FMDRadio: Recent Episodes
Ray Bohacz
Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment.
Tune in this week as Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, discusses what to look out for when upgrading an older farm machine.Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment.
Please join me every Saturday at 11:00 am Eastern for Farm Machinery Digest Radio, where steel and soil meet, on Rural Radio, Sirius/XM Channel 147, with a replay Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern.
But if you miss an episode or you want to hear it again, you will find them here. Thank you for listening and never forget… agriculture runs on machinery but profits on reliability!
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.
If an engine does not crank it will not run, but how fast it cranks is key to getting it going. Do not let the winter greet you with a no-start condition.“Can an engine idle fine with a broken spark plug wire? Learn the answer to this in the “Meet Me in the Farm Shop” segment.Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment.
Please join me every Saturday at 11:00 am Eastern for Farm Machinery Digest Radio, where steel and soil meet, on Rural Radio, Sirius/XM Channel 147, with a replay Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern.
But if you miss an episode or you want to hear it again, you will find them here. Thank you for listening and never forget… agriculture runs on machinery but profits on reliability!
This week the mystery behind all the unique chemical compositions specified for use in modern equipment is solved.
The potential issues a dipstick can create is revealed in the "Meet Me in the Farm Shop" segment.
If you ever endured the frustration of having a new gasket leak then this episode is for you! Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, explains what may be the issue. Learn about how to diagnose a hard starting diesel in the Under the Sheetmetal segment.
This week agronomy and steel meet on Farm Machinery Digest Radio. The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, invites Rich Haynes from Sound Agriculture, to discuss their extremely low rate foliar product Source, and how they apply it to crops.
Hardly anyone enjoys adjusting valves on an engine, so often it does not get done. This week the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains why you need to get beyond that psychological obstacle if you want the most performance from an engine and the least down time.
Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio is explained in the Under the Sheetmetal segment.
Prompted by a query from a listener in Montana, the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains what you need to know about modern fuel and gasoline. In the Under the Sheetmetal segment, engine emissions are covered.
The amount of current an electrical device consumes while still working is a predictor of a pending problem. The Hot Rod Farmer discusses the tools you need to check amperage and a PWM circuit. The basics of engine emissions are covered in the Under the Sheetmetal segment.
With the price of gasoline at record high levels it is important to understand the difference between the brands. This week Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, explains what base fuel is versus a Top Tier formulation.
In the Under the Sheetmetal segment, engine oil pressure is explored.
This week Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, explores the 8S with a representative from AGCO who is also a farmer.
The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains that though none of us can lower the price of gasoline and diesel fuel, the way you drive or run a farm machine can effectively lower you cost per mile or acre. Going farther or covering more acres on a gallon will effectively lower your fuel bill.
Is synthetic oil better than mineral oil? Conventional wisdom says yes, but the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains that for some engines old fashioned mineral oil is better. Listen and learn why.
In Under the Sheetmetal, learn the difference between mechanical and thermal stress in metals.
It is important to keep a mental note of how long it takes an engine, refrigeration unit, or grain dryer to achieve the desired temperature. This data can foretell a potential failure.
How to diagnose a weak diesel engine is explained in the Under the Sheetmetal segment.
Most want a diesel engine in their truck but it may not be the best choice for you. The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, poses some questions that you should answer before you sign on the line for a diesel. Parts that you remove or replace do tell a story, and it is explained in this week’s Under the Sheetmetal segment.
Within the engineering community the term critical path identifies the most efficient route from conceptualizing a machine to bringing it to the dealership’s showroom. This week the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains how to identify the critical path when diagnosing a problematic farm machine. In the Under the Sheetmetal segment, an inexpensive but effective way for storing parts during a repair is represented.
The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, explains why it is important to clean a MAF sensor and how to do it. In the Under the Sheetmetal segment, simple but often overlooked hydraulic system service tips are covered.
The introduction of the John Deere fully autonomous 8R means that the term machine learning is being used in many of the new releases. In this episode, Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, provides an easy to understand explanation of that term and artificial intelligence. The Under the Sheetmetal segment covers how a cooling system thermostat functions.
This week the Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, introduces a new segment to the show called Getting to Know. In this premier episode, Gene Wagner from M/E Wagner Performance, explains how the company's tunable PCV valve was developed and why some engines on the farm may need it. In the Under the Sheetmetal segment, how to accurately check a ground circuit is covered.
An oxygen sensor that is employed on a gasoline engine of any size, monitors the air/fuel ratio. That data is then used to control the opening time of the fuel injector. The Hot Rod Farmer explains how a sensor that is lying can ruin a perfectly good engine. The “Under the Sheetmetal” segment explains proper flywheel service.
In this episode, the Hot Rod Farmer explains what you need to do so that your diesel engines will fire right up when the thermometer is well below zero.
When it comes to engines and equipment a parasitic loss is akin a harvest loss from a combine. This week the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, provides an in depth explanation of this often overlooked inefficiency. The topic of replacement radiators and what to look for is explored in the “Under the Sheetmetal” segment, and a listener wants to know how to calculate the operating cost of electrical equipment.
There are few things more frustrating than trying to use a tool that itself needs to be repaired. Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, wants you to start the year off right. He offers some suggestions to care for often neglected shop tools. He also answers a listener’s question about modern engine oil use in an old gasoline powered grain truck. In the “Under the Sheetmetal” segment, the question is asked if a diesel tuner is right for you?
The first few miles or hours of operation are the formative time for any new engine. Just as seed-to-soil contact is the key to germination, the operating state the engine is exposed to will set the stage for the rest of its useful life. The Hot Rod Farmer explains what needs to be done in this episode and introduces a new segment to the radio show, “Under the Sheetmetal”.
Most everyone has an infrared non-contact thermometer in their toolbox. It is a great diagnostic tool once you apply critical thinking to its use. The Hot Rod Farmer has you think out of the (tool) box!
To be blunt… you were taught incorrectly. Learn the true names of the four-strokes but more importantly, the dynamics of how they function.
Diesel engines are known for long life. In this episode, the Hot Rod Farmer shares a few simple tips that will show you how to make them last even longer.
Do you have an air-cooled engine that must work even in the coldest of weather? Though they do not use anti-freeze they still need to be properly prepped to assure they will run when the mercury drops.
Many perform annual soil testing and have a dental examination, but what about your engines? The Hot Rod Farmer explains some basic but important tests to track the health of any engine.
Winter is just around the corner. The way you put your machinery to bed for hibernation is critical to its condition when it is time to roll again. Learn tips for a successful storage that many may overlook.
This episode is dedicated to letters received from listeners with questions or issues with their equipment.
The new crop of 2022 half-ton pick-up trucks are here! The Hot Rod Farmer is not concerned with connectivity but explains the engine choices found under the hood and how to pick the one best for your operation.
Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer, goes over three common service mistakes that can cost your farm almost $70,000.00 in additional expenses but are easily avoidable.
Over the past few years some diesel engines are B-20 compatible while others are not. Why is that and what must be done for an engine to use B-20?
Modern farm equipment and even grain bin controllers utilize a control technology called PWM, for pulse width modulation. In this episode the circuitry and how PWM works is made easy to understand.
No one wants to have a head gasket failure on an engine. The key to having it last the life of the machine is understanding how to care for it.
Most if not all Tier 4 diesel engines employ a liquid called DEF, for diesel exhaust fluid. Debunk the myths about DEF and learn what you need to know about this simple system.
Corn makes ethanol and flex fuel vehicles can run on a variety of blends, but how do they do that? Become familiar with the technology behind flex fuel engines.
Lip seals are found throughout the farm or ranch. They do a great job but there are some important things you need to know about servicing them.
Older farm diesel engines were identified as P-L-N for pump, line, nozzle. Modern diesel engines are categorized as common rail or CR. This episode explains what you need to know about both.
When you go to a gasoline pump by law it is required to state the octane rating but it says R+M/2. Learn the difference between research and motor octane and how each value impacts an engine.
There are two types of volt/ohm meters; analog (needle sweep) and digital (DVOM). Modern electronic controls require the use of a DVOM when diagnosing. In this episode the basics of using a DVOM are covered.
Often a gasoline engine will have spark but may not run properly or even at all. This episode will reveal how to determine if the ignition coil output is weak and causing the problem.