Break in period

[sailorman]

Dirkster, I bought the same model last July and couldn 't be happier unless I had a backhoe. My advice is simple. Enjoy it. Get to know it. And, if what you are about to do with the tractor doesn 't seem quite right or safe, take some extra time to think it through. That extra time has saved my bacon more times than I care to think about.

 

[crashz]

I can't believe that the most important new tractor item has not even been mentioned yet!

The first at thing you absolutely must do: get some pictures of it while its new and clean! Maybe a couple with you in the seat, a couple doing it's first task. Stuff like that.

Enjoy the new tractor, and stay safe!

 

[newbury]

I think the break in period would be similar to any new engine. Vary RPM's, but don't let 'er rip at WOT. I remember when I bought my new Stihl 291 chainsaw from the dealer. It was over $500 and I asked him about the break in period for it. He came back with one of the best lines that I hadn't heard before. "Run it like you stole it!" :laughing: Yikes! Of course, I babied it like I plan to do with my new tractor when I finally purchase it in a few weeks. If you follow the OEM manual, you should be fine.

After following discussions on "breaking" in new engines "run it like you stole it" is what is recommended after a brief break-in period for a lot of small engines, like racing motorcycles.

Many modern engines, unlike the '60's vintage I cut my teeth on, have very tight tolerances and seem to require seating rings etc.

Babying is not required and other than for the first few hours may be detrimental.

 

[bp fick]

While I simply don't have the hard, grunt work to do all the time, I must say that my engine idles the quietest after being strained hard to pull a middle buster, or field cultivator for 40 minutes, at 85-90% of max RPM. In other words, it loves the resistance type work. Still breaking mine in too. I consider it takes a minimum of 75 hours to be considered broken in, really.

 

[Water Boy]

Dirkster, I bought the same model last July and couldn 't be happier unless I had a backhoe. My advice is simple. Enjoy it. Get to know it. And, if what you are about to do with the tractor doesn 't seem quite right or safe, take some extra time to think it through. That extra time has saved my bacon more times than I care to think about.

I have that tractor with the backhoe, and you are right! It's great!!

WB