which is better left outside

kokopelli2 · Jul 25, 2002

hey guys i just have a quick queston...
which is better to leave outside if you run out of room in the barn...the fell or the RFM? i only have room for one at a time. i have been leaving the mower out, but now my dad is complaining that he cant mow easily cause he has to connect the mower. he feels that i use the mower more so i should keep the fell outside and the mower in....i feel that i paid 3k for the fel and 1200 for the mower and it only takes a sec to conect either. what are your thoughts?

MikeBurr · Jul 25, 2002

Since my fel has never left the tractor, I would have to say leave the mower out... Also the mower appears to have more weather protection, wouldn't want a bunch of dust, rain, or bird poop getting on the hydraulic items. And I'm sure too much sun on the rubber hydraulic lines will cause them to break down sooner....

Ledgemere Farm · Jul 25, 2002

Put the loader away and buy a tarp for the mower.

Golfgar4 · Jul 25, 2002

You could always build a bigger barn. That way both of you would be happy! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Ain't it great when we can spend other guys money? /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Hawkflyer · Jul 25, 2002

Right on!

normde2001 · Jul 25, 2002

I vote for the tarp on the mower, sitting up on blocks. I would never leave any piece of gear out in the weather.

JimMc · Jul 25, 2002

We just roll the finish mower to the back, drive in and put the FEL on a shelf above the mower.

kokopelli2 · Jul 26, 2002

JimMc
that is a really great idea! i will look into that.

i am in the process of getting ready to build a new home for the bota....just not sure what it will be yet. maybe a steel prefab...maybe a pole building....or maybe a new three car extra deep garage with a lift in one bay and and an apartment on top to get some of my investment back! who knows. tarping the mower (which i am doing) is a temp. fix.
thanx guys!

Egon · Jul 26, 2002

Listen to "DAD"
The under side of the mower deck usually has a bunch of crud on it and moisture from the ground can promote rusting on the underside of the deck. The loader does not have this type of problem but all the hydraulic cylinders should be retracted.
Egon

Will_C · Jul 26, 2002

Also, I would be concerned about the weather's effect on pulleys, drive shafts, belts,etc. What a tough choice, glad I have plenty of storage space.

robertm · Jul 26, 2002

Can you put 'da wifes car out? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif 'Course she'd probably put your lights out, eh? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

bigpete · Jul 26, 2002

The problem with exposing any implememt to the elements is the pooling of water and resulting rust. If you need to store your mower outdoors, find a way to store it vertically to keep the water from standing around the bearing houising and make sure you lube twice what you might if the unit were stored in a shelter. If its your loader that must endure the weather, common sense will prevail...

If you choose to require your spouse or her mechanisms to endure the weather, you are wise enough to know that you must endure your own resulting climate(s).

dgood1 · Jul 27, 2002

If you decide to leave the FEL outside, make sure that you put a light coating of grease on the exposed cylinder rods. Covering the hydraulic hoses would be a good idea also.

Don

kokopelli2 · Jul 27, 2002

sorry guys no wife. just me and my dad. and trust me he is not leaving anything outside. he just doesnt want to have to take the time to hook up the mower thats all. its what i like to call lazy. as it it i have to disconnect the fel everytime i use it cause the 2 times i didnt he some how dropped the loader on the hood! then i have to rush home from where ever i might be to fix the problem! what ever stays outside will be covered. i was thinking about making a nice leentoo (sp?) off to the side of the barn to cover all of my attachments. that would be a quick lowcost fix...now i just have to cut down some pine trees....maybe ill have harv chip them up for me when he rents his!

Harv · Jul 27, 2002

<font color=blue>maybe ill have harv chip them up for me</font color=blue>

Actually, Steve, I think by the time you skid them from Maryland to California there won't be much left to chip. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

frank_f15 · Jul 28, 2002

not sure which i would leave out if i had to! if u go the tarp route, get one strong and big enough that u can use it as sort of a leanto, and keep the implement off the ground. this will allow air to circulate.

Kodiak · Jul 28, 2002

Just a thought about tarping implements outside. Its kind of like an open invitation for rodents. And they like to chew on rubber (ie, belts and hoses), must be a cheap thrill or some thing. I tried putting poison under the tarp once. You should have seen the mess when the dead mouse was chewed up by the belts on the flail mower.