Wash Your Tractor?

[CSAW]

Wash and wax it once a year for the Christmas hay ride. Guess what I'm doing next Saturday. Mine mostly gets dusty and I figure that is not as bad for it as repeated waterings. JMHO

 

[Soundguy]

Lets see. I HAVE washed my NH 1920 a couple of times.. namely when I was out working in a boggy river bed, and had mud from head to toe... Have also washed it after brush cutting in 7' tall ragweed and dog fennel.. thoug I don't routinely wash it... though do wax it once I have it washed.
that is my work tractor...Now on the other hand.. the antiques I refurb.. they are a different story... Once I'm done putting them back together.. I use a soy based wax from JD, leaves a nice protective shiny finish.. easy to dust off. I also <cough> have a flannel fitted cover for at least one of my old fords.. <cough> <cough>...

Strangely enough.. thinking about it.. I haven't washed my 98 dodge.. ever... nor has it ever seen the inside of the garage save for what it can see from the driveway... whereas ALL my tractors are under some sort of shelter.. either garage or barn... Hmm... maybee I have something backwards here......

Soundguy

 

[tomnky]

I wash and wax mine including the deck at least 4 times a year with washings in between the wax jobs. And it has to have tire dressing as well.

Maybe that's why the Dealer thought it looked better than some of the new ones on his lot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Junkman]

I used a wire brush today to brush the bucket teeth.... actually, they should have also been flossed, but it was too cold outside and I just wanted to get the majority of the dirt off. In the spring I think that I might have to give it a treatment of "enamel" so it doesn't get any cavities. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[yellowsocks93]

Junkman, you may want to get some soft black coating from John Deere. It goes on like paint but remains soft to prevent rusting. We use it on the drills and rippers we clean up so they don't rust on the lot.

 

[TresCrows]

I wash and clean mine regularly. It makes maintenence on the machine easier and easier to see any leaks or problems that might pop up. Further it is a fairly big investment and come time to go bigger--or smaller--or whatever a clean well cared for machine will bring more money that a rusted hunk of junk. Dirt causes scratches to the paint and corrosion and obstructs the radiator and screens and hyd. cylinders. Additionally, it stays in the garage and I do not like it tracking mud and clippings and whatnot into the garage area.
I think it is borderline silly and irresponsible not to keep your machinery clean and maintained and ready for work. A clean machine is a happy machine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. J

 

[HERKYEC130]

Anyone ever try the motorcycle cleaner that comes in a spray can?
It's about 5 bucks and you can spray it on all surfaces. It won't work on a dirty rig but if it's a lil dusty it will polish your tractor right up. I bought a can of it when I bought my bike two years ago. I use it all the time when they look like they need a lil shine. It polishes but dosen't let all the white residue like wax does. It's what they use in the showroom to keep bikes shined up. It's for plastic also so no need to fear where you spray it.

Paul

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue">Anyone ever try the motorcycle cleaner that comes in a spray can?
It's about 5 bucks and you can spray it on all surfaces. It won't work on a dirty rig but if it's a lil dusty it will polish your tractor right up. I bought a can of it when I bought my bike two years ago. I use it all the time when they look like they need a lil shine. It polishes but dosen't let all the white residue like wax does. It's what they use in the showroom to keep bikes shined up. It's for plastic also so no need to fear where you spray it.
</font>

Paul my tractor eats those aerosol cans of cleaner and spits out the empty cans, burp. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Doesn't do a thing for her except to give her acid indigestion. I hose her down with a 2600-psi pressure washer and detergent to get her clean once again. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Muleskinner]

I have a brand new B7800. I washed it the first week I had it including waxing the hood and rear fenders. I will probably continue to wash it every couple of months. I am a bit **** about keeping my vehicles and equipment clean and well maintained and rightfully so, with the cost of vehicles and tractors. It's an individual choice. I just like taking care of my stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RalphVa]

I wash and wax my Gravely quite a bit.

Wash my engine compartments out on my vehicles all the time. Would NEVER use a pressure washer though, just garden hose, Simple Green or Purple Power or that Orange (citrus) stuff for stubborn spots. Pressure washers could force water back through lip seals and damage them and put water into oil.

Always drive them a little bit after washing them.

Ralph