best postion for loader when tractor parked?

[MarkVII]

Greetings all --

I'm the proud owner of a new-to-me B2100 with an LA301 loader. This is my first tractor, so I'm having to learn a bunch of stuff in a hurry.

What's the best position to put the loader in when parking the tractor? If I put the bucket in a normal position and lower the bucket to the ground, it collects water. OTOH, I can put the bucket in full dump position so it wouldn't collect water, but then there's a BIG length of hydraulic piston out in the weather.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to park the tractor inside.

Thanks,
Mark
Troy, MI

 

[bikerdib]

I always retract the cylinders. A little water collected in the bucket won't be as big an issue as the cylinders rusting. They won't rust real quickly but if the tractor is parked for a while...

Why take a chance?

 

[MarkVII]

Hi Bikerdib -- thanks for confirming my suspicions. Mark

 

[DsBota]

I also park and set the loader to collect water as a couple of scoops of gravel always solves the rusty bucket problem.

 

[meanjean]

Make sure you have a cap on the muffler being that you park outside.

 

[wboggs]

Always ground your load.

The bucket doesn't need to be rolled-out all the way, but enough that water runs off. Set the cutting edge on a couple wood blocks in winter so it doesn't freeze to the ground.

Chrome steel is very rust resistant and should take a very long time for any pitting to occur, painted metal on the other hand, not so much.

 

[daniel.ray77]

If your tractor must remain outside, pick up a relatively inexpensive plastic tarp that you can easily cover it between uses. Weather is hard on hydraulic hoses and prematurely deteriorates the entire tractor.

 

[Bulldog]

You might look at getting one of those portable carports. It would pay for itself the first year just being able to keep water from getting in critical parts.

 

[ipz2222]

10-4 to what bulldog said. $500 to $ 700 , well worth the money. Sun and water, great destroyers of equipment.

 

[meanjean]

My Dad bought me a temporary shelter, built by Shelter Logic.
POS
If you can place it between a garage and some trees then it might last 1 year.
Mine was torn to ribbons in a matter of weeks.

 

[Randyj]

If it's going to set outside for a while, a coat of "fluid film" sprayed on anything you don't want to rust (hydraulic ram) etc. would help.

 

[53dudestoy]

you could scrounge up a plastic drum...cut in half to fit over the bucket.
*shrugs* just a thought.
or...just dump bucket water on your plants.
chrome rams arent cheap.

 

[koppel]

Hi there,

I leave my loader lowered with rams as far retracted as possible.

BUT the biggest thing you need to be aware of is once you have turned off your machine and walked away; that just maybe, some local kids decide to play around it.

One may happen to be near loader as other kid sits in seat and wiggles levers.

Depending on how you left machine their is a chance loader may just move slightly trapping a child or animal.

So always after turning off your tractor work your hydraulic levers back and forward with brake off and in neutral and let the bucket / loader frame settle by gravity. Then ( providing your not leaving tractor for months ) re-apply parking brakes. I have one tractor that was left by previous owner with brakes applied for 2 years and now its a real job to get the shoes to retract off the drum, enough to repair brakes.

I also lower the 3 point and any other attached implement under non power.

If I am away for a while I will wrap any exposed rams with thick rag thats been soaked in water proofing tallow or grease.

Enjoy your new machine and say safe