how are tractor hours used?

[rollbar]

Can anyone tell me if the hours on a tractor are being registered on the hour meter when the tractor is idling or only as the tractor tires are turning?
Just curious if is was similiar to an odometer or different ? And does the speed of a tractor have anything to do with the hours being put on the tractor? I know an hour is a hour but ask a dealer the other day and he was't
sure either. thanks!

 

[jd110]

The answer is different depending on what tractor you are talking about. Most models made in the last 10 - 15 years have electric hour meters that count clock hours anytime the engine is running, regardless of engine speed. Older tractors that had mechanical, cable driven tach/ hourmeters, counted clock hours only at rated speed. If rated speed was 2000 rpm, and the engine was running at 1000 rpm, it would register 1/2 hour for every hour run. Neither type needs to have wheels rolling like an odometer on a car.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

You need to check for your particular tractor.

My 4110 is PTO speed hours. That is, it counts clock time only if I'm running at PTO speed. It counts less if I'm running at lower RPM. In a sense, it's counting engine wear, so people can do their maintenance based on the hour meter.

Cliff

 

[RollingsFarms]

my 1978 JD 950 counts hours when the tires are turning(I believe), I am most certain that it doesn't count at PTO speeds or any other various speeds because I have noticed it counting hours at different speeds as I worked.

 

[Kahuna]

I have been farming for 40 years and every tractror, combine, etc. that I have had will record hours when the engine is running at any speed. Most new tractors, lawn mowers, etc. have the electronic hour meter and will record hours with only the key turned on, it doesn't even have to be running. If you leave the key on on some you can actaully hear the clicking clock noise made by the hour meter.

 

[Nuru]

You need to check for your particular tractor.

My 4110 is PTO speed hours. That is, it counts clock time only if I'm running at PTO speed. It counts less if I'm running at lower RPM. In a sense, it's counting engine wear, so people can do their maintenance based on the hour meter.

Cliff

Wow, i never noticed.

 

[HillbillyFarmer]

My daughter has left the key turned on in my JD lawn tractor twice and it has more than 150 extra hours on the meter. It doesn't stop clicking until the battery dies. Luckily she doesn't drive my 5205.

 

[DK35vince]

On both my JD 850 and my Kioti DK 35 the hour meter is based on engine speed.
1 hour running at or near PTO speed = 1 hour on the meter.