Episodes
Aug. 23, 2025
Breaking in an engine, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/16/25.
An engine’s life expectancy begins on the first start-up when new. 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 w...
Aug. 20, 2025
Think talk! 908-652-0154
Verbalizing out loud how something works is effective to fully understand its function.
Aug. 18, 2025
Finding lost power in a gas engine. 908-652-0154
Originally published 10/21/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer I help a listener diagnose a weak GM 366 in a TopKick.
Aug. 16, 2025
A completely wrong diagnosis. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/9/25
How following what I thought was a clue lead me down the rabbit hole. 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, yo...
Aug. 11, 2025
Should you buy new, preowned or keep the equipment that you have? 908-652-0154
Originally published 10/14/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer Take an analytical approach to machinery purchases.
Aug. 9, 2025
Understanding a catalytic converter. 908-652-0154. Aired 8/2/25
It has been around since 1975. It is time we get to know it better. 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 ...
Aug. 6, 2025
Why I dislike rear disc brakes. 908-652-0154
Does the consumer care as long as the vehicles stops?
Aug. 4, 2025
Driving (operating) for economy. 908-652-0154
Originally published 10/7/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer It makes sense to squeeze every fuel dollar your farm spends.
Aug. 2, 2025
A listener’s question about a MAP sensor. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/26/25
Once it is understood it makes sense. 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...
July 30, 2025
Enjoy maximum efficiency with your A/C system. 908-652-0154
Following the proper protocols make a world of difference.
July 28, 2025
The lost art of diagnosing. 908-652-0154
Originally published 9/30/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer Taking a methodical approach to find the problem.
July 26, 2025
The forgotten parts of a radiator. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/19/25
You need to understand how a radiator works to solve a cooling issue. 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, yo...
July 21, 2025
Solving the mystery of the carburetor choke. 908-652-0154
Originally published 9/23/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer It does not work the way most think.
July 19, 2025
Air conditioning service, Part 2. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/11/25
How to properly service the refrigerant part of an A/C system. 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 ...
July 16, 2025
The Siren’s Song a machinologist hears. 908-652-0154
The mythological siren calls to us still today.
July 14, 2025
Why your farm needs a battery and alternator load tester. 908-652-0154
Originally published 9/16/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer When it comes to charging circuits… you must know and not guess!
July 12, 2025
Air conditioning service, Part 1. 908-652-0154. Aired 7/5/25
Getting ice cubes to blow from the vents! 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...
July 9, 2025
Stepping out of your comfort zone. 908-652-0154
You only can grow when you step out into the unknown.
July 7, 2025
What the temperature gauge is not telling you. 908-652-0154
Originally published 9/9/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer There is more heat in an engine than you think.
July 5, 2025
What you need to know about an extended warranty. 908-652-0154. Aired 6/28/25
Today’s vehicles are complicated which means they are very expensive to repair. 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...
July 2, 2025
Road tripping! 908-652-0154
Summer is here and it is the perfect time to make memories with a road trip!
June 30, 2025
Return control to a carburetor’s idle mixture screw(s). 908-652-0154
Originally published 9/2/2020. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer What to do when the carburetor will not adjust.