[AT] Status Quo Maintenance?

[Francis Robinson]

	You have to remember that to most here this old tractor stuff is a hobby...
It has been mostly hobby for me in recent years and more so now that I have
retired from the grain farming (just isn't fun anymore). For most of my life
it was all for income. Now as you start getting answers in you must remember
that most of those answers come from hobbyist. Hobbyist are mostly into
hobbies to use up time and find ways to spend time (and money) on their
hobbies. I have observed that most hobby magazine projects are based on
consuming time rather than efficiency.   :)   Some woodworkers would cut
down a giant redwood to make a toothpick if they could.
I started using a tractor in the fields alone at age nine. I will be 65 next
spring. During that time we always had more than one tractor and they all
had to work hard. In more recent years (the last 40) we kept a batch of them
going but since we quit livestock (mostly hogs) most of them sat during the
winter months. My Deere 4020 for example got used in the spring for primary
tillage and pulling a 24' field cultivator. It was very efficient at such
jobs but not at light work. During most years it sits most of the year. The
combine was also seasonal. We do try to keep everybody under roof as much as
possible.
	Batteries are a bit of a problem. All I do with them is keep the terminals
cleaned and greased and on the 12 volt ones I use float chargers, rotating
them (2) around. On the 6 volt ones I try to put a 1 amp trickle charger on
them for a day or two a couple of times a year. Beyond that you just have to
buy a battery now and then.
	I change oil when it gets dirty... period. If it gets dirty in a couple of
months I change it. If it sits most of the time and stays clean for 3 years
then it stays in the tractors... I always change oil and filters together.
	I change very little rear end lube now that they don't get a lot of hours.
I did need to get some water out of the Farmall Super MTA this fall. I let
it sit about a week then drained about a gallon out of each drain plug and
topped it off with new lube.
	Now about this radiator stuff... With all of the tractors I now own, all of
the tractors I used to own and all of the tractors I grew up with we "NEVER"
had a radiator on a tractor corroding inside and needing replacement.
NEVER... Not one. Antifreeze was mostly just left in  and added to as
needed. Now on cars and trucks I have replaced several radiators from salt
damage (makes them spongy and they cant even be soldered). Even then I have
"NEVER" had a radiator corrode from the inside... If others are having this
problem I have no idea why unless it is bad local water. I have also often
used tractors on water only and drained them in cold weather. Again,  never
a problem.
	Fuel... If I am not going to be using a tractor for some time I run it in
under roof and shut the gas off and let it run a minute then  shut the
engine off. The next step is to walk away...   :)   I have tried a little
stabil (sp?) but frankly I could never tell a difference. While the newer
fuels do have their problems I don't believe they "gum" as bad as the old
fuels and do a better job of self cleaning when fresh fuel is introduced. I
just don't generally find it to be a problem. As for fuel tanks I do buy
stuff like "Heet" etc. and use it now and then all year. About once a year
if I am going to be using one I like a bottle of Gumout in the tank. If I am
going to work one really hard and long I like a few ounces of something like
Marvel Mystery Oil or even some two cycle oil added to the gas (about 200 to
1 or less). It may not make a bit of difference, I just feel good about it.
:)
	I do agree with your neighbor about running them but only if you can run
them long enough to get them warmed up. One of the reasons I tend to walk a
lot more on the farm is that I do not like to start a cold engine and drive
it 1,000 feet and shut it off cold.

	The above is the normal procedure here and has been for over 5 decades. It
works in spite of what the worry warts say and many will say (as they have
in the past) that I am all wrong but I don't really care. I know better from
real world experience. It works...
	The only real bad problem I have had develop was when I had to leave one
out all winter and I didn't notice the cover had blown off of the exhaust
and it messed up a sleeve. Do cover the exhaust if it sits out and tie the
cover down so it can't blow off.





Francis Robinson quote: "People that throw out trash while driving are
trash..."

"farmer"

Francis Robinson
Central Indiana, USA
robinson at svs.net

-----Original Message-----
?

Hello All...

As many of you have found the tractor bug can hit you and before you know it
you have multiple tractors... I have mostly Allis, WD, WC, C, D17, HD6G, G.
I find myself getting overwhelmed by the maintenance required to keep my
stable of tractors at status Quo...

It seems like everytime I turn around I am replacing a battery. Or, a
tractor needs an oil change. I am also concerned about anti freeze aging and
corroding the expensive recored radiators... Oil changes, just when its
dirty now...? Or, if I havn't started one for a while the fuel has gelled.
What about water condensing in the castings or the tanks...

I was wondering if some of you that have multiple tractors could share your
procedures (if you have any)  that keep your tractors fresh with little
effort. For instance, my neighbor is an X merchant marine, he feels that
every engine should be started at least once a month as he did on his ships.
Should I just add staybill to every tank of gas I fill up as a precaution,
and how long will it last? Is there a staybill for antifreeze?

Maybe I just need to reduce my tractor count, though I would rather just do
what it takes to preserve them. I wonder how antique automible collectors do
it?

Regards,

Will Powell