Storing Tractors Outside

EUG560 · Jul 15, 2021

I believe this has been discussed in the past, but wanted to throw this out again. I will need to store 3 tractors on my wooded lot for potentially a year while I build a new house and barn. I am in Minnesota. They have been kept in a pole barn up until now with no heat, but protected from other elements. I have a driveway built with class 5 rock, so they wont be parked in the dirt, but other than that, exposed to the elements. Any advice? Tarp them, or leave them uncovered? Pull the batteries? Any other advice?

Thanks in advance for comments.

Bruce from Can. · Jul 15, 2021

I assume these tractors do not have cabs , so preventing water from entering the transmission through the great shifter is something you might consider. Also you dont want snow to blow through air intake and enter the engine. Neighbor left a MF tractor out all winter, had the exhaust covered, but engine had water in the cylinders in the spring.

tomturkey · Jul 15, 2021

It may not work for you, but while I was waiting for spring and my new pole barn, I invested in a fabric/canvass/vinyle garage. Was able to squeeze a tractor a riding lawnmower, a push lawn mower a few other items. Resold the garage after my bldg was up. Just a thought. gobble

jon f mn · Jul 15, 2021

I wouldn't cover them, squirrels, chipmunks, and mice love being under cover. I wouldn't worry too much, my dc has been outside virtually all it's life with very little bad effects. Make sure the exhaust is covered and the shift boot is good and do what ever you do normally.

Steve@Advance · Jul 15, 2021

Tarps are unreliable, tend to blow away when needed the most, plus they are rodent incubators!

The most important thing is keeping rain out of the exhaust if it has a vertical pipe. Never trust a raincap alone! A heavy metal bucket or a capped pipe nipple will work, but water can also track down the exhaust pipe and into the manifold, depends how it is designed.

Fill the fuel tank to reduce condensation.

Remove the battery and keep it charged and inside if possible.

If any tires are leaking, have them repaired. You don't want a tire sitting flat.

Be sure the shifter boots are good. A piece of duct tape over the ignition switch will help keep out water and bug nests.

If time allows, crack loose the engine oil drain plug, and all other oil drain plugs before starting. Any water will be on bottom, just let it drip out before it emulsifies when started.

newhollandnut · Jul 15, 2021

Id try to find some rough cut lumber and set some post or use the trees as post and make a roof to cover them kinda like a shelter house

rustred · Jul 15, 2021

the very most important thing is to have the exhaust pipes covered. plus if they are gas tractors removing the spark plugs and squirting some oil in each cyl. is very good preventative maintenance. the rest i would not worry to much about other than removing batteries, and what i do is put a can over the fuel tank caps as water enters through the vent hole. many times covered is not as good due to condensation.

NY 986 · Jul 15, 2021

I would add if this is to go on for quite a while then periodically crack open the drain plug for the engine and transmission to drain any condensation. Water is heavier than oil so once you see fluid drip open no further and see if it is water or oil. If water monitor and drain until oil appears then close.

flying belgian · Jul 15, 2021

I wouldn't worry about it. All the tractors at the dealers set out year around. New ones and used alike.

EUG560 · Jul 15, 2021

Thank you everyone! Great information and suggestions!

Geo-TH,In · Jul 15, 2021

My Jubilee sat outside before I bought it.
First thing I did was change all fluids.
Transmission was overfull. About a gallon of water. When it rained water ran down the gear shift lever and into the tranny. The boot leaked.
Water was in the hydraulic sump. Rain water found its way in via the rear spring on upper link connection.
Neighbor wanted me to help him load his old case tractor in the winter. Guess what?
The tranny was full of ice. Couldn't move it.

People leave tractor outside and somehow water gets in cylinders and the engines rust up.

I bought a new Kubota end of 2019 and built a new pole barn before I brought it home.
Thank God I built it before C19 and prices went through the roof.

New tractors may be better suited for sitting outside.

Neighbor buys new JD tractors, combines, everything green.

Except for when he is planting or harvesting, everything sits inside. He has 5 huge pole barns. Don't need to ask him what he thinks of his farming equipment sitting outside.

I would be more concerned keeping tractors outside someone would steel them if you are not living there.

I will never leave a tractor outside. Against my tractor religion.
They are your tractors, It's you decision, not mine.

Rich'sToys · Jul 15, 2021

As mentioned, one winter outside is not going to hurt them. We'd all rather not have them out, but sometimes it becomes necessary.
The ones with transmissions and rear ends full of water have been outside for 50 years. That didn't all get in there over one winter. If the exhaust is covered and your shifter boots are good you won't have any problems.

Meangreen · Jul 15, 2021

My Farmall M has been outside the last two years. I used a silver, medium weigh tarp with nylon rope. I make sure the tarp goes over the seat and all the way over the nose, I remove the exhaust pipe and the run the rope trough all the holes making sure to criss cross from side to side in the middle. I also tarp my tires because I had just purchased them new and didn't want the sun to do its damage. I live in Iowa. No issues with critters making their homes or storing anything in the tractor either.

Fingers crossed my new shop will be done this fall.

DoubleO7 · Jul 15, 2021

I would stretch a winch cable between two stout trees.
Then get four used vinyl billboards for free.
With cable about 14 feet or so off the ground, through billboards over cable. Over lap the long edges, anchor the ends.
Or if you have some top rails from chainlink fence, you could get fancy and make a greenhouse frame out of them and the billboard vinyls.

BarnyardEngineering · Jul 15, 2021

I don't know where you'd find billboard vinyls "for free" but they are available pretty reasonable online.

If you can find old shelterlogic frame, billboard vinyls turn them into pretty stout structures. Get vinyls with pipe sleeves.

Goose · Jul 15, 2021

I just park them until I need them again.

Pete in MD · Jul 15, 2021

Check the antifreeze.

SDE · Jul 16, 2021

If it were me, I might jack the tractor up and put a block under each axle. Or at least put blocks under the axle so that if a tire goes down, that the block will support the tractor and the rim won't cut the tube.

Bret4207 · Jul 17, 2021

Sadly, I have never had a place to store any of my tractors under cover. Maybe someday! If you can cover the exhaust and gear shift that helps a lot. definitely take the battery out and put it inside on a maintainer if you can. Keep and eye on it for soft tires and make sure the antifreeze is up to snuff.

showcrop · Jul 17, 2021

Don't worry about them! The worst thing for them is condensation, which a shed does nothing to prevent. The second worse is a tarp which as the wind moves it wears your paint off.

J.Wondergem · Jul 17, 2021

I have two parked in a Harbor Freight hotel. Works good. I keep the door open in the Summer for air circulation.

Storing Tractors Outside

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