Watch the winter front...

[DiamondSCattleCo]

Just a quick warning to watch what you enclose your tractor in for the winter. I've used carpeting for decades, but last night, 20 minutes after I shut the tractor down, I saw flames shooting up over the tractor cab. Good thing I caught when I did, otherwise the tractor would be a write-off. As it is, all the wiring is burnt off, all the hoses and belts are gone, melted the batteries and it got into the dash and broke all the gauges. I suspect the steering hand pump is probably shot from heat exposure as well.

Just a word of warning to ensure whatever you're using for a winter front and sides are fire-proof...

Rod

 

[per]

That is too bad DiamondS. Good advice, if I lived closer I would lend you one while you rework yours.

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

It was an 1130 that burnt, and I've got an 1135 here so I started swapping the loader over to it. Doggoned front end of the tractor is about 8 inches longer though, so I've got some modifications to do to the mounts. Good thing I'm bale grazing right now, so it takes some of the pressure off.

Thanks for the offer though. After I light my 1135 on fire, I may be knocking on your door

Rod
PS Don't spose anyone would have a picture of an 1105/1135 with a Leon loader on it? In retrospect, I don't like my mount extension plan and would like to see what they are really supposed to look like...

 

[Shortgrass]

Two years ago, my 1155 burnt up. Sitting in the shop, no winter front at all, it caught on fire. I never fount it until it was out, but felt really blessed that the whole shop hadn't gone up. The motor had burnt, and dash, smoking the cab pretty bad. The tires had been spared. I rebuilt it, took most of the pumps, including fuel pump all hoses, wiring harness lots of glass. It is not the same, but still usable. Wonder if it is common on Masseys??

 

[John SD]

Sorry to hear about the fire Rod. Do you know what started it? Bad wiring? shorted battery cables or starter?

I've got a 2775 with quite a few electrical quirks. It also likes to leak just enough fuel/oil to keep the engine continuously soaked with potential trouble. :!:

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

Sorry to hear about the fire Rod. Do you know what started it? Bad wiring? shorted battery cables or starter?

I've got a 2775 with quite a few electrical quirks. It also likes to leak just enough fuel/oil to keep the engine continuously soaked with potential trouble. :!:

I have my suspicions it was the carpet I had tucked around the tractor. It was a warm day, and the tractor was running hot. I suspect the carpet tucked in against the turbocharger, and I probably didn't give it enough cool-down time.

So nope, Shortgrass, I don't think the Masseys are any more prone to burn down than any other tractor. In this case, I think it was pure operator error...

You guys do bring up an important point though: Keep your engine clean. A little oil leak can turn into a big fire, if its in the right place.

Rod

 

[John SD]

I'll tell you folks about what I did once and hope you never experience this. Kindof a freak deal that worked out OK.

I was driving my Case DC tractor after it had set for a long time. Turns out there was a mouse nest on top of the exhaust manifold under the hood.

If anyone is familiar with a DC you know the design of the manifold and tight fitting engine hood over it. As soon as I realized I had a fire under the hood I shut off the engine which the radiator fan was fanning the flames.

I tried to knock the nest out of there but wasn't having much luck with the hood in the way. I did have a wrench with me and started removing the hood. A slow process undoing the 6 longwinded bolts with rusted threads strapping the hood down. :roll:

By this time the fire under the hood was getting pretty warm and was getting the oily residue around the leaky valve cover smoking. Just before I finally got the hood off the fire burned through the heater hose from outlet of the tank heater that was looped over the top of the engine (another no-no but glad that was the way it was)

The fire burned through the hose which sprayed coolant over the fire area and put the fire out. Replacing the burned hose and topping off coolant was the only real damage.

Moral of the story: watch out for mouse nests on equipment and vehicles. Especially those that are parked for long periods of time in between uses.

 

[burnt]

I'll tell you folks about what I did once and hope you never experience this. Kindof a freak deal that worked out OK.

I was driving my Case DC tractor after it had set for a long time. Turns out there was a mouse nest on top of the exhaust manifold under the hood.

If anyone is familiar with a DC you know the design of the manifold and tight fitting engine hood over it. As soon as I realized I had a fire under the hood I shut off the engine which the radiator fan was fanning the flames.

I tried to knock the nest out of there but wasn't having much luck with the hood in the way. I did have a wrench with me and started removing the hood. A slow process undoing the 6 longwinded bolts with rusted threads strapping the hood down. :roll:

By this time the fire under the hood was getting pretty warm and was getting the oily residue around the leaky valve cover smoking. Just before I finally got the hood off the fire burned through the heater hose from outlet of the tank heater that was looped over the top of the engine (another no-no but glad that was the way it was)

The fire burned through the hose which sprayed coolant over the fire area and put the fire out. Replacing the burned hose and topping off coolant was the only real damage.

Moral of the story: watch out for mouse nests on equipment and vehicles. Especially those that are parked for long periods of time in between uses.

I have had that problem on our JD 7720 TII. Now it's moth balls all over the machine for the winter.