L6060 Breakin Procedure

[Hilbilly]

I guess its time to run it up to PTO rpm and use the chipper. This will be intermittent work as there are small piles located all over the place. Then after the 50 hr oil / filter changes I will start running it up to full throttle for short periods, just to make sure it seats in before it starts developing any ridges or other upper operating limits at the reduced rpms.

 

[5030]

Follow what your owners manual says to do. Pretty simple in my book.

 

[Ed27]

I have a new Kubota M7060HD12. I got it 2 months ago and it has 47 hours on it. My owners manual also says to not work it to the max during the first 50 hours and to change the oil and filter at 50 hours. I have been using mine for about 6 hours at a time in 90+ degree weather, mainly to run a tractor saw on the three point hitch. When I'm not cutting trees, I'm running a big bush hog. The tractor saw gives the tractor a pretty good workout. The PTO runs at 540 rpm for the saw, just like the bush hog. I always read the owner's manuals for my equipment (weird, I know), and always follow the maintenance schedule. I take good care of my equipment. I wish I was not working my tractor quite as hard as I am during the first 50 hours, but I am doing what I need to do and what the tractor was designed to do. In spite of getting a good workout in hot weather, the temperature gauge has never gone past the half way mark. The tractor runs like a dream and everything works great. I just finished changing the oil and filter and of course the oil looked great and no signs of anything wrong. The tractor has gone through one regen at about 28 hours. I guess this is my way of trying to assure you that you will be fine using your new tractor. Congratulations and have fun!

 

[Hilbilly]

Follow what your owners manual says to do. Pretty simple in my book.

It would be simple if there was more specific information given. The owners manual is too vague. Don't operate at fast speed. What is too fast? If the max tractor speed is 28km/h after breakin, what is the acceptable breakin speed 15km/h or 20km/h or 26km/h? If the max tractor engine rpm is 2600rpm, what is the max rpm that it should be operated at during breakin; is it 1500rpm or 1800, 2000, 2400, 2500. Can it be run at PTO rpm? There should be more clarity. Something like PTO rpm is ok as long as the engine is not loaded or maybe no more than 80% rpm for the first 50 hrs. Some sort of spec. The owners manual information is kinda of like telling someone installing head bolts, wheel lug nuts, etc to make sure they are tight but not tighter than necessary. My 2008 Massey was very specific. Operate at PTO rpm for the first 50 hrs. No interpretation required.

I have a new Kubota M7060HD12. I got it 2 months ago and it has 47 hours on it. My owners manual also says to not work it to the max during the first 50 hours and to change the oil and filter at 50 hours. I have been using mine for about 6 hours at a time in 90+ degree weather, mainly to run a tractor saw on the three point hitch. When I'm not cutting trees, I'm running a big bush hog. The tractor saw gives the tractor a pretty good workout. The PTO runs at 540 rpm for the saw, just like the bush hog. I always read the owner's manuals for my equipment (weird, I know), and always follow the maintenance schedule. I take good care of my equipment. I wish I was not working my tractor quite as hard as I am during the first 50 hours, but I am doing what I need to do and what the tractor was designed to do. In spite of getting a good workout in hot weather, the temperature gauge has never gone past the half way mark. The tractor runs like a dream and everything works great. I just finished changing the oil and filter and of course the oil looked great and no signs of anything wrong. The tractor has gone through one regen at about 28 hours. I guess this is my way of trying to assure you that you will be fine using your new tractor. Congratulations and have fun!

Thanks Ed27, probably hard to tell from my written word but I wasn't really concerned that I was going to damage the tractor with my breakin procedure but was more interested in what others were doing. I have 2 other machines with 47hp Kubota engines in them. Both have around 3500 hrs on them and they run like a charm. It's one of the reasons I went to a Kubota tractor this time around.

So far I really like this tractor. I keep comparing it to my previous 2 Massey's and find there are some things I prefer on this tractor and some I prefer on the Massey but overall, so far, I like this tractor better.

 

[DK35vince]

Never thought about the turbo cooling down though. That might occur naturally, based on the way I use it but maybe not. I usually end up driving it back the storage building after using it for work and maybe that allows the turbo to cool down since the engine is not working hard and just cruising back.

Yes, that's all that needed.

 

[ovrszd]

Had a JD Factory Rep tell me last week that cooldown wasn't necessary if the last thing you do is road the machine. I was almost speechless. I finally responded with "You are an idiot".

 

[Hilbilly]

In another thread about turf tires vs R4's someone linked a video done by Messiks that ran a test with both. The interesting thing for me was that they took a brand new tractor from their lot, in below freezing weather and fired it up then ran it up to PTO speed (3500rpm) and loaded the tractor to the max. It appears the tractors did not even get a warm up period but that could have been done before the video started. Point being that they run the thing to full PTO speed and max load when it was brand new. I doubt they would do that if it was bad for the tractor but I could be wrong.

 

[rScotty]

In another thread about turf tires vs R4's someone linked a video done by Messiks that ran a test with both. The interesting thing for me was that they took a brand new tractor from their lot, in below freezing weather and fired it up then ran it up to PTO speed (3500rpm) and loaded the tractor to the max. It appears the tractors did not even get a warm up period but that could have been done before the video started. Point being that they run the thing to full PTO speed and max load when it was brand new. I doubt they would do that if it was bad for the tractor but I could be wrong.

To me the question isn't whether cold starts, full load, top RPM, and no break in are bad for the tractor... I think they could be but aren't always so.
But for me it's more a matter of warmup/cool down, reasonable load & RPM, and break-in procedures being better than the alternative.
One way has nothing but downside surprises & the other only upside.
rScotty

 

[ovrszd]

To me the question isn't whether cold starts, full load, top RPM, and no break in are bad for the tractor... I think they could be but aren't always so.
But for me it's more a matter of warmup/cool down, reasonable load & RPM, and break-in procedures being better than the alternative.
One way has nothing but downside surprises & the other only upside.
rScotty

Are you suggesting a proper break in and moderate use will result in no failures?

 

[rScotty]

Are you suggesting a proper break in and moderate use will result in no failures?

No. Less wear.