How the heck do you keep your tractor looking new?

[Big Wave D]

Impossible!

If you use it, it will develop "character".

Keep it washed, store it inside, some even wax the ol' gal once in a while, but if you want it to stay new, leave it on the show room floor.

 

[Mudfarmer]

I've used a can of rustoleum from time to time. Used to wipe the dirt off the ding first, but found it wasn't necessary. The old Ford 1700 ran just as well with or without paint, dirty or no. Hope my JD lasts so long, and appreciates my care!
Mf

 

[1950T]

only tractor of mine that gets washed is the 210 allis pulling tractor. the 9000 and 1950t get washed if i take them to the fair. my equipment is so old that the dirt and mud may be holding the tins together :laughing:

 

[Mike476]

When the time comes you feel you need to put some new paint on the old girl it is a pretty good feeling when you're done............ of course it's short lived the first time you bury it in the manure pile or are driving through thicket to skid a log out from the woods :thumbsup:

 

[Storm56]

My tractors sit in a garage when I am not using them. They get washed a few times a year, especially after putting fertilizer or lime down. Try to wax the shiny parts once a year. But they are tools and I use them. They get muddy in the fields and woods sometimes. I try to be careful with them but once in a while I cannot avoid a scratch. That said my 4700 is about 10 years old now and she still looks pretty good. Of course the loader bucket is scratched up and I have no plans to paint it, but it is a tool that by it's nature is gonna lose paint.

 

[not2old]

I met an old timer years ago that used to wash down his tractor and use new diesel on a rag to coat all the "Pretty Parts" whenever he did his oil/filter changes......claimed it preserved the paint from fading.....kinda like the poor man's Armorall.....

Years ago, we used diesel sprayed inside car fenders, doors, etc. as a rust preventative. Apparently it evaporates and leaves a "wax" behind.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I know motor oil blocks some of the suns rays. I know this because when I get it on my photogrey glasses, the oil spot stays clear and the rest will darken. I dont know which spectrum it is blocking but some of it is not getting thru the oil. This is not a recommendation to go oiling down your tractor as it will for sure attract a large amount of dust.
Me, I will hose mine off to remove the majority of dust and dirt and hose all the mud off when I finish a task and put it up for storage, until then, it get hosed only when the operator platform starts getting me dirty.
I think you can safely pressure wash a tractor if you dont direct the nozzle directly at a gasketed joint at a very close distance. The gasket should hold and not be damaged if you keep your wand at least a couple feet away from these areas. I rountinely pressure was my engines but I dont stick the nozzle 2 inches from the engine surface. I have never had an issue with any of my cars, trucks or tractors being damaged by pressure washing to remove the built up dirt and grime. The engines run a lot cooler when clean also.

 

[Johnny_B]

Only had mine for 2 months and it's all scraped, dirty and scratched.

The only way to keep it looking new is to keep it in the garage...and if you do that, you might as well just hand the keys and your coconuts over to the Mrs.

However, it doesn't hurt to show a little TLC to the ol MF'r every once in a while w/ a good cleaning and waxing (hmmm....that can be taken several ways, but I was talking about your tractor).

 

[Dixie379]

"just hand the keys and your coconuts over to the Mrs." LMAO

I catch a lot of flack cause I give my equipment a bath more often than the horses lol I usually retort with a 'they're out in the rain more' (the horses are). I never seem to have $ to replace stuff, so it's always a reminder to try to take good care of it. There always seems to be a thin layer of dust to protect the paint though

 

[Topkicker]

A pressure washer, automotive soap, and the 3rd garage bay. :thumbsup: Not much you can do about scratches. If you use it, the scratches just come naturally.

 

[RadarTech]

A pressure washer, automotive soap, and the 3rd garage bay. :thumbsup: Not much you can do about scratches. If you use it, the scratches just come naturally.

They are not scratches! They were battle wounds..
:laughing:

 

[dcyrilc]

They are not scratches! They were battle wounds..
:laughing:

So who won...

...you or the tractor?:laughing:

 

[RadarTech]

It was me.. Course I made the tractor fight the briar patch!

 

[irvingj]

Just finished getting mine ready for winter... a quick wash, then a couple coats of Liquid Glass on the hood and other non-greasy surfaces. That stuff makes snow, dirt, and everything else just slide right off with a hose, either air or water, depending on season. (Even the cat can't stand on the hood after Liquid Glass treatment, he slides right off!)

Next, finish cleaning, sharpening & greasing the MMM, then put that away and get the blower out, won't be long!

Had a bit of a delay, however- seems my Jetta TDI wagon was finally ready for new rotors & pads on the front....

 

[BobRip]

Just finished getting mine ready for winter... a quick wash, then a couple coats of Liquid Glass on the hood and other non-greasy surfaces. That stuff makes snow, dirt, and everything else just slide right off with a hose, either air or water, depending on season. (Even the cat can't stand on the hood after Liquid Glass treatment, he slides right off!)

Next, finish cleaning, sharpening & greasing the MMM, then put that away and get the blower out, won't be long!

Had a bit of a delay, however- seems my Jetta TDI wagon was finally ready for new rotors & pads on the front....

Do you use liquid glass on the snow blade? Where do you get it?

 

[Ezlivn]

Before I bought the tractor...(4 sale sign still on) and after I bought the tractor. I've had it one year tomorrow. Needed some TLC.

 

[dcyrilc]

Before I bought the tractor...(4 sale sign still on) and after I bought the tractor. I've had it one year tomorrow. Needed some TLC.

WOW. Nice job.:thumbsup:

Wanta do mine?:laughing:

 

[cdaigle430]

Before I bought the tractor...(4 sale sign still on) and after I bought the tractor. I've had it one year tomorrow. Needed some TLC.

Nice,
Looks newer than mine I thought those pictures looked like they were from Maine.

 

[irvingj]

BobRip- I don't remember where I got this one. Could have been an auto parts store, could have been K-Mart, Wally World....

As I understand it, Liquid Glass was the original; patents have now expired (?) and virtually all wax makers make this type- Simoniz, Turtle Wax, Mother's, etc. It's a synthetic polymer, not really a wax, though some better types have Carauba wax mixed in as well.

It's liquid, goes on just like any other liquid wax: let dry to a haze, then buff. The difference is what happens afterward- LG says to let it set at least 4 hours before second coat, and parking right in the sun helps the material to "cure." (Yes, it can be applied in direct sunlight, too.)

It does seem to "flow out" after a day or so; it feels even slicker. Almost like a clearcoat.

And yes, it does last a year or more, if you put on two or three coats.

Here's a pic of LG and another similar product.

And, yes, I do put some on the snowblower, inside and outside. Don't know really how long it lasts on the inside, but it makes me feel better, anyway!:laughing: Don't know about a blade, but it probably couldn't hurt. I understand there are special products out there that are made specifcally for snowplows.