Winter Maintenance

huggybear · Oct 27, 2003

I just bought a new Grand L3130 and have used it sparingly (10hours) since the purchase. Mostly because have I it located where I’m building our retirement home in New Hampshire and we live in Connecticut. I’m going to New Hampshire to winterize our camper and would like to know what I should do to get the tractor ready for winter. Any suggestion would help. It should be laid up for the next 5-6 months.

Deerlope · Oct 27, 2003

Check anti freeze for the correct temp, make sure battery is at full charge. The best thing that you could do for it is start it every other week and let it run for at least 1/2hr or until it is up to temp. drive it around, these 2 things will help to keep the moisture out of the oil(engine&trans).

sandyc · Oct 27, 2003

In addition to the running every two weeks, make sure you have used fuel conditioner, keep the tank full, and more importantly, try to find a barn or shed to keep the machine in for the winter.
Welcome to the North Country!

Youare · Oct 27, 2003

Around here (New Hampshire) in the winter months the mice like to find idle tractors to use for winter homes, They can do a lot of damage to air filters. Cover your airfiler intake with something they will not likely chew through, a couple layers of tin foil tied on with copper wire should discourage them.

If it has to set outside cover it with a heavy tarp to keet the elements off of it. Fuel conditioner is a must. Starting it and driving it around to get rid of mositure will go a long way to keeping you from having problems in the spring.

An oil change in the spring would probably be in order seeing you have not reached the 50 hour service level yet. It is better to use tractors than to let them set.

Welcome to New Hampshire! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Randy

Junkman · Oct 27, 2003

I have found that it is better to provide the mice with food for the winter than to let them find their own in the form of rubber, cotton batting, etc. I put out a generous supply of De-con and replenish it as neccessary.... after a while, you will see that they no longer are eating as much as they originally were.......

huggybear · Oct 28, 2003

Thanks all for the information, I should be able to garage for the winter and get someone to drive around every week or so. I wouldn't be having this problem if New Hampshire Electric Coop ran power to the house. That's another story however.

Thanks Again

frank_f15 · Oct 28, 2003

welcome aboard! and as a welcome gift i will be more than happy to let u store your tractor in my garage this winter. i will make sure it gets used a lot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif follow the advise of the others, but if it is not going to be operated, u might be best off to take the battery right out of it.

huggybear · Oct 29, 2003

Wish you were closer, I wouldn't mind having it used this winter. If I had power to our home I wouldn't have this problem. The good thing is that my wifes parents live near by and can operated weekly.