1968Commando 171 #1 Posted Monday at 02:47 PM Hello all, been a while since I’ve been around alot happened I got busy with my mowing business, parents moved houses so that ment I went with, anyways my wheelhouse I haven’t really ran much this year, I still need to fix the oil pan seal and such, so my question is the wheel horse sits alot, should I put a fuel shutoff on it, also should I put the battery on a charger or go to grandmas and start it up every once and awhile what are your thoughts? It gets cold here and warm just depends what should I do? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 30,407 #2 Posted Monday at 03:13 PM I would suggest putting a shut off valve on it so that you can run the carb dry when you park it for extended times. A battery tender would also be a good idea. They do help extend battery life. 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 10,885 #4 Posted Monday at 07:33 PM 4 hours ago, Achto said: A battery tender would also be a good idea Or - remove the battery and bring it inside during the period(s) of non-use. I do that with my electric start pressure washer. Along with the hoses & pump. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 63,513 #5 Posted yesterday at 12:22 AM 9 hours ago, 1968Commando said: go to grandmas and start it up every once and awhile what are your thoughts? It gets cold here and warm just depends what should I do? I keep my fuel tanks either empty and remove the battery or kee3p the tank full and run them at least once a month just for seat time. Besides, grandma will appreciate the visits. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 9,633 #6 Posted yesterday at 12:51 AM @1968Commando been using STA BIL in all my fuels for years , always have my tanks full , with an ounce or two fo stabil , that also helps the fuel lines stay fresh , no break down . replaced my fuel lines before using stabil , so I could verify if everything was good , all my fuel filters are clean , clear no issues , also have battery tenders hooked up to my 3 horses , easy to secure the battery plug in wire just behind battery , dash area , that way its always ready for quick ues . all my suggestions have been in use for years , pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 6,246 #7 Posted yesterday at 12:18 PM 21 hours ago, Achto said: I would suggest putting a shut off valve on it so that you can run the carb dry when you park it for extended times. A battery tender would also be a good idea. They do help extend battery life. I i’ve been using Harbor freight maintainers. They’re only 10 bucks and I have about four of them for 10 bucks they work pretty darn good. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1968Commando 171 #8 Posted yesterday at 01:14 PM 22 hours ago, Achto said: I would suggest putting a shut off valve on it so that you can run the carb dry when you park it for extended times. A battery tender would also be a good idea. They do help extend battery life. Okay will do the shutoff, I don’t have access to electricity tho Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1968Commando 171 #9 Posted yesterday at 01:15 PM 12 hours ago, 953 nut said: I keep my fuel tanks either empty and remove the battery or kee3p the tank full and run them at least once a month just for seat time. Besides, grandma will appreciate the visits. Sounds good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1968Commando 171 #10 Posted yesterday at 01:16 PM 12 hours ago, peter lena said: @1968Commando been using STA BIL in all my fuels for years , always have my tanks full , with an ounce or two fo stabil , that also helps the fuel lines stay fresh , no break down . replaced my fuel lines before using stabil , so I could verify if everything was good , all my fuel filters are clean , clear no issues , also have battery tenders hooked up to my 3 horses , easy to secure the battery plug in wire just behind battery , dash area , that way its always ready for quick ues . all my suggestions have been in use for years , pete Thank you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 30,087 #11 Posted yesterday at 01:40 PM 18 minutes ago, 1968Commando said: I don’t have access to electricity tho I used a solar battery maintainer on my boat that was docked remotely for years... worked great. Similar to this: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 12,711 #12 Posted yesterday at 02:39 PM 1 hour ago, 1968Commando said: Okay will do the shutoff, I don’t have access to electricity tho get one of the solar maintainers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 8,329 #13 Posted yesterday at 03:38 PM 1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said: I used a solar battery maintainer on my boat that was docked remotely for years... worked great. Similar to this: Right now they have a 10 watt solar battery charger on sale for just $2 more, the benefit of this one is it prevents over-charging. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 11,132 #14 Posted yesterday at 06:33 PM I'd like to put a solar charger on my Oliver tractor at the farm. But I would need to extend the leads about 20 ft out of the shed to get good sunlight. Do yall this the losses would be too great with this extension? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 15,527 #15 Posted yesterday at 06:59 PM (edited) 26 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said: I'd like to put a solar charger on my Oliver tractor at the farm. But I would need to extend the leads about 20 ft out of the shed to get good sunlight. Do yall this the losses would be too great with this extension? No, I don’t. There will be some voltage reduction depending on the gauge of the wires, but it’ll be quite small. For 14ga copper wire with solid connections, resistance will be ~2.6 ohms per 1,000 feet. You’ll have 40 feet (electricity needs a round trip!), or .04 x 2.6 = 0.104 ohms For 16ga its ~4 ohms per 1,000 feet. .04 x 4 = 0.16 ohms If the trickle charger is putting out, say, 13 volts then 16 and 14 can carry, respectively, between 80 and 125 amps. So going with 14ga should be more than good and 16ga would be adequate. Edited yesterday at 07:00 PM by Handy Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 30,087 #16 Posted yesterday at 07:00 PM (edited) 28 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said: I'd like to put a solar charger on my Oliver tractor at the farm. But I would need to extend the leads about 20 ft out of the shed to get good sunlight. Do yall this the losses would be too great with this extension? Good question... I don't know. My cord on the boat was about 8' with no issues... @Handy Don has you covered! Edited yesterday at 07:01 PM by SylvanLakeWH Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1968Commando 171 #17 Posted 18 hours ago 12 hours ago, lynnmor said: Right now they have a 10 watt solar battery charger on sale for just $2 more, the benefit of this one is it prevents over-charging. Sounds good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1968Commando 171 #18 Posted 18 hours ago 9 hours ago, oliver2-44 said: I'd like to put a solar charger on my Oliver tractor at the farm. But I would need to extend the leads about 20 ft out of the shed to get good sunlight. Do yall this the losses would be too great with this extension? Shouldn’t be as long as your not keeping the battery low and trying to charge it if your just maintaining it it’ll be fine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
