winter storage

Hi Hugh, Here's what I removed from the fan shroud on my garden tractor. I don't know if they were mice or chipmunks. I had to use a wire to snake all that out. I found a few skeltons too. Hal

However my reason for storing batteries where the temp stays freezing is this: If a battery were to self-discharge while in storage then it freezes and splits it's case, you've got a corrosive mess to clean up once it thaws. (This has happened to me on a couple occasions...)

It's is not an issue for a healty, fully-charged battery in deep cold storage. However for that 7 year old relic you're gonna try to squeeze one more season out of...

I was starting a JD 8960 (Cummins 855 diesel) which had an empty gallon paint can dropped over the stack.

When the engine lit it blew the can some distance upward and sideways. Unfortunately the dog was standing exactly where the can fell out of the sky and hit her square on the back. The impact caused the poor dog no harm, but it scared h*ll out of her.

For the rest of the dog's life the instant she heard tractor starting to crank she'd take off at a dead run while looking back over her shoulder. ...Bob

I can just imagine how the dog felt, but dogs can also be quite possive of their tractors. Back in the early days when 560 was my biggest tractor, we were harvesting corn silage. I had two young lads that worked for me all summer that would come a do silage (tower silo) after school. I finished my morning barn chores about 9 am and the high school night janitor came and ran the harvester until school let out. We went to dinner, came back and I drove him to within 100' of tractor and harvester. I went back to full wagon at the silo. I could see the tractor and harvester, thought it strange Brenton hadn't started chopping. Got to the field, here was Brenton standing on top of the harvester and my old german sheperd lieing under rear end of 560. No matter what he tried the old dog came after him. This was his first day and I guess he and dog were not yet acquainted. When I came along, his next attempt was going to be try and walk the pto shaft, knowing full well the dog could reach his ankles. Anyhow, I got them acquainted and the dog made every trip up and down that field with the tractor, everyday Brenton was there.

Also to provide some protection to the seat and help keep water off the top of the transmission deck/shift lever I’ll tie a piece of heavy plastic film over the seat and shift lever. (Leave it open at the bottom so air still circulates…)

Finally if the tractor will not be started for several months I like to remove the battery and store it in the basement where it will be dry somewhat warm.

Allan

Winters are very hard on them as it probably freezes and thaws 50 times per winter. snow turning to slush, back to ice can create buildups both under and on top of the hood. I've seen manifolds and valve covers damaged by ice expansion. It's quite different when you have 45" of annual precipitation coupled with salt air.

I especially like your idea on that gear shift lever. It seems if you shed the water running down the shift lever, you'll get very little water in the transmission.