Winter storage

[Surfer]

Good morning all. new to the tractor world. I plan to store my B2601 in the garage over the winter. Where I live, not much goes on during the winter. I have a bush hog mower attachment and I was wondering should I leave the mowing attachment on over the winter or is it better to take it off.

Thank you.

 

[mikester]

Leave it on if you wish, if it's attached and sitting on the ground I don't think it matters. Check and follow your owners manual for long term storage recommendations. Doing an engine oil change before parking certainly wouldn't hurt. Sitting for long periods in fresh engine oil is never a bad idea. Do a complete grease job.

Get some spray grease and coat any bare metal parts (3PH balls etc). Lock the clutch if you have one.

 

[GeoHorn]

By the comment “Lock the clutch”... I believe that is a recommendation to depress/actuate the clutch into a DIS-engaged position to prevent the clutch plates from rusting/sticking together during long-term storage.

I’ve never had that problem and do not like the idea of keeping pressure-plate-fingers depressed for long-term, nor the clutch return-spring stretched for long periods, so I do not do this. (Maybe the day I suffer a stuck-clutch I’ll change my mind.). LOL

 

[NCL4701]

Only other thing since you mention a mower would be either disconnect the PTO shaft or make sure it’s well greased. Being inside it may not be much of a problem but if you’ve ever had a PTO shaft stuck on your tractor’s PTO you know getting it off can be a bear. Just a little rust can stick it and you can’t exactly put a torch on it or go to whaling on it with a BFH without risking more damage than you want to deal with.

 

[SDT]

By the comment “Lock the clutch”... I believe that is a recommendation to depress/actuate the clutch into a DIS-engaged position to prevent the clutch plates from rusting/sticking together during long-term storage.

I’ve never had that problem and do not like the idea of keeping pressure-plate-fingers depressed for long-term, nor the clutch return-spring stretched for long periods, so I do not do this. (Maybe the day I suffer a stuck-clutch I’ll change my mind.). LOL

Clutch plates can corrosion lock to the flywheel and pressure plate driven disc but usually this does not happen in seasonal periods of non use.

Most manufacturers supply a hook, pin or other suitable device to keep the clutch in disengaged position during long periods of non use but such is a rather recent practice. I suspect such practice is more a function of tort attorneys than engineers.

SDT

 

[SDT]

Leave it on if you wish, if it's attached and sitting on the ground I don't think it matters. Check and follow your owners manual for long term storage recommendations. Doing an engine oil change before parking certainly wouldn't hurt. Sitting for long periods in fresh engine oil is never a bad idea. Do a complete grease job.

Get some spray grease and coat any bare metal parts (3PH balls etc). Lock the clutch if you have one.

Agreed.

I change oil and filter(s) in the fall after last use and before winter storage rather than in the spring as do many/most.

Running the engine for a short period after such fall change gets clean, fresh oil to wearing surfaces while flushing out old, contaminated oil prior to storage.

I just finished the fall change of my B1750HSDT today, the last one on my list this year.

SDT

 

[SidecarFlip]

Clutch plates can corrosion lock to the flywheel and pressure plate driven disc but usually this does not happen in seasonal periods of non use.

Most manufacturers supply a hook, pin or other suitable device to keep the clutch in disengaged position during long periods of non use but such is a rather recent practice. I suspect such practice is more a function of tort attorneys than engineers.

SDT

I have and it's not nice either. I had an older Massey ag tractor years ago with a Perkins and the torque amplifier tranny and I had the clutch freeze to the flywheel (should have blocked the clutch pedal) Real pisser freeing it up as in a large stout tree in a high gear with a heavy chain and a prayer.

No issue now, neither of my M's have a clutch plate.

 

[mikester]

By the comment “Lock the clutch”... I believe that is a recommendation to depress/actuate the clutch into a DIS-engaged position to prevent the clutch plates from rusting/sticking together during long-term storage.

I’ve never had that problem and do not like the idea of keeping pressure-plate-fingers depressed for long-term, nor the clutch return-spring stretched for long periods, so I do not do this. (Maybe the day I suffer a stuck-clutch I’ll change my mind.). LOL

I had a dump truck suffer a stuck clutch after being parked all winter, once burned twice shy. My K has a clutch lock and it's recommended in the manual for long term storage so somebody at K must think its a good idea.