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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Moth balling my Ford 641.

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coflyboy

11-09-2006 18:26:33




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My wife and I are going south for the five months of winter. The 641, with bucket and blade, (runs just great) will be inside for the five months. I'm going to drain the engine oil, remove the oil filter, clean the breather and air filter, and flush the radiator before we leave (all of this is due anyhow). Put about 60 hours on it this summer. Would you put in the new oil, filter, and antifreeze before leaving or after returning? I read much about stuck clutches and failed hydraulic systems after equipment sits for a while. Would you block the clutch, do anything to the hydraulics, or anything else before leaving or immediately after returning? It's dry here in CO.
I agree with Allan from NE. Do preventive maintenance and don't abuse 'em.

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willie in mn

11-10-2006 05:56:12




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
What part of Co is your home? Is it in snow country? Do you have a GOOD friend or neighbor who keeps an eye on the place while you are gone? Do you keep some heat (45-50 deg) in the house? If yes to these questions, I would do the following: Prep the tractor so it is ready to drive Have the friend/neighbor check on things 2 or 3 times a week Have him/her keep the driveway plowed. Having it look occupied helps deter vandalism, & cleaned driveway helps emergency access in case of fire or storm damage.
I live on a lake (not on the lake, on the shore)in northern Mn, have several neighbors with summer cabins. Plow their driveways & check on the cabins frequently. They always offer money in the spring for this, but I decline. Just a good excuse to play in the snow with my tractor. I will accept a cool beverage from them in the summer.
Willie

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coflyboy

11-10-2006 09:33:32




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to willie in mn, 11-10-2006 05:56:12  
Thanks to all of you. I forgot about the battery. I'll put it on a Wally world trickle maintainer charger.
I live 15 miles west of Colorado Springs on the north slope of Pikes Peak. A good neighbor plows the drive and makes tracks in the yard. We have lights on timers and the local cops notified. The house stays at 45 deg min.



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Tim, Ohio

11-10-2006 02:11:06




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
My manual for my boat engine has me disconnecting fuel line. Then fill
sediment/fuel filter bowl with stabil.
Start engine, let it run until stabilizer
is through fuel system. Shut it down.
Remove plugs, then spray cylinder heads
with fogging oil. Work flywheel back and
forth to distribute oil well. Replace plugs. Also, change oils, including any
gear oils to assure no water is left in
any areas that might freeze and cause cracked housings.

I assume all of this would apply to tractors. I will follow these steps
on mine, if they are to sit unused for
over two months.

Of course, none of this is crucial if you have heated storage.

Best regards,

Tim, Ohio

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big jt

11-10-2006 00:58:20




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
Lot's of good suggestions as usual.

I pull the batteries and put them on a trickle charger. Definatly dump the fuel. Modern gas blends are only supposed to last about 2 months after they come out of the pump. (Thats why I like my Propanes :->

jt



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jimNCal

11-09-2006 22:26:53




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
As repeated below. 'Freshen-up' all of the fluids except the fuel and LEAVE them full. Put the proper mix/ratio of 'stabil' in the fuel. Start and run the tractor with the fuel valve OFF until it dies from no fuel in the carb and then disconnect the battery and e'N'joy the warm(er) weather where you are going to ride the winter out.

jim



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frankiee

11-09-2006 19:40:45




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
When I worked in the scrap yard it was strongly noticed that parts that were taken off the vehicles and put in to stock deteriorated very rapidly. Because they were dry of their liquids.
I would leave all fluid levels up.



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Dachshund

11-09-2006 19:36:51




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
Where in Colorado are you? I was Baptized out near Buena Vista. Pretty country out there!



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coflyboy

11-10-2006 13:15:57




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to Dachshund, 11-09-2006 19:36:51  
Go to Bueny often. The Collegiate Mountains there are spectacular. Have good friends there.



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Dachshund

11-10-2006 13:19:01




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-10-2006 13:15:57  
And all the chipmunks at St Elmo!



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Howard H.

11-09-2006 19:08:25




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  

I would never leave it dry of oil - I've just heard too many stories of dads, brothers, wives, neighbors, etc, firing up some engine without knowing it was dry and ruining the engine.

I would change the oil and antifreeze, fire it up and mix everything good and then park it.

On the Minneapolis Moline stationary engines we run, I often would dribble some oil (a cup or so) into the intake while it was running - just before shutting it down for the winter - just to really oil the cylinders up good to minimize the chance for sticking...

Just my two cents worth...

HH

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old

11-09-2006 18:52:03




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to coflyboy, 11-09-2006 18:26:33  
I would do a full oil change, not leave the pan empty. I would also block the clutch pedel down and fill the cylinders with tranny fluid or oil. Filling the cylinders leave no place of condensation to rust up the rings and cause the engine to lock up. As far as anti freeze you should also fill the colling system up with a 50/50 mix so as to keep the system clean and free of rust forming

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IaGary

11-10-2006 04:19:31




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to old, 11-09-2006 18:52:03  
Old

Not disagreeing with you at all.

Just wondering how you get the fluid back out of the cylinders?

I assume you would vacuum it out.

And wouldn't lots of it leak by the rings?

So you would want to change the oil again before refiring in the spring.

Gary



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old

11-10-2006 06:56:31




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to IaGary, 11-10-2006 04:19:31  
Well the next time you want to fire it up you remove the plugs and spin the engine over to clear the cylinders, and yes you change the oil again becuase yes a good bit leaks by. But its sure better then haveing the engine lock up from sitting that long. Plus the rings will not stick either which is a big plus

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RayP(MI)

11-09-2006 20:31:40




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to old, 11-09-2006 18:52:03  
What Old says, plus grease all fittings. Remove, clean, charge battery, store in a cool dry place. There is some discussion as to not storing on concrete - best bet might be to place on a dry wood board



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in-too-deep

11-10-2006 07:18:24




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to RayP(MI), 11-09-2006 20:31:40  
Negatory. It's perfectly safe to store a battery on conrete. Modern battery cases are well-insulated and won't leak. That old wive's tale was from the old days when batteries were made of less durable materials and would leak. It's a real tough habit to brak though. : )



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dan hill

11-11-2006 12:15:55




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 Re: Moth balling my Ford 641. in reply to in-too-deep, 11-10-2006 07:18:24  
Battery acid will eat the hell out on concrete;Main reason for keeping them off concrete.



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