Change Filter?

[ch1ch2]

I have a NH tractor with 112 hours and 4 years on this set of filters and oils.

I was going to change all but $110 in filters got me to to wondering if I need to change the filters.

Help with your thoughts.

Would I be OK just changing the oils? (just do to age and condensation.)

 

[RickB]

$28 per year filter cost? 112 hours in 4 years? I'd sell the tractor before shortchanging it on filters. No more than you (appear) to use them, you might be able to sell 2 or 3 and use the ones left a little more. Your costs aren't in filters, it's in tractors.

 

[GManBart]

I can see skipping the air filters if they look decent, and you blow them out with compressed air. Many tractors have inner/outer air filters, and they recommend replacing the inner filter every other time, which makes sense since the outer filter gets most of the dirt. The oil/tranny/hydraulic filters are simply too important to skip. $110 every four years seems pretty cheap insurance to me.

 

[WilliamBos]

Change the oil and filters.

 

[ch1ch2]

$28 per year filter cost? 112 hours in 4 years? I'd sell the tractor before shortchanging it on filters. No more than you (appear) to use them, you might be able to sell 2 or 3 and use the ones left a little more. Your costs aren't in filters, it's in tractors.

Yes on the surface that would seem correct but I think I need all of the tractors.
IH 684 mostly scrap for parts on my 584
IH 584 works 30 acre farm and used by my wife.
NH 95 works same 30 acre farm used by me with bucket, hay spear, grapple.
NH 33D w/belly mower mows 2.5 acre home site.
NH 55 w/BH and FEL works 90 ranch 200 miles away.
JD 302 works same 90 acres with pulling and PTO.

 

[KYKub]

I don't think you're likely to get a definitive answer, and there are other threads covering this subject, but I believe most debate centers on whether or not change filters EVERY year if it's used few hours. I doubt many folks around here would be willing to let their tractors go 4 years without filter changes.

Granted, you are probably talking to an audience who, by their choice to spend time on a tractor forum, probably tilt toward the "over-do-it" end of the spectrum.

I once had a Cub Cadet lawn tractor that I hated. Long story, but it was constantly in the shop. Decided to intentionally do NO maintenance on it hoping it would die a speedy death. After about 7 years of NO maintenance (no oil change, nothing) I finally got a Kubota garden tractor (love it!) and gave the Cub to a friend. I don't think he's done anything to it for at least two seasons and the thing seems no worse for the wear. Hmm, maybe I gave the thing too little credit...

 

[davesl708]

With such little usage changing the fluid may be more important to protecting the tractors. Four years of condensation and contamination may be doing more harm than the filters.

 

[Texasmark]

First off I live in Texas. Second I'm retired on a smaller place and not all that much work required. Third, I never start a tractor unless I have time to allow it to warm up good and work all the levers before putting up. Fourth, when working in hot weather, I cool the tractors down with tap water over radiators (hyd, AC, radiator coils) and let them run a few minutes afterwards. Fifth I keep my tractors in the shop or shedded.

On my 2007 6530 I changed my engine oil/filter when it got dirty or once a year, using Rot T 5W-40 full syn. Cleaned out the air filters once but they have an indicator device on the air inlet that tells me if they are clogging and if it weren't for that and they clogged, the engine exhaust would tell me....black. Changed the hyd filter once (removing filter opens the whole hyd sump....gotta be fast with the swap), but figured if it clogged hyd things would slow down which they didn't. Fuel filter is the original but I keep my fuel clean and have an outlet filter on my fuel transfer pump and if it clogged the engine wouldn't work nor go to full 2600 rpms under load.

So, at 7 years and 1000 hours, I changed all the fluids and the hyd filter the second time. Now I feel better. How does the tractor feel? Seems the same to me.

 

[ch1ch2]

I am strongly leaning to going ahead and changing the filters. 112 hours is not much time on a filter but if harm is going to be done the choice is between harming the tractor or harming my pocket for $110. The harm to the tractor (not likely) could be much more than the $110. If I do not change the filters I will worry about it. If I do change them I can forget about it for at least a year.

 

[davesl708]

I am strongly leaning to going ahead and changing the filters. 112 hours is not much time on a filter but if harm is going to be done the choice is between harming the tractor or harming my pocket for $110. The harm to the tractor (not likely) could be much more than the $110. If I do not change the filters I will worry about it. If I do change them I can forget about it for at least a year.

Was the first 50hr service performed? If not you may still have breakin oil in it. Also the suction screens may have leftover debris from manufacturing clogging it up.