keeping tractor from being stolen

   / keeping tractor from being stolen #11  
I also have an old tractor (IHC) that I park behind some trees and I take the battery out. No one bothers it.
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #12  
Unless you are in business and using it for that purpose, your tractor and implements should be covered under your homeowner's policy against theft under the contents coverage of your HO policy.

However, there may be some fine print involved. For instance, my agent says that it should be kept in my barn when not in use. The barn should be locked (just like your house) at all times so that there will be evidence of forced entry if someone breaks in and steals it. Absent evidence of forced entry, it is questionable if the insurance company will pay for the loss.

Also, check with your agent to make sure you have REPLACEMENT COST COVERAGE on your contents. That way, if something is stolen, the company has to pay the cost to buy a brand new tractor of the same type rather than knocking off for depreciation because of age.

The funny thing, the increased coverage (replacement cost) does not really cost that much more. Check with the agent who sells you your homeowners policy to make sure you have all of the bases covered. Also photographs of the contents your barn or garage (as well as your house)are helpful since if someone cleans you out, you may not remember every single tool that you had until you go to look for something two months after you have cashed the claim check.

Remember, there has to be evidence of forced entry or the insurance company does not pay. Make sure the cops get that down in the report if you do have a breakin so the insurance company cannot weasel out of paying. A broken window, jimmied door, destroyed lock, etc. are evidence of forced entry. If the crook picks your lock you might have a problem. Again, discuss your options carefully with your insurance agent to get the best possible advice and read your policy to make sure you actually have what the agent says he sold you.
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #13  
I have a real sneaky way to protect my NH 1920.. but it only works on some of the newer tractors.

The NH 1920 ( like many others ) is one of those key off, shutdown types.. there is a fuel cutoff solenoid.

An extra toggle switch in that system makes it impossible to start.

It is power steeringand is hard to drag / steer without it being running.

About the only thing that wold get it is a tilting bed car hauler.

Usually I keep my tractor in the barn, behind a few locked gates, and there is my friendly longhorn and a few dogs in the pasture to boot.

I did leave my tractor out at another pasture I was discing once, and left it parked at the extreme edge ( back ) of the pasture in a stand of trees. I felt that it was an out of site / mind thing and that if they did see it, they wouldn't be able to get a truck / trailer back the 1000+" to it to get it as I had the pasture disked into oblivion... I doubt anything short of a 'monster' truck, tractor, or something with tracks could have gotten back their easilly.

Soundguy
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #14  
I will be the first to admit that I am not the brightest bulb in the box...we have a wooded lot that we are putting a driveway in so we can clear out a section to build on...the wife and I were talking about how to make sure the tractor won't disappear since we have no place to store it and the property is off a main highway...I tells the wife I will just place big rocks across the drive with the tractor so they can't get the tractor out...wifey says if they get the tractor started can't they move the rocks with it also? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #16  
I keep my NH TC35D in a locked barn. I also pull out the main fuse which disables everything. They could always jump the missing fuse, but hopefully all of the hurdles will discourage some thieves.
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #17  
On the 35D and other w/ operator safety switch
under seat, put a pc of wood under seat so switch
is open.
Leave the PTO levers slightly engaged so the
switch is open and range selector in gear, this
makes it difficult to trouble shoot in the dark.
This works so well my dad couldn't get it running
thought battery was bad :)

I keep all my equipment inside the 40x60 shop
or 30x54 polebarn unless I have to leave on a job.
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #18  
In addition, you could use manual fuel cutoff on the separator bowl on the ClassIII Boomers.
Mark
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #19  
Soundguy,

That is a great idea. Won't work for Kubota, though. The fuel solenoid on a Kubota pulls in electrically when the key is shut off. It stays pulled in for less than 10 seconds, then releases. Kubota owners, that's the click you hear after the engine shuts down. This way, Kubota can use a small light duty, spring return solenoid. It has a very short duty cycle. Staying on for any period of time would burn it up. New Holland's must use a double acting solenoid for the trick to work for you.

Nick
 
   / keeping tractor from being stolen #20  
Illusion and confusion are very effective methods. On my tool shed I have a typical 4-pin master lock. I carefully cut the key in two pieces and shoved the important part back into the lock just as if you broke it off in their. Just long enough to operate the pins. Now I keep it locked all the time because I can open it with anything I am carrying like my pocket knife. I have a small screwdrive hiding in a nearby spot for opening it too. Not guaranteed but I think most people will assume its functional and not even consider picking it. Slows them down, I hope, and greatly speeds me up. never need a key.

I also turned off the fuel back at the tank. Then later I forgot and ran out of fuel about 100 yards away. May keep them from driving it home but they could certainly get it on a flatbed or trailer.. and back off!

I like the idea of a hidden switch or battery dissconnect.

High degrees of effectiveness are reached by doing several little things at once. I would venture that most theives start their caper with some type of notion about how much time they plan to spend on doing it. The idea is to increase their time spent by making them go through Plan A, Plan B, C......The amateurs and/or opportunists start getting real nervous quickly and the determined ones can still be fustrated. By the time they gets the wood out from under the seat, dissengages the pto safety switch, determine there is a broke off key in the ignition /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif hooks the battery up, turns the lights off, cuts the cable or chain off the steering wheel, lifted the implements, gets the fuel cut back on, thinks he hears the dog, figures out the joystick lock for the loader, and if during daylight got past my pet attack-man-on-sight game rooster he could be right spooked and leave. The idea is to raise his nervousness level by slowing him down and slowing them down even a little bit can be quite effective.


Greg
 

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