Washing Your Mahindra Farm Equipment
With harvesting season dead and gone--for now, anyway--you’re probably looking to do some of the things you’ve been putting off during the busy months. Is one of those things washing your Mahindra farm equipment? We get it. You’re out working from sunup to sundown and squeezing in time to hose down a machine you’re just going to dirty again probably isn’t high on your list of things to do. But now that there’s nothing to distract you, it's a good time to wash each piece of equipment you used, especially if you’re getting ready to put it away.
That’s why Central Arkansas Mahindra has compiled some pointers to help you make your Mahindra equipment shiny and new again. You can also ask for additional help when you stop by our location in Little Rock, AR.
Grab Your Mahindra Equipment Owner’s Manual
As with any maintenance or care issue, you’ll want to start by consulting your owner’s manual. You’ll find lots of great general tips on our blog and on the internet, but you’ll only find specific information about your Mahindra equipment in the matching manual. If you don’t have access to your manual, check the Mahindra website.
How Often Should You Be Washing Your Farm Equipment?
Well, it depends. We know that’s an annoying answer, but really, you should wash your Mahindra farm equipment as often as you need to. There are a few times in which you’ll definitely want to take some time to do this:
After working in dusty or muddy conditions
To remove excess debris (like lawn clippings)
If you notice oil building up
Before long periods of little to no use
Keep in mind, sometimes you don’t need to get out the detergent if all the machine needs is a good hosing.
Methods of Washing
Not so surprisingly, the most common method of cleaning large farm equipment is power washing. Power washing is quick, simple, and requires the least amount of strain. It can also make getting some of those extra tough spots easier to get rid of. In fact, there are probably some Mahindra owners who would only recommend this method. In this case, investing in a good power washer can be a smart move in the long run. Throw in the right amount of soap, especially for some of those particularly dirty spots, and you can have your Mahindra equipment ready to roll for the next day.
The Two-Step Washing Method
There’s also something called the two-step washing method, a method you’ll commonly see with truck fleet owners, and one you can adapt to your farm equipment. This uses a particular chemical process to get every ounce of dirt and grime off the equipment without leaving any soap residue behind. Here’s how it works:
Apply a low ph acidic product, like hydrofluoric acid, to the body of the equipment.
Apply a high ph detergent over the acid.
Rinse completely.
Sound pretty simple? That’s because it is. You’re using science to help you work smarter, not harder.
You might not like the idea of applying acid to your equipment, but don’t worry, you won’t see any paint peeling, assuming you’re diligent in applying the detergent and rinsing it off completely. Also, just as a word of warning, you’ll want to avoid getting the acid on any glass surfaces, as this can be damaging.
At this point, your Mahindra farm equipment is ready for another day of work or to head to storage. Then again, as you’re cleaning, you might notice a few maintenance touch-ups that need to be taken care of sooner, rather than later. If that’s the case, then contact Central Arkansas Mahindra and we’ll get you scheduled with one of our experienced technicians. We proudly serve Sherwood, Conway, and Hot Springs, AR.