Washing

[jyoutz]

Be careful you don't bend the radiator fins.

Good point. The radiator genie works pretty well with water and it’s surprising how much gets flushed out even after blowing it out with air. It doesn’t put out so much water pressure that I’ve seen it bend the fins.

 

[RayIN]

Tractors are designed to sit outside in the elements, just avoid hosing electrical stuff.
I think the condition and appearance of my equipment are a reflection of my maintenance habits.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I use a dust blower.... That's about 95% effective.

Any equipment I pressure wash, I use the 40deg tip to reduce pressure and avoid bearing and sensitive areas.

 

[oosik]

When its raining and I'm using the tractor. So......seldom.

 

[JeepHead]

Being that I own a power washing business, I use a power washer

 

[rScotty]

I wash ours about once every couple of years. Some of it by garden hose and some by pressure wash. Usually in warm weather and always avoid the electrics, steering, and seat.
In fact I cover the operator area with a tarp.

I try to remember to disconnect the battery first. That's just good practice, and a chance to scrape and clean the connections from cable to battery posts..

One of my goals pressure washing is to to get the extra grease off of pivots, and the oil spills away from leaky hydraulic quick connections, but I don't think that doing so makes the slightest difference to the tractor. I mostly do that to keep from tracking grease around.

It's good to spend some time with the pressure washer on the underneath where there are filters and hoses. That gives me clean surfaces to change filters and is when I do an annual inspect for leaks and dents.

I don't pressure wash above the lower half of the engine. There is no advantage, and just too much sensitive wiring, electricals, vents, and stuff that doesn't need to be wet. I
If I'm ambitious, I'll hand wipe around the valve cover and high pressure pumps.

The radiator fins I do by hand with a garden hose, dish soap & soft brush.

 

[MJZ]

Well, today is burn day. Had bout 8 inches of rain over the weekend. Im sure mud will abound

 

[repete]

If I am out in the cow fields, cleaning manure out of the barn or spreading fertilizer it gets thoroughly rinsed after each use. Only a spray nozzle on a garden hose. I will every few years use my hot water pressure washer to clean oils and such but that is pretty infrequent.
Tractors are always stored under cover.

 

[grsthegreat]

Pressure washer.
I've been pressure washing all my equipment (tractor, mowers, atv's, side by side.)
including the engines for decades.
Never an issue

Same here. For over 30 years. You simply choose a spray head with a wider pattern to avoid damage. Ald dont get too close. Power washing a warm engine also does no harm if careful. Heck, people used to steam clean engines. All my engines stay clean looking doing this. I even do the undersides.

 

[Williy]

What you want to be careful about is a hot engine and cold water they don't mix. Our tractor gets a bath every time it rains

willy