Tractor Washing

[RNeumann]

I understand a steam cleaner or pressure washer will do wonders for cleaning the tractor. I’m just wondering if someone has found anything else that is serviceable? Dawn soap, simple green, canned degreaser from the auto parts store etc.

 

[k0ua]

I understand a steam cleaner or pressure washer will do wonders for cleaning the tractor. I’m just wondering if someone has found anything else that is serviceable? Dawn soap, simple green, canned degreaser from the auto parts store etc.

My recommendation is DON"T. Or if you do, bucket washing and hosing off only. Never pressure wash. So many threads have been started with. "My tractor is broken after pressure washing." Pressure washing does wonders for getting into everything electronic and electrical on a tractor. Blowing the dust off with a leaf blower is far better. Tractors are designed to resist rain falling from the sky. Not high pressure water coming in at all angles.

 

[oosik]

I think I might get my tractor just about as filthy as the next guy. About the only thing that my garden hose and regular nozzle will not get off - dried on bird poop. For that, I use a wet terry cloth shop rag. I've never used my pressure washer or soap, of any kind, on the tractor. Period

Some times I will notice grease spots starting to appear on my work clothes. Its the old grease accumulating at several locations. I will sacrifice three or four terry cloth shop rags - go around and wipe down the 32 zerk locations.

 

[RNeumann]

I’m not asking about pressure washing or steam cleaning. I’m asking what products folks use to wash or clean the machine.....blowing it off only goes so far.

 

[Ritothebull]

Simple green works good on the nasty stuff but regular car wash soap is fine for all the body parts, sheet metal and plastic. And using a pressure washer just takes a little common sense, naturally, if you go and shoot 3000 lbs of water pressure into your electronics your likely to have some issues.

 

[oosik]

I've read several articles - that Simple Green is about as good as you will find.

 

[RNeumann]

Thx for the quick replies! I appreciate the info.

 

[NoTrespassing]

At my house, leaving the tractor out in the rain for a few weeks qualifies as washing. Preferably under a tree to avoid sun damage to the hydraulic hoses. It might get some bird poop but it's less dusty afterwards. Blowing the weed seeds out of the radiator is about the most I do.

Kevin

 

[WranglerX]

Simple Green for just dirty, if oil/grease encrusted GUNK engine bright... Sort of avoid pressure wash as manual says stay back at lead 24 (or more) inches with wand which sort of defeats pressure washing....

Dale

 

[ovrszd]

I use Mean Green. Don't let it dry.

I pressure wash all my equipment. Just did my M9540 last week after brush cutting 30 acres. It's been pressure washed 15-20 times over the last 5 years with no issues.