OCD and washing your tractor

[Charlie5320]

When I bought my BX2670 last fall the dealer was supposed to do a complete service and clean it before delivery. They did attempt to wash the outside and change the oil. They DIDN'T clean the tractor or change the fuel filters, I found out. Wasn't real happy about it either. I was having trouble with it dying out after the first time mowing with it. Tank ended up with something in it. Blew it out, changed the filters, and mixed up some super clean, and washed the tractor while I had the deck out. The pedals return much better now after the cleaning and greasing, and it's clean. Probably will do the cleaning at least yearly, and will wax the exterior.

 

[mikester]

Sorry but I couldn’t stop laughing after reading you blow dry...

Re: Degreasing - I’d recommend simply using old rags to wipe away excess grease. If you go at it with degreaser and a pressure washer you risk getting it into your pins, bushings, seals and bearings. That outcome is far worse than a “dirty” or greasy tractor.

 

[mikester]

When I bought my BX2670 last fall the dealer was supposed to do a complete service and clean it before delivery. They did attempt to wash the outside and change the oil. They DIDN'T clean the tractor or change the fuel filters, I found out. Wasn't real happy about it either. I was having trouble with it dying out after the first time mowing with it. Tank ended up with something in it. Blew it out, changed the filters, and mixed up some super clean, and washed the tractor while I had the deck out. The pedals return much better now after the cleaning and greasing, and it's clean. Probably will do the cleaning at least yearly, and will wax the exterior.

Using an indelible marker or print label to mark the date and hours on all your filters is a great way to track your service intervals...and if they actually change the filters.

 

[SDT]

Like many of you I like to keep all my equipment and tools looking new. So I am soliciting any advise for tractor (BX2380) cleaning and degreasing (exterior and engine). I usually do a quick exterior rinse to get the dust off after moving dirt around on my lot, followed by hitting it with a blower to dry off. Besides not blasting water into electrical areas are there any special precautions I want to take, especially when doing the occasional engine cleaning.

I have 5 Kubotas, the oldest a 1993/4 (can't remember) the newest to be delivered in about another week.

None have ever been washed.

I wipe the sheet metal of each with a wet cloth and dry with a dry towel once each year before waxing. Without leaks or rain, very little dirt will stick.

After each use I blow off thoroughly with compressed air before storing inside.

Of course, this technique would not work well if I was a real farmer and routinely operated in rain, mud, etc. Is such situations, I would probably use a relatively low pressure, electric, cold water pressure washer to remove dried mud, etc.

SDT

 

[Blondie70]

That old grease and oil all over it, plus a good coating of dirt....will keep the rust at bay. It works, trust me...ha ha ha. (well it works for me anyway as I have seen no rust yet)

 

[Creature Meadow]

I'm very OCD and my 3 year old is following close behind me. She told me today that Katie needed a bath, I'm like really she looks clean to me no dada her tires are dirty.....

So, we finished running rows in garden and planted 200' of peas, 200' of snap beans, and 300' of corn then off to wash her but the rain came so postponed till tomorrow.


OCD, took down a old dog pen and chain link fence that was around it this week. Now have a 12' x 40' cement pad to put implements on. Moved everything to it today. How nice all implements on cement with no trees around to drop leaves on them and level surface when hooking up and unhooking.

 

[D2Cat]

This thread reminds me of a friend who a couple of years ago I asked if I could borrow his torque wrench. Soon he brought it over and got it out of a case nicer than I keep my reading glasses in. I was busy working on something and as he was visiting I told him I was ready to torque the bolts.

He got the instrument out of the lint free microfiber wrapping and moved it towards me said, "Your hands are dirty. You have to wash them first!" My hands were clean enough I would have eaten potato chips without needing to wash them.

I nick named him "quick draw" because he keeps his cell phone in the same microfiber wrapping, then a envelope (like something you mail a letter in). The envelope is then in a plastic container he got something in, and that goes into his coverall pocket. He is pretty fast at getting it all out to answer, but usually he calls me right back.

I could tell you more, but you get the picture. Entertaining to me, must be frustrating to him.

 

[greenacresnorth]

careful using Purple power and or other strong sodium hydroxide based degreasers, it will burn your paint and is hell on rubber hoses and seals.

 

[Creature Meadow]

As fall approaches it was time to clean up Katie, Ella and I gave her a good bath and applied a coat of wax. Went ahead and greased her and checked all fluids, battery water level, etc.

 

[Stmar]

With my 8Ns no problem, they sat outside and Mother Nature took care of them. I keep the new Kubota in the barn and it gets dusty and pigeon deposits so I have to power wash it now and then. If I know it is going to rain and no hail is predicted I let it go the way of the Ns and put it outside, do the same with my F250, problem is this year we have had a lot of hail and not much real rain. Kubota also gets a regular snow bath during the winter, plowing and busting through drifts, plus the wind acts as a snow wash to get to those hard to reach places.

 

[D2Cat]

As fall approaches it was time to clean up Katie, Ella and I gave her a good bath and applied a coat of wax. Went ahead and greased her and checked all fluids, battery water level, etc.

I am intrigued by folks who are so detailed oriented. Do you have the need to fill the angles back to spec on the tooth bar? I mean where does one quit?

Sometimes details are extremely important, other times not so. Is that irrational thinking on my part?

How would you ever deal with something like this? I did replace the steering wheel, but the knobs you see melted to a 90 deg angle, I have left them. It's to remind me what this tractor was like.

I am in no way trying to be a smart szz, just interested in what makes folks do what they do.

 

[Creature Meadow]

D2Cat no offense taken, I just enjoy organizing and cleaning. It is my outlet when stressed, ill, fed up, even when tired I like to organize.

It started for me back in 1996 when I suffered a head injury, was out of work for 6 months and could not drive and lived in the country. What do you do all day when no one is around surly not sleep. I cleaned and organized to pass time and took a liking to it. Part of it is also my job, calibration where 0.000025" actually makes a difference.

Like the colored end caps I put on the zerks, I believe in the end it saves time. This time blue replaced yellow.....

Heck I even number my socks, when you put the sock on the number should be on the inside of your foot in the arch area, ensures you have it on the correct foot as well

 

[johnjk]

I have not washed and waxed my B3200 yet, I do hose it off and make sure the mud is off the wheels, fenders, front axle and undercarriage. Easier to spot a potential problem if you don't have to wait for it to migrate through the grime. I do pull the outer filter and radiator screen weekly to clean,

Now that my youngest is back in college, I have time to putter around a bit more. She stays in the garage so she stays relatively clean

 

[D2Cat]

"Now that my youngest is back in college, I have time to putter around a bit more. She stays in the garage so she stays relatively clean."


John, are you talking about your B3200 or your daughter?

 

[MilkyWay]

....Heck I even number my socks, when you put the sock on the number should be on the inside of your foot in the arch area, ensures you have it on the correct foot as well

I can relate to that! I always write L - E - F - T on the top of the fingers of one glove and R - I - T - E on the other glove when I buy them so I would stop getting sooo confused when I was in a hurry to put them on.

 

[Kevin1]

As fall approaches it was time to clean up Katie, Ella and I gave her a good bath and applied a coat of wax. Went ahead and greased her and checked all fluids, battery water level, etc.

Looking good!

 

[jryser]

As fall approaches it was time to clean up Katie, Ella and I gave her a good bath and applied a coat of wax. Went ahead and greased her and checked all fluids, battery water level, etc.

Beautiful!!! I appreciate your attention to detail and read where you got it from! I never purposely wash my girl - rain takes care of her and then I wipe her down with soap and let the rain rinse before she goes back in the barn - but she’s well oiled, well greased and very happy! I’m dealing with some health issues myself and will likely have time to kill while getting in remission so one never knows. [emoji12]


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[Creature Meadow]

When I bought Katie 4 years ago this is what she looked like, she needed a bath. She lived inside the barn but it was well apparent baths were not on his agenda. Might note his truck was clean and detailed.

Amazing what a good bath and coat of wax can do. When I bought her I took 2 days of work and for 3 days I cleaned on her. The pic in my profile was just after buying her and cleaning.

The pic in the OP is 4 years later, 180 hrs then and 303 now.

 

[Kevin1]

Beautiful!!! I appreciate your attention to detail and read where you got it from! I never purposely wash my girl - rain takes care of her and then I wipe her down with soap and let the rain rinse before she goes back in the barn - but she’s well oiled, well greased and very happy! I’m dealing with some health issues myself and will likely have time to kill while getting in remission so one never knows. [emoji12]


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Wishing you a speedy recovery...

 

[08quadram]

The bx gets washed once or twice a year. Use air compressor about every time I mow and blow everything off of it, works better than water. Almost never wax, because after waxing a 35 foot camper, a truck, and 5 cars the last thing I want to do is wax a tractor.

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