Cutter storage outdoors???

[F350Lawman]

I have an LX-5 cutter w/ slip clutch that I need to store outside. It was just taking up TOO much space in the garage. No other option as the shed is full and I am not int eh market for astorage building right now.<br>

I have it outside now up on 4" x 4"s so it is not resting on the ground. It is covered with the a tarp and I greased up the exposed end of the PTO shaft.

Should I loosen the plates on the slip clutch. What about removing the PTO shaft. How do you guys who store stuff outside do it?

 

[Soundguy]

Greasing hte pto shaft end is good. Setting ont he 4x4's good as well. I also leave my 5' KK outside in the same fashion. I make sure the paint is intact, ( and that includes the underside. After each season, I stand it up, hose off the grass, and then hit it with a cheap dollar can o- spray paint.. seals it good.. I paint hte blades as well. and When I put it away, If I have sharpened since painting, I dab some grease on the blades

If I had a slip clutch and wasn't going to be using it for the 'winter'.. I'd remove it and bring it in.. or at least loosen it, and also treat it with that slip clutch 'lube'.

I buy a type of sprayable high film strength grease.. chevron makes it though I'm sure many others do to.. it is an open chain/gear lube. I spray the pto ends, and the u-joints with it ( and hit a few shots of greeae in the u-joints before I put it away for the winter.

I put a plastic grocery bag over the pto yoke end, and rubber band it on.. keeps the grease from attracting dirt... fresh in the spring as soon as you pull the bag off.

good luck.. I'm sure you will get other good ideas.

Soundguy

 

[Magruder]

Sounds like you have it pretty well covered. I hate storing stuff outside but attachments can take alot of space.

 

[slowzuki]

The farmer I used to work for leaves his bushhog and blower outside, all year, no preparation, on gravel. Works just fine. The baler, haybine, manure spreader, tedder and rake live in the machine shed.
Ken

 

[RoyJackson]

"The farmer I used to work for leaves his bushhog and blower outside, all year, no preparation, on gravel"

So do most of the dealers around here...new equipment, used stuff...doesn't make any difference.

Me? Got a garage for the tractor and finishing mower. Cutter stays in an out building, back blade sits pretty much where I leave it.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Should I loosen the plates on the slip clutch. What about removing the PTO shaft. How do you guys who store stuff outside do it? </font>
My cutter sits outside on a pallet to keep it off the ground.

 

[ejb]

>>The farmer I used to work for leaves his bushhog and blower outside, all year, no preparation, on gravel. Works just fine. The baler, haybine, manure spreader, tedder and rake live in the machine shed.

I asked my JD dealer about this one time, why farmers (at least in my area) were prone to leaving 40-50-60K or more machines sitting out all year round...his answer was that a lot of them don't have insurance on the equipment, and if a barn burns down it takes all the equipment with it. Sitting out in a field may cause it to rust prematurely, but rarely does it cause a catastophic loss.

I like to keep what I can in my shop, but when a big storm (with wind) comes around, I will move my Jd5410 out away from the big trees 'cause I also don't insure mine either. (and there is a few massive 200+ year old sugar maples towering over my shop/barn area).

It is funny that people fret about getting their tractors wet, and yet they often sit on the dealers lot for 6-12 months or more in the weather with no adverse affects....

 

[botaman2]

Sounds like you covered all of the bases.The only added thing I would do is to remove the PTO-shaft and clutch for inside storage. I have found that using plastic bags with tie's create condensation. If vented on the bottom not bad,then bags disappear.

 

[Soundguy]

A liberal coating of grease on the pto yoke takes care of condensation. I use a chevron spray-greasy.. displaces water, and cures to a sticky coating.. great for exposed gears and chains.... slip the bag on.. and rubber band and forget..

I agree though about the slip clutch.... no way to preserve it outside...it'll stick bad..

Soundguy

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have found that using plastic bags with tie's create condensation )</font>

 

[jimg]

I did exactly what you did w/ my finish mower. There just wasnt any room inside even if I collapsed it a bit. I set mine in the garden on old chimney tiles. That got it well off the ground. I left the wheels on it (the inflatable kind) but this w/e Im going to remove them to the shop. I also removed the PTO shaft which Im going to clean/lube and store in the shop. I did fail to grease the shaft stub on the mower though. The only problem w/ keeping things under a tarp is that moisture collects and can't evaporate off. For this reason I left the tarp a bit short in spots...not all the tarp is right to the ground.