OPERATIONAL TIPS FOR NEWBIES

[LBrown59]

CurlyDave, I'm sure my wife would disagree on me being remarkable!

Haymaker, that video was hilarious. Got the point though. We can bury the key to the tractor but there's still a bunch of other motorized toys to get into trouble with around here...

I race cars in my spare time (that's me in the avatar at Mid-Ohio last year) so I probably have a higher acceptance of "danger" than most. Doing 5 mph around the property doesn't seem like much compared to doing 130mph with other cars all around that want to get in front of you. Maybe that's why some of what I was doing just didn't even register - until I read the stories about people being killed from hooking up 3pt implements, hydraulics leaking down, and getting caught in the PTO. All things I've done or seen done, and I was kind of like - wow, the safety warnings in an operator's manual actually mean something! Not that I read it anyway

You folks that have been around tractors a long time already know all this, but for those brand new to tractors (like me!) it was an eye-opener. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and stories.

Patrick

Where is Sharon Center Ohio?

 

[vpnwiz]

Where is Sharon Center Ohio?

Sharon Center, OH

 

[ruralruss]

Sharon Center, OH

When I lived in Indiana I went to many races at Mid-Ohio. The most beautiful track I have ever seen. We always went for the CART races, sat in the same place, on the spectator hill along the back straight just before the down hill up hill down hill turn. I noticed that up against the fence by the hook the place to be. I also noticed that not many people sat beyond the apex of the hook hill turn. Looked like a great place to me so we got some chairs for the Sunday race and got there fairly early and got great seats. Of course it only took a few laps in the race to see why people did not sit there. Before the race was over we were covered with little bits of rubber. But it was worth it to be so close. I mean really close.

Russ

 

[border collie]

Make it a habit to periodically check your gauges, esp. your temperature. When you see the temp creeping up from its normal position, it's time to clean your radiator screen(you should also check during your pre-start inspection), also remember your engine is breathing the same air as your radiator receives, so it's a good idea to clean your air filter while you have the hood up .
I've found that the air filter for my tc30 fits nicely onto the nozzle for my backpack blower, and if tapped lightly a few times under pressure will clean up nicely-I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SAFETY GLASSES, AND ALSO SUGGEST CLOSING YOUR MOUTH.(don't ask...)

 

[workinallthetime]

Make it a habit to periodically check your gauges, esp. your temperature. When you see the temp creeping up from its normal position, it's time to clean your radiator screen(you should also check during your pre-start inspection), also remember your engine is breathing the same air as your radiator receives, so it's a good idea to clean your air filter while you have the hood up .
I've found that the air filter for my tc30 fits nicely onto the nozzle for my backpack blower, and if tapped lightly a few times under pressure will clean up nicely-I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SAFETY GLASSES, AND ALSO SUGGEST CLOSING YOUR MOUTH.(don't ask...)

I once had to put an engine in a truck that a company had leased, they never changed the air filter and since it was a bucket truck it ran all day long. The CDR valve drained the crankcase of oil, since the air filter was completly clogged. The cdr valve is like a pcv valve but on diesel engines, the engine was able to pull vapors through this easier then the air filter thus draining the engine of oil. So ya check them air filters and clean or replace as often as possible.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I STARTED reading this thread. Then I got a headache. So fast forward to the last page.

I don't know if this has been touched upon or not, so forgive me if it has. This isn't an "operating tip" so much as it is an operatOR tip". I'm in the commercial mowing business. With tractors working in heavy grass and weeds almost constantly, we find clogged radiators a regular issue. Also, when we go to remove sheet metal for more serious repairs, it isn't uncommon to find large clumps of dried grass clippings, seed, chaff and dirt. So....I INSIST on each operator taking a few minutes before each days work to use a common, ordinary LEAF BLOWER to blow out any removeable grass, weeds, ect. Pay particular attention to things like the alternator, around fuel tanks, battery cases, and under all sheet metal. Hit them from various directions with the air. You'll be astounded at the volume of contaminates that you blow out. MIGHT even save a fire someday!

 

[workinallthetime]

I STARTED reading this thread. Then I got a headache. So fast forward to the last page.

I don't know if this has been touched upon or not, so forgive me if it has. This isn't an "operating tip" so much as it is an operatOR tip". I'm in the commercial mowing business. With tractors working in heavy grass and weeds almost constantly, we find clogged radiators a regular issue. Also, when we go to remove sheet metal for more serious repairs, it isn't uncommon to find large clumps of dried grass clippings, seed, chaff and dirt. So....I INSIST on each operator taking a few minutes before each days work to use a common, ordinary LEAF BLOWER to blow out any removeable grass, weeds, ect. Pay particular attention to things like the alternator, around fuel tanks, battery cases, and under all sheet metal. Hit them from various directions with the air. You'll be astounded at the volume of contaminates that you blow out. MIGHT even save a fire someday!

good point, i do that everytime i put my zd up. I would rather it not sit there rusting away, with all those moist clippings tucked into all those places.
Another thing I do is clean the deck before I go back to my yard, Transplanted a bunch of weeds that way after mowing at my parents place.

 

[IslandTractor]

..I INSIST on each operator taking a few minutes before each days work to use a common, ordinary LEAF BLOWER to blow out any removeable grass, weeds, ect. Pay particular attention to things like the alternator, around fuel tanks, battery cases, and under all sheet metal. Hit them from various directions with the air. You'll be astounded at the volume of contaminates that you blow out. MIGHT even save a fire someday!

I found a two foot long air blow nozzle at HF that does a very nice job too. It is easy to slip into nooks and crannies and delivers a surprising amount of air. Probably no more convenient to use the air compressor than setting up a leaf blower but it is a good alternative.

 

[workinallthetime]

I found a two foot long air blow nozzle at HF that does a very nice job too. It is easy to slip into nooks and crannies and delivers a surprising amount of air. Probably no more convenient to use the air compressor than setting up a leaf blower but it is a good alternative.

careful with 120 psi around the radiator!!!! but I agree and have used this option myself also when its service time.
Its about time to put the zd in the shed for the winter. I will clean everything, fill the tanks full of diesel and additive, check the coolant, put fresh blades on, and lock her down.

 

[IslandTractor]

careful with 120 psi around the radiator!!!!

I usually have the regulator set at 40psi which is fine for this sort of task.