Start it or leave it for spring

[Mulligancreek]

I have a MF 1736 that I leave at my hunting property in northern Michigan. It is stored in an unheated garage. It is less than a year old and has only twenty hours on it. Because of health problems I have not been up to run it since last summer.
I will be up there to check on some logging that is being done in a couple weeks.
The question is do I start the tractor and run it or leave it for spring. Or doesn稚 it matter. I won稚 need to use it I just wonder what is better for the engine. It does have winter ant-gel in the fuel.

 

[Agvg]

Would have started it, and let it run for a while, moved it and so on.

 

[Egon]

Wait till you need it.

 

[HillStreet]

This could require a battery charge and pre-heating the engine. Then let it run for a while.

 

[Ortimber]

Equipment that is left sitting seems to deteriorate in my neck of the woods, therefore i say start it and run it around for 15-30 minutes.

 

[jaydee325]

Wait till you need it.

What he said.

I'd pull the battery and bring it home with me and put it on a maintenance charger until you go back up to get some work done with the tractor.

If you do decide you absolutely have to run it, then at least take it out and work it until everything is up to operating temperature (engine, transmission sump) to ensure you don't shut it down with moisture anywhere in the sumps. Just letting it idle for 15-20 minutes is not good for it.

 

[Agvg]

Most tractors that are hobby machines is cold started many times without any problem, I cold start mine all the time and use it for some minutes and one is 47 years old and the other is 43 years old, and what's the problem? Of course if it is very cold I don't start them for no reason but I like the idea of let it move now and then and not sit for month's on the same spot.

 

[Thomas]

If you decide to start do double check for mice chipmunk etc. chewing and nest.

 

[newbury]

Wait till you need it.

Leave it alone until you either NEED it or can work it for several hours.
If this is how you plan on using it for future years you should probably investigate the best way to get the battery on a maintainer.

 

[Agvg]

Suppose non of you use your car for short trips in the winter? It's a tractor, it's made to use, it's not a museum piece.

 

[4570Man]

Suppose non of you use your car for short trips in the winter? It's a tractor, it's made to use, it's not a museum piece.

Your car will reach operation temperature in 2 miles. And I don’t usually go start it and let it run just for the heck of it. I wouldn’t start it unless you have some work to do with it.

 

[4get gto]

So far all the answers are 50/50.

Flip a coin...! :laughing:

 

[Agvg]

I do like to move thing a few times in the winter, it's no problem to do so, it's the idea that a cold start is a problem, if is -40 it's no point of course.

 

[greggyy]

Suppose non of you use your car for short trips in the winter? It's a tractor, it's made to use, it's not a museum piece.

lol...

But if you bought a popular one, it will become a collectors item, so you should keep it wrapped in cotton wool

OP....start the thing, all these people with low mileage cars fail to realise seals and bearings etc need some oil and temp or they start to perish, also tyres and seals etc, so start and move it to get oil and everything moved around.

You will likely find the battery is dead & the worst thing for battery is non use, think of boats, usually need a new battery each year,

 

[fried1765]

So far all the answers are 50/50.

Flip a coin...! :laughing:

I'll chime in with my 2 cents.

I have 3 old Fords. They are locked in my barns in New England for the winter, while I am in Florida (like right now).
Each has a "Battery Minder" attached.

I leave them in early November, and do not return until late April.

Been doing this for 20+ years.
No problems to date.

 

[Pete6114]

I'm with the run it ASAP group. I'd make sure it's ready to work ahead of time and have no problems due to a bad Battery, mouse damage to wires, fuel gone bad etc..etc...

 

[ovrszd]

I wonder,,,, do large Construction Companies leave their equipment sitting without starting them during Winter?

I wonder,,,, does your local tractor dealer have their inventory on a schedule that has them periodically started during Winter?

How about your local car/truck dealership???

I can't think of a single logical reason to start an engine just to see if it will. What if it won't? Are you going to wrestle with it until you get it cranked, so you can hear it run for 15 minutes, then leave it until next time you want to hear it run?

All this totally is over my comprehension level....

 

[Agvg]

Well, start it and take a little round, use the clutch and brakes, move the hydraulic. See no harm in using things. On old equipment it's not unusual that brakes rust and sticks, same if you have a dry plate clutch. But it's not like this is a big deal, and yes used car dealers often run cars in the winter just to move them.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

If the battery has been sitting since last summer, and it hasn't been charged, or left plugged into some form of battery "maintainer" type device, then it is probably hosed.

Unless you're going to be up there for several days or more, and have time to "mess with" the tractor, then I would just leave it be. Take the battery out of it, bring it home, charge it over night on an actually battery charger (not a maintainer or "float" charger), then voltage test the battery for both loaded and unloaded voltage.

If the battery is "ok" after all that, THEN put it on a float/maintainer for the remainder of the winter, and until you're ready to go run your tractor again.

If the battery isn't "ok", then just buy a new battery when you're ready to go run that tractor again.

 

[Jchonline]

Leave it alone until you either NEED it or can work it for several hours.
If this is how you plan on using it for future years you should probably investigate the best way to get the battery on a maintainer.

Agree, you may want to also bring jumper cables. If you really want, you can also bring the battery back with you and charge it at home.