Do any of y'all seal, wax or ceramic coat your tractor??

[Panik]

Constructive thoughts / comments? (and yes, I'm well aware it's a tractor, it is & will continue to be beat up), but simply curious if others have applied any type of protection and seen a noticeable long-wearing difference when washing off the day's or week's grime, prevent fading, etc??

Thanks all & best regards,
Greg

I'm up in North GA dealing with red clay as well (Richard B. Russell airport region).. I'm kinda of two minds on this subject:

For me personally?

I try my best to avoid dealing with wet red clay while using the tractor....
Shop stored tractor and I actually do like operating a cleaner piece of equipment, but I'm lucky if I can find the time to wash it more than twice a year. Just bought a electric Dewalt 3000psi pressure washer and got rid of our old gas pressure washer in the hopes that the ease of use and easy form factor of the Dewalt will get me to use it more frequently on the tractor and the honey do list.

For others?

I see absolutely no reason why it wouldn't be worth experimenting with a full decon and ceramic coating for a tractor. After all nothing ventured nothing gained.

While it's not been anytime recently, I've seen folks on this and other forums sometimes kinda disparage people who regularly wash and wax their equipment. If there is perceived personal value to someone in going through that process or the end result holds value to a individual then it's worth the investment of effort. Lord knows there are plenty of thing I do in my life that can be done more efficiently, but hold some meditative value to me in the way that I do them.

Two asides:

1) I googled "heavy equipment paint protection" and Equipcoat was the first result. It's appears to be a single-stage sprayed polymer resin.

2) There's another thread on the forum about removing scratched from a polycarbonate windshield and one of the suggestions was to use a heat gun to renew the finish. I might be curious enough to try it with the cowling on my BX.

I was told never use a pressure washer on the tractor - can push water into places you don’t want any water like seals and grease points.

Is this not true?

I just hand wash with mild soapy water and spray off with a hose.

Then, I will apply some wax.

I've heard the same thing, but the same holds true for pressure washing older homes and unfortunately when I was younger I got to pressure wash plenty of homes in preparation for painting while I apprenticed to a home re-pair/remodeler.

I do use a pressure washer on my tractor, always with the tractor cold. I also try to be very careful regarding both where the wand is directing the water and also where water being deflected. (I.e. I try my best not push water into grease-able joints or electrical connections). When I am done washing the tractor I also make it a point to grease all fittings with the goal displacing all of the old grease present and wiping clean those joints. And yes, I have occasionally seen a drop or two of water expressed from those fittings in that process.

Similarly I've also heard never to wash the undersides of mowing decks. We have a push mower at work that's set up for mulching (no discharge opening) because we're in a park and guests tend to be walking nearby while we are mowing. Because of the material that accumulates the underside of the deck gets washed clean with a hose every mowing after it has cooled and we've never had an issue with the spindle and bearings.

(Not trying to start a debate, just sharing experiences about the topic)

 

[dodge man]

I wash and detail our cars once or twice a year. I also have a 2010 Challenger I go all out on. I maybe wash my tractor once a year. I mow with mine so it gets dusty first thing.

 

[John0829]

I am a bit OCD on some vehicles, whenever the CRV or Tundra are driven they are cleaned up before being put in the garage. The old GMC flatbed that gets driven the most will usually get a bath and vacuum once a month. John Deere 1025R gets cleaned after every use, usually just a leaf blower will get the worst of it off with a touch up using a duster or if there is mud involved a spray off with a hose. Large panels get hit with spray on ceramic wax every couple of months depending on how much use it has had. The old Ford 850 gets blown off with the leaf blower after each use but if muddy or has a build up of grunge a quick pass with the electric pressure washer (lower pressure) with a bit of spray ceramic on the big panels afterwards. Even the zero turn and 6x6 Argo get cursory cleanings after each use.

Everything that can be kept inside or under roof is, IMHO leaving equipment out in the sun and weather is just as hard or possibly harder on equipment than regular use.

Worked to hard and long for what I have to neglect them when just a little effort on my part makes them more pleasant to work on, easier to spot problems which in the end keeps them dependable plus it keeps them looking good.

 

[Oaktree]

I wash the Taco Wagon( 2018 Ram HD 2500 Power Wagon ) about once per month. I wax it once in the spring. I hose down the tractor when it gets dirty. I have never waxed the tractor.

Yeah, that's about my schedule too. My daily driver gets washed (car wash) more often in the winter to keep the road salt accumulation to a minimum. Everything I own is old enough that there's not much shine left anyway.
Is there any car wax made that lasts more than a couple weeks?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

When I took delivery of mine a year ago, I did ceramic coat it.

Since then it's seen no rain, been in a dry barn, and I blow off dust after I till.

Is it clean? Relatively. Is it dusty? Sure.

 

[Skeletor]

Fair enough, and congrats on the fine Mopar specimens, sir!

Thanks I’ve had the charger since 2000 and I’ve had the hellcat 4 years I think. I went the long way on the hellcat. I started with a r/t then srt 392 then the hellcat. I’ll probly keep both of them for a very long time.

 

[RustyA]

Always have waxed outdoor equipment spring and fall. Tractor gets full pressure wash including undercarriage to remove winter road salt. Then washed with car wash soap, rinsed with pressure washer and dried with chamois. My newest favorite wax is turtle Wax spray hybrid. Easy to apply, doesn't discolor black trim and just wipe off when dry. Wife thinks I'm nuts but have always gotten top dollar from first buyer of farm equipment, lawn mowers, and tractors.

 

[5030]

I was told never use a pressure washer on the tractor - can push water into places you don’t want any water like seals and grease points.

Is this not true?

I just hand wash with mild soapy water and spray off with a hose.

Then, I will apply some wax.

Been cold water pressure washing my 2 Kubota's for years. I use a foam cannon with Chemical Guys wash on them as well as the cars. Living on a dirt road don't help matters. Why no dark colored vehicles or tractors here.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Always have waxed outdoor equipment spring and fall. Tractor gets full pressure wash including undercarriage to remove winter road salt. Then washed with car wash soap, rinsed with pressure washer and dried with chamois. My newest favorite wax is turtle Wax spray hybrid. Easy to apply, doesn't discolor black trim and just wipe off when dry. Wife thinks I'm nuts but have always gotten top dollar from first buyer of farm equipment, lawn mowers, and tractors.

My used equipment and vehicles always bring top dollar too... It's too expensive to let it rot

 

[sixdogs]

For those who have both agricultural use farm tractors and lesser use limited use tractors, I see nothing wrong with keeping the light use one relatively clean and nice looking. I do it myself and the extra credit I put into it doesn't take long and often yields big price premiums at sale time. I have people in line to buy when I sell equipment and can get 50% to 75% more than uncared for equipment. I get more for ag-used equipment too but that doesn't get as nice of care.

I will cleaner-wax a tractor sheet metal to start with and then try to use spray detailer on it every couple of years. Nothing fancy but just keep the metal looking nice. In between I pressure pressure wash the outside once a year at low--1000(?) psi but nothing serious and I leave the engine dirty or maybe just a light pass.

For implements I pressure wash once a year before storage and then spray with a mix of new synthetic oil and diesel fuel, maybe 25%-75%. The metal look shiny and like new and no rust on ground-engaging tools. My 15 year old Brillion seeder looks shiny and from 10 feet away a fast glance would look like it was new or a clean demo. When I trade or sell almost anything, my accountant says I'm the only guy he knows that gets more than he paid for equipment.

So I'm compulsive about this in a limited way only because I grew up pretty poor and have worked hard to get what I have. I'm proud of it and am probably paid handsomely per hour in extra $$ at sale time for not much extra effort.

 

[olenjohn]

1979 - Not a restoration for show. This is farm use regularly. Wash and wax does wonders.

 

[sixdogs]

1979 - Not a restoration for show. This is farm use regularly. Wash and wax does wonders.

What a beautiful and valuable tractor.

 

[BubbaSam]

A thought occurred to me today when I was applying a DIY "Ceramic coat" to my car this morning, now I'm curious if any of y'all do any kind of paint protection on your tractors?

Hello Greg,

Well, I may be one of those types that DOES wash and wax. I have a 19 year old CK30 HST. I do pressure wash it at least 2 times per year followed by waxing it. I also use a degreaser I purchase from a gent who manufactures it from Boston. It is called Excel but I call it Purple Stuff. It works GREAT but you don't want to leave it on aluminum or glass very long. The photo of my Kioti I attached was bought new has just over 840 hours on it. I live in north central MA on a 13 acre farm that gets a lot of snow. It's my best buddy and I've put it through hell. Great tractor.

 

[oosik]

Sometimes it is just a lost cause. My mile long gravel driveway will soon be quite dusty. Top layer is - gravel, sand, silt & volcanic ash.

This is the way it is here - living in the country.

 

[rockinbbar]

For those who have both agricultural use farm tractors and lesser use limited use tractors, I see nothing wrong with keeping the light use one relatively clean and nice looking. I do it myself and the extra credit I put into it doesn't take long and often yields big price premiums at sale time. I have people in line to buy when I sell equipment and can get 50% to 75% more than uncared for equipment. I get more for ag-used equipment too but that doesn't get as nice of care.

I will cleaner-wax a tractor sheet metal to start with and then try to use spray detailer on it every couple of years. Nothing fancy but just keep the metal looking nice. In between I pressure pressure wash the outside once a year at low--1000(?) psi but nothing serious and I leave the engine dirty or maybe just a light pass.

For implements I pressure wash once a year before storage and then spray with a mix of new synthetic oil and diesel fuel, maybe 25%-75%. The metal look shiny and like new and no rust on ground-engaging tools. My 15 year old Brillion seeder looks shiny and from 10 feet away a fast glance would look like it was new or a clean demo. When I trade or sell almost anything, my accountant says I'm the only guy he knows that gets more than he paid for equipment.

So I'm compulsive about this in a limited way only because I grew up pretty poor and have worked hard to get what I have. I'm proud of it and am probably paid handsomely per hour in extra $$ at sale time for not much extra effort.

I'm much the same with my tractors.

When I buy a new one, I hand wax it before taking it afield. Being in the ag service business, and do lots of shredding on pastures with brush, and especially having to cut around oaks and mesquite trees, the wax helps keep the brush scratches off the paint.

I wash them when they get dirty. I blow them and my batwing cutters off, and fill up with diesel at the end of each day.

I grease daily in the morning before I start. Also keep the interiors clean and as dirt free as practical.

A bit of effort, kind of like taking good care of my livestock... But when it comes time to sell or trade, my stuff brings top dollar.

Just pulled out my big deck over trailer and knocked the dust off of it because I really don't have much use for it, and someone else probably does, so I'm going to sell it. Touched up where rust was bleeding through the paint, greased all the fittings and got it ready to sell.

Bet it brings decent money for a nearly 10 year old trailer. Especially with the prices of new ones like it bring today.

 

[macdoesit]

I used some ceramic called NU-Finish about 20 years ago on a 2000 white Chevy pickup, 6 months later it turned yellow and was peeling off. Never again. I wax and keep engines clean on my tractors and other vehicles. As others have said, I always make money on my vehicles, trailers, tractors, etc when I sell.

 

[Soloz2]

First thing I did when I got my B2601 last year was to hit it with my foam Cannon, rinse it off then apply CarPro Hydr02. It's a simple spray on, spray off sealant.

 

[icnu]

What a beautiful and valuable tractor.

I have a Bobcat telehandler.
After a machine buff, i used Zaino(use on vehicles). Lasts easily >6mo, easy wash, and can keep the larger panels looking good with a mist wipe down. I too deal with red Ga clay-down near pine mountain. Im not OCD by any means but think its good for my kids to see things being taken care of and how to do it-

 

[Fields_mj]

If you have enough time on your hands to wax or creosote your tractor, I'm pretty sure you don't really need a tractor. I get the idea of washing it off from time to time, but anything beyond that is down right disturbing.

 

[macdoesit]

If you have enough time on your hands to wax or creosote your tractor, I'm pretty sure you don't really need a tractor. I get the idea of washing it off from time to time, but anything beyond that is down right disturbing.

I for one will lose a lot of sleep knowing you are disturbed. LOL