Storing implements outside

[Grateful11]

I bet when you bought any piece of equipment from a dealer it was outside and not on a showroom floor.

I'd bet you're right but my wife has a keen eye for what's been sitting around
for a long time and what hasn't and most everyone knows she not going to
take something that's faded and wouldn't bother trying to pull one over on her.

Our CaseIH 5140 was brought direct from England, shipped to the dealer
prepped inside and then delivered to the farm so I doubt it saw much outside
time. Our JD X720 came straight from a crate, not sure how long it had been
sitting but it appeared fresh. Would you buy a brand new truck that was
faded to the point of no return?

 

[dcyrilc]

I guess I didn't phrase my question too well.. I'm aware that tractors and implements at dealers are stored outside. I'm aware the sun will fade plastic and paint over time. I'm not looking for a perfect tractor after 10 years of ownership - just one that works as it should. That's what I meant. My 1948 Farmall Cub that was bought new by my grandfather was kept indoors its whole life and, not surprisingly, it doesn't have perfect paint, but everything on it works as it ought to.

What I'm wondering is if it's BAD for the implement to be out in the weather after years. I think I did put something in there about pitting on the cylinders and that's really where my concern lies. On a B-series, I can't retract the loader cylinders all the way because in order for the loader stands to hold it in place, they have to be extended.

I do appreciate the vaseline/ spray lube suggestion. I guess that's what I'll do to keep it from deteriorating functionally. The last thing I want to do is have a piece of equipment left outside to cause, say pitting in the cylinders and then have a leaky seal that can't really be fixed (once fixed, the pitting will just wear out the new seal).

I don't think pitting of the cylinders will be an issue as construction equipment (IE: backhoes and bulldozers) spend there whole life outdoors without a problem.

Paint will fade, raw steel will rust, the the chromed cycliners and painted areas should be fine if properly maintained.

Then again, I try to keep mine indoors as much as I can. I have a single 30x36 building to store everything and alot of my stuff ends up sitting outside due to lack of space. When it come down to choosing to leave hay or equipment out for the winter, it's the equipment every time.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

So I don't count as somebody??? Just kidding, but seriously, I store all my stuff inside, including the brush hog. It is in a stack of implements that's 5 high. No kidding this time. Just ask John Thomas. There's a pic around here somewhere.

I do testify to the fact that Tom sent pictures showing more stuff stored inside on dollies than the average person even owns. I saw the pictures. I leave RFM, Landscape rake and boxblade outside but the rest go inside. Anything outside is suffering the rigors of wind, sun and rain but if you don't have a place you don't have a place. Save your money and get some type of storage when you can.

 

[gwdixon]

My implements are stored outside and anything with a PTO shaft, gearbox, hydraulic cylinder, etc. is tarped over the rainy winter.

However, this area has a long dry season from April to November so it may not be an option elsewhere because of the continual tarping and untarping required in rainy places.

 

[crusty 1]

mornin cyril,maybe we,ll have to have tbn community "add to cyrils shed" barn raising!I don,t care how many or how big the guy always runs out of room.And for the brief time there is a little space what do we do?go buy something to fit in there.:laughingave

 

[Oldchuck]

I guess I didn't phrase my question too well..

What I'm wondering is if it's BAD for the implement to be out in the weather after years. I think I did put something in there about pitting on the cylinders and that's really where my concern lies. On a B-series, I can't retract the loader cylinders all the way because in order for the loader stands to hold it in place, they have to be extended.

I do appreciate the vaseline/ spray lube suggestion. I guess that's what I'll do to keep it from deteriorating functionally. The last thing I want to do is have a piece of equipment left outside to cause, say pitting in the cylinders and then have a leaky seal that can't really be fixed (once fixed, the pitting will just wear out the new seal).

I would say you should be concerned, bx. I have a minute mount snow plow that came with my pick-up. Probably about ten years old and probably sat outside all that time. The cylinders are pitted and need replacing. I suspect that comes from disuse in three seasons out of four. Probably if a cylinder is in constant use it is less of an issue.

Regarding stuff sitting out at the dealer the issue there is turnover. The longer anything sits on the dealer lot the worse it looks. They want to get rid of stuff as quickly as possible.

Regarding the Shelter Logic fabric buildings, they are the cheapest available but get poor reviews. I've steered clear and gone with more expensive ones. And you can't let snow sit on any of them. Says so right in the directions.

 

[TripleR]

My sons got one of those fabric shelters and it lasted about a year, if it works for someone else great; guess the wind is just too strong here.

 

[Grateful11]

My sons got one of those fabric shelters and it lasted about a year, if it works for someone else great; guess the wind is just too strong here.

We bought what was suppose to a heavy duty hay tarp, silver type, and it
lasted
about 7 months. I looked up the paperwork on it and it had a 6 month warranty.
We used for temp. storage until the hay shed was built.

 

[dcyrilc]

mornin cyril,maybe we,ll have to have tbn community "add to cyrils shed" barn raising!I don,t care how many or how big the guy always runs out of room.And for the brief time there is a little space what do we do?go buy something to fit in there.:laughingave

Thanks for the thought Dave. It just takes money...which seems to be in short supply lately.

 

[davatk]

I think our average snowfall is somewhere in the 9 foot range, not quite what it is along the nearby Lake Ontario shoreline, or Syracuse area, but substantial. That being said, a few mornings when it threatened to snow all day, I'd go out and slide the snow off from inside with the business end of a push broom, so I never really let more than 3 or 4 inches of snow accumulate. Not sure how comfortable I'd feel if I was down in Florida the week the blizzard of the decade hit and no one to do that for me.

We get our share of high winds, 40-60 mph is fairly common, esp in winter. It's held up great, no problems at all. I do have some trees nearby that help to break the wind a bit. I'm not sure if I'd site it on a wind-swept hilltop or the middle of an open field. They supply the thing with auger type anchors, but I couldn't use them, so I improvised. I detailed my construction in those posts, if you're interested.

The plywood floor is screwed to floating 2x sleepers laid flat on the crushed stone base I put down. I had some of the lumber laying around, and had to add $200 for the rest...did it all in a day. It's as solid as a concrete floor! I added some extra 2x in spots to support the stabilizers and loaded if I want to lift the tractor up.

Got heat and lights and radio, too...a real man cave.:thumbsup: Worked out there on single digit winter days in comfort.

Anyway, the first tractor will be paid off in 2 1/2 years, and I plan to put up a pole barn at that time...unless I buy another tractor.

Thanks for the info Tractorfactor. I'd really like to have something like that, but I can just see it blowing across the field one of those days. Plus if I put it in view of the house, the wife will probably say "that things ugly".:confused2:

Maybe I'll sneak one in one day when she's at work and I'm off. :thumbsup: