Storing the FEL dumped

[dakotagun]

i'd be OK with winter disappointing me with the volume of snow! last spring was late in coming, but winter decided to stay and make its presence known into May. I have a front SB for my 2305 that I didn't mount until March - finally had to concede! wished i'd have set it up back in November, but I was moving material with the BB through the winter and wanted to hit it hard in spring... kept most of the snow at bay with the Boss/truck, but next winter i'll move quicker on setting up the blower.
on a side note, the weather here is so screwed up. we've had more than triple the normal rain, and today it might get to 80 for the first time since I don't know when.

 

[dakotagun]

getting a FEL this week, will put some of your tips to use (set on blocks) storage will mostly be inside, I think, but when outside it'll probably be curled...

 

[CliffordK]

It looks like this question was also asked before.

Only junk cylinders are hurt by rain it seems to me, After 30 years setting in the rain I saw no rust on the JD310B BH during its annual grease job.

That is what I thought.
I have a Chinese cherry picker, that I managed to get rained on, the cylinder rusted like crazy.
The tractor cylinders don't have a speck of rust on them... well, maybe a tiny spot on the Toro, and some rust on the old JD sickle bar cylinder that probably hasn't been operated for years.

Do you use the tractor regularly? Anyway, they should be fine with normal use. I did see some grime accumulation on the cylinders, perhaps from grease and weather.

Since I added forks on my tractor bucket, I set it down absolutely flat, so that the forks are level with the ground, and not sticking up.

 

[jimpen]

It looks like this question was also asked before.

I admit I didn't do a full search before asking. But the question title/phrasing wasn't obvious to me.

I figure that this is something that experienced owner could give me advice.

 

[PhysAssist]

I admit I didn't do a full search before asking. But the question title/phrasing wasn't obvious to me.

I figure that this is something that experienced owner could give me advice.

.....And I'm sorry, but what topic on TBN has NEVER come up before?

I find "duplicate" threads for all kinds of things, and learn different (and admittedly sometimes contradictory) things from each one, and with some of the older ones there have occasionally been changes in either science or technology that renders them moot.

T

 

[Sysop]

Telling people to "go search" simply because a topic has been discussed before is the quickest way to kill a forum, not to mention it's really rude.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Agreed.. Every forum where this is the prevailing attitude is a small, dying, forum.

 

[joshuabardwell]

My tractor is stored behind a barn door, so getting rain in the bucket isn't an issue. When I turn the FEL over for storage, mice sometimes take up residence. Scares the heck out of them the first time I start the tractor up and raise the bucket.

I store it curled, not dumped.

 

[CliffordK]

Sorry,
I didn't say to "go search". But, I lost this topic, and tried to search for it again, and the older topic showed up... which I then chose to reference. Not intending to kill the discussion.

Perhaps there is no perfect answer, but each situation is different. It probably doesn't matter that much as long as you occasionally use the tractor.

 

[Sysop]

Agreed.. Every forum where this is the prevailing attitude is a small, dying, forum.

Agreed. I've been a member of several forums over the years and when that attitude arises I find myself elsewhere seeking info. I'm mostly new here and hadn't seen any of that in my initial searches, I'm happy this place isn't like that which is why I signed up.

Perhaps there is no perfect answer, but each situation is different. It probably doesn't matter that much as long as you occasionally use the tractor.

Perhaps the perfect answer is there is no perfect answer

I'd say you're spot on correct and the number of variables involved in the numerous situations there are for such a thing, makes the best solution something slightly different for each machine, owner, and environment.

I think a mixed routine of sprays and coatings of grease, chosen and applied dependent on the weather, storage conditions, and how long it is to be stored should be ample to keep any piece of metal in decent shape for the life of the owner.

I realize you didn't say "go search", you had done the search and provided the results for reference, which is awesome. My inside voice just happened to make it to the outside and was posted as an incomplete thought (my coffee wasn't fully kicked in or some such...).

 

[jimpen]

Like I said -- completely new to owning a real tractor and getting to play with all the fun stuff. And at the price I'm paying for this thing, I want it to last a long time.

 

[PhysAssist]

We most often do as the owner's manual recommends and leave it stored flat on its bottom, and after shutting off the ignition, and then waggle the joystick in all planes to relieve any residual pressure in the cylinders and hoses. Then we lock the joystick.

Except when we don't for various reasons

After the motor on our old splitter died mid-split, it was left outside 1/2 extended for somewhere between 4 and 6 years, and it took a most of those years for even a fine sprinkling of rust to form on the exposed piston. When we rehab ed it with a new motor, pump and hoses, a light buffing with some really fine emery cloth polished all the rust off, and it worked fine until the new motor was killed by mice chewing away the wiring a few years ago. The splitter was a Heathkit sold as a kit only in 1979-81. It routinely sat for the better part of a year between uses under cover of a tarp, or in the woodshed and had not a speck of rust until the years outside and uncovered.

That being said, we store the new splitter with the ram retracted without fail.