New Tractor Break-in procedure

[sixdogs]

A sight glass is cheap and usually easy to replace.

 

[Catman8]

From the way your question is worded I'm guessing that the sight glass isn't normally red color. It sounds like you are saying that it looks like something has dyed the sight glass red.
If that's so....well, this is just a guess....but are all the other tractors you are looking at with the red sight glass used tractors? The reason that I ask is it used to be pretty common practice to mix ATF with the hydraulic fluid - there are even some folks who still do - especially in the winter or real cold climates. And ATF has a stong red dye.
You'll get the full range of opinions on whether mixing was a good thing to do or not. BTW, it wasn't done to save money; ATF tends to be more expensive than most hydraulic fluids.
Now that there are more reasonably priced low viscosity hydraulic fluids and even some reasonably priced synthetics I imagine the practice will die out.
rScotty

No, I'm looking at brand new tractors on a lot and I'm not referring to the color of the glass, the glass is clear and when the fluid fills the sight glass it turns red, meaning the fluid is red. Post #39 says they use dye. So when you guys change your hygard trans fluid do you put dye back in.

 

[beenthere]

I do not put in any red dye.

 

[sixdogs]

I don't know anyone that puts dye in unless they have a problem and are trying to locate a stubborn leak. Could the factory?

 

[Catman8]

I don't know anyone that puts dye in unless they have a problem and are trying to locate a stubborn leak. Could the factory?

I was thinking that red was easier to see in the sight glass than clear, my tractor has the original hygard in it and it's red so I just thought people put dye in it for that reason.

 

[beenthere]

You can likely use the JD MT3668 red dye if you want.

 

[sixdogs]

Just read your original post and there really is no need for an oil change at 10 hours. At 50 hours is plenty early enough. Just my two cent here.

I have heard of tractors coming from the factory with dyed trans oil.

 

[H500D]

The funniest thing about this is the people who put the least hours on machines are the ones who worry the most about stuff like this. Little CUT's who live in the garage and get 20 hours a year of easy use while the owner changes oil every year because the manual says to.

These are the machines to look for if you can find them used. Probably have 100-200 hours and the owner finally got sent to the nursing home or dies and the tractor is in pristine condition with barely a scratch. Most implements are barely used and it's had 9 oil changes in 123 hours of use. LOL

I used to think on the same lines but the DPF systems can royally ruin your month. All is fine and dandy and then the day you don't check your oil your crankcase and it is overflowing of carbon and fuel.... or worse, coolant. Happened to me.

 

[oosik]

My first tractor was a brand new 1982 Ford 1700 4WD. In 2009 I upgraded to a brand new Kubota M6040 4WD. Both have been treated the same and both have never had a single problem.

Let the tractor warm up prior to use. Do not over rev the motor. Do not put the tractor under heavy use/load for the first 50 hours. I changed ALL oils/fluids/greases at 100 hours - my decision.

Otherwise - I change engine oil every other year. I put approximately 75 - 100 hours per year on the tractor.

This is the recommended operating procedures for my Kubota M6040. Right out of my Op Manual.

 

[beenthere]

That opening paragraph reads like the instructions when picking up a new puppy. "... parts are not accustomed to each other.. "

 

[RalphVa]

Extremely conservative. Any cars or trucks you buy today, you just drive them normally and change at the normal interval. On the last 2 new cars I've bought, that interval has been 10k miles.

Don't see why tractors are any different in the engines.

 

[5030]

Wow, 50 comments and all one has to do is follow what is stated in the owners manual. Sheesh.

 

[LouNY]

This is the recommended operating procedures for my Kubota M6040. Right out of my Op Manual.

The last paragraph is the one I go with,
any new engine gets it's first oil change around 500-1000 miles 0r 10-20 hours, on rebuilt engine I change the oil after a 30 minute breakin run.
Then when it goes in service the next change is about 500-1000 miles or 10 hours or so. Then they go to normal change intervals
which for me are less then the maximum specified in any owners manual.
I also know that my vehicle milage is all considered severe by the manuals definition, dirt roads and field roads, short trips, high idling times.

 

[LouNY]

Wow, 50 comments and all one has to do is follow what is stated in the owners manual. Sheesh.

And several years!!!

 

[5030]

And several years!!!

Kind of like the other forum you and I are on.. Bringing old posts back to life for more hashing over...lol

 

[LouNY]

Same questions, same answers and opinions, just new readers.

 

[5030]

Same questions, same answers and opinions, just new readers.

Not exactly. Bill is a much better moderator than the ones on here. Much fairer. More old junkers on there too. Some of the threads I read, I'm amazed at the junk they buy.

 

[sixdogs]

Kind of like the other forum you and I are on.. Bringing old posts back to life for more hashing over...lol

I read once that magazine articles were mostly forgotten after six months and could then be repeated or rewritten. New people start and old people stop.

This thread is 9 years old so oil requirements and procedures have expired and changed several times since then. Everyone has been at least momentarily right.

 

[RalphVa]

The last paragraph is the one I go with,
any new engine gets it's first oil change around 500-1000 miles 0r 10-20 hours, on rebuilt engine I change the oil after a 30 minute breakin run.
Then when it goes in service the next change is about 500-1000 miles or 10 hours or so. Then they go to normal change intervals
which for me are less then the maximum specified in any owners manual.
I also know that my vehicle milage is all considered severe by the manuals definition, dirt roads and field roads, short trips, high idling times.

No. Last 2 car engines got their regular oil changes at 10k miles. That's what was in their manuals. Do not think tractor engines should be any different. Should be able to go 400 hours like all changes.

 

[LouNY]

Maybe your manuals read different then mine,
look at your severe engine operating conditions and then tell me what conditions your tractor runs at.

If you want to go 400 hours between changes go for it,
but I never will.
And, as far as I'm concerned you are doing anyone who reads and follows your directions
a huge disservice.

But that is my opinion, and what I will recommend,
you are entitled to yours (as wrong as it may be to me)