High-pressure power washers do a great job cleaning farm equipment before winter storage. But there are places that shouldn’t be exposed to water at high pressure.
Any electronic control box or fuse panel that is operator-accessible — that has flip-open latches or screw-in/out knobs — is susceptible to water intrusion. Keep jets of high-pressure water away from those components. Garden hose pressure should be OK, but simply blowing electrical components off with compressed air is the safest route.
Computer boxes, “wedge boxes” and control panels that are factory-sealed or bolted together with multiple small bolts or screws are generally not operator-accessible and safe from anything less than a direct blast from a high-pressure washer.
However, the 16- or 32-pin electrical connectors that direct power to or from those factory-sealed boxes are susceptible to blasts of water that can overwhelm their rubber seals and grommets.
If a tractor, combine or other machine displays odd electrical codes or warnings immediately after pressure washing, and in your heart you know you might have been too aggressive with the spray wand, flip the latches or unscrew the knob and remove the cover from any control box that may have been over-washed. Allow the unit to air dry for a day or two before test-running the machine. Many glitches due to water intrusion cure themselves when allowed to dry out.
Some people suggest using electric contact cleaner to evaporate moisture from electrical components. Contact cleaner definitely removes moisture, but it can attack the rubber seals and wax/lacquer coatings on some circuit boards.
Are you done with harvest and in the process of cleaning equipment before parking it? Here’s three more must-reads:
Combine Cleaning: How A 30-Min. Air Bath Pays Big Dividends
Don’t Neglect These Machinery Storage Prep Steps
Fuel Frustrations: Do You Need A Fuel Stabilizer for the Winter?
