How often should I start it?

[1st Tractor]

I'm new to tractors, I just got my 1st one last fall (max 26 XLT). I haven't had the need to use it over the past 3 months so I haven't bothered to start it. I'm wondering if it is best to run these things every week or so just to keep things for freezing up? Generally with my cars if I don't use them over the winter I don't even start them. Not sure if this is a good practice for these small tractors? Anyone have advise they can offer on this topic?

Thanks.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Only start it when you need to use it. Since majority of wear on an engine is done at startup, the less starting the longer the engine will last. Some of our farm tractors would set all winter and start up fine in the spring and they would go well over 10,000 hours without any issues.

I only start anything with an engine when I need it.
PS: You may need to keep a battery tender on it to keep the battery charged up especially if the battery is a few years old.

 

[oosik]

I last started my Kubota M6040 at the end of Sept, 2019. The way things are going - I won't be starting it again until some time in April. I DO keep a battery tender on the battery.

 

[1st Tractor]

Sounds good to me! Thanks for the prompt replies!

 

[RNeumann]

I last started my Kubota M6040 at the end of Sept, 2019. The way things are going - I won't be starting it again until some time in April. I DO keep a battery tender on the battery.

Yep that’s my only thought- a little smart battery charger

 

[fried1765]

I last started my Kubota M6040 at the end of Sept, 2019. The way things are going - I won't be starting it again until some time in April. I DO keep a battery tender on the battery.

Same here!
Put the three of them away in October, and start them again in late April.
Battery Tender/Battery Minder on tractors, and everything else that has a 6V or 12V battery.

 

[skipmarcy]

Besides maintaining the battery you should make sure the fuel tank is as full as possible to avoid condensation and have some sort of additive to keep your fuel from growing algae. Also would do something to help keep mice etc. from destroying random parts of your tractor. I use mine year 'round but even in less than a month's time one winter a mouse pulled a lot of stuffing out of my $400 + seat. Just sayin ....

 

[gdrew]

If you store your machine in a building that isn't heated or outside where the temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing and you do start your tractor, you should always to run it up to operating temperature for a minimum of 20 minutes. Short run times don't allow the engine to heat up enough to burn off the condensation from the oil. Climates where its very cold (freezing) or very warm and dry during long spells of storage its less of an issue.

Some motorcycles have engine oil sight glasses. You can see the oil turning white through the glass on the bikes people fire up for 2 minutes every few weeks during long winter storage periods. They think the short run is doing the bike good but its actually not. The short run and cool down actually attracts condensation and because they didn't run it long enough to steam off the condensation from the last short run, it builds up.

It's usually not a bad idea to do your oil/fluid changes prior to storage, if the timing is right, rather than waiting until the spring. And don't overlook that brake fluid. If it isn't clear its starting to get contaminated with moisture.

 

[GeneV]

Besides maintaining the battery you should make sure the fuel tank is as full as possible to avoid condensation and have some sort of additive to keep your fuel from growing algae. Also would do something to help keep mice etc. from destroying random parts of your tractor. I use mine year 'round but even in less than a month's time one winter a mouse pulled a lot of stuffing out of my $400 + seat. Just sayin ....

I'm wit this guy ^....throw a tender on the battery, top off the tank. I also pour in some algeacide just in case, and pour in some anti-gelling stuff as well.

Mine's not sitting all winter though, I'm plowing snow with mine.

 

[RalphVa]

Back when we had the 220D Benz, I went on assignment to Singapore for 6 or 9 months. Don't remember which. Back then, I knew squat about battery tenders or even if they existed. I had a small trickle charger. I just took the battery down to the basement and put the trickle charger on it running through 2 electrical timers in series. Think I set both timers about the minimum that I could, probably about an hour each. So, figure it out. The trickle charger only came on every once in a while.

Returned from Singapore. Brought the battery out of the basement and put it in the car. Glowed it with those old fashioned long glow things on the dash for 20 or 30 seconds. Started immediately with about 1/2 turn of the crankshaft as though is was shut down yesterday.

Don't recall topping of the tank or doing anything else. Nary any after effects.

Ralph