Idle Chatter: Hot Rod Farmer

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Imparting knowledge about all aspects of equipment that is employed in modern production agriculture.

Hot Rod Farmer

Hackettstown, New Jersey


    • Dec 21, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 558 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Idle Chatter: Hot Rod Farmer

    Hot Rod Farmer: Keep busy this winter.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 68:14


    Once Christmas is over and 2023 is here, it is time to tackle some of the many often overlooked machinery maintenance items. This week I provide an eclectic list for you to consider.

    Park on a vapor barrier.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 1:01


    Hot Rod Farmer: Catching up.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 69:10


    This week Ray shares with you his trip to AGCO Corp in Georgia, responds to a listener that disagrees with him, helps another to understand a drop in fuel economy his Silverado is experiencing, what was wrong with his B&S generator, and who Hilton should not have at the front desk of their hotel.

    The three types of electric motors. Aired 12/3/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 30:00


    There are AC, DC, and EC electric motors found on the farm. Learn what you need to know about the differences in this episode. "The sound of a fuel injector conveys its health and is the subject of this installment of "Meet Me in the Farm Shop".

    Examining electrical connections.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 1:13


    Keep it in the field forever! Aired 11/26/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 30:00


    A piece of farm equipment is a partner in your operation and becomes like kin folk. There is no reason to not keep it working side-by-side with you for decades. This week the Hot Rod Farmer shares some tips on how to accomplish that. "How to easily check small, air-cooled engine running temperature is covered in the "Meet Me in the Farm Shop" segment.

    Measure and not guess at tire tread depth.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 1:13


    Hot Rod Farmer: Is a rebuilt engine as good as a new one?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 66:43


    This is a question to ponder before you invest in repowering any vehicle or farm machine. In this episode, Ray Bohacz explains why the factory is able to do some things better than the best engine shop.

    Resetting an ECM.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 1:09


    Why an intercooler must be washed.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 1:18


    Hot Rod Farmer: What to get the hot rod farmer in your life for Christmas 2022.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 49:48


    Please use this podcast along with the companion buyers' guide article to find the perfect gift.

    Keep everything tight.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 1:04


    Let the smoke out! Aired 11/19/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2022 30:00


    The Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, explains why a smoke machine is an essential tool in your farm shop to find unknown leaks. The story of a heroic Vietnam War helicopter pilot is read this week instead of the Meet Me in the Farm Shop segment.

    The difference between a trickle and a float battery charger.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 1:25


    Hot Rod Farmer: Why a 500-horsepower diesel and gas cannot do the same work.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 69:04


    Conventional wisdom would believe that horsepower is horsepower regardless if it is developed by a compression ignition engine or a spark ignition design. Ray Bohacz explains why the combustion event indeed makes a difference and why that is.

    You need to service an EGR system.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 1:08


    Pay attention to engine valvetrain noise.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 1:15


    The difference between a recall and a campaign.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 1:10


    Hot Rod Farmer: Understanding the hysteresis of knock.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 60:18


    In this episode, Ray Bohacz takes a deep dive into spark ignition engine knock control and connects that with other PID loop circuits found on the farm.

    Secrets of the industry that they do not want you to know. Aired 11/5/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2022 30:00


    The Hot Rod Farmer tells it like it is. In this episode he shares insider information about some key industries that you deal with daily. What you need to know about fuel density is covered in the Meet Me in the Farm Shop segment.

    Checking AC line voltage.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 1:19


    Hot Rod Farmer: Figuring out what is wrong with my Briggs & Stratton generator with James Condon.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 59:55


    Once again, I state how important proper diagnostic procedure is, regardless of what you are working on.

    Clean and lubricate weatherstripping and locks.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 1:04


    Why you should not warm-up an engine. Aired 10/29/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2022 29:59


    The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, provides convincing facts for not warming-up an engine. The proper way to check for spark on an engine is revealed in the "Meet Me in the Farm Shop" segment.

    Degraded oxygen sensor

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2022 1:08


    Hot Rod Farmer: When changing parts creates new problems.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 83:37


    To accurately diagnose a problem you need both foundational and application specific knowledge. This week the Hot Rod Farmer takes you into the trenches with some true stories of a simple repair that became a complex nightmare.

    Aftermarket catalytic converters.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 1:14


    Three important but often misunderstood topics. Aired 10/22/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 30:00


    The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, delivers a triple header this week. He tells what you need to know about ammonia slip on a Tier 4 diesel, explains what a PID loop is, and why you need to check for total harmonic distortion in your house and farm shop. The pitfalls of mixing different oil brands is covered in the Meet Me in the Farm Shop segment.

    Do not forget that a cable will stretch.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 1:04


    Hot Rod Farmer: Oil leaks tell a story.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 62:50


    When an engine begins to leak oil it may be a sign of a bigger problem than a failed gasket or seal. Join the Hot Rod Farmer for this week's episode to understand what to look for.

    Two-stroke engine crankshaft seals.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 0:46


    Identifying the unseen but avoidable financial losses that may occur with your machinery.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2022 30:00


    An outtake from Ray's Main Stage presentation at Commodity Classic, "Latent losses that originate in the farm shop and how they affect your operation's bottom line."  In this episode, real life machinery problems and their financial impact are discussed. The proper way to jump start an engine is covered in the Meet Me in the Farm Shop segment.

    Post season chain service.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 1:04


    Hot Rod Farmer: Elusive charging circuit issues.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 69:36


    Few things are worse than seeing the dreaded alternator light come on. Often you feel so helpless. This week the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, introduces some things to check that will cause a charging issue but may not be internal to the alternator.

    Buyer beware!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 1:03


    Understanding how to eliminate derate of Tier IV engines. Aired 10/8/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2022 30:00


    Modern diesel engines in almost every application will greatly reduce their power if an emissions issue is detected. In this episode, Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer explains the control system logic behind this strategy and how to keep a derate at bay.

    You need to maintain your tools too!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 1:12


    Hot Rod Farmer: Understanding fuel trim and using it as a diagnostic tool.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 68:13


    There is a wealth of information available via the OBD-II connector with short and long term fuel trim being one of them. In this episode, Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, takes you from the early days  of Block Learn Multiplier and Integrator to modern fuel trim and how to interpret the values.

    Having mice nest elsewhere.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 1:12


    Chemically removing carbon deposits from a gasoline engine. Aired 10/1/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 29:58


    Gasoline is a hydrocarbon based fuel and the byproduct of combustion is carbon. If left unchecked engine performance will suffer and wear increase. The Hot Rod Farmer explains how the carbon can be removed without disassembly. The need to renew hydraulic brake fluid is the topic of Meet Me in the Farm Shop.

    Robotic milking.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 1:10


    Hot Rod Farmer: What the motor oil bottle is NOT telling you.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 79:45


    There is much more to engine oil performance than the SAE rating and viscosity. This week Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, provides a farmer's guide to tribology. Your engines are depending on you listening!

    Heat riser issues.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 1:04


    The difference between supercharging and turbocharging. Aired 9/24/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 30:00


    Did you ever wonder why there are no supercharged diesel engines? Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, explains the two different methods that can feed more air into an engine, and why a turbocharger is the method of choice for a heavy-duty application. Engine oil wettability is explained in the Meet Me in the Farm shop segment.

    Rethink going back to snow tires.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 1:21


    Hot Rod Farmer: An ode to the past.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 79:49


    With the fourth anniversary of Idle Chatter approaching, Ray so appreciates the bond the listeners have blessed him with and the latitude of the content they allow him to deliver. This week he laments on an eclectic array of topics that reveal how the world, society, and machinery have changed so dramatically since he was a young man. Life is not the same.

    Spark plug color tells all.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 1:05


    Why the rear suspension on a pick-up truck needs to be broken in. Aired 9/17/22

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2022 30:00


    Most are familiar with the need to break-in an engine but not so about the rear suspension on a pick-up truck. This week, the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains why and how it should be done and the benefits you will reap for the life of the vehicle. How engine coolant wears out is covered in the Meet Me in the Farm shop segment.

    Use a piston soak to unstick rings easily.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2022 1:08


    A traditional battery cannot be deep-cycled.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2022 1:06


    Hot Rod Farmer: Slow boost, low boost, no boost.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 67:17


    Manifold boost pressure is like electricity; you know when it there and when it is not, but you cannot see it. This week the Hot Rod Farmer provides some valuable tips to get the boost back regardless if it is a gasoline or diesel engine.

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