break-in for new tractor

[amg280]

Hello. I just received my new BX2660. I absolutely love this machine. Reading through the manuals, it says to break it in for the first 50 hours. Avoid full throttle, fast starts, etc etc.

Are they saying I cant mow my lawn until it has 50 hours on it?? Am I just supposed to joy ride around for days at a time before I can actually do anything? Opinions wanted.

Also, once I hit 50 hours, what parts/filters/oils will I need and what quantity for the 50hr service.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Andy

 

[gwdixon]

The manual should have a page with a chart that details what service is done at what hours. The 50 hour change does just about all of the fluids and filters (not fuel filter), even the front axle on 4WD.

Don't baby the tractor during break-in but don't abuse it either. Running wide open for extended periods is not good. Running it at variable RPMs is advised.

My dealer told me a story about a customer that babied his new tractor and didn't run it above 1500 RPM thinking it would be better for the engine. In a few months he complained about an oil comsumption problem.

Kubota corporate was contacted and said to run it hard and see what happens. A big disc was hooked up and used on a field at high RPM for several hours. The oil consumption problem went away.

 

[bpattie]

Hello. I just received my new BX2660. I absolutely love this machine. Reading through the manuals, it says to break it in for the first 50 hours. Avoid full throttle, fast starts, etc etc.

Are they saying I cant mow my lawn until it has 50 hours on it?? Am I just supposed to joy ride around for days at a time before I can actually do anything? Opinions wanted.

Also, once I hit 50 hours, what parts/filters/oils will I need and what quantity for the 50hr service.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Andy

I believe I have heard/remember that an important aspect to break in is to not run consistent RPM's, use it fairly high but not for a very long period. so as you are in Break in period vary the RPM frequently. and as GW mentioned your manual will have the recommended services to perform at various hour levels

 

[bp fick]

Good advice. I am still in that breaking in period. I don't think of it that way, as I plow, disk, pull, rake and do anything and everything. There isn't any way you could get 50 hours by just joy riding. I couldn't for sure, because I don't mow, I only use it as a tractor.

Manual says idle at 50% of rating speed, (the mean 3200 rpm) so idle around 1550-1600. This is, at least on mine, the smoothest spot anyhow.

I have yet to exceed 2900 RPM's and don't intend to. I find it pulls at just about its maximum grunt at 2700-2800 anyhow. Yup, I vary the speed alot.
Go use your tractor!!

 

[CHDinCT]

Sure you can mow with it, but set your RPM at say 2,800 or maybe a little lower depending on what size deck you have. Max RPM is 3200 and you should be able to mow under 3,000 during break-in, I did. If you have lots of acres to mow, vary the RPM several time during the mowing.

 

[Bassicfun]

email me some pictures of the beast Andy!! And a follow up to how everything went with Tim and the shipping!

And as for break-in, I tend to agree on most points here, I mowed 5 acres varying from probably 2650-2850rpm, and did other work in the lower 22-2400 rpm range. 50 hr service in my manual says change oil, oil filter, and HST filter, and top off the HST fluid, the first HST fluid change was I think 200hrs (but I don't have the manual infront of me)

I wanted to put the tractor through it's paces, and did with a rear tiller, the FEL, the ratchet rake, and lots more mowing. So definitely play with it all and get comfortable! I have the whole workshop manual from Kubota for this too, so if you need specific bolt torque specs, or something scanned and shared, you know how to reach me.

 

[TripleR]

All good advice. I had a BX2200 and now a BX2660. Since I use my machines for everything, I have got my last two in the "off season" so I could break it in with little mowing. Just vary your RPM and don't abuse it or "baby" it.

As another poster pointed out, you can break it in by mowing as it will cut very well at the 2700 or so range, just be sure to take the time to operate it at different ranges every once in a while.

As to the service, your Manual may be a misprint and not have an HST fluid change noted. There is a thread on here about that and opinions still vary.

Some people use HEET for diesels depending on where you get your fuel and how it is stored.

Enjoy your tractor. I "bush hogged" and moved chat yesterday and will mow my lawn today.

 

[bp fick]

50 hr service in my manual says change oil, oil filter, and HST filter, and top off the HST fluid, the first HST fluid change was I think 200hrs (but I don't have the manual infront of me)

The trouble with all printed manuals is that they get out of date, but are so expensive in printing costs, that the builders "use up" the pre-printed manuals, even if their service schedules change. They try to compensate for this with stickers under the hood, (John Deere, I believe) or simply have their dealer network do the informing. People sometimes treat the manual like a bible, and quote from it even if the information has been super-ceded. Latest recommendation from the Big K is:

The 50 hour service indeed includes an HST complete change, filter, fluid, (all 3.2 gallons of sudt, and screen cleaning. Your dealer can and should confirm this. Personally, there is no way I'd go 200 hours, which for many people is over 4 years, on the original HST fluid, complete with manufacturing and break-in metallic shavings. OEMs need to buy more stickers for their manuals, imho.

 

[LBrown59]

Why would you think you couldn't mow with it till after 50 hours.

You can vary the RPM's when mowing.

Hello. I just received my new BX2660. I absolutely love this machine. Reading through the manuals, it says to break it in for the first 50 hours. Avoid full throttle, fast starts, etc etc.

Are they saying I cant mow my lawn until it has 50 hours on it?? Am I just supposed to joy ride around for days at a time before I can actually do anything? Opinions wanted.

Also, once I hit 50 hours, what parts/filters/oils will I need and what quantity for the 50hr service.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Andy

 

[big bubba]

would agree w/above posts on your break in period (for me 50 hr fluid change, but like to regard 1st 100 hrs as official "break in". in addition, I would avoid lots of cold starts & runs......work it at least 1 hr+ for each session....avoid prolonged idle, and allow a few minutes to cool down after each session before shutting off. I am told that mowing and soil engagement implements are great for the break in. just don't pamper or scream and you'll be fine. small amt. of oil consumption I'm told is normal, but should be close to nill @ 100hrs. enjoy the honeymoon. bb