Idle Chatter: Hot Rod Farmer cover art

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Idle Chatter: Hot Rod Farmer — 321 episodes

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Title
1

The joys of living in the woods. 908-652-0154

2

When a repair goes wrong. 908-652-0154

3

Understanding the boiling point of coolant, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 6/6/26

4

Learning the new…908-652-0154.

5

Applying Ohm’s Law to farm equipment and machinery. 908-652-0154

6

Time to start. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/30/26

7

Do you know or are you guessing? 908-652-0154

8

Understanding in-cylinder charge motion. 908-652-0154

9

Forgotten protocols. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/23/26

10

Being a smart businessman. 908-652-0154

11

When a mechanical issue in one area is created by something else. 908-652-0154

12

Kohler EFI issues. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/16/26

13

The beginning and end of injection. 908-652-0154

14

How small engines can make big power. 908-652-0154

15

Turbochargers, Part 3. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/9/26

16

The secret of life…908-652-0154

17

Algorithmic controls on farm equipment and engines. 908-652-0154

18

A farmer’s guide to turbocharging, Part 2. 908-652-0154

19

Being in harmony with ignition demand. 908-652-0154

20

Agriculture’s Right to Repair. 908-652-0154

21

A farmer’s guide to turbocharging, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/25/26

22

Dr. Google will see you now…908-652-0154

23

Finding the critical path in your farm shop. 908-652-0154

24

Getting that old truck running the way it should. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/18/26

25

ALL MOTOR! 908-652-0154

26

Maintenance matters…908-652-0154.

27

The science of sealing. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/11/26

28

Jacobs Ladder. 908-652-0154

29

Limiting heat damage to your engines. 908-652-0154

30

Understanding PWM circuits, Part 3. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/4/26

31

Beyond the abstract. 908-652-0154

32

The destruction caused by static electricity. 908-652-0154

33

Understanding PWM circuits, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/28/26

34

Mechanical confusion. 908-652-0154

35

Consider a bearing upgrade. 908-652-0154

36

Getting to know a PWM circuit, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/21/26

37

Are we getting lazy? 908-652-0154

38

Understanding octane creep. 908-652-0154

39

Mixing order. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/14/26

40

Is it worth it? 908-652-0154

41

Bring industrial technology to your farm. 908-652-0154.

42

The burn-in of electronics. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/7/36

43

Sine and square waves. 908-652-0154

44

Understanding engine vacuum. 909-652-0154

45

How carbon removal chemicals work. 909-652-0154. Aired 2/28/26

46

Experiencing God’s hand…908-652-0154

47

Understanding the codes on brake pads. 908-652-0154

48

Following instructions. 908-652-0154. Aired 2/21/26

49

Money, tears, and sweat. 908-652-0154

50

Forgotten fluids. 908-652-0154

51

Why you need a dial indicator. 908-652-0154. Aired 2/14/26

52

Drag racer syndrome. 908-652-0154

53

Exploring how a coolant removes heat from an engine. 908-652-0154

54

How to warm up an engine. 908-652-0154. Aired 2/7/26

55

Cross talk. 908-652-0154

56

Don’t be lazy before making a major equipment purchase. 908-652-0154

57

Avoiding a no-start condition in the winter. 908-652-0154. Aired 1/31/26

58

Be still….908-652-0154

59

Understanding the importance of low-lift valve flow. 908-652-0154

60

Does anyone know how to make a pick-up truck anymore? 908-652-0154. Aired 1/24/26

61

Analyzing fresh engine oil. 908-652-0154

62

Be kind to your hydraulic system. 908-652-0154. Aired 1/17/26

63

My favorite ignition distributor. 908-652-0154

64

Electronic fuel injector problem areas. 908-652-0154

65

Why modern diesel engines run so great when they are cold. 908-652-0154. Aired 1/10/26

66

Holes in the sheetrock. 908-652-0154

67

A farmer’s guide to buying a generator. 908-652-0154

68

Cetane is the key to cold starting a diesel engine. 908-652-0154. Aired 1/3/26

69

Carburetor jets and air bleeds. 908-652-0154

70

The issues caused by transient engine speed. 908-652-0154

71

A listener’s question about checking his jump start box. 908-652-0154. Aired 12/27/25

72

Making sure a diesel engine starts in the winter. 908-652-0154

73

Taking the mystery away from the catalytic converter. 908-652-0154

74

Winter is a good time for this. 908-652-0154.   Aired 12/20/25

75

The evolution of knock retard. 908-652-0154

76

Understanding engine oil pressure. 908-652-0154

77

Diesel exhaust aftertreatment, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 12/13/25

78

A blessed Christmas to all. 908-652-0154

79

A practical approach to diagnosing a charging circuit. 908-652-0154

80

Diesel exhaust after-treatments, Part 1.  908-652-0154. Aired 12/6/25

81

Electric tractors…parlor tricks or a viable concept for agriculture? 908-652-0154

82

Understanding why an EGR system needs to be maintained. 908-652-0154

83

How to confirm if a jump-start box is good. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/29/25

84

The evolution of EGR. 908-652-0154

85

Keeping the horsepower in the engine. 908-652-0154

86

Using diagnostic tools to prevent a problem. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/22/25

87

May you experience joy this Thanksgiving. 908-652-0154

88

Gasoline and diesel engine fuel system diagnostics. 908-652-0154

89

Avoid COVID issues. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/15/25

90

The evolution of ignition advance. 908-652-0154

91

Understanding gasoline engine emissions. 908-652-0154

92

When to change the  engine oil. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/8/25

93

The evolution of control circuits. 908-652-0154

94

Understanding the importance of crankcase ventilation. 908-652-0154

95

Getting to know Jamey Smart from Firestone Ag. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/1/25

96

The evolution of power enrichment. 908-652-0154

97

A farmer’s guide to modern technology. 908-652-0154

98

Low tension piston rings. 908-652-0154. Aired 10/25/25

99

The devolution of machinery repair. 908-652-0154

100

The demise of the diesel? 908-652-0154

101

Checking the battery and charging circuit. 908-652-0154. Aired 10/18/25

102

The evolution of the thermostat. 908-652-0154

103

Troubleshooting electronic components. 908-652-0154

104

The Test Team’s results, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 10/11/25

105

The evolution of the car guy into a machinologist. 908-652-0154

106

An analytical approach to engine removal. 908-652-0154

107

Fuel density results from the Test Team. 908-652-0154. Aired10/4/25

108

The evolution of the cold start. 908-652-0154

109

Do you speak diesel? 908-652-0154

110

Farm Progress: The new JCB Teleskid. 908-652-0154. Aired 9/27/25

111

The evolution of the Otto cycle. 908-652-0154

112

The danger of Low Speed Preignition (LSPI). 908-652-0154

113

50th anniversary of the NH Twin-Rotor combine. 908-652-0154. Aired 9/20/25

114

The evolution of emission controls. 908-652-0154

115

Understanding thermal excursion and heat soak. 908-652-0154

116

Farm Progress: AgZen. 908-652-0154. Aired 9/13/25

117

The evolution of the ignition system. 908-652-0154

118

Harvest maintenance, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 9/6/25

119

Break through the profit barrier! 908-652-0154

120

Is there life after sweet corn? 908-652-0154

121

A deep dive into spark plug heat range. 908-652-0154

122

Harvest maintenance, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/30 /25

123

On the road to the RFD-TV booth at Farm Progress! 908-652-0154

124

Do not fall prey to technology overload. 908-652-0154

125

Engine break-in Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/23/25

126

Internal engine cleanliness.908-652-0154

127

How to properly store an engine. 908-652-0154

128

Breaking in an engine, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/16/25.

129

Think talk! 908-652-0154

130

Finding lost power in a gas engine. 908-652-0154

131

A completely wrong diagnosis. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/9/25

132

A simple life. 908-652-0154

133

Should you buy new, preowned or keep the equipment that you have? 908-652-0154

134

Understanding a catalytic converter. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/2/25

135

Why I dislike rear disc brakes. 908-652-0154

136

Driving (operating) for economy. 908-652-0154

137

A listener’s question about a MAP sensor. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/26/25

138

Enjoy maximum efficiency with your  A/C system. 908-652-0154

139

The lost art of diagnosing. 908-652-0154

140

The forgotten parts of a radiator. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/19/25

141

Battery Basics. 908-652-0154

142

Solving the mystery of the carburetor choke. 908-652-0154

143

Air conditioning service, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/11/25

144

The Siren’s Song a machinologist hears. 908-652-0154

145

Why your farm needs a battery and alternator load tester. 908-652-0154

146

Air conditioning service, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/5/25

147

Stepping out of your comfort zone. 908-652-0154

148

What the temperature gauge is not telling you. 908-652-0154

149

What you need to know about an extended warranty. 908-652-0154. Aired 6/28/25

150

Road tripping! 908-652-0154

151

Return control to a carburetor’s idle mixture screw(s). 908-652-0154

152

How a different engine oil can cause a leak. 908-652-0154. Aired 6/21/25

153

All motor! 908-652-0154

154

Proper engine break-in is the key to long life. 908-652-0154

155

Diesel engine Tier 4 cooled EGR. Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 6/14/25

156

Checking mixture strength. 908-652-0154

157

Often overlooked pre-and post-harvest service procedures. 908-652-0154

158

Tier 4 diesel cooled EGR systems, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 6/7/25

159

The sad side of the muscle car era. 908-652-0154

160

Why your shop needs an oscilloscope. 908-652-0154

161

Learning how to learn. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/31/25

162

A unique look at the GM 6.2-liter engine issue. 908-652-0154

163

How intake valve deposits rob power. 908-652-0154

164

Maximizing your machinery ROI. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/24/25

165

How to avoid catastrophic machinery failures. 908-652-0154.

166

Dirty electricity and the modern farm machine. 908-652-0154

167

The carburetor is often not the culprit. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/17/25

168

Are we on the verge of a machinery renaissance? 908-652-0154

169

When wheel balancing is not enough. 908-652-0154

170

What you need to know about diodes. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/10/25

171

A mysterious drop in oil temperature. 908-652-0154

172

The proper way to test a hydraulic system. 908-652-0154

173

Testing the Run-Rite IVD cleaning system. 908-652-0154. Aired 5/3/25

174

Are modern controls systems too smart? 908-652-0154

175

Diagnosing elusive cooling system issues. 908-652-0154

176

The return of the gasoline engine to the farm. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/26/25

177

The need for a thermal imaging camera in your farm shop. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/19/25

178

Strive to make your engines happy! 908-652-0154

179

Flex-fuel engines… what you need to know. 908-652-0154

180

Dream big! 908-652-0154

181

Exploring the causes of blow-by on diesel engines. 908-652-0154

182

Diesel fuel, Part 3. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/12/25

183

Is 300,000 miles the new 100,000? 908-652-0154

184

Hydraulic valve lifter 101. 908-652-0154

185

Diesel fuel, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 4/5/25

186

Farmers, ethanol, tariffs, and the auto industry. 908-652-0154

187

Understanding EVAP system issues. 908-652-0154

188

Understanding diesel fuel, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/29/25

189

A farmer’s guide to fluid mechanics. 908-652-0154

190

Understanding the way horsepower is measured. 908-652-0154

191

Mitigating the effect of market and weather conditions on your profits. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/22/25

192

Caveat Emptor. 908-652-0154

193

Minimizing the impact of severe duty use on an engine. 908-652-0154

194

Thinking in percentages. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/15/25

195

Essential Tools. 908-652-0154

196

The turbocharger wastegate. 908-652-0154

197

Getting ready for Plant 2025. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/8/25

198

The apple does not fall far from the tree. 908-652-0154

199

How to accurately determine the size of round orifices. 908-652-0154

200

The need to service the EGR valve and intercooler. 908-652-0154. Aired 3/1/25

201

Will Lee Zeldin’s EPA be what we need it to be? 908-652-0154

202

Making sense of exhaust manifold failures. 908-652-0154

203

The tools you need to maintain modern batteries. 908-652-0154. Aired 2/22/25

204

The need to eradicate intake valve deposits (IVD). 908-652-0154

205

Taking the mystery out of calibration. 908-652-0154.

206

Understanding why O-rings are different colors. 908-652-0154. Aired 2/15/25

207

If nothing makes a difference…why is there a difference? 908-652-0154

208

The secret life of an engine’s water pump. 908-652-0154

209

What happens inside a hydraulic hose. 908-652-0154. Aired 2/8/25

210

What is the proper engine oil for a mixed fleet? 908-652-0154

211

Understanding ignition coil saturation. 908-652-0154

212

Is your charging circuit up to the task? 908-652-0154. Aired 2/1/25

213

Understanding a cooling system. 908-652-0154

214

How engines make power, Part 2. 908-652-0154.

215

The FMD Radio Test Team. 908-652-0154.  Aired 1/25/25

216

When opportunity calls. 908-652-0154

217

How engines make power, Part 1. 908-652-0154

218

Preserving electronic controllers, Part 2, 908-652-0154. Aired 1/18/25

219

Can an engine oil be a magic elixir? 908-652-0154

220

What you need to know about cylinder head service. 908-652-0154

221

Preserving the life of electronic controllers. 908-652-0154. Aired 1/11/25

222

Understanding 12-volt battery ratings. 908-652-0154

223

Extending the life of piston rings. 908-652-0154

224

Do not get fooled by counterfeit parts. 908-652-0154. Aired 1/4/25

225

Buying the torque curve of an engine. 908-652-0154

226

The importance of engine cranking speed and how to check it. 908-652-0154

227

Cetane and injector cleanliness. 908-652-0154. Aired 12/28/24

228

Government overreach. 908-652-0154

229

Are you considering re-powering your equipment? 908-652-0154

230

The honeymoon period. 908-652-0154. Aired 12/21/24

231

A Christmas gathering. 908-652-0154

232

Looking beyond oil viscosity and gasoline octane ratings. 908-652-0154

233

Why you should choose a low horsepower version of a high horsepower engine.  908-652-0154. Aired 12/14/24

234

Causes of brake pedal pulsation. 908-652-0154

235

Learn the importance of pulley ratios and how to determine them. 908-652-0154

236

The importance of reading low-level CO in a building. 908-652-0154. Aired 12/7/24

237

Measuring lateral runout. 908-652-0154

238

Understanding abnormal combustion in gasoline engines. 908-652-0154

239

The great Thanksgiving. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/30/24

240

The secret life of engine oil. 908-652-0154

241

The second annual HRF gift guide from Christmas 2019. 908-652-0154.

242

Understanding absolute zero. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/23/24

243

Finding latent vacuum leaks. 908-652-0154

244

Minimizing diesel exhaust fluid consumption. 908-652-0154

245

Quick starting of an engine. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/16/24

246

The importance of valve seat angles. 908-652-0154

247

What you need to know about farming with an older tractor. 908-652-0154

248

Testing a low resistance circuit. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/9/24

249

Understanding crevice volume. 908-652-0154

250

Learn how to identify and check for electrolysis. 908-652-0154

251

Extending the life of engines. 908-652-0154. Aired 11/2/24

252

Learning the new from the old. 908-652-0154

253

The Lost Art of Mechanical Procedure. 908-652-0154

254

Leak free leak repair. 908-652-0154. Aired 10/26/24

255

Winter Storage. 908-652-0154

256

Giving small engines some love! 908-652-0154. Aired 10/19/24

257

Having a rough time of it… your engine idle that is! 908-652-0154

258

War Stories. 908-652-0514

259

Failure is NOT an option! 908-652-0154

260

The secret life of sensors. 908-652-0154. Aired 10/12/24

261

Is reading becoming extinct? 908-652-0154.

262

Testing, testing.. When was the last time you checked the shop’s AC voltage? 908-652-0154.

263

Avoiding repair nightmares. 908-652-0154. Aired 10/5/24

264

Rebuilt engine break-in procedure. 908-652-0154.

265

A spark of an idea! GM HEI Ignition. 908-652-0154.

266

Grease or gear lube in an AGCO 3308 corn head? 908-652-0154. Aired 10/28/24.

267

Understanding cavitation and adiabatic efficiency. 908-652-0154

268

Hot Rod Farmer: All plugged up and nowhere to go! Originally published 12/18/2019.

269

Understanding direct and indirect injection diesel engines. Aired 9/21/24

270

Hot Rod Farmer: Atomized fuel flow losses through an intake manifold.

271

Is artificial intelligence all that is being claimed? Aired 9/14/24

272

Hot Rod Farmer: Down speeding an engine.

273

Hot Rod Farmer: I work best under pressure…the engine coolant said! Originally published 12/11/2019.

274

FMD Radio: The importance of confirming valve lash. Aired 9/7/24

275

Hot Rod Farmer: Self Learning

276

Hot Rod Farmer: Don’t tune me out! Originally published 12/4/2019.

277

Who would have thought? Aired 8/31/24

278

Building better turbo boost.  Aired 8/24/24

279

Does barometric pressure and humidity impact machinery? Aired 8/17/24

280

Hot Rod Farmer: Taking it to the next level.

281

Hot Rod Farmer: Give me a BRAKE! And SAVE MONEY and TIME. Originally published 11/27/2019.

282

Hot Rod Farmer: Applying Ohm’s Law on the farm.

283

Hot Rod Farmer: Let’s keep it CARBUREATED! Originally published 11/20/2019.

284

Hot Rod Farmer: The importance of proper planning.

285

Hot Rod Farmer: I’m getting bad vibes about this….the CRANKSHAFT said! Originally published 11/13/2019.

286

How tire roll-out impacts GPS calculations. Aired 8/10/24

287

Hot Rod Farmer: Things change

288

Hot Rod Farmer: This thing has no oats! Originally published 11/6/2019.

289

Does use or time age machinery faster?  Aired 8/3/24

290

Hot Rod Farmer: A machinologist’s look at the 1,064 horsepower in the 2025 Corvette ZR1.

291

Hot Rod Farmer: Lost and Found… The 1,200 pound WEAKLING!! Originally published 10/30/2019.

292

You need to become more than a mechanic. Aired 7/27/24

293

Hot Rod Farmer: Designing your own protocols.

294

Hot Rod Farmer: It is not magic… but REMOTE CONTROL. Originally published 10/23/2019.

295

Entrained air in a liquid system. Aired 7/20/24

296

Hot Rod Farmer: Becoming a machinologist.

297

Hot Rod Farmer: Call the police…someone stole my throttle cable!

298

Are you a purposeful or passive listener? Aired 7/13/24

299

Hot Rod Farmer: Are you being smart with your equipment dollars?

300

Hot Rod Farmer: Better under pressure… your farm tires that is. Originally published 10/9/2019.

301

Adding electronics…what you need to do first.  Aired 7/6/24

302

Hot Rod Farmer: What will happen if it breaks?

303

Hot Rod Farmer: The secret to life is… a BALANCING ACT! Originally published 10/2/2019.

304

Is winter or summer harder on machinery? Aired 6/29/24

305

Hot Rod Farmer: Learning how to become a diagnostician.

306

Hot Rod Farmer: Let’s get started… your diesel that is! Originally published 9/25/2019.

307

The details are the difference! Aired 6/22/24

308

Hot Rod Farmer: Summer memories

309

Hot Rod Farmer: What you don’t hear may be causing problems! Originally published 9/18/2019.

310

What is the best transmission for a farm truck? Aired 6/15/24

311

Hot Rod Farmer: Lost art of tuning an engine.

312

Hot Rod Farmer: Making sense of oxygen sensors. Originally published 9/11/2019.

313

The secret life of engine coolant. Aired 6/8/24

314

Hot Rod Farmer: Lost art of servicing an ignition distributor.

315

Hot Rod Farmer: Only a little is good… when it comes to valve lash…that is! Originally published 9/4/2019.

316

How to keep your portable generator producing electricity. Aired 6/1/24

317

Hot Rod Farmer: Lost art of adjusting an automatic choke.

318

Hot Rod Farmer: The key to happy motoring… HYDRAULIC MOTORING that is! Originally published 8/28/2019.

319

The truth about agricultural drones. Aired 5/25/25

320

Hot Rod Farmer: The lost art of carburetor adjustment.

321

Hot Rod Farmer: Buyer beware…gasoline brands are different! Originally published 8/21/2019.