storing tractor for years

[jeff9366]

There is nothing worse for a machine than letting it sit idle, regardless of how it's prepped for storage.

Sell it now, invest the money and buy a new one when you need a tractor again.

I agree.

Unless you are mechanically adept, you may face a substantial cost to return it to running order.

In the meantime it could be stolen, your storage area could burn or a nefarious family relation may sell it. (Tractors have no titles.)
You could experience a major health incident.
Implements will be rusting outdoors.

Your need for a tractor, or size of tractor, may change during your absence.

 

[djefferis]

I would agree - a unit just sitting around "years" is a recipe for problems to develop - machines typically need the fluids maintained yearly - rubber /plastic decays even if its not used and there are issues that long layoffs may cause that are worse than heavy use on the machine.

That said - a machine stored indoors and ran regularly can last an extended period of time and should not fail sooner than one used lightly regularly. They are machines - not animals, they will not atrophy because no one took them on a long run every week/month. Will things wear and require replacement regardless of use - yes - but they will not fail faster because you used them less than a normal user if maintained properly.

Time frame is a concern here - "could be years" - is a fairly loaded statement - I "could" win the lotto tomorrow too and stop posting here forever...but being a betting man I'd venture to say I'll still be here. What are the chances it will be years for you - and what are the chances this unit will be under/over sized for your future needs.

Lots of people store equipment over the winter with no to minor issues - so a 4 month time frame is no big deal. A year - some minor prep and planning goes a long way...2 or 3 years - I'd start with a 1 year plan and then adjust as needed. If theres a greater than not chance its going to be 5 years of inactivity - its time to sell. In 5 years you might get a nicer unit than what you sold today for the same price.

Indoor storage you've already addressed and is a must in most places. As mentioned having someone run equipment (actually moving it and activating PTO/hydraulics) is a very good idea...a simple idle in place does not do alot. Keep the battery on a low volt charger to maintain charge - make sure you keep things open and can see areas where rodents may try to build a nest and keep them clean. Its tempting to just toss a tarp over things - but thats the perfect hiding spot for mice/birds.

Keep a maintainer in the fuel and keep the fuel level lower so that you can burn it off and replace regularly.

I'd keep seat covered with plastic as well - again rodents and foam are a concern.

Edit to add - could it be stolen - yep, nothing that prevents a regularly used item from suffering the same fate though either. Obviously a property with no signs of regular visits is more inviting to thieves - but this is common sense. Cameras are great at showing who did what when - lighting and regular visitors/neighbors are great at keeping them from coming around. Same as a fire to the storage building - there are perils that apply equally to operated/non operated equipment and do not increase with non use.

Family selling equipment out from underneath you - sounds like a very specific issue and wouldn't term it "common"

Implements rusting away outside - easy enough to correct, store indoors and if they wont be used at all for many years and cant be stored inside - potentially just sell the implement(s) alone.

 

[fried1765]

I would agree - a unit just sitting around "years" is a recipe for problems to develop - machines typically need the fluids maintained yearly - rubber /plastic decays even if its not used and there are issues that long layoffs may cause that are worse than heavy use on the machine.

That said - a machine stored indoors and ran regularly can last an extended period of time and should not fail sooner than one used lightly regularly. They are machines - not animals, they will not atrophy because no one took them on a long run every week/month. Will things wear and require replacement regardless of use - yes - but they will not fail faster because you used them less than a normal user if maintained properly.

Time frame is a concern here - "could be years" - is a fairly loaded statement - I "could" win the lotto tomorrow too and stop posting here forever...but being a betting man I'd venture to say I'll still be here. What are the chances it will be years for you - and what are the chances this unit will be under/over sized for your future needs.

Lots of people store equipment over the winter with no to minor issues - so a 4 month time frame is no big deal. A year - some minor prep and planning goes a long way...2 or 3 years - I'd start with a 1 year plan and then adjust as needed. If theres a greater than not chance its going to be 5 years of inactivity - its time to sell. In 5 years you might get a nicer unit than what you sold today for the same price.

Indoor storage you've already addressed and is a must in most places. As mentioned having someone run equipment (actually moving it and activating PTO/hydraulics) is a very good idea...a simple idle in place does not do alot. Keep the battery on a low volt charger to maintain charge - make sure you keep things open and can see areas where rodents may try to build a nest and keep them clean. Its tempting to just toss a tarp over things - but thats the perfect hiding spot for mice/birds.

Keep a maintainer in the fuel and keep the fuel level lower so that you can burn it off and replace regularly.

I'd keep seat covered with plastic as well - again rodents and foam are a concern.

Edit to add - could it be stolen - yep, nothing that prevents a regularly used item from suffering the same fate though either. Obviously a property with no signs of regular visits is more inviting to thieves - but this is common sense. Cameras are great at showing who did what when - lighting and regular visitors/neighbors are great at keeping them from coming around. Same as a fire to the storage building - there are perils that apply equally to operated/non operated equipment and do not increase with non use.

Family selling equipment out from underneath you - sounds like a very specific issue and wouldn't term it "common"

Implements rusting away outside - easy enough to correct, store indoors and if they wont be used at all for many years and cant be stored inside - potentially just sell the implement(s) alone.

LOW AMP charger...not... "low volt"

 

[Thomas]

If I...disconnect battery disengage the clutch,maybe spray wires electric connections help keep rodents from chewing etc.

 

[Aquamoose]

If you plan on keeping it, I’d take the battery out, lightly oil the cylinder rods, and ensure all grease jerks have a dose to add to the preparation list. Putting it up on blocks to take pressure off the tires would definitely be recommended!

 

[oosik]

Out here where I live - in the middle of BF nowhere - there would be no questions. I would have to sell. There would be untold & expensive damage from rodents - rubber components could be seriously deteriorated & there is a potential that the tractor could be stolen. Plus the consideration - that even in storage you will want to continue some form of insurance on the tractor.

Also consider - many years from now - you may need to sell this tractor - for whatever reason. Do you want to risk the potential necessity of repairs - just so the tractor could be sold. Besides - with the tractor sold - funds safely tucked away - you have none of these worries.

I would sell the tractor - set the funds aside in some form of interesting bearing account - THEN, make your decision on purchase of another tractor, in the future.

JMHO - but for me, this would be the very best I could do.

 

[Jstpssng]

If you do decide to sell, please list it on the TBN marketplace. Depending on the price and cost for shipping I might be interested in upgrading.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Sell it, invest the money, buy a new one when you need it. Read this for further explanation:
Endowment effect - Wikipedia

 

[blacklion66]

I am moving and not sure when I will use tractor again, have to find land, build, could literally be years, it will be stored inside.....owners manual says to drain and change all fluids, I just did the oil and coolant this yr, tractor has 400 hrs, owners manual says to change hyd at 500, should I do before storage? It says to drain fuel and add 2 gal of "fuel injection pump calibrating fluid" Not even sure what this is. Also to fully raise lift linkage and support lift arms, it has 3 pt and FEL, not sure why to raise? Tractor is a diesel w/ a fuel injection pump. Stabil is only good for 2 yrs I think. I was thinking of just draining fuel, running till dies and leaving empty, would this be bad? Any help is appreciated.

If it has a clutch, will likely have a lock that will keep it fully depressed, if not make some that will keep it fully depressed. Put six months supply of bounce dryer sheets in plastic bags everywhere on it. Mice and little critters don't like that stuff. If you have wood rats expect to find a lot of damage, darn critters like rad hoses. leave it full of fuel with a shot of additive to keep mold from growing in the fuel.

 

[Raspy]

Definitely do not drain the fuel. That will likely mean that condensation will get to where you don't want it. Stabil is not the product for diesel fuel. The fuel itself will be fine, but it's algae that is the problem. Condensation leads to moisture in the tank and then algae will develop. Fill the tank all the way and add some algecide. Put fresh oil in the engine to keep acids from damaging the iron parts.

You'd be much better off running it once in a while than leaving it for two years. Long periods like that are hard on equipment. It leads to stuck water pumps, flat spots on tires and condensation in the gear box and in the engine. By the time you do all the suggested preparation that everyone has mentioned, you might be a lot better off to just run it every three months or so to get it fully up to temp and moved around so that everything gets exercised and lubed, and the tires rest on new spots. I would just store it with a battery tender connected and run it every three months. Check the tire pressure each time you do and get it up to full operating temp each time. Do not leave it in the sun or outside. If you are worried about rodents, the dryer sheets sound interesting, or mouse bait.

If you really don't plan on running it for two years, it's probably better to sell it and get another one later. Or leave it at a friends house to get run and worked once in a while.