Are tractors waterproof even if they have a cab?

[skipmarcy]

Mine is a ROPS tractor w/canopy and has lived every single day of its' 20 year life outside. Of course plastic parts are getting VERY weathered but everything still functions. I agree that some components of a cab would be more vunerable.

 

[rScotty]

To answer the original question about how waterproof tractors are... they are pretty good if you cover the obvious places that water can get in - the seat, the dash, key slots, switches, any shift levers or such on the floor that has a rubber collar or bellows, the center of the steering wheel!, and all the filler caps and dipsticks.

Since those are rather too much to deal with, what it comes down to is to get a good lightweight cotton canvas tarp - because it breathes - and tarp it when it's parked for the night. The tractor will be fine. Otherwise they age real fast.

 

[seville009]

I power wash the tractor each fall before winter, including the console, seat, steering wheel , etc. (don’t have a cab).

Never any water issues in close to 20 years……

I put a tarp over the operator’s station in winter just to keep snow and ice from building up there.

 

[oosik]

I've had two tractors in the 40+ years out here. Both - open station. They have been kept in an open carport. Protected from direct rain, snow and sun. Never had a problem with either because of the moisture. Kept in the carport mostly to protect all the rubber parts from the sun. Roll plastic and Gorilla tape should be adequate until permanent repairs are made.

 

[future_vision]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I've been tarping it while the deal waits for the parts to come in.

 

[civilian]

I keft my open B26TLB out in the snow one winter uncoverd. That was before the garage was built. Never covered it because having to deal with a frozen cover did not appeal to me. It does have a 4 post ROPs and canopy. The only problem was the light switch froze in either position. If I left it on for the next time, I didn't like starting the cold engine with it on.

On the BX2230, it stayed outsdie all winter long for 3 or 4 years. Only problem on that was when I came home from snow blowing drives, it was covered in salty road slop on a trailer. . So I would hose them off outside with luke warm water and leave them out to dry. If I forgot to shift to neutal before leaving until needed, I could not start it because neutral safety froze in place and prevented it. Had to get the hair dryer out to thaw it out. Now this BX2230 had an afermarket cab on it. Now both live in a cold garage, and sometimes the BX2230 still stays outside under the roof over hang. Jon

 

[MHarryE]

I bought an old International swather that had the rear glass broke out and never repaired. Water got under the floor mat and rusted the floor completely. Extremely cheap. It runs fine, operates fine, but I bolted some straps across frame members to hold the pedals. Water took out the ignition switch so I now have that straight push button switch for start, toggle for on off. Not afraid of stealing it because who’d want it, but finished its sixth season doing what I need it to do. I’d probably never afforded something that can windrow that much grain if somebody hadn’t neglected to replace their cab glass.

 

[Everhard]

Lol, I remove my doors and side windows for 3 seasons! (I leave the front and rear on as they are a pain to remove as I'd have to deal with the wiper/motors.) In fact I just put them back in last week. I love having the cab in the winter for snow blowing not to mention the warmth, but the rest of the year it's great to be able to jump in or reach in to work a control.
The odd time it gets caught outside (not under the carport) in the summer when it's raining while sure the rain can come in, the rain hasn't figured out how to make a hard turn upwards and rain on the cab controls under the roof.
As others have stated I clean it out with a hose anyway...

I suppose I should add my tractor has heat only (no ac, too small a tractor) so it's nicer in the summer to not be in a closed cab.

E.