Time, what is time? or how does your tractor count hours?

[DK35vince]

I find it hard to believe a tractor counts hours on PTO speed. I use the FEL 90% of the time. If it was PTO time my tractor would still be brand new.

It counts hours by engine speed. Counts slower a low RPM and faster at higher RPM.

 

[Utopia Texas]

I believe you will generally find regular hour meters these days on engines that are run mostly at constant speeds such as lawn mowers.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I guess it all depends on the quality of the tractor as to whether you get an engine monitor or a clock. A clock (commonly called a Hobbs meter)runs when you turn on the key and many will run for a few minutes after you turn off the key (see airplane Hobbs meters) but many things will have a Hobbs meter AND an engine RPM counter type of hour meter. I wouldn't care to have or base my maintenance schedule on a clock that starts everytime you turn the key unless it is on a lawnmower that pretty much runs WOT from time of start till finished.

Of course all my tractors, trucks, RTV and lawnmowers get serviced by year not hours anyway because I don't use them enough to rack up the hours to change by that. My 5 year old LS P7010 only has 130 hours on it's hour meter but likely has double that or more on actual run time. It registers PTO speed hours but I never run it that fast and it idles when I am off the tractor picking up limbs, rocks etc. My Kubota only racks up an hour at WOT which is rated PTO speed of 2600 RPM and I rarely run it past 2000 simple because it performs well at that speed without a lot of engine noise.

 

[newbury]

I find it hard to believe a tractor counts hours on PTO speed. I use the FEL 90% of the time. If it was PTO time my tractor would still be brand new.

Well open up your beliefs. Counting hours based on the percentage of PTO speed is much more accurate for engine wear. I do not believe anyone wrote counting hours was based on "PTO time", i.e. when the PTO was being used.

I started this thread because I'm always on the lookout for another tractor.

Based on the response I won't trust NH clocks as an indicator of usage, rather as when the clock was turned on.

 

[LD1]

I have no idea, but my assumption would be that "most" analog meters driven with a cable are going to be RPM compensating. Digital ones are more likely just to be total hours the key was on.

But in reality, I really dont think it matters a whole ton. Sure, 2000hrs on a clock type might only be 1500 if an RPM type, but does that really make a ton of difference?

Like buying a used vehicle with 100k city miles vs 100k highway miles. Sure, the hwy mile vehicle should be in overall better condition, but 100k is 100k and valued as such. I think there are more important things to consider like condition and maintenance upkeep

 

[davesl708]

I have no idea, but my assumption would be that "most" analog meters driven with a cable are going to be RPM compensating. Digital ones are more likely just to be total hours the key was on.

But in reality, I really dont think it matters a whole ton. Sure, 2000hrs on a clock type might only be 1500 if an RPM type, but does that really make a ton of difference?

Like buying a used vehicle with 100k city miles vs 100k highway miles. Sure, the hwy mile vehicle should be in overall better condition, but 100k is 100k and valued as such. I think there are more important things to consider like condition and maintenance upkeep

Agreed. How many hours on an 8N? Or any of the other old tractors that are still working. How the tractor was used and maintained is more important than hours. You can usually look at a tractor and assess how well it was maintained and or abused.

 

[DK35vince]

I have no idea, but my assumption would be that "most" analog meters driven with a cable are going to be RPM compensating. Digital ones are more likely just to be total hours the key was on.

But in reality, I really dont think it matters a whole ton. Sure, 2000hrs on a clock type might only be 1500 if an RPM type, but does that really make a ton of difference?

I have an RPM based hour meter on my tractor and a clock type meter on my zero turn.
I personally don't see much difference.
As long as they stay working I'm fine with either.

 

[bcp]

I've heard that hours on your tractor are not deducted from your life span,



Bruce

 

[ch1ch2]

It was your statement..."This is wrong. My B7610, made the same year of that post, counts hours based on PTO speed. here." That I have and issue with. Maybe you did not intend it to be taken literally. If you have N0 PTO speed then it stands to reason you have NO time. A percentage of 0 is still 0. Also if it is PTO speed or time I wonder if there is a tractor that has the economy mode that uses PTO time. All of that seems complicated for such a simple function.
I am not looking for an argument. And I hope I did not get you upset. I can understand hours based on engine rpm or just clock hours.
I am glad you started this thread.

 

[LD1]

It was your statement..."This is wrong. My B7610, made the same year of that post, counts hours based on PTO speed. here." That I have and issue with. Maybe you did not intend it to be taken literally. If you have N0 PTO speed then it stands to reason you have NO time. A percentage of 0 is still 0. Also if it is PTO speed or time I wonder if there is a tractor that has the economy mode that uses PTO time. All of that seems complicated for such a simple function.
I am not looking for an argument. And I hope I did not get you upset. I can understand hours based on engine rpm or just clock hours.
I am glad you started this thread.

Seem you are the only one that didnt get it.

I believe the correct way things are worded are "based on Engine speed at rated PTO SPEED"

He just left out some typing to shorten things up because he figured we would understand.....for the most part, he was right.