How to keep a tractor from getting stolen?

[paulfun9]

A hidden fuel line shut off with the main fuse pulled and parked in a manner that makes towing it out a hard task. Most thieves will try to drive it out and many will look for one trick like the main fuse but not many will take the time to look for two. If it was mine I would definitely look into buying an old box truck or container to park it in if it was going to be way out there with no one watching it. You know what they say out of site out of mind.

 

[aczlan]

If there is at least 1 tree of any size, back the tractor up to is and put the bucket face down all the way. Using a simple kill switch method as mentioned in above posts so it won't start, a simple tow truck won't be able to just take it away with the bucket face down.

Meh, put the loader in float and any tow truck worth its salt could lift the loader out of the ground and you could then chain it up...

I can't recall the manufacturers name right now but a company makes a steering cylinder lock. After parking, the operator turns the steering wheel to one side so the lock goes over the long portion of the rod. Makes it especially difficult to steal because they can't just winch it on a trailer with the wheels turned to the side. Fairly common item on construction sites.

That could work great, could be done with a piece of C channel and a couple of long hasp padlocks. Just paint the inside of the C channel with rubberized undercoating so it doesn't mess up the cylinder.

Aaron Z

 

[Sysop]

Take the key out :confused3:

Key on most units is a safety feature to prevent kids from getting hurt. It isn't a security type key cylinder like you find on an automobile. Most tractors, the keys are brand specific, and most brands have only two or three key styles. You could buy two dozen $5 keys from ebay and then be able to start, quite literally, 90% of the operable tractors in the USA.

Insurance is best, anything else can easily be defeated. Best grade chain ever made doesn't take long to go through with a 18-20V grinder and cutting wheel. Disabling things only prevents them from using your own fuel to assist in stealing the unit. Trying to track it down or locate people from security images or GPS is sketchy at best.

Around here most folk just "take their chances" and leave em any which way and nobody else bothers stuff most of the time. With equipment, it seems the most common thing is small, easy to lift parts end up missing from units. Lots of pins and small specialty parts unique to a particular make or model will come up missing, and that is mostly on dealer lots. My Mahindra dealer at one time I was in there was not in the greatest of moods because someone came along at night and put a jack under the backhoe buckets of three tractors, lifted them up enough to take pressure off their top pins and set them down on wood blocks and stole the top pins that hold the backhoe into their subframes. They are not a typical pin, they are actually an odd shaped piece of 1/2" flatbar with a handle made on top and a pinhole in the bottom for a standard lynch pin. When I had showed up he was in the process of removing the backhoes until replacement parts could arrive because he didn't like having the buckets setting on blocks to hold them up.

 

[TomSeller]

Some of my tractors are old beaters only a metal recycler could love. Maybe I should leave those at the remote farms.

 

[williaty]

Don't bother with the steering wheel locks/Club device (on a tractor or a car). It's easy to break the steering wheel to defeat the lock and it's still easy to drive.

You really face two challenges. The one people have been talking about is how to prevent someone from removing the tractor. From personal experience trying to protect cars and trailers, taking the wheel is your best bet as it makes it a pain in the *** for pretty much any theft method. Removing a fuse or otherwise making it a no-start just keeps people from joyriding. If they really want the thing, they'll tow it.

The second problem that no one is talking about is keeping people from taking pieces of the tractor. Starting last harvest, this has suddenly become a HUGE problem around here! Farmers will leave equipment (expensive equipment like combines, big tractors) in the fields overnight and come back in the morning to find them stripped of all scrap-able metal. All the wiring ripped out, any aluminum bits taken, etc. Even things like the radiators/oil coolers since they usually have high copper content. For this problem, you really have no choice other than to put the tractor in a box or have someone stand guard all night. I agree with the suggestion to get a shipping container (if the ROPS can be folded low enough). A lot of the farmers have no choice but to stand guard, which led to an 80 year old woman holding a bunch of tweakers at gunpoint until the Sheriff showed up. Busting that group did reduce the frequency but now that the idea is in the wild, it's going to be an ongoing problem.

 

[GManBart]

I can't recall the manufacturers name right now but a company makes a steering cylinder lock. After parking, the operator turns the steering wheel to one side so the lock goes over the long portion of the rod. Makes it especially difficult to steal because they can't just winch it on a trailer with the wheels turned to the side. Fairly common item on construction sites.

Something like this?

Ram Locks for construction and agricultural machinery

 

[bdog]

I would t worry a whole lot if you live there. Do you have a fence and gate to your place? I do and I often leave my machines outside with the key in the ignition and they are visible from a fairly busy road. They are right by my house though, our gate is usually closed, and someone is usually home.

 

[Wagtail]

The second problem that no one is talking about is keeping people from taking pieces of the tractor. Starting last harvest, this has suddenly become a HUGE problem around here! Farmers will leave equipment (expensive equipment like combines, big tractors) in the fields overnight and come back in the morning to find them stripped of all scrap-able metal. All the wiring ripped out, any aluminum bits taken, etc. Even things like the radiators/oil coolers since they usually have high copper content. A lot of the farmers have no choice but to stand guard.

Wow! I've heard of a few random copper/metal thefts as of late, here in Tassie, but it's been limited to the 'big smokes' where the drug 'ice' is becoming prevalent. Mind you, tractor thefts are somewhat rare here due to Tasmania being an island... they really can't get too far. :laughing:

 

[skyhook]

Slap a few stickers on it, (get some made up )......

 

[KenB2920]

Don't bother with the steering wheel locks/Club device (on a tractor or a car). It's easy to break the steering wheel to defeat the lock and it's still easy to drive.

DUH!!! Very valid point, I forgot they were plastic. Looks like Id be taking a tire is I needed a method. Putting the loader down and tilting the bucket back a tow truck will still be able to take it away.

Oh well. I guess this is why I have insurance and leave the key in mine at my house.