First 50 hour maintenance.

gerard1806 · Dec 26, 2013

Hello everyone, I have finally reached my first 50 hours on my 2013 Branson 2800h. Can you give me tips, tricks or your personal experiences on the first service? My closest authorized dealer is about 55 miles away and to avoid the drive does anyone know if I can get the products at maybe Walmart etc?

Thanks.

jcliffordj1 · Dec 27, 2013

I was going to do the 50 hr service on my 4520C myself but decided that beings it was the first I took it to the Branson dealer in Livingston, Tx. They found a leaking oil cooler. Not sure if I would have found it before my oil level got really low. Anyhow they are really nice people there. The dealer in Carthage wouldn't do it because I didn't buy from him.

Stimw · Dec 27, 2013

The only thing I would buy at Walmart is Shell Rotela Oil!
Order the filters from a dealer, some will ship them to you if necessary. Mine were less than $50.00.
1. some have had issues with after market hydraulic filters.
2. If you had a warranty issue non-OEM filters might be a problem. ???

I removed the RR wheel for access to the hyd screen.
On my 3510 there is a drain plug under the driveshaft where it enters the rear housing.
Have 3-5 gal buckets ready to drain the trans-axle. If you have any other hydraulic devices let the oil settle and re-purpose it not re-using the last of it in the bottom where trash might be.
Have tractor on level ground so oil levels will read right when re-filling.

Doing the service yourself will give you more knowledge about your tractor!

Texasmark · Dec 28, 2013

Well I could see no need to drain the hytran oil per the recommended interval. If some particulates were in the crankcases the filter would catch them.....purpose of it. Mine is the 6530C and uses 15 gallons of premium trans/hyd fluid. I do not abuse my tractor in harsh environments, nor run it continuously under heavy loads for long hours, don't lug it, on and on. Under my operating circumstances I see it as a waste of natural resources, my time, and money. I did change the hyd filter with the OEM part number which I got off the www by putting the Branson PN into the Google search engine. My dealer is 50 miles away or thereabouts. Got this from an online supplier for a reasonable price.

On a leaking this or that, I give any equipment I buy a thorough looking over periodically and would have caught a leaking fitting.

I did change my engine oil and filter as suggested at 300 hours. I changed to Rotella T 5w-40 full synthetic. Mine has the Cummins engine (B 3.3NA). I called Cummins and asked what they thought about me using the oil specified for my first oil change. Their reply was "sir your engine will love for you to use said oil". So much for that. I have glow plug cylinder warmers for starting. After the warmup light goes out I hit the starter and within a second the engine lights off and another second the oil warning light extinguishes even down at the 10 degree F temps we had a couple of weeks ago.

I have $37,200 invested in my tractor and plan on dieing with it in my possession. I don't think I made a foolish choice in what I said above. Guidelines are generalities and one set goes out to every possible consumer regardless of usage. I took an oil sample and it was crystal clear with the orange tint (premium fluid) and no water. No particulates settled to the bottom of the test container. Why change it?

What they don't tell you in the maintenance instructions is to add a deionizing fluid to the radiator to prevent any corrosive effects of the coolant on the cylinders (pitting). I went to the JD dealer and got some for mine and added it when I changed my coolant. The other thing they don't tell you is to use deionized water for your cooling water if you live in an area with high mineral deposits. I have highly alkaline soil and it is in the water big time. So I use distilled water and 150k/5 year AF at 50/50......they do tell you to use 50/50 but don't specify any fancy type of AF.

My 2c and worth every penny you paid for it. Grin

Mark

Stimw · Dec 29, 2013

So you paid $37,200. for a tractor and you are going to save $200. on hydraulic fluid and ignore the manufacturers guide lines?
When you changed the hyd filter did you remove the transmission screen and clean it too?
I found metal machining debris in my screen!

Texasmark · Jan 4, 2014

Stimw said:
So you paid $37,200. for a tractor and you are going to save $200. on hydraulic fluid and ignore the manufacturers guide lines?
When you changed the hyd filter did you remove the transmission screen and clean it too?
I found metal machining debris in my screen!

What screen? What tractor? Where is the screen? How do you access it?

My 3 manuals I bought when I bought the tractor say nothing about a filter screen. That's what the spin on filter does. And yes, I'm not going to change something just for the sake of change. As I said and apparently you missed, these "recommended change intervals" for whatever take certain things into consideration. Well if you operate outside the envelope, these "certain things" don't apply.

Stimw · Jan 4, 2014

Here is the Branson parts breakdown-
https://documoto.digabit.com/Portal/#tocIndex=32&mid=6530C_061110&view=media

The login password is public. You can see the whole parts breakdown if you look around this site.
Screen cleaning should be in the service instructions.

Texasmark · Jan 5, 2014

Stimw said:
Here is the Branson parts breakdown-
https://documoto.digabit.com/Portal/#tocIndex=32&mid=6530C_061110&view=media

The login password is public. You can see the whole parts breakdown if you look around this site.
Screen cleaning should be in the service instructions.

Well I went through the download process till I got to the last part where digabit wanted my email address. I don't know these suckers from Adam. Stopped there.

Mark

Stimw · Jan 6, 2014

The first link shows the screen. The screen is behind a plate behind the filter housing that has three bolts.
You will have to drain the oil to clean the screen.
When you get to this link do not enter your email leave the Branson one in the box and then enter public for password and click login.
https://documoto.digabit.com/Portal/#
Look up your tractor by model number then look at the parts diagrams.
SAVE THIS WEBSITE SO YOU CAN LOOK UP YOUR PARTS AND INFO later!!!