Winter Storm

[Colin King]

We had our first winter storm yesterday, which left 4" of snow on the ground. Another 10" is forecast between tonight and tomorrow night. Following that, the temperatures will drop to a forecast low of -15F. Ahhh...Minnesota! I love it.

And here, under this nice snow blanket, Eleanor shall take her winter nap and wait for a new season to come.

Colin, MN

 

[Royse]

You should buy Eleanor a barn for Christmas!
Stay warm out there!

 

[Colin King]

What I wouldn't give for a barn!

I bet our snow has you in it's sites. Stay warm as well!

Colin

 

[Anonymous-0]

great tractor protection..2 cattle panels wired side to side..make a quonset hut..stake ends ..cover with tarp..baby stays dry..out of the sun..mine withstood 24" of snow last year

 

[old]

Having shed is why many call me the recycler I build sheds/barn out of scrap stuff I have laying around or that I can find cheap. My hay barn is made from scrap as is my shop and a few other buildings. Now all I have to do is find the time the the fuel to park the tractor in the sheds.

 

[howdy1960]

At least cover her with a blanket,er, tarp.
I use a large lawn mower cover from Wally-World on Sadie so don't have to brush as much white stuff come plowing time here in snow belt area of NY.
Norm

 

[Bill Rowles]

At least cover her to keep the rain and snow-melt out of the transmission/differential/hydraulic oil. If you are going to leave it open to the weather, take the oil drain plugs loose (carefully so don't waste oil) and drain out the water that accumulates at bottom of the oil reservoir before you operate the tractor so the hydraulic pump doesn't turn the oil and water into "milkshake-looking goo".

 

[showcrop]

The wind makes tarps move around and wear the paint. Far more moisture gets into tranny and hydraulic housings from condensation than some microscopic boot opening. It will be just fine in the weather with a little oil and wax on the appropriate surfaces.

 

[tesmith66]

Reminds me of this pic I took a few years ago.

Didn't quite git 'er in the barn, did I?

 

[oldtanker]

Colin: Yea at least you don't have the huge long drive to mess with. I did get the blower mounted and ready to go.

Rick

 

[Colin King]

Stay warm out there on those hills and that long drive of yours, Rick!

Colin

 

[Colin King]

You may have been a few feet short of the barn, but if you had you wouldn't have been able to take that beautiful photo! Deserves to be in a calendar.

Colin

 

[Colin King]

I completely agree. Tarps are not good. A barn or machine shed would be ideal.

Colin

 

[Colin King]

Good seals and good boots do the trick. In my experience, a tarp does more harm than good. These machines were designed to work outside and they were built before the luxury of machine sheds. This is her 8th winter outside on our farm. She'll be fine.

Colin

 

[Colin King]

Once spring arrives, I've found that the tarp will capture condensation and cause rusting, etc. Everyone has their methods.

Colin

 

[Colin King]

A surplus of sheds would be a nice thing to have...

Colin

 

[Colin King]

That's a fantastic idea! Thank you!

Colin

 

[old]

Ya if mother nature would just stop blowing the roof of of them LOL. Have one that the roof blew off of a couple years ago and I have not had the time to put it back on when it is calm enough to do so. Seem like every time I get some free time the wind if blowing 20 plus MPH

 

[rossowmn]

As a fellow Minnesotan, I have no fear she'll come through just fine. I bought my first 8N from a neighbor who had let it sit outside in his back yard, unused, for at least six years. I remember looking over at it and barely being able to see the tractor under the drifts. But I've had it since spring of '94, and it still works fine (except for the darned oil pump that won't hold a prime).

 

[Bill Rowles]

I think water can also enter trans/hydraulic system at the draft-control spring located under the seat. I agree a tarp covering the machine and sealed to the ground so air cannot exchange to prevent condensation is a problem, but if you rig it to keep off rain and snow while also allowing air in-and -out as weather changes you can prevent the condensation and protect inside of the machine from corrosion. The only antique machinery survivors I have seen without corrosion damage have been stored in a dry air-space.

 

[NoNewParts]

I just use cheap small tarps.
treat em like a 'hat'
just covers the rear, seat, shifter, some tractors it will reach
the distributor, alternator.
doesn't even reach the floorboards on the sides.
yank it off to pull off the snow.
they start better, and it will keep me from getting wet.
which as you know in MN....if you get wet, yer done

tip. wait for the 99cent sale at valu or wherever,
and buy 2. tie em together when adding your ropes.
the double thickness lasts longer.
put a different side up every time you put it on.(slows the sun damage)

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 05:41:55 12/07/13) I just use cheap small tarps.
treat em like a 'hat'
just covers the rear, seat, shifter, some tractors it will reach
the distributor, alternator.
doesn't even reach the floorboards on the sides.
yank it off to pull off the snow.
they start better, and it will keep me from getting wet.
which as you know in MN....if you get wet, yer done

tip. wait for the 99cent sale at valu or wherever,
and buy 2. tie em together when adding your ropes.
the double thickness lasts longer.
put a different side up every time you put it on.(slows the sun damage)

So long as you don't have good paint on them that is fine but if you have good paint, take a close look and you will see where the vibration of the tarp from wind has worn the paint.