Power Washing the Tractor

[GeneV]

I don't ever wash them, power or otherwise, unless I happen to get caught in the rain with it lol. I scrape off the mud and blow it off with the blower, pop the hood, clean the screen, blow everything out of there, that's it.

I'm not against washing, but I wouldn't ever power wash it for same reason as what the other guy against power washing posted.

 

[DK35vince]

I will continue to pressure wash mine, just like I have been doing for decades.

 

[5030]

I will continue to pressure wash mine, just like I have been doing for decades.

Just gave my M9 Cab unit a bath about an hour ago. Started out blowing out the air filter, then the rad and screens, then I used the foam cannon on it with Chemical Guys foaming wash and a bit of Purple ZEP. The a good rinse with the pressure washer followed by a general greasing. Had to use the car mop on the hood, a bird laid a big loaf right in the middle....

Pretty dirty after a good round of dry hay bailing. The round baler got it too but just an air blow off. I never wash a bailer. Too hard on the roll bearings. Blow the chaff off and grease it and oil the drive chains.

Still have to wash the open station. One thing about mine and that is they get pretty grimy in the back from all the hooking and unhooking of the hydraulic hoses. Best way to eliminate that grime is the foam cannon and the pressure washer.

 

[5030]

Who uses trash cans on a farm?

MoKelly

We do. Nothing smells worse than burning garbage. Guess you have a smell issue.

 

[MoKelly]

We do. Nothing smells worse than burning garbage. Guess you have a smell issue.

Nothing smells worse?

You need to get around more son and experience nature.

MoKelly

 

[rScotty]

Just gave my M9 Cab unit a bath about an hour ago. Started out blowing out the air filter, then the rad and screens, then I used the foam cannon on it with Chemical Guys foaming wash and a bit of Purple ZEP. The a good rinse with the pressure washer followed by a general greasing. Had to use the car mop on the hood, a bird laid a big loaf right in the middle....

Pretty dirty after a good round of dry hay bailing. The round baler got it too but just an air blow off. I never wash a bailer. Too hard on the roll bearings. Blow the chaff off and grease it and oil the drive chains.

Still have to wash the open station. One thing about mine and that is they get pretty grimy in the back from all the hooking and unhooking of the hydraulic hoses. Best way to eliminate that grime is the foam cannon and the pressure washer.

I guess I ought to expand the pressure washing equipment to include a foam cannon and some of that special soap. Any hints appreciated.

Like 5030 says, some equipment gets a lot of washing and some doesn't. I figure it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what to pressure wash and what to avoid.
rScotty

 

[5030]

Nothing smells worse?

You need to get around more son and experience nature.

MoKelly

How would you know? I believe you live in a sub division.

 

[Username Taken]

<snip> I figure it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what to pressure wash and what to avoid.
rScotty

What's just as important is, knowing how far away to hold the wand when you're zapping stuff.

If you run into a stubborn piece of something and you're trying to get the wand to break it up, just make sure you're not near a sensitive part of the machine. Something that doesn't like water -- electrics, anything with a bearing in it, me, bare metal, etc. Common sense applies here.

I prefer not to use one. I hate the gasoline ones. Gave one or two away back when they were cheap. Just another cylinder to feed and one that, when it sits, takes too long to start most of the time. Besides, my pull-startin' days is over. Hurt my back once too often on those bastiches.

Electric is often heavy and cumbersome to use. I have one but don't use it much. On the patio. Wouldn't even think about using one on my vehicles but I don't go out and play in the mud and dirt like some of you do.

Maybe this year I'll get my new __________!

 

[Ford850]

I guess I ought to expand the pressure washing equipment to include a foam cannon and some of that special soap. Any hints appreciated.

Like 5030 says, some equipment gets a lot of washing and some doesn't. I figure it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what to pressure wash and what to avoid.
rScotty

I'd also like to hear about foam cannon suggestions and tips.

 

[5030]

Just washed the buggies last night btw. Foam cannon first then pressure washer...

Got mine on Amazon, it was 15 bucks. Got it and a new HD hose at the same time and a gallon jug of Chemical Guys car wash (though any liquid car wash of your choice will do).

For the tractors, I mix 1/3 ZEP Purple power, 1/3 liquid car wash and 1/3 water in the foam cannon bottle, screw on the top part (where the mixing chamber is) and attach that to the end of the wand on the pressure washer tips go. Then I foam the tractors down (takes about 1/3 of the bottle to foam an entire tractor, remove the foam cannon replace the spray tip and wash the tractor. The ZEP really cuts the crud and the car wash gets the rest.

I think (not sure) but I think the foam cannon works on the same principle as a fire hose foam setup, it injects air into the mix and blows it out through the end and creates a thick foam that clings to the bodywork and allows you to use your PW to remove the foam and the dirt.

Works better than I ever expected it to. Think mine is a 'Twinkle Star'. Type in 'Foam Cannon' on Amazon, the come right up.

Very useful attachment for me.

Got rid of the cheap OEM hose at the same time, got one with Quick connect fittings and much longer 75 feet. Hose is much better than the cheap OEM plastic hose, much more trustworthy.

 

[JCoastie]

I got a foam cannon from harbor freight a few weeks ago on sale. It hooks to the hose rather than a pressure washer. I used it last weekend, it worked surprising well Extreme Foaming Spray Gun

 

[grsthegreat]

my powerwasher has an intake port on it where you attach the suction hose and drop it into bucket with solutions. it uses a different tip than standard tipe, but works great. i use it to clean vinyl fences on property.

 

[5030]

I got a foam cannon from harbor freight a few weeks ago on sale. It hooks to the hose rather than a pressure washer. I used it last weekend, it worked surprising well Extreme Foaming Spray Gun

I don't have a garden hose available. I pump my wash water from a pair of 350 gallon IBC totes hooked to the gutters on the shop. Our well water is loaded with calcium so it leaves anything you wash with a nice white film. Quit using it long ago. I use a 110 volt 'Pony pump' to increase the water pressure from the totes to feed the pressure washer pump. We get a decent rain (like last night), the totes are full again.

 

[5030]

my powerwasher has an intake port on it where you attach the suction hose and drop it into bucket with solutions. it uses a different tip than standard tipe, but works great. i use it to clean vinyl fences on property.

So does mine. I took it off. The foam cannon works much better and uses much less product too. I can do 2 big tractors with a pint bottle of solution and 2-3 cars with another.

 

[slckeys]

I don't have a garden hose available. I pump my wash water from a pair of 350 gallon IBC totes hooked to the gutters on the shop. Our well water is loaded with calcium so it leaves anything you wash with a nice white film. Quit using it long ago. I use a 110 volt 'Pony pump' to increase the water pressure from the totes to feed the pressure washer pump. We get a decent rain (like last night), the totes are full again.

I was just looking at making a set up like this because the pressure from my well is ridiculously low for my power washers. And then my foam cannon is useless.

I have the IBC totes. What for pump are you using to increase the GPM to the power washer? I saw simple pumps that I assume constantly run? and then shallow well pressure pumps to choose from that area love a regular pressure tank with cut off pressure..

 

[smalltown]

I use my air compressor to get things cleaned up especially my compact Deere 2520 grill. My thinking is that you can force water into places that it normally would not go, and may not dry quickly. Rarely do I use the hose to rinse it off, but if it was really dirty a small garden hose spray would do it.

 

[5030]

I was just looking at making a set up like this because the pressure from my well is ridiculously low for my power washers. And then my foam cannon is useless.

I have the IBC totes. What for pump are you using to increase the GPM to the power washer? I saw simple pumps that I assume constantly run? and then shallow well pressure pumps to choose from that area love a regular pressure tank with cut off pressure..

I use a 110 volt 'Proven Pony Pump' mounted to the pressure washer base with a short length of garden hose (with replacement ends) to connect it to the intake pump side. I did add an inline sprayer filter with a stainless basket inside to catch any crud from the totes before it can get to the pump. HF now sells the same pump (Drummond) cheaper. Not so much increasing the GPH, but providing the needed head to the PW pump. PW pumps aren't capable of 'sucking water', they need artificial head (provided by the pump) to work properly.

Been using the setup for at least 6 years now. No issues.

 

[slckeys]

Thank you. Whether it be GPH or increasing head pressure to the PW, my current set up can't keep up with the demand and I can hear the pump starving for water. I'll look into that pump and especially a filter

 

[5030]

If you are going to use your IBC totes as a water source, the inline filter is a must have if you want the pump to last. The ceramic plungers in the pump don't like crud in the water.

I bought a replacement pump (AR) just in case mine puked. So far it has not. I keep mine in a heated shop in the winter so I never winterize the pump.

As an aside, I have one of the older HF pressure washers (Pacific Hydrostar) and it's been a gem. Only weak link was the cheap hose which I replaced with a real, metal braided hose.

 

[5030]

The Pony Pump and the HF Drummond use a flexible rubber vane impeller so continuous run don't impact them at all, so long as there is water in the pump cavity.