Cold weather tip!

[North Idaho Wolfman]

With the cold spell hitting so many of you that normally don't see this cold of temps, do yourself and your Orange pal a favor, check the antifreeze. The engine life you save could be yours!
Also give the tires a good kicking and pressure check too! Way too many rims spinning in tires!

 

[SteveF]

Thanks for the advice Wolfman. Points well taken! I've noticed that you've also made some suggestions on hyd fluid type and viscosity too.

 

[lsmurphy]

There are those here who can afford a $40K to $60K tractor........but cannot afford a garage to put it in.


Freak'n amazes me.

 

[Lil Foot]

There are those here who can afford a $40K to $60K tractor........but cannot afford a garage to put it in.
Freak'n amazes me.

I know what you're sayin'…. I waited till I had a garage to store it in before I bought mine.

 

[trouble11]

Very good advice Wolfman. This Polar plunge is killing Us.

 

[Dan_R_42]

Another cold weather tip. If you have a decompression knob, (like on the B7100) - pull it open and crank the engine over for a few seconds, it get the oil flowing first.

Then close it, and pre-heat your glow plugs and start.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

People fail to do the EXACT same things for the vehicles!

 

[olthumpa]

Another cold weather tip. If you have a decompression knob, (like on the B7100) - pull it open and crank the engine over for a few seconds, it get the oil flowing first.

Then close it, and pre-heat your glow plugs and start.

You stole some of my thunder I do this year round.

One thing I do in the cold weather when starting is to start the tractor in the garage, after it has idled for a min or two, I take it out side at about 1200rpms, put it in 8 gear, forward and reverse lever in either forward or reverse just not neutral, and put the high/low range lever in neutral. This allows the transmission gears to be spinning, (helping to warm up the hydro fluid), while the engine is warming up. Bucket on the ground and 3pt implement also.

 

[SteveF]

You stole some of my thunder I do this year round.

olthumpa, isn't it winter year round in Maine though, lol.

 

[Kubota Newbie]

My old M4500 is in the shed... but it's unheated so it might as well be outside as far as it can tell. One thing that I have learned that I must do on this tractor is to make sure in real cold weather that I put the High - Low gear shift in neutral when I park it. Otherwise the safety switch seems to stick and it will not crank for 2-3 minutes. I suppose the stiff oil keeps the detent from returning right away.

 

[BAP]

Another thing to do is to add some diesel fuel additive to prevent gelling. Particularly important for those of you in parts of country that normally don't get that cold. Nothing sucks worse than being out in the bitter cold trying to change a fuel filter then get the tractor running without getting frostbite. A little prevention goes a long way.

 

[olthumpa]

olthumpa, isn't it winter year round in Maine though, lol.

Noooooo . . . . 4th of July we get our annual shipment of summer arrives.
The 5th of July is another story.

Actually, summer is my least favorite time of the year.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

There are those here who can afford a $40K to $60K tractor........but cannot afford a garage to put it in.


Freak'n amazes me.

I know what you're sayin'…. I waited till I had a garage to store it in before I bought mine.

While this may amaze you, I am sure that you are not fully aware of everyone's situation-conditions that they have to contend with.

Just because you guys don't understand something does not mean that there is not a good reason for it.

 

[Lil Foot]

While this may amaze you, I am sure that you are not fully aware of everyone's situation-conditions that they have to contend with.
Just because you guys don't understand something does not mean that there is not a good reason for it.

Consider me slapped upside the head.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Well I guess I'm in the Bad category!
I have 2 tractors and neither has a home. I didn't pay big bucks for them but they are worth a lot more than I paid.
I don't have a garage, shop or shed, I do all my repairs and maintenance outside, it's not fun, but ones got to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
I did buy the tractors to help clear / level land to build, so hopefully I'll get to build this summer then I'll get back into the Good catagory.

 

[Lil Foot]

My only point is that virtually every tractor problem I've seen or worked on was caused by leaving them out in the weather- sun rotted rubber & rust. If you can't afford a shed or garage, at least throw a tarp over it. I wish the PO of mine had. I'll shut up now.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Like so?


I may be ill funded and housed at the moment but I'm not stupid, besides I hate a wet and frozen seat, it leads to wet and frozen butt cheeks!

 

[BAP]

Tractors were built to be worked and used, not to be show toys.

 

[Bulldog]

Tractors were built to be worked and used, not to be show toys.

While I agree they are made to be worked I see nothing wrong with alittle show tractor treatment. I wash and wax mine all the time. During hay season if I'm working in a road side field they are washed daily.

Take pride in your ride, keep the orange shiny.

 

[pmhowe]

Like so?
View attachment 10228

I may be ill funded and housed at the moment but I'm not stupid, besides I hate a wet and frozen seat, it leads to wet and frozen butt cheeks!

Hey, Wolfman,

Like your approach and like your picture. Not sure how often you use your tractor in the winter, but I find that your approach (and mine) is an invitation for mice and chipmunks to move in. I've learned to scatter a half a box of mothballs underneath the tarp. In the winter, I only use my tractor when there is a snowstorm. Just a few weeks can cause a problem.

P