Episodes

June 28, 2025

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

Understand how an oil’s chemistry can promote leaks. 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 ...
June 25, 2025

All motor! 908-652-0154

In this episode Ray compares an all motor drag race engine to dryland farming.
June 23, 2025

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

Originally published 8/26/2020. 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 Run it hard to be a runner!
June 21, 2025

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

In this second and last installment, how to service an EGR system is explained. 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...
June 18, 2025

Checking mixture strength. 908-652-0154

Using air/fuel ratio not only for diagnostics but as a learning tool.
June 16, 2025

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

Originally published 8/19/2020. 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 Get ready now for a successful harvest.
June 14, 2025

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

The first in a two-part series explaining cooled EGR and the proper service procedures. 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...
June 11, 2025

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

They were the sons of the working man. Car guys with dreams from the cities and the farms. They weren’t a fortunate son.
June 9, 2025

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

Originally published 8/12/2020. 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 A tool for the next generation of farm machines.
June 7, 2025

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

As technology is brought to the farm, we need to rethink how we learn. 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, y...
June 4, 2025

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

Ray offers his thoughts on the GM engine recall. I warn you…it is different than most that you heard.
June 2, 2025

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

Originally published 8/5/2020. 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 The engine may not be tired… just carboned-up.
May 31, 2025

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

Maintaining resale value is one step in the profitability of your operation. 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 ag...
May 28, 2025

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

In this episode Ray looks at three unique cases. Each failure was caused by a laissez-faire mindset.
May 26, 2025

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

Originally published 7/29/2020. 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 Where to look when things go wrong.
May 24, 2025

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

It is easy to blame a small engine that is hard starting on the carburetor, but it is often innocent. 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 ...
May 21, 2025

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

There are some signs that new versions of old tools may be making a comeback.
May 19, 2025

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

Originally published 7/22/2020. 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 balance to the next level.
May 17, 2025

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

The electrical version of a check valve is made easy to understand. 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 ...
May 14, 2025

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

Is there an answer for this event or should Mulder and Scully from the X-Files be called in?
May 12, 2025

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

Originally published 7/15/2020. 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 Guessing is not testing!
May 10, 2025

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

The Test Team reveals their results. 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 ...
May 7, 2025

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

Life is not black and white. Do engine management systems seem to think that it is?
May 5, 2025

Diagnosing elusive cooling system issues. 908-652-0154

Originally published 7/8/2020. 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 Heat exchanger fouling may be the cause.