Wash Your Tractor?

yellowsocks93 · Nov 29, 2003

I wash my tractor 2-3 times per year and wax it then too with the air powered buffer. Makes the paint as smooth as glass with 3M waxes. At the ol JD store I wash everything as that is the main part of my work and it takes upwards of 8 hours to wash a combine and it is important to get the moldy corn out of the hopper and any dust and other debris around the outside. I do pressure wash & soap the combines and tractors trying not to get the starter and other vital components wet.

BobinCols · Nov 30, 2003

I wash my tractor twice a year and just waxed it today.

r0GuE · Nov 30, 2003

2 1/2 years and I've not washed it yet.

I have enough trouble finding time to do the things it needs (check wheel torque, air pressure, grease the fittings, check oil and hydro fluid levels).

Why would I want to take extra time to do something that will certainly cause more harm than good. Ever look at a BX deck? It looks like it is designed to funnel water straight to the bearings!

Water and machines are essentially enemys. Oil and grease are machine freindly. Dirt is nuetral (except where is collects to a large amount and can attract moisture).

But hey, they are expensive so I can understand a guy wanting them to shine. I just think that the potential water born problems outweigh the desire for me to see clean orange.

PineRidge · Nov 30, 2003

I'm just curious... I wonder if these same reasons for not washing a tractor also apply to the family car? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

pajoube · Nov 30, 2003

I powerwash mine after heavy use. I will admit that I like the looks of a clean tractor not to mention it just feels new when it is clean. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PJ

cowboydoc · Nov 30, 2003

A car is completely different than a tractor. The engine, transmission, electrical, etc. is right out there in the open on a tractor. On a car all you are washing is the sheet metal. Unless you open the hood and power wash it the engine will rarely get water to it. The wheels protect the bearings and such as well. Not the same at all for sure.

Charliebrn · Nov 30, 2003

Yup, wash and wax it every chance I get. I do it right out front for all the neighbors to see. they already think I'm nuts, so why not reinforce it??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I figger after spending over $12,000 it should look nice. I also wash and wax my Accord every chance I get too.

One of the benefits of all this cleaning and waxing is that you learn the machine inside and out, and you find any little thing that may be about to give you problems.

Rockdog · Dec 1, 2003

I wash as needed, about once a month. Typically, this is also around the same time as greasing is done, the wash comes first, then the chamois hand drying, then the grease. I do use my air gun to clean inbetween washings and carefully under the hood. I wax about once a year.

Jerry

r0GuE · Dec 1, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A car is completely different than a tractor. The engine, transmission, electrical, etc. is right out there in the open on a tractor. On a car all you are washing is the sheet metal. Unless you open the hood and power wash it the engine will rarely get water to it. The wheels protect the bearings and such as well. Not the same at all for sure. )</font>

EXACTAMUNDO!!!

BTW - I really don't wash my cars all that often either, but I try to get to them as often as I can 6-10 times a year.

fishman · Dec 1, 2003

I'm with Bigun on this one. I rarely even rinse my tractor (no pressure washer /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif) but I do use compressed air on all of my equipment quite frequently. It works great to blow out the dust and crud that accumulates all over the place. And no worries about rust, etc.

Now, I probably should wash and wax my tractor once a year, but who has time? I spent the better part of two days just changing the oil in all my toys . . . er tools.

cowboydoc · Dec 1, 2003

We do use compressed air. But water, unless it's raining out when we're using the equipment, doesn't see our equipment. The only exception is if we've gone through some really bad mud. Even then we never use a power washer and always try and stay away from the engine, electronics, and bearing areas.

On planting and baling equipment you never want water to touch the equipment. Planters and balers are so touchy that getting water in areas will really screw things up. There are so many electronic sensors that any one that gets water in it will screw things up and it's not fun trying to chase down a bad sensor.

icat · Dec 1, 2003

I'm a washer - even thinking about picking up a power unit to make the job easier. As for waxing - I figure I will add this chore to my to-do-list in the near future. The Texas sun plays havoc on anything left to it's own. With close to 20 grand invested so far, I think I'll be washing the baby grand for awhile. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JDGREEN4ME · Dec 1, 2003

I wash it off a couple of times over the summer, like to wax it at least once a year... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

yellowsocks93 · Dec 1, 2003

I agree with the baler thing coyboydoc. We never washed our baler even though it was a small JD 328. All the un washed dirt and dust would hold in the moisture and start to wreck the metal. Same goes for out flail mower and tillage equipment.

5030 · Dec 2, 2003

I am going to respectfully disagree with the both of you.

We wash our haying equipment and tractors after every cut. We wash, and then service all the equipment.

If we left the hay chaff on the equipment, the acid from the decaying hay would eat the paint off. It's interesting, but the JD Green paint seems especially susceptible to the acid from the chaff destroying the paint.

The only exception to that rule is our square balers. We use compressed air on the knotters.

yellowsocks93 · Dec 2, 2003

You use chemicals in your hay don't you? That may have something to with the decay. I could be wrong. If you wash your round baler you don't have to worry about that last bale in the ejection area like with a square baler. I just think its better to leave the grime instead of wet it down if I missed some.

PineRidge · Dec 2, 2003

I also think that you will find most any fertilizer to be a corrosive. A good reason to wash equipment, spreaders, and tractor if you handle these chemicals or spread them on your lawn. I have seen fertilizer hoppers on corn planters completely eaten away because the user didn't think it important to clean up after the job was done.

BIGUN · Dec 2, 2003

Yep, my fertilizer spreader is one piece of equipment that I do wash thoroughly after using it even if it is mostly plastic, because what is metal will definitely be damage by leaving the fertilizer residue on it, unlike the yard dust from mowing my yard, which seems to be pretty inert.

5030 · Dec 5, 2003

YellowSocks:

We use Greensaver. The new stuff isn't corrosive. The old stuff was. It's just easier to service clean implements and tractors. The greensaver isn't used every time. Depends on the "window" of opportunity.

Jibber · Dec 5, 2003

I wash mine all the time.. at least when I get it muddy. I'd rather not drag the mud into the garage. If it's just dusty I'll blow the dust off with an air hose. I did wax it once.. right after I got it. I like to put a protective coat on the paint of all new vehicles.

Hey.. this is my baby!