What to do to my CK20S HST in the winter?

[Roxburyeric]

I have been keeping my CK20 in my garage during the past winters and it is now in a unheated barn. Do I need to do anything special to it for the cold weather? I don't use it much in the winter either. The garage wasn't heated but attached to the house so never really that cold. Thanks

 

[Coyote machine]

If I were you I'd disconnect the ground and positive terminals of the battery and clean each post thoroughly. Then use the felt washers from any auto or TSC store under the terminals. once this is done spray the posts and terminals with battery sealer to further prevent corrosion. Then I'd check antifreeze level and freeze point as well as all other fluid levels.
I'd also get a Battery Tender brand tender/charger to keep the battery at proper charge level WITHOUT overcharging as many "trickle chargers" often do.
And I'd start her up and run her as often as possible even if you don't have any particular job to do just to keep everything from sitting too much.

 

[BuzzardA91]

Where do those felt washers go? Is that just for storage or should always use them?

 

[Coyote machine]

Under the post clamps, over the post, red for positive, black for negative. Always on. Then coat entire post/clamp with spray battery post sealant from any TSC / auto store. This is the best way to prevent corrosion at the battery surface. Also wipe entire top of battery case with a wet cloth and dispose of it after completely drying the battery case top surface. No chance of stray voltage leaking between posts this way when everything is clean. If a battery with caps to check water level do that too and fill to split ring with distilled water, when using safety glasses to prevent any acid from the cells from eye area entry.

 

[IslandTractor]

I just parked my CK20 HST in the barn each winter and attached a low amperage trickle charger to the battery. Nothing else.

 

[whistlepig]

Be generous with the rat and mouse poison. They love to nest in tractors and eat tractor wiring.

 

[Roxburyeric]

I don't have power in the barn to hook up a charger to. So I guess I'll check the battery and clean that as mentioned. Also try and run it every so often. Thanks guys.

 

[Coyote machine]

I don't have power in the barn to hook up a charger to. So I guess I'll check the battery and clean that as mentioned. Also try and run it every so often. Thanks guys.

In your case, since there's no 'current bush' near your barn, you could for long storage times remove the battery and store it someplace warm and dry and re-install it when planning to use it. Or make sure it's fully charged when you leave it and disconnect the negative post's clamp to keep it from completely draining down while stored.

 

[whistlepig]

I don't have electric in my barn. For equipment stored in the barn I take the batteries out and bring them in to the garage so I can charge them once a month.

 

[Gittyup]

You can get solar powered trickle chargers.

And I put mothballs tied up in a piece of women's hosiery under the hood to discourage mice.

I put fluid film on my battery terminals. Stays there a long time and seals them quit well.