Is it safe to power wash tractor?

[coinman66]

Can i power wash my whole tractor without any worries? What should I cover? Thanks

[Cub Cadet 123]

Anything with seals (engine, transmission/rear) can get water in it. Why do you need to power wash it? If you are trying to get the grime off, you can use a degreaser in a spray bottle and garden hose. I use the purple Super Kleen and it does an excellent job. Just wear protective eyewear and gloves or else your hands will peel as it removes all oil---even from your fingers/hands.

Cub Cadet 123

[Diesel Krazy]

Originally Posted by Cub Cadet 123

Anything with seals (engine, transmission/rear) can get water in it. Why do you need to power wash it? If you are trying to get the grime off, you can use a degreaser in a spray bottle and garden hose. I use the purple Super Kleen and it does an excellent job. Just wear protective eyewear and gloves or else your hands will peel as it removes all oil---even from your fingers/hands.

Cub Cadet 123

I'm not sure if your talking about the same stuff. I used purple power on my daughters Cub Original and it washed all the information off the engine tag. I was not happy. The engine tag looked like new, one light spray of the Purple Power and it's a shiny blank tag now. Be careful if using Purple Power cleaner.

[finsruskw]

Cubs are not boats, jet skies or submarines.

I'd be very careful to stay away from the dash components and/or anything electrical. Switches, connectors etc. are very susceptible to corrosion which leads to bad connections which leads to high resistance which leads to burnt and melted connectors etc. etc. etc.

Blow your machine off with compressed air after every use if possible paying attn. to the top and bottom of the deck where wet grass accumulates and leads to rot which leads to loss of paint which leads to rust which leads to......

Well, you get the picture!!

[Mike McKown]

Originally Posted by finsruskw

Cubs are not boats, jet skies or submarines.

I'd be very careful to stay away from the dash components and/or anything electrical. Switches, connectors etc. are very susceptible to corrosion which leads to bad connections which leads to high resistance which leads to burnt and melted connectors etc. etc. etc.

Blow your machine off with compressed air after every use if possible paying attn. to the top and bottom of the deck where wet grass accumulates and leads to rot which leads to loss of paint which leads to rust which leads to......

Well, you get the picture!!

I agree. Washing the tractor in every nook/cranny and leaving it air dry or sitting out in the rain is the worst thing you can do to one of these tractors.

[IHCadetCollector]

I have pressure washed my 1200 multiple times and have had no problems, it works good to get grease off. Just use your head, don't stick the wand in the muffler or pull the spark plug and wash out the cylinder (haha). Seriously though, wash the underside off really well and stay several feet away from the rest of the pretty parts.

[J-Mech]

You guys who say not to wash them apparently don't know how to wash a tractor. NO IT WILL NOT HURT IT. It's a freaking tractor. You don't think IH thought about it sitting outside in the rain? Or getting washed every now and again? Like cadetcollector said, use your head. No water up the muffler and stuff like that. Wash away!!!

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

You guys who say not to wash them apparently don't know how to wash a tractor. NO IT WILL NOT HURT IT. It's a freaking tractor. You don't think IH thought about it sitting outside in the rain? Or getting washed every now and again? Like cadetcollector said, use your head. No water up the muffler and stuff like that. Wash away!!!

Exactly! Couple quick points:

Don't spray pressurized water into any seals (engine, trans, etc)

Don't spray it into the carb and TRY to avoid wiring (won't hurt it but rust will eventually)

Use a degreaser first (I like Simple Green to each there own)

Don't use the direct stream tip. Use a 15° plus setting, a direct stream will, usually, work away at the paint.

Basically use common sense. It's a tractor, are you afraid of a little rain? I've done it to all mine and they still run and look like they should.

Carry on

[Alvy]

I will agree. You can pressure wash the entire thing, if you've ever restored one you know there's a lot of grease and stuff that needs to be removed before paint, etc. and it's just plain easier and better to work on something if it's clean. I will also agree with not using purple power near any tag because there will be no paint left on it.

[bocephus1991]

I was gonna say I've power washed mine and it doesn't wouldn't use it on the most powerful setting( pencil tip) . You gotta get the grim off some how. These aren't delcelet little flowers. Like others said just use some common sense.