Washing your tractor

[DiezNutz]

You guys that wash yours once a week or every time it's dirty or whatever... all I can say is you must have a whole lot more free time than I do. When I'm in the middle of a major project with the tractor, I don't have time to keep it clean. It gets cleaned up at the end.

The last time mine was "washed" was this winter plowing snow - which actually does a pretty good job of cleaning it. I am religious about greasing (which requires me to at least clean the zerks) and blowing out the radiator, screens, and grille.

Mud eventually falls off or gets rubbed off if you leave it alone.

 

[gwdixon]

Mud eventually falls off or gets rubbed off if you leave it alone.

Hopefully, this is not the measure of your personal hygiene. :laughing::laughing:

 

[Toyboy]

I don't get it. On one hand you guys drool over someones old abused tractor that has been restored to like new condition. On the other hand a lot of you seem to take pride in not keeping your machine clean.

I don't like junk or any of my cars/truck, tractor, boat or Harley to look like junk. I make sure all of them are kept clean and waxed at least once a year. Guess it's just part of my makeup.

 

[gauthier]

I didn't think you were supposed to wash tractors?

 

[General Lee]

The "newness" hasn't worn off of mine yet. As time goes on, I'm sure I will clean it less. But lately I've been wanting to keep it in tip top shape because of possibly trading up.

 

[TripleR]

I don't get it. On one hand you guys drool over someones old abused tractor that has been restored to like new condition. On the other hand a lot of you seem to take pride in not keeping your machine clean.

I don't like junk or any of my cars/truck, tractor, boat or Harley to look like junk. I make sure all of them are kept clean and waxed at least once a year. Guess it's just part of my makeup.

Don't know that anyone here demonstrated that; just a different view of what a tractor is used for and needed care.

Some of us grew up on tractors working on farms and ranches where the thought of washing a tractor never occurred to anyone after spending ten to fourteen hours a day, every day on one.

Guess that is just part of my makeup.

 

[redka]

I'd like to ask these two questions that I've thought about several times....should I let the engine and radiator cool down to outside temp before spraying cool water on it?
And is it ok to hose the top of the motor?
Thanks

 

[DiezNutz]

Hopefully, this is not the measure of your personal hygiene. :laughing::laughing:

:laughing::laughing: nice one. I'll have you know I typically take 2 showers a day.

I like our vehicles, etc. to be clean also, which is a struggle itself.
Any time I get to spend with the tractor, needs to be spent working the tractor. Maintenance is a necessity, cleanining & waxing is a luxury.

The best thing I do for my tractor is keep it in a garage out of the sun and weather. It will survive being dirty, and whenever I do eventually clean it up, it looks good as new. :thumbsup:

I'm thinking if we conducted a proper survey, we'd find the highest distribution of clean tractors among 2 groups:
1) Tractors with low hours/getting low usage.
2) Retired dudes that have the time.

 

[DiezNutz]

I'd like to ask these two questions that I've thought about several times....should I let the engine and radiator cool down to outside temp before spraying cool water on it?
And is it ok to hose the top of the motor?
Thanks

As a general rule, remove grille and screens and blow the radiator out (from inside) with compressed air. Blow the engine off with compressed air.

Only after you've blown off as much loose debris and dirt as possible, should you think about getting it wet. The last thing you want is a radiator full of mud pie.

And yes, don't spray cold water on a hot engine. It doesn't have to be completely cooled down.

 

[TGF]

I have to agree with TripleR and Deiznuts, I am not sure where you guys find the time to wash your tractor after every hog session or every anything. Usually I get done with the bush hog, or snow removal or tree removal and I am already late to start my next task be it going to work, shooting some rifle with a buddy or working on other stuff in need of maintenance.