How long tractor set idle w/o harm?

Don McCullough · Nov 5, 2011

How long can you let a tractor set idle without doing harm to engine and tires? Plan on putting trickler charger on the batteries.

Don

WJD · Nov 5, 2011

It kind of depends on how often the tractor sits at idle. If it is 2-3 times every day my best estimate is 5 min. is plenty. If it once a month 15 min. probabily would not hurt anything.

The main thing is to ensure the engine is at operating temperature. Depending on your electrical load you may be using more current than the alternator (more of a problem with generators) is producing. This could lead to hard starting, short battery life, etc.

Don't forget your hour meter is still running at idle and they add up fast resulting in more frequent oil changes and reduced trade-in value.

You are of course burning fuel during extended idle periods.

Your owners manual will also have recommendations.

Hope this helps,

WJD

Janicholson · Nov 5, 2011

A long time (in years) if the cylinders are treated with rust inhibiter, fresh coolant after a flush, the fuel is removed and carb drained.
Protected from mice, and indoors. Be sure there is no!!! water in the trans oil/engine oil/or hydraulics. Pull the battery and keep it inside charge it every six months with a maintainer. Lift the tires off the floor on blocks to limit cracking and deformation.
Jim

WCS · Nov 5, 2011

Do you mean "idle" as in engine running at low speed or not running at all?

Personally, I kept a diesel tractor running continually for a week when the weather was way below zero, just so I'd have a tractor to do chores with.

old · Nov 5, 2011

If you jack one up so the tires are off the ground plus have them covered so as to keep them out of the light and fill the cylinders with oil or ATF etc you can store one with out a battery for many years

Don McCullough · Nov 5, 2011

Sorry guys. I should have said it differently.

What I meant was: How long can you let a tractor set without running it before you do it harm?

Thanks for your responses.

Don

Dick L · Nov 5, 2011

I just started an Oliver 88 today that has set for seven or six years. The battery went dead and when I stuck another battery in it wouldn't turn over. Found a battery ground cable broke off below the battery. Never got around to messing with it. I started to clean the carburetor this last monday and twisted the power jet off. Ordered a new one and it came in Thursday. Boiled the carburetor and disassembled it, soaked it in a basket of carburetor cleaner over night. Put battery cables, new push starter switch and put the carburetor on it. Hooked up a battery and she started up like it had run yesterday. pumped up the tires that had gone almost flat over the years and drove it around the yard. It is ready to set around for a few more years. I did pull the plugs and squirt a coupla pumps of oil in each hole a year or so back.

Allis Chalmers D15 · Nov 5, 2011

I don't know. if you have climate controlled storage they should last forever. If you use them they wear out. On the other hand if it sets outside with an open stack to catch rain and forget to check the antifreeze in freezing weather the time will be a lot shorter before damage is done.

old · Nov 5, 2011

Well as I said if stored right they can sit a long time. Cylinders full of some sort of oil to keep them from rusting and locking the engine up. Carb drained and then a thin oil to fill it. Coat the fuel tank with oil and fix it so condensation can not build up Ties off the ground and covered so light can not get to them and even better coat them with a tire coating etc etc etc

John in Nebraska · Nov 5, 2011

Recently started an old farmall that had sat in a barn for 27 years, exhaust was capped, cleaned rust out of the carb, new battery and we had it running in an hour. Old farmer said he turned the crank once or twice a year, he wasn't surprised when it fired up. Properly mothballed, I would expect an engine to last indefinitely.

kyhayman · Nov 5, 2011

When I finish in the fall its rare for me to start any of the tractors except the two loader tractors until May. Usually change the oil, check the antifreeze, back them in the shed, and turn off the fuel.

fixerupper · Nov 6, 2011

Here in Iowa you could let it sit without doing any preservation work for one to three years without the pistons sticking. In southern
Arizona with it's dry air and lack of cold temps, I don't know, but it's got to be a lot longer. I bought an R Deere in northern North Dakota, that had sat for at least 12 years, according to the neighbors, and the Pony and Diesel started right up. Jim

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Nov 6, 2011

I think it depends on the circumstances. My Oliver 60 sat in an unheated shed on blocks in Elkader Ia for 32 years without starting. It had no coolant in it so the sleeve seals dried out and cracked. Beyond that, a simple tune up, new battery and fluids, and stop leak in the cooling system was all it took to get it running. I ran it that way for several years while I acquired funds to get the overhaul done.

bison · Nov 6, 2011

I had an Allis HD10 crawler(4-71 detroit),it sat for 10+ years without running.
I hooked a batt to it,hit the start button and it fired up like it ran the day before,i didn't use start fluid either
The fuel was 10 yrs old as well. :lol:

Bill(Wis) · Nov 6, 2011

Friend of mine commanded a company of panzers on the eastern front during WWII (The Big One). He told me they kept their tank engines (diesels, of couse) running from November through March. Just added fuel and oil.

How long tractor set idle w/o harm?

Don McCullough

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WJD

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Janicholson

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WCS

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old

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Don McCullough

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Dick L

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Allis Chalmers D15

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old

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