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cleaning tractor

Any little crack, control lever, gear shiftier, all gaskets areas can be damaged, distributor, any place water can get into.

I thought I took precautions to prevent water from getting into places on my Jubilee, I found water in my rear end, hydraulic sump, tranny, and engine. I had to replace head gasket on another tractor. I have a 4000psi washer.

I learned my lesson using pressure washer cleaning a tractor. I don't have a steam cleaner, but they may be better than a pressure washer. I think high pressure water is a mistake. I rarely clean my tractors any more. A coating of oil and dirt is redneck zebart rust preventive.

If I ever get the urge to clean, I'll wipe it off with rags. Or use K1 on a rag. Or use concentrated soap, apply with a stiff brush and a garden hose with very little water pressure to wash soap off.

Just my 2 cents worth.
geo
 

My pressure washer is a hot water lower pressure unit, and I have been washing all of my tractors with it for twenty years. I am not worried about damaging the tractors with it because it would be difficult to get the spray directly onto anything in order to damage it. When Sid was washing his, the PTO seal was already leaking. It had a little oil coming out past it which was attracting dust which attracted his pressure spray. My only problem was one tractor would get moisture into the distributor, until I put a new cap and seal on it and sealed where the wire goes in.
 
Actually the seal was not leaking prior to washing. I was cleaning the back because the
hydraulic outlets had leaked and fluid had ran down the back. Replacing the seal was no
big deal but avoiding the seal with high pressure would have been easier. Sid
 
I usually don't wash mine for that reason. When I do it's with a spray bottle with an atomizer, a soft bristle brush on a long handle, cold hydrant water and restricted to tin and glass. Yeah I hear you but that's the way "I" do it.
 
Careful around the radiator, and on newer tractors, any electronic connections or instruments. Ben
 
I have cleaned equipment off to work on it for close to 40 years now. You do not have to get water into things. The first thing is to use hot or warm water. Then you do not need HIGH pressures to clean the grease/grim off. For years this was just my cold water washer hooked up to a propane water heater. Then I got a hot water washer. I also use the wands that have the control on the side that you can turn the pressure down right at the handle. So when I am washing around things I do not want water to damage I just turn the pressure down. Then when I am needing to blast stuck on grease and such I can do so with the high presser hot water. Then just do not blast right around any seals or shifter boots. It is just common sense.

IF your just cleaning mud/dust/dirt off then just use a garden hose. If the mud is dried let the tractor set out during a rain and then wash it while the mud is soft. On the shiny surfaces just wash them like you would your car. Meaning bucket of soapy water and a brush. Rinse with your hose again.
 
One thing not mentioned is the type of tip used. A wide angle tip is more forgiving of higher pressure. A zero degree tip is not forgiving. I use a wider tip for general washing and a rotary zero tip for tough cleaning. The rotary tip does a good, safe job but you still have to use judgement. Mike
 
Thanks guys. I believe I will be very conservative in the use of water and pressure. Might take longer but could be time well spent.
 
Use a 1,500# washer, not a 3,500# that most sold today are. Mine is the lower pressure and never had any problems. And I hooked to the hot faucet an the outside of the house. But then I did not have any newer than a 68 model.
 
I usually just try and cover the alternator/generator and distributor/coil (if a gas tractor) and then not spray too much in that area. On the JD's I have found it is good to remove the bottom cover to the clutch housing so any water getting in there can drain/dry out. Otherwise I use the warm water from the water heater and a Cat pump. The Cat pump seems to tolerate the hot water. My washer is an older JD with a Briggs engine. The original pump did not like hot water. I replaced it with a Cat pump.

So, there seems to be an unwritten law that no many how many time you wash a tractor you always miss something obvious. Has anyone experienced that law. So I empty the water heater 2 or 3 times and go from there.

Paul
 
Dirt is not a Ziebart rust preventative...it holds moisture under the dirt and creates more rust.
 
I have been using an air pressurized solvent cleaning wand with mineral spirits to clean oily or greasy motors, injector pumps, valve covers, electrical connectors, etc. for several years. I seem to have fewer problems with rust or corrosion than I did cleaning with pressure washers.
 
(quoted from post at 09:17:10 01/07/17) Dirt is not a Ziebart rust preventative...it holds moisture under the dirt and creates more rust.
Click to expand...

JMS, read Geo's post again. "A coating of oil and dirt is redneck zebart rust preventive." You have never cleaned an accumulation of oily dirt from under an old machine and found the only original bright paint on the whole machine? Oily dirt certainly will protect the metal and the paint. Also notice he did not say preventative, he used the correct word "preventive". Or is it imperatative to have supelatative preventative maintenance?
 
I just don't spray directly on electronics. Whenever I wash I tr to do it on a warm sunny day (little breeze would be perfect) and wait for it to dry completely before starting it. So far so good.
 
Sort sticks to oil. Rino tuff.

Yes dirt along will cause rust. So will leaving tractors in rain.
 
Heavy duty aluminium foil around dist, alt/gen, and starter is fast and easy. SWMBO will never miss it. Be sure to set it on the ground beside the tractor when washing so she won't want it back.
 
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