I just do not know where this year has gone to, it only seems like a few weeks since I was filling everything up with water in the Spring and getting tractors and machines out and ready for various shows and events this year.
As our USA Massey visitors from Iowa left on Thursday this weekend I have been "winterising" all my tractors except the red Pacemaker which is heading to the last show of the season this coming weekend.
We all have different individual ways of doing this, some based from experiences in the past, but the end of the day all our individual approaches puts our treasured tractors in care for the winter months.
So my weekend has been spent in this way:-
1. Running the tractor to get oil splashed around the inside of the engine.
2. Draining the water from the radiator and engine block whilst still warm, making sure there is no blockage in the taps with a piece of wire. (doing it this way the internal water passages soon dry from the heat of the engine)
3. After draining always crank engine for at least two compressions (My dad always insisted on this to ensure all water is out of the water pump)
4. Drain any petrol from the small starting tank and any kerosene from the larger tank into a container. (this mixture will be used next year in the Kerosene tank) Remove the sediment bowl glass, empty & clean out the glass bowl and refit.
5. Leave radiator and cylinder block taps open, also leave the carburettor fuel bowl drain tap open slightly.( this allows air to pass through to evaporate any residue of fuel left in there)
6. After a few days when all the oil in the sump as settled, just release the oil drain plug almost to the end and see if there is any water / condensation runs passed the threads before oil appears.
7.The few tractors I have on rubber tyres are monitored throughout the winter and re pressurised should they become flat, ( I don't like to see tractors sat with flat tyres)
All my petrol / kerosene tractors are completely drained of water in the winter, this is due to the fact that in 1987 after the full restoration of my red Pacemaker, I decided to winterise it anti freeze, thinking it was the best way to go, well on the first start up after painting, coolant shot up the exhaust, so I had to remove the cylinder head again, and could see where water /anti freeze had tracked across a slight flaw in one side of the copper gasket face.
I have never put anti-freeze in an old tractor since that experience, but fully understand all the comments regarding water pump seals drying out. Although I do find in the spring they may drip for a while but soon take up once they are soaked again, or a tap of adjustment on the brass gland nut.
The tractors are now ready for winter but I must say I am NOT, its all come around far too quickly.
Malcolm.
Malcolm