Break-In Maintenance Or Not?

[ChrisJD4320]

My 4320 has just hit 50 hours and I am wondering about the 50 hour initial maintenance. The Owner's Manual doesn't mention anything about maintenance until 200 hours, and the dealer agrees. However a recent post on TBN had a link to the Maintenance Reminder sheets and the one for my 4320 did mention an initial service. Should I do it? The filters and oil are expensive so I don't want to waste money, but the tractor is more expensive than the filters. Does my 4320 have break-in oil in the engine? If I do replace the oil at 50 hours should I replace it with regular oil or break-in oil? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Partsman2]

I'm pretty sure that about every brand of tractor on the market has a 50 hour service interval for the initial service. I'll back up a little and say that JD and Kubota do as I know that first hand. It is important to get the break-in oil out of the engine and tranny to get any possible metal shavings, etc., generated during the high wear in period when the tractor is brand new.

Look at your manual and I'm pretty sure you'll find a 50 hour service recommendation. Follow it to the letter as it could ultimately affect your warranty if you don't and you have an engine or transmission problem. This is probably the most important service you'll do in the entire life of the tractor in my opinion.

I've said it here more than once - oil and filters are cheap compared to engines and transmissions.

 

[ChrisJD4320]

I have scoured the manuals and the dealer concurs: the first scheduled maintenance is at 200 hours. I have heard my 4320 engine is from John Deere's skid steer line. I will check the recommendations for those units to see what they say. At any rate thanks for your advice. I will suck it up and do the service regardless.

 

[NoMo]

According to the online manual for a 4320, the 50 hour service is to change the engine oil & filter, and check wheel bolt torque.

 

[Partsman2]

I have scoured the manuals and the dealer concurs: the first scheduled maintenance is at 200 hours. I have heard my 4320 engine is from John Deere's skid steer line. I will check the recommendations for those units to see what they say. At any rate thanks for your advice. I will suck it up and do the service regardless.

ChrisJD4320 - I just looked at my manual for the 4710 and it says to change engine oil & filter, hydraulic oil and filters, clean hydraulic suction screen, lube all points, and check all nuts & bolts. It is an ehydro. I am assuming yours is but if not maybe there is no need to change the hyraulic oil. I think the 50 hour service is covered in a separate section and may not show up on the maintenance chart in the manual. I would definitely change the engine oil and filter at a minimum.

If there's no 50 hour service recommendation then I am shocked!

 

[Woody_NH]

My 4320 has just hit 50 hours and I am wondering about the 50 hour initial maintenance. The Owner's Manual doesn't mention anything about maintenance until 200 hours, and the dealer agrees. However a recent post on TBN had a link to the Maintenance Reminder sheets and the one for my 4320 did mention an initial service. Should I do it? The filters and oil are expensive so I don't want to waste money, but the tractor is more expensive than the filters. Does my 4320 have break-in oil in the engine? If I do replace the oil at 50 hours should I replace it with regular oil or break-in oil? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

My 3320 manual calls for change of engine oil/filter at 50 hours. I believe the original engine oil was break-in type, I replaced it with regular oil. At 67 hours after problems with rockshaft operation and on dealer recommendation I change the hydraulic oil and filter, see:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=930892#poststop

 

[rmonio]

It would greatly surprise me that JD would recommend against a 50 hour break-in change of filters, etc. First - it sells parts ( !)... but seriously, it only makes sense that the engine and it's accompanying parts would require a going over to make sure that things are working smoothly, filters are working as they should, etc. In the case of the hydraulic, for example, it's about getting any of the initial shavings/etc., cleaned out of the filter and ready to go.

I don't think I've ever seen an engine - car, truck, tractor, etc. - that wouldn't benefit from an initial break-in service (or require it). The filters and oil arn't that expensive and what it protects (your sizable investment) is worth the time/effort.

I know my 4600 - both the original manual and the one on-line - call for the 50 hour. And I know others have said that their models request the same thing. I'd do it.

-Bob

 

[RalphVa]

Makes sense if they've found a good way of flushing them at the factory to remove metal fines, etc.

I kinda think the 50 hour service on my 4010 didn't accomplish much, as I didn't find any metal fines on the hydraulic filter. I've kept the air filter, as it was pretty clean, too. Just changed it out a 2nd time today, but only the outer one again, at 210 hours.

I changed out the factory engine oil and filter at 13 hours and put synthetic in. That's all I'd do on yours until 200 hours. Actually, I changed my engine oil again at 113 hours, approximately 1 year and would have done it today if there was time left. Didn't have time after doing the antifreeze change and a bit of shredding/chipping.

Ralph

 

[ACKBill]

My 4320 has just hit 50 hours and I am wondering about the 50 hour initial maintenance. The Owner's Manual doesn't mention anything about maintenance until 200 hours, and the dealer agrees. However a recent post on TBN had a link to the Maintenance Reminder sheets and the one for my 4320 did mention an initial service. Should I do it? The filters and oil are expensive so I don't want to waste money, but the tractor is more expensive than the filters. Does my 4320 have break-in oil in the engine? If I do replace the oil at 50 hours should I replace it with regular oil or break-in oil? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

I have to say that I don't understand why this question is even being asked. Changing the oil & filter(s) frequently is the single biggest thing you can do to extend the life of any motor, PERIOD, no Question!

Sure, the oil & filters are not cheap, but they cost way less that a re-build or maybe replacing your machine in 8 years instead of 20. These machines do a lot of work for us, make our lives a lot easier and maybe even fun sometimes but they are not cheap to maintain. They are way more expensive to repair or replace.

BILL

 

[rmonio]

Agreed.

But it's personal choice - and personal cost - and personal risk. So rather than start a messy thread it's easier to leave it at that.



-Bob