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bmaverick
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 21 WI
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2015-02-05          192024

Got the TBN January, 2015 Compact & Utility Tractor Newsletter today. It had a section called, Helpful Winter Tractor Maintenance Tips

The first tip was a bit stunning as it said to drain the fuel tank. Say what? I got a diesel. You do not do this. You actually fill the tank to the top and have room for the winter fuel conditioner like CRC Bio-Con. Are you a Yanmar tractor owner, you own a diesel.

It would have been nice if they stated the tips were for regular gas tractors. :dazed:

Here is the tip: (I would like to have seen a statement FOR GAS ENGINE ONLY)
"Drain fuel from the tank and carburetor – This should be common knowledge at this point, but fuel (particularly ethanol-laden gasoline) will change itself to warmish as it sits, gumming the jets in the carburetor and clogging the small holes gasoline needs to pass through."


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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2015-02-06          192025

Whoever wrote those tips forgot to instruct to deflate all the tires -- to release the pressure. ....

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bmaverick
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 21 WI
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2015-02-07          192036

Quote:
Originally Posted by auerbach | view 192025
Whoever wrote those tips forgot to instruct to deflate all the tires -- to release the pressure.


Sure, maybe decrease by 15psi really unless it's your snowplow tractor too. Then add the chains and the oil warmer or the lower radiator heater.
....

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bmaverick
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 21 WI
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2015-02-07          192037

Here are a few more of those tips. They seem alright. To bad these tips came out in the middle of the winter season. :-(

I did like the tip of putting the tractor up on blocks/stands to keep the weight off the tires. In the harsh cold north, the tires could/do take a flat spot set. Our tires are not steel belted.

"Put it up on blocks – Keeping the tires in contact with cold concrete over the winter can cause flat spots, leading to severe wear and poor performance. It can also cause cracking and drying. Many tricks have been tried – putting carpet squares, sand bags, or plywood underneath is a common one. This doesn’t really help though. The only solution is to raise your machine up on blocks."

"Release the clutch – Moisture can work its way into all parts of your tractor including the gears. If you leave the clutch in, the disc could rust to the flywheel. Releasing the clutch keeps these two separated, and functioning smoothly."

"Disconnect and store the battery – If you leave the battery in, and you leave your tractor in a cold area during the winter – garage, pole barn, outside – you’ll have a dead battery come spring. Safely disconnect the battery cables and store the battery in a dry, temperature-controlled location. Do not store it in your house or near open flames though. Also, before storing, make sure the battery is fully charged."

If the tractor is in a shed with no power source, it's a good idea to bring it home. I have a battery trickle charger that can remain plugged in and clamped onto the battery all winter. It's like a battery maintainer. Classic car professionals do this too. Yausa and Schumacher make a good product. The Battery Minder has mixed reviews and could even ruin a battery in some instances, thus I avoid the product.

The Schumacher will work with sealed gel-cell batteries too. So, those electric farm carts or battery banks can be maintained in the low solar winter time.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/schumacher-automatic-microprocessor-controlled-charger-maintainer-6-12v
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200456086_200456086
....

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Yanmar Tractors Winterize
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bmaverick
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 21 WI
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2015-02-07          192038

This is a good point to prevent summer and fall moisture from freezing during the winter storage ...

"Grease it up – A lack of grease on moving parts of a tractor that sits for months can make it harder for those parts to get moving once again. Check your grease zerks for clogging, check for a lack of grease on moving parts, and check to make sure your wheel bearing are greased up and free of moisture."

"Checking the fluids – While this should be considered regular maintenance, it is particularly important when you are storing your tractor for the winter. If it is dirty, change it – if it is low, top it off. Hydraulic fluid is particularly important to check, as it can draw in moisture during storage because of condensation."

"Clean the filters – Clogged air filters are always an issue in the spring time. While you’ll want to check it again before starting up in the spring, a thorough cleaning or a replacement prior to storage can help you be prepared and lessen the workload later." ....

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