Parking outdoors

[bbabineau]

I have always parked my PT in the barn but am now considering the purchase of another antique truck. For those who park their PT outdoors, what have you noticed in damage from the elements?

 

[BobRip]

They are not designed to park outdoors. Anyway that is my understanding. At least put a tarp over it if you do so.

 

[cqaigy2]

I wouldn't park mine outside but then it rains much more here.

 

[MossRoad]

I would not park my PT outside. I would invest in a lean-to on the back of my garage to at least get a roof over it. You could tarp the sides. Or a yard barn to put it in. Last choice would be to park it on a gravel pad and tarp it down to the ground.

 

[tlb13057]

My 425 has been parked outdoors since I bought it in May 2004. It doesn't rain that much in central Texas, nor snow often. Freezing rain every couple of years though.

Things I atribute to being outdoors include keyswitch failure, hour meter failure, rust, discoloration of the paint, seat, steering wheel, hydraulic hoses cracking, light enclosures, and lots of dust. Probably have to lubricate it more often too. When it sits through a good rain the pivot points get rusted and sometimes stick.

After nearly fours years though, it still runs pretty good. I bought it used so now has 6 years on it. I have had to replace 2 wheel motors, head gasket, battery, keyswitch. Not bad considering how rough I have been on it. Cranked it up today first time in 3 weeks. Started right up.
-Tim

 

[MossRoad]

That's one thing to consider.... the U.V. damage that will occur to the hoses and tires if left exposed to the sun day after day.

 

[smartguyz]

Oh boy, I would NOT leave the PT outside. It's far too expensive a piece of equipment, and is clearly not designed for that. I would either build a lean-to, as David suggests, or even buy one of those little storage sheds - the resin one that Costco has in their warehouses would be pretty good, depending how many attachments you have. It's a little pricey at around 800$ I think.

Rob

 

[SpringHollow]

I had to leave my PT outside for a few weeks. Water leaked in under the hydraulic tank cover and had a milky mess for oil so I had to replace it all. So I would be careful.

Ken

 

[cqaigy2]

BTW. I've found tarping to the ground collects moisture coming up from the ground and traps it inside.

 

[Charlesaf3]

curiousity - my kubota never goes indoors, why is it so hard on power trac? design?

 

[woodlandfarms]

Personally, I don't think it is any harder on the PT than any other tractor to be left outdoors. You should not tarp a tractor.. In rainy environments it will rust it out. Frankly, in many ways the PT may be better suited to rain than others with the large ROPS shield.

PT has tons of drain holes, and lets assume that the tractor works during the day and not at night. Well you are not ditching the UV issue.

3 potential issues with the PT and weather. The electrical panel on the tractor is not sealed. IMO the guages are weather proof, and the switches are protected, but water is water and nothing is ever really waterpoof. The key is on the same panel and while very, very simple, I see how it could fail with the amount of rain we get. Second issue is the oil tank. PT has a large flat plate over a large flat plate. If not properly sealed, it could leak water in. Water sitting over a period of time might be an issue to those seals. Finally, the cooling fan on the oil cooler. For me, it is located on the top of the hood. It is subject to direct water. I am sure they are rated for it, and heat is doing far more damage than water could, but it is my final area of concern.

 

[smartguyz]

Oh boy, I would NOT leave the PT outside. It's far too expensive a piece of equipment, and is clearly not designed for that. I would either build a lean-to, as David suggests, or even buy one of those little storage sheds - the resin one that Costco has in their warehouses would be pretty good, depending how many attachments you have. It's a little pricey at around 800$ I think.

Rob

Well, let me explain further. It is probably true that the PT is no worse than any other tractor to leave outside. However, I know that I have stored my PT in the basement for the last 5 years, and it still looks to be in extremely good condition. Tires show no sign of UV degradation, paint still bright, no areas of rust to speak of. Given the significant investment a PT is, I should think that spending a few hundred dollars to protect the investment is NOT too much to ask. If I did not have a basement, I would likely build a shed for it.

Rob

 

[Marks481]

Finally, the cooling fan on the oil cooler. For me, it is located on the top of the hood. It is subject to direct water. I am sure they are rated for it, and heat is doing far more damage than water could, but it is my final area of concern.

That fan is designed to be bolted to the front of your radiator on your car, where it is subject to rain moving at 55 mph when you are driving down the road. It will probably survive being rained on.

That being said, mine stays inside because I don't want it to rust where there is paint chipped off... I need to buy some JD Green paint to fix some spots.

 

[ponytug]

I wouldn't leave the PT outside because of the risk of water contamination of the oil I'd suggest that if you do leave it outside, tarp it with a cotton tarp, i.e. canvas to let the water vapor through.

All the best,

Peter

 

[RegL]

Glad I read this thread. Never thought much about plastic tarps keeping moisture in although it seems pretty obvious now that it's been mentioned. Storage for my 4 year old PT has been 50/50 under cover and outside. I have some surface rust but attribute most of it things other than where I park it, like milk crates full of tools bungied to the engine cover wearing the paint off. Most times if it is going to rain and the tractor is outdoors, I do cover the key switch with something because it is susceptible to shorting out. I was out in the barn one rainy day starter started cranking all by itself. Lucky I was there to disconnect the battery. I have not had any problem with the hydraulic oil getting contaminated. I think the worse thing for my tractor comes from driving up and down the road in Winter to plow driveways. It gets coated with salt and sand and I don't hook up a hose so you would think the salt would just eat away but I haven't seen much damage from it.

 

[farm23]

I keep my 1430 under a high (12' H x 12' W x 44') porch that is open on 3 sides. When heavy rain is expected I covered it with a plastic tarp to protect from rain blowing under the porch. Now I wonder if I should use a canvas tarp.

 

[RegL]

I keep my 1430 under a high (12' H x 12' W x 44') porch that is open on 3 sides. When heavy rain is expected I covered it with a plastic tarp to protect from rain blowing under the porch. Now I wonder if I should use a canvas tarp.

I think the guys are talking about longer term storage.

 

[MossRoad]

BTW. I've found tarping to the ground collects moisture coming up from the ground and traps it inside.

Good point!

 

[MossRoad]

I think the guys are talking about longer term storage.

Yep. I'd use a normal waterproof tarp if I used it on a weekly basis, like mowing the lawn.

I used to store my IH outside. I frequently found mice along for the ride in my cab with me. I also found mouse nests in the engine compartment. Several times I found dead rabbits on the seat. I'm assuming a cat would drag them in through the area where the cab met the floor and there was a flexible rubber boot missing. Although, it was just weird to have it happen three times. There could have been someone that liked to mess with me! And don't forget about those wasps. Wasps love to make nest in machinery.

 

[mojoinco]

Having lived in Santa Maria (down the hwy from Atascadero) I would plan on some long term decomposing from the effects of fog. Rust, especially on smaller components and on switches & connectors. But that is the same concern on anything. As a friend of mine used to say: $2000 of junk in the garage and $20,000 sitting in the driveway.