have to haul a 55Gal drum of water when I wash it. I use a Sears gasoline power washer, and 55Gal is just enough water to get it sparkling clean, except...

I really get discouraged with my FEL. Every joint is packed full of heavy grease, and they're nearly impossible to clean. I bet I could spend 30 minutes cleaning each joint, and they would still not look good. So I just give each joint a shot with the pressure washer and blast the big globs of grease off. <sigh>

Volfandt · Aug 22, 2005

LMAO, zapelectric, you must mean rdsaustintx's tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt

bowhunter3030 · Aug 22, 2005

You sound like me. I clean & touchup with paint, if needed, after every use. The bucket and toothbar always get painted when used. Everything I own is taken care of that way. My new Kubota will still look like new in 20 years. My JD 216 tractor looks like new after buying it 30 years ago. I may get some knicks on it but they always get touched up. I have a 1976 450 SL Convertable Benz that I only have 68,000 miles on. It looks next to new. I respect people who take care of their stuff.

cckjone · Aug 23, 2005

I keep to a strict maintenance schedule but as far a washing down my tractor, I did that at 50 hours and again at 100 hours. I’ll probably never bother to wax the thing. Up here in New England it’s not uncommon to see tractors built in the 40’s and 50’s still working the fields. Some of those old tractors may look like they haven’t run in a couple of decades but they are still earning their keep.

My opinion is a tractor should look like it has a purpose.

Boomerang1 · Aug 23, 2005

I do not understand why anyone would want to clean the grease off of and around the cylinder cross pins. I pump in the grease until clean grease comes out each side of the cylinder and leave it there. This keeps dirt and water from getting in between the pin and the through hole in the cylinder. If you spray high pressure water at the pins, it will get in there and cause more harm than good. Leave the grease on and around the zerks also.

have_blue · Aug 23, 2005

Boomerang1,

If the grease would cooperate and stay within the joint or right around the zerks, I would agree. Problem, it migrates quite a ways out from the joints. It catches dust and eventually makes the entire joint area look like a big greasy dirt ball. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I do re-grease every time I wash, purging out any water that may get into the pin bores. Not that water would hurt it anyway, because good grease and very slow rotation make it unlikely.

botalvr · Aug 23, 2005

My wife made big fun of me for waxing the deck. The way I look at it, anything that cost more than some cars I have owned gets exceptional maintenance.
And try the mcguires three step kit (cleaner, polish, and carnuba wax) simply cannot be beat.
I do likes a shiny tractor (at least until it's paid for)
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

NewToy · Aug 23, 2005

I waxed my tractor when I got it and have washed twice since. I use compressed air after every mow job to knock all the dust off and clean out the radiator. I'm careful with the hose not to direct the stream into moisture sensitive areas.

John

gsxr1100 · Aug 23, 2005

Mine gets no water (Dri-wash only) to clean, then tires get foamed, buffed all over at 1700 RPM'S, then clayed, the "final wipe"...

Every spring and fall. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That is a clean tractor.

Muleskinner · Aug 23, 2005

As I use my Kubotas for work they get washed and serviced every weekend. Once a month I wax the hoods, hood side covers and fenders with a spray on detail wax made by Honda Motorcycle Company for motorcycles. It's truly an amazing product.

People say I'm **** about my equipment, but I like to take care of my investments. When I pull up on a job site on Monday morning most people think my tractor is brand new! Take pride in your equipment and it will not let you down.

Muleskinner · Aug 23, 2005

And I thought I was ****! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

steveky · Aug 23, 2005

I don't wash mine as often as I did when it was new. Usually if I have a big project going I don't wash it until its finished. Then I take the time to clean it up good, does look better when its shinning.

Barnboy · Aug 23, 2005

I have never washed mine. The dealer said it was hard on bearings and other moving parts. I do blow it off with the air and wipe it down. It still looks new i cant stand to see it dirty. I'm sure sooner or later I will have to wash it. Glad to hear others wash their tractors with no problems.