Rotary Cutter Keeping Outdoors

[PearlWhiteGT]

Ever since I've owned my little New Holland T1510 with 5ft Brush Hog I've kept it in my garage at home. My garage is starting to get pretty full and have been debating if I should just leave the cutter out at the ranch where I use it at and just bring the tractor back home. If I leave the cuter out there it will be under a covered area but no concrete. It would be on top of dirt. My idea was to elevate it off the ground with cement blocks.

What issues could I run into with leaving stored outdoors? I'm pretty sure I'd have issues with wasps/hornets making nest under it. I'm 50/50 about what I want to do. It could free up some garage space but I don't want any issues with it when I need to use it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[HappyOne]

Paint fade for any sun that gets to it. More rust on exposed metal. If you don't clean it everwhere some moisture might cause rust. Other than that, critters might live under it. I keep my brush hog outside and after 10 years its pretty faded. But I grease it and it still works fine. Lots of people leave stuff outside. Just do it and enjoy the extra space.

 

[Tinhack]

Indoor storage is not an option for me. All my stuff sits outside. Some implements are more prone to rust than others, but a good coat of good automotive wax will extend the life of painted implements.

 

[John0829]

Mine sits in an open shed with concrete floor, it sits up on some blocks of wood. Other than some slightly faded paint it is fine, I do cover the slip clutch to keep any rain that might blow in off. As for stuff getting under it all I have ever found are spiders and leaves.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

It's a Modern Ag Galvanized Cutter so no paint on it. Would that be an issue?

 

[JJT]

Tractor and chipper are in the shop, all other implements are stored outside on a concrete pad, uncovered. That's the way it's been for 25 years. I'd love more garage space, but hate to pay the taxes. I already have 2500 sq feet of garage and shop.

 

[jaxs]

Keeping top side of deck free of grass clippings helps when storing out doors. Underside of deck should be cleaned and possibly oiled for seasonal storage indoors or outdoors.

 

[WoodDuck]

I think you're on the right track of storing it raised on blocks if storing it on dirt. Setting it on some blocks or a large skid would allow more airflow under it, to help keep condensation down. Makes it less appealing to critters looking for a home site too.

 

[tradosaurus]

 

[Oaktree]

Indoor storage is not an option for me. All my stuff sits outside. Some implements are more prone to rust than others, but a good coat of good automotive wax will extend the life of painted implements.

Same here. I tarp it, and put it on blocks and it's no worse for wear than it was when I got it close to 20 years ago. It was bought used, and I suspect the PO never stored it under cover either.

 

[nova3930]

I don't worry too much about a tractor that's under cover much less implements. Garage kept is a luxury for tractor and gear to me....

 

[Rustyiron]

Get a wood 8' 4x4 to cut into 4 pieces to set the mower on.
You mentioned that it'll be under cover. You'll be fine.

 

[jyoutz]

Mine sits under a carport next to the barn. Gravel on ground and sitting on steel pipes so it’s elevated above the gravel. Some snow blows in on the cutter, but it seems to weather the winter ok.

 

[CoryB]

My 72-inch cutter sits on a couple of side-by-side pallets in the side yard.

My wife has 2 cats (I don't claim them as I am allergic to them) and buys cat litter in big yellow plastic buckets. I took two of the empty buckets and cut notches in them to fit over the gearbox and slip clutch/u-joint assemblies. It may look a little strange, but they don't blow off, even in stiff winds, and they keep rain out.

 

[Chewwy]

I have never seen a tractor or implements under cover at a dealership unless it is actually being worked on.

 

[diesel85]

My neighbor down the road has kept his bushhog sitting outside since they bought it 25 years ago. Does the paint look nice? Nope. Does it chop down brush when used? Yep without any issues.

Just some good grease, check the slip clutch, and let'r rip.

 

[oosik]

I have limited covered space. So..... I put everything with moving parts under cover. The remainder - out in the orchard on pallets. Riding mower, ATV, chipper, tractor, grapple, rear blade - covered. ROBB, disk harrow, moldboard plow, LPGS - on pallets.

 

[jyoutz]

I have never seen a tractor or implements under cover at a dealership unless it is actually being worked on.

But presumably they are sold and don’t stay there outside year after year.

 

[mcfarmall]

I build huts from gigantic pallets for implements to sit on. Here's one before I got the steel roof put on.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

Thanks fellas, I purchased some cement blocks that should keep it about 10" off the ground.