Cabs & AC

Richard · Aug 22, 2005

Dreaming about getting a 15' mower and something to pull it. I love the idea of having a cab because of the little yellow critters that kamakazie at you when you shake up their nests.

If it has a cab, I REALLY want it to have working A/C so I don't bake in there.

Which brings me to my thoughts.

I've been looking about on EBAY and a couple local dealerships. I see a many of these that have a/c along with the commentary similar to "blew cold air last summer", or, needs freon, needs compressor or something similar.

What it leads me to wonder is just how long lived IS a/c in a tractor?

If my basic criteria is a tractor with a cab and working a/c, will I simply be better off getting a newer machine or can/do these older machines keep their cold air like you might expect in your automobile?

Am I asking too much?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Gatorboy · Aug 22, 2005

My dad runs his air cab JD's down in Florida for thousands of hours -- so I'd say they have a long life. He does have the windows tinted, for all that glass in such a small place can really heat things up fast in those things.

EastTexFrank · Aug 22, 2005

( If it has a cab, I REALLY want it to have working A/C )

The one thing you don't want is a cab with no A/C, please believe me. Our old MF 275 at the farm has an A/C that hasn't worked for 20 years and I'm told is unfixable. During the summer when it is 95 degrees outside, with all that glass it gets well over 120 degrees inside that cab, I've proved it, the thermometer went offscale at 120. When I was younger, it didn't matter all that much, drank lots of Gatorade and kept on going, but this year I finally shut it down when it started to get hot and won't start it up again until the fall. You can open all the windows but that just lets all the dust and bugs in and keeps them there and trashes the inside of the cab. I'd love to remove the door and take a torch to that thing but it doesn't belong to me although I am the only one that uses it. So, in short, if the A/C doesn't work ... don't buy it. It's just a mobile greenhouse.

I don't see why the A/C in a tractor cab wouldn't be as reliable as that in your car. In our MF, it failed originally because of neglect but as long as you keep it charged and the filters clean, it should run for years.

hobbyfarm · Aug 23, 2005

Just like my signature:

OKnewguy · Aug 23, 2005

A good friend of mine works for a large auto-air company. They have recently started to steer some efforts to the ag market. BUT, it has been a tough ride. They have had numerous instances where a tech will go and service a combine or large seasonal equipment and when they start the service they notice a propane smell. Well it turns out that a lot of people have used propane for years as a a/c gas. This is really dangerous!!! He also said that the systems are identical designs and the most important thing is to run them every couple of months, or the seals dry up and they develop leaks.
Good luck

Bird · Aug 23, 2005

Yep, I was surprised about 3 years ago to learn that some auto mechanics were using propane in place of R-12 in some auto air-conditioners. That's scary.

EastTexFrank · Aug 24, 2005

( a lot of people have used propane for years as a a/c gas )

I'd thought that at my time of life that I'd heard of most things but never this. It just proves again that there is no limit to man's ingenuity .... or stupidity. It's strange that we've never heard of a tractor exploding, sending the farmer into orbit.

slowzuki · Aug 30, 2005

Not that crazy, propane has been used as a refrigerant for years commercially. AC's systems using the absorbtion cycle use ammonia in theirs.

hobbyfarm · Aug 30, 2005

( ...I was surprised about 3 years ago to learn that some auto mechanics were using propane in place of R-12 in some auto air-conditioners. That's scary!)

Also, way back when LP was a popular ag fuel, some people would air up their tires with it. Equally scary! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

TMcD_in_MI · Aug 30, 2005

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I'm not seeing what is so dangerous about having propane in an A/C system. Sure, it's flammable, but how is it going to ignite in the system? Even if somehow a spark were to occur inside the system, there's not going to be enough oxygen in there to support combustion. And if you get a leak, how is that any more dangerous than a propane leak in a propane-fueled vehicle, or a gasoline leak in a gas powered tractor?

I admit, it sounds strange at first, but in reality, I'm sure it's no more dangerous than any other use of propane.

Tom