Start it or leave it for spring

[bigtiller]

Leave it till spring when you can work it. Idling it for 10-15 minutes and driving it down the driveway isn't enough to get everything hot and may produce more moisture than it displaces.

 

[Jstpssng]

If it's under cover I wouldn't run it just for the sake of running it. Among other things if you haven't used it since the warm months it has summer grade fuel in it; you will either need to address that before starting, or thaw the ice in the sediment bowl while freezing your tail off out in the wind.

And don't ask me how I know that.

 

[Mulligancreek]

I suspected I would get a variety of answers. I think I will leave it alone and bring the battery back to charge it.

 

[Big Chief]

I would get the battery charged, bring some power service anti gel, a new fuel filter and try to get it running. Then warm it up and drive it around and work it. Once put away it will be done right this time.

 

[fried1765]

I suspected I would get a variety of answers. I think I will leave it alone and bring the battery back to charge it.

GOOD CHOICE!

 

[MossRoad]

I have a MF 1736 that I leave at my hunting property in northern Michigan. It is stored in an unheated garage. It is less than a year old and has only twenty hours on it. Because of health problems I have not been up to run it since last summer.
I will be up there to check on some logging that is being done in a couple weeks.
The question is do I start the tractor and run it or leave it for spring. Or doesn稚 it matter. I won稚 need to use it I just wonder what is better for the engine. It does have winter ant-gel in the fuel.

They are predicting 1000 degrees below zero up there next week..... it might be hard to start. :laughing:

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^
Twice absolute zero, that's fricking cold!!! Almost as bad as what they are predicting for here, I may have to dig out my long johns.

 

[Richard]

I don't know if I'd start it or not.... I'm inclined to say I'd leave it be until I went back up there (I tend to leave my backhoe sitting idle here during winter and don't start it 'just because')

Also... on my way to work, I see a line of maybe 12 road graders (they just widened some highway here, built a new bridge.....)

These road graders are in a nice line....and have been sitting there (apparently) un-moved for six months now, perhaps even longer.

 

[greggyy]

Hang on....

Maybe I am confused by your upside down seasons

OP say it has 20 hrs on it ?

it has been since summer doing nothing & wait till spring, that is not 3 months, coming closer to 12 ?

It also seems to me, that when it does get used, it will be very little.

I start and run and warm everything, multiple mowers, ride on quads vehicles, tractors saws etc etc, if you do not, apart from the 2 stroke non battery electrical start stuff, your doing the machine no favors & the more complex the machine, the more it needs oil moving, brakes used, clutches, seals etc etc

People who do this sort of thing and leave stuff will be buying new batteries all the time, buggering around trying to get things going when they need them instead of being able to just use them, lack of use is worse than use.

The saving grace is that it has not done much work yet, and the period it has sat means battery already has damage.

 

[greggyy]

I don't know if I'd start it or not.... I'm inclined to say I'd leave it be until I went back up there (I tend to leave my backhoe sitting idle here during winter and don't start it 'just because')

Also... on my way to work, I see a line of maybe 12 road graders (they just widened some highway here, built a new bridge.....)

These road graders are in a nice line....and have been sitting there (apparently) un-moved for six months now, perhaps even longer.

Anyone who knows what a hydrometer is and how to use it will know what is happening......

And if money is no issue or you have a workshop of guys that work on your gear, who cares, just get them to fix any issues.

 

[fried1765]

Hang on....

Maybe I am confused by your upside down seasons

OP say it has 20 hrs on it ?

it has been since summer doing nothing & wait till spring, that is not 3 months, coming closer to 12 ?

It also seems to me, that when it does get used, it will be very little.

I start and run and warm everything, multiple mowers, ride on quads vehicles, tractors saws etc etc, if you do not, apart from the 2 stroke non battery electrical start stuff, your doing the machine no favors & the more complex the machine, the more it needs oil moving, brakes used, clutches, seals etc etc

People who do this sort of thing and leave stuff will be buying new batteries all the time, buggering around trying to get things going when they need them instead of being able to just use them, lack of use is worse than use.

The saving grace is that it has not done much work yet, and the period it has sat means battery already has damage.

People ......"will be buying new batteries all the time"
Really?

I leave cars, trucks, boats, tractors, mowers unattended for 6 months each year.

I am NOT.... "buying new batteries all the time".

I use Battery Minders/ Tenders/ etc., and my batteries usually last at least 8 or 9 years.

 

[mred2]

The battery will not be the only issue. Clutch plates stuck, water in fuel, dry rot on tires. If it had been set up for storage, I would say leave it. If you do not have the time to get it started, run it, and correctly store it, leave it. If you have the time, to replace/charge battery, check fuel, and run it for about 2 hours, moving it, then do it. And then do things to store it.

 

[LD48750]

I would leave it and take a battery charger with me when I go up next time thinking I would need it.
My guess is the battery will be fine.
I let equipment set for months and only get a few hours a year on some with no real problems for years.

 

[finn1]

I let my truck sit for 9 months.

It’s on the lift now waiting for the brake rotors, calipers, and pads to arrive.

I have had steering tie rod ends seize after extended storage, throttle linkages seize, and clutches stick.

Those road building equipment pieces will likely have the maintenance crew spend a day or more freshening things up before the next operator jumps in the seat to start moving earth.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I let my truck sit for 9 months.

It’s on the lift now waiting for the brake rotors, calipers, and pads to arrive.

I have had steering tie rod ends seize after extended storage, throttle linkages seize, and clutches stick.

Those road building equipment pieces will likely have the maintenance crew spend a day or more freshening things up before the next operator jumps in the seat to start moving earth.

My truck sits sometimes 1 or 2 months between use.

 

[fried1765]

The battery will not be the only issue. Clutch plates stuck, water in fuel, dry rot on tires. If it had been set up for storage, I would say leave it. If you do not have the time to get it started, run it, and correctly store it, leave it. If you have the time, to replace/charge battery, check fuel, and run it for about 2 hours, moving it, then do it. And then do things to store it.

Clutch plates cannot stick if you "block" the clutch.

 

[mred2]

How many people on the site, block their clutch? I bet very few. And most clutches do not stick.
I had a friend that sold a dozer that was 30 years old and very low hours. He wanted almost new price due to little use, kept under cover, etc. He was starting it about every 6 months for 15 to 30 minutes. When he did sale it, it went for about half of what he wanted. It setting did more damage than running it.

 

[mykleh]

I block my tractor clutch over winter.. I keep the block of wood in the toolbox.. it takes what 15 seconds to put in after washing and greasing in fall, its like Power Service in the tank cheap insurance.. I can't afford the "should of would of could of.."

 

[LD48750]

I block my tractor clutch over winter.. I keep the block of wood in the toolbox.. it takes what 15 seconds to put in after washing and greasing in fall, its like Power Service in the tank cheap insurance.. I can't afford the "should of would of could of.."

I see my problem, I don't wash mine.....ever.

Well..... I did once. One of them.
Thats why my tractors don't last.... 30 years outside, not washed, not waxed, clutch not blocked, I just don't do anything right.

 

[ovrszd]

Outside of cleaning radiators, etc., I don't think washing a tractor extends it's life or shortens it.

In regards to modern tractors, those with lots of electronics and plastic, the best thing an owner can do is protect it from the sun's rays when not in use.