How to Wash Your Tractor

Your tractor works as hard as you do to keep your farm running smoothly, but when you use it day after day in dusty, muddy fields, it’s going to become pretty dirty. Not only is a dirty tractor unpleasant to use, but it can also break down: mud and moisture can cause corrosion and dirt can hide important maintenance issues that need to be addressed. That’s why it’s important to wash your tractor on a regular basis.

High Plains Equipment, your local tractor dealer, has dealerships in Devils Lake and Harvey, serving all of North Dakota. Read on to learn how to wash your tractor so that it always works well and looks great.

1. Remove Heavy Build-Up

Park your tractor in an area with good drainage like a gravel or concrete driveway. Avoid parking it on grass since the soap and debris may harm your lawn. Remove twigs, clumps of mud and leaves from the exterior of your tractor. A plastic mud scraper can help with this.

2. Rinse & Wash Exterior

Using a hose (or a pressure washer,if you have one), spray the mud off your tractor’s tires first before you hose down the entire machine, including the undercarriage. Make sure you aren’t getting any controls or sensors wet. If you want to do some detail work on dirtier areas, fill a bucket with water and add a little car-wash soap and use a soft cloth to wipe down the exterior. A soft-bristle scrub brush can be employed to get more challenging dirt off. Rinse the whole tractor thoroughly when you’re done.

3. Allow To Dry

You can either let your tractor dry in the open air or you can use a leaf blower or air compressor to dry it off more quickly. Some people choose to take a towel to it and dry off certain parts that they want to make sure are dry more quickly to prevent rust.

4. Apply Wax

Once your tractor is dried off, you can apply a protective wax coating to the exterior. Many people use car wax, buffing it on with a soft cloth. Wax will help to make your tractor shine like new and it will also help prevent debris from building up fast. A good wax coating also inhibits scratches and other damage to the tractor’s paint.

5. Wipe Down Interior

Finally, it’s a good idea to climb into the cab and wipe down the console and controls and seat. Sweep out leaves and other debris or use a shop vac to clean things up. Only use a lightly damp rag to wipe around controls and be careful not to push debris into any crevices.

If you discover any maintenance issues while cleaning your tractor, get in touch with the service department here at High Plains Equipment. Our mechanics will be glad to address any issues you’re having and get your tractor back to the fields as soon as possible.

Looking to purchase a new machine instead? Come down to one of our dealerships located in Devils Lake or Harvey, ND, to view our full stock of new and used tractors for sale. We can even assist you with financing options. High Plains Equipment is proud to serve all of our North Dakota customers coming from the cities of Grand Forks and Minot, ND.