Leaving tractor outside in the elements?

[KennyV]

people jump in their cars and
drive across country these days and never even bat an eye.

I have seen some of those folks along the side of the road...

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Yeah right. I remember as a kid Dad tuning up the car, fixing stuff, checking
this and that for a 5 hour ride to the coast. Heck people jump in their cars and
drive across country these days and never even bat an eye. I for one sure am
glad they "don't make'em like they used too". I've got a '91 Ford Explorer with
something like 234K miles on it and still kicking, it also doesn't sit out.

Been buying cars since 1964, over 140. I like em but don't love em. Anyone that would say they used to be better is truly confused. If they were better, where are they now? Same with tractors.

I have seen some of those folks along the side of the road...

I to see some of those but it's so rare that it's unbelievable that they are not every where along the side of the road when you consider the number of people doing it vs the number that used to do it. Those I see on the side of the road are cars that look 20 years old and look like pure junkers. They don't look like they've had any care at all. I grew up in the 60's (car age) and I still can't get over the idea of driving a car out of town with over 60,000 miles. I'm not doing it. Everybody else is but I'm not. I remember the days of tires getting 6000 miles, batterys that lasted a year or maybe two. Screwdriver with big hunks out of them from crossing the solenoid terminal, everybody had at least one. Priming a vapor locked carb. Radio that may pick up the local AM station. Maybe even some high priced cars with A/C and of course 23cents a gallon gas. I also remember driving 23 miles to the next town was done rarely and if you did you took some friends to help push, just in case. Everyone knew how to use a bumper jack and tire tool. I haven't seen a jack on any of my cars in over 20 years. Yeah, they used to be alot better.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
.I don't leave my cars or tractors outside now because I have garages for them but I haven't always had a garage and when I didn't I left them outside, cars that is. I built my tractor bldg before I built my house a little over 6 years ago so my tractors have always had a house to live in but not because I think they'll rot outside.

 

[dodge man]

You still need to take care of newer stuff and maintain, but I agree, in many ways much better now a days. I used to be into older Mopars, 1970 stuff, and anybody that ever set a set of points on a Mopar will appreciate the newer stuff. Anybody that has messed with the stupid automatic chokes on older cars, rebuilding the carbs, setting the lifters on a solid cam, can really appreciate the newer stuff.

 

[apease]

At least in CA, Costco often has a 10wx10hx20l canvas carport for around $250. It's a fairly minimal investment even if just to keep the paint looking new. It's also nice to be able to grease the tractor out of the sun and rain.

 

[Quebeker]

I think the paint finishing might suffer from the sun UV's. If it's not a concern to you, it's not a problem.

I would worry more about the sun effect on the tires. They will age much faster if you let them out without protection. I would definitely find a way to protect them if I had to let my tractor out for a long period of time.

By the way, if you tractor doesn't have a cab, flipping the seat to protect it from the sun, rain, snow or ice is a good practice too.

 

[sailorman]

I 've been leaving my tractor out for a few months now. I have noticed a fading of color on the plastic front cowling cover trim. Probably uv caused.

 

[BruceWard]

Its a tractor. I do a lot more damage working in the woods for a few hours than a few months of sitting outside would do to it. Our 50s Massey and 60s New Holland are just fine after a combined century of living outside.

 

[skipmarcy]

My tractor was almost a year old when I bought it new in 2002 and the red was already on it's way to pink - obviously had been on a dealer's lot. The plastic was and is the worst to fade. My tractor has lived it's life totally outside, maybe half the time in shade and other than the paint fading and some rust here & there it's not in too bad of shape. In my opinion keeping the direct sun off it and keeping the mice from eating your seat & wiring are the main concerns, the rest is just "natural" for a tractor.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Always remember to use the link that props the clutch open, or it might rust weld itself together. There is a little knobby under the clutch housing for draining water. Check your operator's manual. To protect the finish from rain and UV, use something like Nu-Finish twice a year. Use UV protectant on the tires, seats and plastic trim. Leave the hydraulic pistons folded up. Always keep the fuel tank topped off to prevent condensation. Keep the tractor clean, since dirt and chaff will draw moisture. Run the tractor up to temperature at least once a month to drive off moisture and keep everything lubricated.

 

[thatguy]

Throwing a cover over mine has done it good for four years. Starts first time even after a couple of months.

I have had good luck with canvas tarps over my implements. Except for some rabbit chew holes the tarps have held up for 3 yrs outside..

The nylon tarps seem to not hold up to UV or rip due to wind..

Brian