How do you wash your tractor??

[Sherweld]

I might have missed it in the earlier replies, but the pressure washing nozzle I use virtually all the time is a rotating type which spins a fine high pressure stream so rapidly that it appears to be a cone coming out of the nozzle.

The stream is aggressive enough to do some good, but it doesn't stay in one spot long enough to damage paint, seals, wood, etc. (unless held too close or too long of course)

The prices range all over the map, but Northern lists one here NorthStar Rotox Pressure Washer Nozzle 1900 PSI, 3.43 GPM | Nozzles | Northern Tool + Equipment I haven't used theirs so I can't say anything about it. The last one I bought was at least three times their price. But as expensive as they are, I wouldn't be without one.

Hope that helps
Sherweld

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

that's my favorite tip....does a great job......sounds like a larg bumble bee.....

I might have missed it in the earlier replies, but the pressure washing nozzle I use virtually all the time is a rotating type which spins a fine high pressure stream so rapidly that it appears to be a cone coming out of the nozzle.

The stream is aggressive enough to do some good, but it doesn't stay in one spot long enough to damage paint, seals, wood, etc. (unless held too close or too long of course)

The prices range all over the map, but Northern lists one here NorthStar Rotox Pressure Washer Nozzle 1900 PSI, 3.43 GPM | Nozzles | Northern Tool + Equipment I haven't used theirs so I can't say anything about it. The last one I bought was at least three times their price. But as expensive as they are, I wouldn't be without one.

Hope that helps
Sherweld

 

[George2615]

If I want it washed I park it outside and hope for rain.

 

[Nwood]

Same way I iron my sheets.

D

 

[Steve_Miller]

I washed my engine bonnet once and it looked so good I thought I may have to take the loader off so it didn't look so bad. Lesson learned.

Steve

 

[Deerlope]

I don't know, my wife does mine.

 

[AndyMA]

I let the nayural rain wash mine. Ocassionally if very muddy I use a hose. There are pressure washers that "suck" on the inley and can feed themselves from a pond or tank. Perhaps you could change pumps.

Andy

 

[HCJ]

Thanks Jake for the reply. My cistern is also elevated about 3 feet. Maybe I can just draw water from it to my gasoline pressure washer. I was just afraid of damaging the pump since the operating manual specifically states a certain psi and flow is needed. Has anyone else drawn water from a tank directly to a regular pressure washer? And of course I don't blast my electrical lines or seals, and I too hate dirty equipment. And yes, you may laugh, but I have even waxed my tractor.

I pressure wash using rainbarrel water.
the head of the rain barrel (45 gallon) is typically about 3 or 4 feet above the powerwasher. The powerwasher is one of those typical electric ones that cost $150.
I do make sure to use a screen in the garden hose (same type screen that is used in a washing machine hose.)
to prevent floating debris from rainbarrel getting into hose.
But I also cover top opening of rainbarrel with bugscreen so actually very little debris gets "rained" into barrel.
I have no probelm with pressure, the unit bumps up the pressure to sufficent amount to wash mud off the tractor once a month. I wash my truck that way too ! Better than using well water !


jake

 

[drivadesl]

Nothing wrong with wanting your equipment to look good. I paid a wad of money for my TN and I want it to last. Same for my pickup, I wash it when its muddy so it doesn't rust out and the same for my tractor. I'll even wax it once a season. OK I draw the line at wiping down the tires with that shiney stuff...

 

[BruceWard]

Some days it rains.

 

[firedog]

Pressure washer only on the box blade & loader bucket, water hose on the tractor itself. no wax.

Blistered all the feathers off the chicken, boy was he torked.
Now he has to sleep with the dog. He's mad too.

 

[john_bud]

Oh, the comments I could make on that....... If in fact it IS a law, I'm quite certain it's been enacted in the last 4 weeks.

Now I'd better be quiet a'fore this'n goes all political!

In the "Spendulous" bill page 666.

jb


Oh, I would use a gas powered leaf blower to blow off the big chunks and dust. Use the normal water spray for the fertilizer residue.

jb

 

[smfcpacfp]

I also pressure wash mine. I keep it inside my garage, so washing it keeps more dirt out of the garage.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

When ever this washing stuff comes up, I am continually baffled at how many of you don't wash your tractors. I guess I understand the guys that just don't have the time, but everyone else? Do you guys that don't wash your tractors wash your trucks, or those don't get washed either?

These things cost a lot of money, why let them rot faster then they already are? Resale is talked about a lot on TBN, resale has to be more for a well taken care of machine.

I suppose that I look at you guys that don't wash your tractors the same way that you look at those of us that do. I have a question for all of you. Would you not prefer to start the day out with a clean tractor rather than one that has dirt, mud, whatever on it? I know that I do and there have been times when I have washed the tractor right before I took it out to work for the day.

I know that some of you think that I'm (we're) nuts. I'm not saying to wash the thing every time that it gets used, but at least once in awhile.
Me, my tractors that are kept inside get cleaned when they get fairly dirty, (to me anyway) about once a month or so. The bigger ones that have to stay outside get washed off once or twice a year.

Oh, and I use both a pressure washer with a wide fan spray and just a hose with a spray nozzle. Sort of depends on how much time I have and how dirty it really is.

Just my take on these things, others will vary.

 

[emmy71]

We have no well and no electricity at our 300 acre hunting property. I have built a pole barn to store our equipment and now have a 250 gallon aboveground cistern to collect rainwater, so water is now available. I have a small Honda water pump (WX10) that produces up to 43 psi so I can hose off dirt and fertilizer residue, about the power of a regular garden hose. My question is how to run a pressure washer with this system. My pressure washer requires a mimimal inflow of 5gpm at 20 psi. If I hook the pressure washer directly up to the cistern, there is not near that much pressure, so I am afraid I will damage my pressure washer. I have run my little Honda pump to feed the pressure washer but that's a lot of trouble to keep two engines running. Is there any other way you guys have seen this done. I see the portable auto detailing type rigs. How do they feed their pressure washers? Or do they have a different type machine that will draw water from a tank? Surely there is a simple way do do this. Do any of you guys have any experience with running a pressure washer from a tank? I would rather not have to buy anything costly to do this. My Honda pump is adequate, but sometimes it would be nice to have the pressure washer to really clean that caked red clay. Thanks!

I sent you a PM that may help.

Terry

 

[Blagadan]

Nothing wrong with keeping your tractor clean.

For me, its been engrained into me by my father. He always kept his machinery clean. Even down to his hand tools. I never really understood it until I had my own kids.
Use the tool, clean it, and put it back in its place ready for next time. "a place for everything and everything in its place".

I admit I dont wash the tractor often, but i do use the PW for knocking heavy mud off the wheels, tyres and axles from time to time using a medium pressure, fan pattern. My PW also has the conical high pressure "bumblebee" nozzle, but I would not point that thing within 10 ft of anything mechanical. It is very agressive. I use a rag and wd40 to keep the rest of the tractor clean. The WD40 leaves a thin film of oil on the surfaces which protects it. I dont really like using pressure washers on machinery as a rule, but as said above, using common sense you'll probably be ok.

One time I used my electric PW with a tank of water and the pressure washer didnt like the lack of pressure on the feed side. Every so often it'd choke up and complain. I have not used it that way since.
I prefer to hire a gas powered pressure washer that does not require pressure fed water where a water supply is not readily available.

 

[warhammer]

I wish I had water out at the farm so I could wash the tractor. At $3k+ to put the meter in at the road and 2500 feet or so of trenching and pipe to run it to anywhere near the barn there are some other projects that come first.
I am hoping to get water put in next year. Until then its the very occasional cleaning unfortunately.

Warhammer

When ever this washing stuff comes up, I am continually baffled at how many of you don't wash your tractors. I guess I understand the guys that just don't have the time, but everyone else? Do you guys that don't wash your tractors wash your trucks, or those don't get washed either?

These things cost a lot of money, why let them rot faster then they already are? Resale is talked about a lot on TBN, resale has to be more for a well taken care of machine.

I suppose that I look at you guys that don't wash your tractors the same way that you look at those of us that do. I have a question for all of you. Would you not prefer to start the day out with a clean tractor rather than one that has dirt, mud, whatever on it? I know that I do and there have been times when I have washed the tractor right before I took it out to work for the day.

I know that some of you think that I'm (we're) nuts. I'm not saying to wash the thing every time that it gets used, but at least once in awhile.
Me, my tractors that are kept inside get cleaned when they get fairly dirty, (to me anyway) about once a month or so. The bigger ones that have to stay outside get washed off once or twice a year.

Oh, and I use both a pressure washer with a wide fan spray and just a hose with a spray nozzle. Sort of depends on how much time I have and how dirty it really is.

Just my take on these things, others will vary.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I wish I had water out at the farm so I could wash the tractor. At $3k+ to put the meter in at the road and 2500 feet or so of trenching and pipe to run it to anywhere near the barn there are some other projects that come first.
I am hoping to get water put in next year. Until then its the very occasional cleaning unfortunately.

Warhammer

Obviously in your situation washing would be a low priority, I was talking about people that either don't have the time or mainly the people that just don't seem to care.

When we first got our place, our main concern was to get storage containers in place and water pumping from the well. (we put up a windmill) Until that happened, believe me washing a tractor was the last thing on my mind.

 

[kenmac]

Washed mine today. Same way I wash my vehicles...By hand

 

[HCJ]

I wish I had water out at the farm so I could wash the tractor. At $3k+ to put the meter in at the road and 2500 feet or so of trenching and pipe to run it to anywhere near the barn there are some other projects that come first.
I am hoping to get water put in next year. Until then its the very occasional cleaning unfortunately.

Warhammer

We had the same issue, too much cost to have water and electricity. I put gutters on our pole barn and built a simple platform for a poly tank (250 gallons) from Northern. In a 1" rain last week, my tank was filled. I have a special screen that is self cleaning and keeps leaves and debris out. Costs were very minimal. Now I don't have to transport my tractor and implements to clean them. This is especially nice when fertilizer is used. Its amazing how many gallons can be collected from 1" of rain. If I remember correctly, I believe you get .66 gal. per 1 sq. ft. of roof.