keeping tractor from being stolen
- Thread starter BWS
- Start date
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Boondox
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 3,871
- Location
- Craftsbury Common, Vermont
- Tractor
- Deere 4044R cab, Kubota KX-121-3S
Congratulations! Sounds like an update of your profile is in order.
Can't offer much help on this topic. I keep Clementine out of the weather...and as a result out of sight. But it's so rural here that we only get five or six cars driving up this way on a busy week. I figured the odds of any of those lost souls even knowing how to start up and drive a tractor is pretty slim. If I got really suspicious I suppose parking the tractor with the mid PTO engaged and the key hidden would foil all but the most determined sorts...but they'd have to get past the dogs first!
Anyway, congrats again. Sounds like a fantastic tractor!
Pete
Can't offer much help on this topic. I keep Clementine out of the weather...and as a result out of sight. But it's so rural here that we only get five or six cars driving up this way on a busy week. I figured the odds of any of those lost souls even knowing how to start up and drive a tractor is pretty slim. If I got really suspicious I suppose parking the tractor with the mid PTO engaged and the key hidden would foil all but the most determined sorts...but they'd have to get past the dogs first!
Anyway, congrats again. Sounds like a fantastic tractor!
Pete
I park the tractor hidden out of sight as much as possible and then turn the steering to one extreme or the other prefereably turned towards something immovable. Then I loop a rather significant coiled cable around the steering wheel and the nearest significant part of the front end loader. I also use at least a five pin lock. I have also looped a large cable though the rear wheel and to the corner of my building. I quit doing that after I stress tested that corner of the building.
Greg
Greg
rdbrumfield
Veteran Member
Putting a master switch on the battery cables located in an unlikely place might help.
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
I've always operated on the theory that thieves are first lazy and then sneaky. A hidden switch works wonders. I personally carry keys for JCB, Caterpillar, John Deere, Case, equipment on my key ring. Those just about cover all there is there most days. I'm not the only one. I assume the thieves do too.
That's where a hidden switch or something really simple that cripples the tractor works wonders. When I have to leave my tractor at a construction site I use a Kryptonite cable to lock up the safety bar. That means they can't move it without cutting the cable. I also throw the rocker switches for the lights and emergency brake. That takes some of the silent and sneak out of moving it.
But a simple hidden toggle switch to the starter circuit behind, say a locked hood, or inside a locked tool box means they have to take the time to hunt and remove locks. They're lazy. Chances are they are gonna go on down the street for something not quite so contrary.
That's where a hidden switch or something really simple that cripples the tractor works wonders. When I have to leave my tractor at a construction site I use a Kryptonite cable to lock up the safety bar. That means they can't move it without cutting the cable. I also throw the rocker switches for the lights and emergency brake. That takes some of the silent and sneak out of moving it.
But a simple hidden toggle switch to the starter circuit behind, say a locked hood, or inside a locked tool box means they have to take the time to hunt and remove locks. They're lazy. Chances are they are gonna go on down the street for something not quite so contrary.
soarkrebel
Gold Member
I keep mine in my shop. and i keep the insurance up.
a locking shop is great. or your garage.
On mine they are going to have to get it started to steal it cause the FEL bucket is down and it always has a implement on it lowered. i think that comes out to around 4000 lbs. no key in site ! now hot wire ? yeah i guess but i got a good old country nieghbor that knows if i'm home or not. he has a shotgun!
a locking shop is great. or your garage.
On mine they are going to have to get it started to steal it cause the FEL bucket is down and it always has a implement on it lowered. i think that comes out to around 4000 lbs. no key in site ! now hot wire ? yeah i guess but i got a good old country nieghbor that knows if i'm home or not. he has a shotgun!
tiltbed
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
- Messages
- 83
- Location
- Ohio
- Tractor
- ford 3000,case SI..Just purchased a 404 Futon (40 hp 4wd) with a koyker FEL
congrats on the new "bota"...i keep the 3000 at the "farm" don`t have a pole barn yet)this spring i hope) when the new Kioti arrives...lol..I have a master sw I installed on the ground side also a remote fuel turn off.But lets face it..any deterrant just keeps honest folks honest.....Sid
As has been mentioned above security devices generally stop the more honest thieves (if they exist), with the really determined thief the more you can slow him down the better.
I would definitely install the cutoff switch.
To make somebody think twice I would add one of these wheel locks (see link below and attachment).
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standarditem.jhtmlid=0001921012240a&navAction=jump&navCount=0&indexId=&podId=0001921&catalogCode=ID&parentId=&parentType=&rid=>http://www.cabelas.com/...</A>
During my undergrad years one of my roommates worked for a company that would apply these locks, but the ones they used had a large circular thick metal plate that blocked access to the lug nuts. It was a college town and parking on and around campus was next to nothing and the apartment parking lots were to small to get a tow truck in so the apartments that where close to campus employed his company to keep people out of their parking lots. I'm not sure which company made the heavier duty ones.
You could put this lock on the front tire and it would deter many potential thieves.
Clint.
I would definitely install the cutoff switch.
To make somebody think twice I would add one of these wheel locks (see link below and attachment).
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standarditem.jhtmlid=0001921012240a&navAction=jump&navCount=0&indexId=&podId=0001921&catalogCode=ID&parentId=&parentType=&rid=>http://www.cabelas.com/...</A>
During my undergrad years one of my roommates worked for a company that would apply these locks, but the ones they used had a large circular thick metal plate that blocked access to the lug nuts. It was a college town and parking on and around campus was next to nothing and the apartment parking lots were to small to get a tow truck in so the apartments that where close to campus employed his company to keep people out of their parking lots. I'm not sure which company made the heavier duty ones.
You could put this lock on the front tire and it would deter many potential thieves.
Clint.
Attachments
cpicton1
Silver Member
My brother-in-law leaves his old rusty AC WD setting in plain view of the road. He just takes the battery out. We don't know if they don't want the rusty old AC or if they just don't carry a spare battery around with them. Nobody has ever bothered it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
centex
Gold Member
I had planned to set my rear wheels to the widest position which would make the tractor too wide to fit on anything but a flatbed truck but then I decided that it would make it too hard for me to transport the tractor so I just park it out of sight of the road and hope no one bothers it. The longer I have it the less I worry about it. Tonight I left it in the woods down by the creek with a post hole auger burried in the ground. You have to go through several locked gates to got to it.
