Lock down equipment

[tacticalturnip]

If I were really concerned about theft - just move the PTO lever to the ON position. Nobody would notice this and my M6040 will not start with the PTO in the on position.

Like a manual transmission ending many a joyride before it starts.

 

[redman135]

Are the neighbours near enough to see a van body truck with tail lift ,or hiab truck come and pickup your tractor? With a tractor that small a garage dolly under the front wheels will bypass the locked steering.

 

[mikester]

If someone is coming to steal your tractor they won't be driving down the road making a getaway with it. They will winch it onto their flatbed and its gone within minutes.

If you are worried about theft top up your insurance. Keep your machine parked in a locked shed out of sight.

 

[hube2]

Well, I kinda agree that if they really want to steal it they probably are. The goal for me is to slow them down enough in hopes that my neighbors see the ruckus and call the cops.

Thieves want it to be easy and fast, making it a time consuming PITA is the deterrent.

They could winch is out, but with it pulled into the shed they would need to pull it out backwards and fight with the turned wheels and the front end going out of alignment for pulling it up on a flatbed every few feet.

I guess they could try dollies on the front wheels but first they'd need to know they needed them and second the floor of my shed is stone that the wheels of a dolly will not roll across, so they'd be dragging them through the stone as they dug in.

Unfortunately, I do not have a way to secure my shed.

 

[PILOON]

When I bought my CUT the neutral switch had been bypassed and the 2 wires simply linked,
So my deterrent is now to simply disconnect those 2 wires when parked.
Also I keep the disconnected ends out of view, mind U I could simply install a discrete switch.

In aviation I used to install a switch that disabled the magnetos and gave it a obscure label, or hid it from view.

Naturally the determined thief will find a way no matter what U do, often a 'tilt and load' is the choice.

 

[MossRoad]

When I used to leave my late 70's IH2500b gasoline powered tractor loader out on our property, I'd always take the battery, and pull the rotor from under the distributor. Then I'd park it off in the woods, well off the road.

I figured if someone would want to take the time to haul a battery back there, then diagnose why it wouldn't start, then go out and find the proper rotor for an International C-200 engine, they probably earned it.

 

[Reddogs]

If someone is coming to steal your tractor they won't be driving down the road making a getaway with it. They will winch it onto their flatbed and its gone within minutes.

If you are worried about theft top up your insurance. Keep your machine parked in a locked shed out of sight.

I built my tractor barn hidden in the woods, but my brother in law went and told everyone I had a new tractor and worse, were to find it. So looks like I will have to get some lock down mechanism..

 

[hube2]

And there is another thing. I have neighbors that like to "borrow" things. I don't keep things locked up and don't generally mind. They borrow stuff that they know they can borrow. I don't want them to get the idea that they can borrow my tractor.

 

[Reddogs]

When I bought my CUT the neutral switch had been bypassed and the 2 wires simply linked,
So my deterrent is now to simply disconnect those 2 wires when parked.
Also I keep the disconnected ends out of view, mind U I could simply install a discrete switch.

In aviation I used to install a switch that disabled the magnetos and gave it a obscure label, or hid it from view.

Naturally the determined thief will find a way no matter what U do, often a 'tilt and load' is the choice.

Usually it seems that is the first thing they look for, so I would try a little misdirection like putting a good size chain to the poles or steering lock. The more time it takes seems to help discourage most thieves..

 

[BravoXray]

In aviation I used to install a switch that disabled the magnetos and gave it a obscure label, or hid it from view.

I have a pilot friend that had a mag disable switch on his 172 that was labeled "Ejection Seat".