Maintaining my tractor was just like brewing beer today

[charlesw]

I went out and dug a pond, today. Getting through the topsoil with the FEL (and box blade to help a little) was a PITA, but once I was in the clay it was a piece of cake. To start with I just had my one hole - the width of my tractor - but I would easily take whole-height bites out of either side as I went along it. Soon enough it was wide enough that I could go straight at any bit I wanted to.

Anyway, back on topic, I figure that it's not so great to leave 4 inches of clay and mud caked on every bit of the tractor. Besides, I've got to do my daily/10 hour service, so, what the heck, I'll hose it down - clean the mud off. Well, ha! It was just like brewing my first 10 gallon batch of all-grain beer in that I ran the well dry! Guess I'm going to have to get a pressure washer! And, of course, for getting all of the junk out of the radiator, well, I'll probably need one anyway, so, what the heck...

 

[john_bud]

Don't use a pressure washer on the radiator!!!! The high pressure will fold over the metal find and close off the air flow. You will either have to comb them up straight or buy a new radiator. Havn't done it, but have seen it. Not pretty.

jb

 

[Thomas]

Morning charlesw.
Pressure washer will make clean up lot easier,and you may want to take plastic back cover air intake also exhuast.

The title real eye catcher.

 

[charlesw]

Don't use a pressure washer on the radiator!!!!

I seem to recall that the manual said to use one for cleaning. Well, for routine (daily) stuff it says to use air at 100psi. Then it says that if you need to clean it use a pressure washer at low pressure. Maybe! I'll have to check that out again...

 

[RalphVa]

I wouldn't use a pressure washer. Many gaskets aren't designed to take that kind of pressure. Just wet the dirt down and let it soak a bit. Then hose it off with a regular nozzle.

If you want another toy to play with, a pressure washer is not it. There are very few jobs these things will do that the right chemicals, soaking and common sense with a regular hose or pump-up sprayer won't work. For the very few things that they do well on, you can rent one for those jobs. They're generally a waste of money to buy to to use fuel in.

Ralph

 

[charlesw]

I wouldn't use a pressure washer. Many gaskets aren't designed to take that kind of pressure. Just wet the dirt down and let it soak a bit. Then hose it off with a regular nozzle.

Ah, but, see... I've got a water problem - I don't have enough to allow me to hose the tractor down. I -could- solve this as some expense (it's my 200' well that doesn't replenish quickly - I have a 500' well that I could use but I'd have to get it hooked up. I might be able to get that done by the end of next summer - but it would not be cheap or easy) but I'd rather not.

 

[Michael_E_Tx]

Hey Charles.

I've no reason to dispute john_bud or RalphVa, but I do use my pressure washer to wash off mud off of my tractor fairly often. I have not used it to clean the radiator, but I know I can turn it way down. So far I've only cleaned the radiator with compressed air. I don't blast the dash area or really anything on the engine, but I find it quite useful on the rest of the tractor. I especially do not like to leave mud around joints on my backhoe when I know I'm not going to use it again for awhile.

Mike

 

[Michael_E_Tx]

Charles, if you do pursue the idea of getting a pressure washer, be aware that every pressure washer requires a certain flow. This is generally listed in the specs. You can measure your flow with a five gal. bucket and a watch. This may limit your choices as to how high a pressure, how much horsepower you can actually use. This is quite apart from your issue of depleting your well. Hope this helps.

Mike