50 hr shock

[Trev]

It's funny.. my JD4300 was coming up for its 50 hour service.. I figured it would be about perfect to have them do it in the Spring.. figuring a bit of snow plowing during the winter.

Then.. the ice storm hit.

The tractor has been running 24x7 ever since, with only an occassional shutdown for oil and filter changes. I haven't even thought to look at the hour meter lately, but I bet it's impressive! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

As long as nothing is running but the engine and the rear PTO, I probably don't need to worry too much about the full 50-hour service, until later on this year, do I?

Not much happening with the hydraulics, etc... ?

Tks,
Bob

 

[chrisjbell]

<font color="blue"> I probably don't need to worry too much about the full 50-hour service, until later on this year, do I?

Not much happening with the hydraulics, etc... ?
</font>

Changing the oil and filter is good enough for the engine. Make sure you're following the lube schedule for attachments (i.e. FEL - every 10 hours [of use]).

I'm not sure it is OK to let the hydraulic fluid go. I know that with motor oil it is a combination of time (you have to change it if it is over a year old, is a rule of thumb I've often heard)and use (every 50 hours or 7500 miles) that breaks it down.

What I don't know is if that is also true of the hydro fluid. But my real concern is that one of the reasons they change nearly everything at 50 hours is that the first use of machinery is when a lot of break in wear occurs. This means that there's a bunch of metal and junk that gets scraped off the new surfaces as they get to know each other. Changing the fluids cleans all that stuff out.

So if you can, I'd say add 'change hydro' to the mix. Your hydraulic pump will probably thank you (especially if that tractor has hydrostatic transmission).

 

[sandyc]

Hey guys, remember that if you have a hst the hydrolic fluid is still being pumped even if you are using just a mower.....

 

[r0GuE]

2 hours to do the 50hr on my BX and I am NOT a mechanical person. I would never change the oil on my car (to easy to get someone else to do it), but the tractor just seemed like an easy job (easier than finding a trailer to haul it somewhere).

 

[Anonymous Poster]

As mentioned, the 50 hour change is to remove all the crude in your system from the manufaturing process. It is very important. To be honest, out in the ag world I suspect far less than 50% of the ag tractors ever get any other hyd change for many 1000's of hours.

However, an open center pump is always flowing oil, so it is always running, always pumping oil. It operates your 3-point hitch & your front end loader & your hydro tranny if so equiped. The biggest 'issue' with hydraulics is attaching different ports. You get a little dust & dirt with each coupling, and you get whatever oil is in the cylinder you hook up.

Many tractors share the rear end & tranny oil with the hydraulic oil, depends on your model. But that oil can get a real workout.

I would not skip that first oil change. It is important to swap that junk out. After that, many people greatly extend their hyd oil service. Up to you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

--->Paul