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.