How often should a tractor be run?

[vrmnthntr]

I was wondering how often should a tractor run when it is not used a lot?

For example in the summertime I use my L3540 weekly. In the winter time it may not be used all month or for a couple months. However, if we get snow it will be used.

The tractor is kept in a garage that does not get below 40 degrees.

I guess my BX 2360 would also go in this category since I only use it to mow the yard.

Should I run it at least once a month to get the operating temperature up?

 

[devildog1]

I think that question could have many different opinions, that being said I have the same tractor,(L3540). Because it's been so wet as much rain has been falling here in the northeast, I haven't used my Grand L for mowing my 3 acres at all this year. I usually use it once a week with my Woods finishing mower but not this year, and I don't believe you will hurt it by not running it. I have a Battery Tender installed on mine, along with Harleys and other vessels not run regularly. Have done it for years no issues, sleep tight.
DevilDog

 

[Midniteoyl]

YA.. as long as you keep the battery topped off and give the engine some use every few months, leaving it wont hurt. There are RV's and boats that sit 6-8 months a year with little ill effects. The main problem is diesel fuel - you must treat it if you are gonna leave it more than 2-3 months.

 

[TripleR]

Farm tractors go months without being run and some of mine do too, maybe not ideal, but certainly not uncommon.

 

[joe t]

It will not hurt it to sit. Instead of a storage charger I just disconnect the battery, it is cheaper because the charger adds to your powerbill a good bit and doesn't really extend the life of the battery. If the battery is good it should hold a charge for a long time when disconnected.

Keep the fuel and fluids topped off as well. Anti gel additive isn't a bad idea either to add at the end of the season when parking it.

 

[bigbull338]

the best thing todo is crank them once a week.an let emm run for 15 or 20mins when not in use that much.like 3R our tractors may go a week or so without being cranked.

 

[Jkott]

Running it only for 15 minutes a week is FAR worse than letting it sit for a month or two and then letting it get fully up to temp. It gets it just warm enough to condense and attract water, but not long enough to burn any of it off.

Keep fresh fluids in it, keep the battery on a tender or disconnected, and leave it sit. Resist the temptation to just tease the tractor with a quick start/shutdown.

 

[joe t]

I'm going to second Jkott on letting it either sit on run it a good while. Condensation is the issue.

 

[JimRB]

Let us start with the definition of warm or up to temp. Water temp is not oil temp. My car get hot water in 5 minutes. The oil does not get up to operating temp for 10 or more minutes. This was a gas engine with engine and oil temp gauges. A diesel engine sitting at low idle or high idle may never get the oil up to a safe heating off condensation temp.

My tractor sits until I need it. It sits out in the weather. Over the winter it can sit for months. Almost never snow where I live.

 

[GManBart]

Running it only for 15 minutes a week is FAR worse than letting it sit for a month or two and then letting it get fully up to temp. It gets it just warm enough to condense and attract water, but not long enough to burn any of it off.

Keep fresh fluids in it, keep the battery on a tender or disconnected, and leave it sit. Resist the temptation to just tease the tractor with a quick start/shutdown.

Absolutely true. If you don't get the engine up yo full operating temperature, long enough to cook off condensation, and combustion by-products, it's worse than letting them sit inactive.

 

[whistlepig]

I rig mine up for snow and if it doesn't snow it could sit for while. A couple of times a winter I'll hook the battery charger up to it.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Running it only for 15 minutes a week is FAR worse than letting it sit for a month or two and then letting it get fully up to temp. It gets it just warm enough to condense and attract water, but not long enough to burn any of it off.

Keep fresh fluids in it, keep the battery on a tender or disconnected, and leave it sit. Resist the temptation to just tease the tractor with a quick start/shutdown.

Agree.. either let it sit or run it for 20 mins AFTER it it gets warmed up..

As a side note - its suppose to be very, very bad to just let a diesel idle. I know the RV guys are adamant about it. I dont have a diesel, so cant comment.

 

[joe t]

I know on my tractor when I change the oil I have to let it run for a long time to get the actual oil warm, even though the water temp gauge creeps up in temp. That is during the summer. I always forget that when I initially change the oil at the beginning of summer to mow etc.

I can see where the warm water and luke warm internal parts of the engine would produce condensation much like a cup you drink out of would.

On a side note I like to get them nice and warm before changing the oil so it picks up the junk and flows out ok.

 

[Jkott]

My diesel pickup, at idle in the winter has a very hard time keeping the engine over 150 degrees. But that is at 650 rpm. It has to kick into high idle at about 1000 rpm to get near operating temp. Low idle on my 30 HP diesel tractor is around 1100 rpm and seems to be able to get up to temp.

I believe it's the fuel washing down cold cylinders that is bad for idling, and any fuel that gets by the rungs is not getting burned out of the oil because it doesn't get warm enough.

I'm a believer in starting an engine only if your are going to use it, otherwise either leave it sit. If you know its going to sit for more than a few months, then properly winterized/summarize the engine.

Don't forget that on many of the tractors, you have almost 9 gallons of hydraulic fluid that you start to warm when the engine is started. The compression in the pump and restrictions in the hoses and valves are going to take more than 15 minutes to warm it at idle.

 

[Wagtail]

On a side note I like to get them nice and warm before changing the oil so it picks up the junk and flows out ok.

Great tip & thanks Mate. I'll remember that for when my hours get up for the scheduled oil change. In hindsight it seems such a 'common dog' thing to do.

Ta. :thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

Our L3830 will sit weeks or months at a time without being started. Always starts right up and then gets used enough to get it good and warm.

Aaron Z

 

[vrmnthntr]

Thanks for the replies. I have been eyeing up those battery maintainers that are solar powered. Probably would hurt to get some of them as the tractors sit next to windows.

I never thought about the condensation issue. In the past if I went to use my tractor in the winter time for a few mins, I would just put it back without getting it up to temp. For example, loading or unloading my diesel tanks in the truck to fill up. That is just a 5 min job. And since I use the RTV for firewood, the tractor doesn't run much.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Our farm tractors used to set the whole winter without starting or battery tending etcetera, just parked up in the open air. Come spring, they would fire right up. A correct electrical system on a diesel engine will not drain the battery. Before I retired and worked out of country, my old Yanmar would set for 8 months or more and start right up when I came home. Battery never discharged while setting. Many times now one of both of my tractors (LS and Kubota) may set for 4 months or more in the winter and start right up. Both are 2009 models with original batteries and still work like new. I cant say the same for my boat batteries which I keep a tender on and just had to replace the trolling motor battery after only 2 years. The tender seems to have boiled all the water out over the winter months (lack of attention on my part checking the water level). Oddly enough, the starting motor battery was still full of water and no problems and both had a tender on them.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Doesnt matter too much about the tractors electrical system as even ones which cause a drain can be disconnected. Main problem is that batteries 'self discharge' while sitting.

 

[jenkinsph]

Doesnt matter too much about the tractors electrical system as even ones which cause a drain can be disconnected. Main problem is that batteries 'self discharge' while sitting.

That is why I use Odyssey agm batteries for my boat and camper but the personal vehicles which get run all the time get walmart everstart batteries. The Odysey and most agm batteries have a very slow discharge as do the gel batteries.