Oil & Fuel First Fluid Change

[scott1974]

New member with a question.....I have a 3520R Branson and its coming up on the first 50 hour maintenance. I intend to keep this tractor for a very, very long time and I want to use the the best fluid I can for oil, trans, etc. My dealer has recommend Service Pro for trans. Has anyone had any experience with this fluid? Any other advice around this first maintenance for the "new guy" would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Texasmark1]

Tractor Supply Premium trans hyd fluid satisfies all the current requirements for wet clutch, hydro tranny, shift on the fly, PTO, and all the new toys.

I have an '07 6530 Branson and looked at the oil change interval thing in my OM. Since you are talking about 15 gallons of oil that you have to deal with coming in and going out, and all I asked myself, why do I have to change it? I am not in the tropics, nor on the N. Pole, nor do I slosh around in tropical mud up to the running boards, nor do I work it to death 24/7 operated by who knows who, and on and on.

I took samples of my oil and it was pristeen clean, spotless, no smell, no discoloration, no water. What's the point????? CYA, or usage specific, somebody selling oil. I blew it off and this year I changed my hydraulic filter on my '07 I bought new.

Got have some common sense. Got to do your own thinking. Who writes these service manuals? What do they know about anything? Whose backside are they covering? Where is their common sense? What enviroinment do they write them for? How does your operation different from the worst possible encounter....on and on and on.

Be your own man.

HTH,
Mark

 

[3930dave]

New member with a question.....I have a 3520R Branson and its coming up on the first 50 hour maintenance. I intend to keep this tractor for a very, very long time and I want to use the the best fluid I can for oil, trans, etc. My dealer has recommend Service Pro for trans. Has anyone had any experience with this fluid? Any other advice around this first maintenance for the "new guy" would be appreciated.

Thanks

Check the Owner's Manual for the relevant oil specs. I used Chevron 1000 THF for my old Ford.

I wasn't concerned about warranty, and was confident that this Chevron product would meet my needs.

When you're matching up the tractors' oil specs with relevant lubes, you'll likely come across the phrases "Meets or Exceeds" or "Certified to Meet" vs. "Recommended For" _________________ spec.

If I had a $300k tractor, in Warranty, I'd probably be using factory OE lubes, at the Scheduled Maintenance intervals. Actually, that's not a bad place to start pricing fluid, if you haven't already.

In my case, it wasn't worth the extra cost (vs. my budget) to go with Ambra OE fluid, as I was comfortable with relying on Chevron's offering.

Long way of saying.... make sure that whatever you select is at least "Recommended For" the oil spec you need for your tractor. If you have trouble sleeping at night, go for one that is "Certified to Meet" spec xyz.

Rgds, D.

 

[Lunk]

Change the engine oil & filter, and the hydraulic filter. For engine oil I use Rotella full-synthetic 5W40. Top your hyd. Fluid with the aforementioned TSC product. Check your air filter, especially if you are doing any mowing/ shredding. Fuel filter cartridge should be OK if you are burning fresh, clean fuel. I've changed mine twice in approx 300 hours.

Make sure you are greasing everything regularly, and treat it right, and you'll have a hard working tractor for a good long time.

My .02

Lunk

 

[Texasmark1]

Change the engine oil & filter, and the hydraulic filter. For engine oil I use Rotella full-synthetic 5W40. Top your hyd. Fluid with the aforementioned TSC product. Check your air filter, especially if you are doing any mowing/ shredding. Fuel filter cartridge should be OK if you are burning fresh, clean fuel. I've changed mine twice in approx 300 hours.

Make sure you are greasing everything regularly, and treat it right, and you'll have a hard working tractor for a good long time.

My .02

Lunk

I'm running the Cummins B3.3L in my Branson tractor. After purchasing, I called Cummins NA as I wanted to run Rotella T 5W-40 Full Syn in it. I use Mobil 1 Full Syn in my gas truck and in my gas air cooled lawnmowers changing annually as it doesn't break down like paraffin oils do/did.

My response from Cummins NA was: "Sir your B 3.3L will love to have you run Rot T 5w-40 in it." Right answer and so much for that.

I'm an oil nut and clean oil is a way of life for me. However, what I use and how often I change it and the filters depends upon the oil itself. If it's dirty it gets changed, even on my '63 Ford Diesel. If not it doesn't. I was here before Pearl Harbor and the only engine I ever lost in my life was an Evinrude outboard engine and that was due to a stuck shut thermostat on a used engine that I had just purchased and the engine had no over temp warning device; never one due to bad oil.

And yes I use additives. When OEMs supply additives with their new engines it speaks for itself. For the premadonnas that speak of it as "snake oil" their loss. Not mine.

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

Mark

 

[Lunk]

I'm confused - Did my answer tick you off in some way???

My .02 is just that. Search my posts and you'll see that it's a common sign-off that I use. I'm no expert, and certainly have never claimed to be. Most all my "knowledge" has been gained thru experience.

I meant no offense to anyone, just offered up what I did at 50 hrs.

Lunk

 

[Texasmark1]

I'm confused - Did my answer tick you off in some way???

My .02 is just that. Search my posts and you'll see that it's a common sign-off that I use. I'm no expert, and certainly have never claimed to be. Most all my "knowledge" has been gained thru experience.

I meant no offense to anyone, just offered up what I did at 50 hrs.

Lunk

Not at all sir. I paid $37,200 for my 6530c with loader. Lot of money at risk. I am also a retired engineer whose job it was pick through the chaff and come up with answers to complex problems. I was an oil nut all my life as my first truck was a '47 chevy and as son as I bought it used, I went by an auto parts store and got oil and filter. Changed it when I got home as the stuff in the crankcase was horribly black and walla. Smoked like you couldn't imagine. The engine needed rings.

I followed the recommended practices and never had a problem with engines or gears. Then along come these super lubricants we have today and you still see the same change intervals with few exceptions. Common sense told me that either I wasn't working my equipment as hard as the designers had planned, or someone was cooking the books. I chose the latter and reacted accordingly.

What a person does with their equipment and money is their business. Over the years I explained what I do with mine and why. One thing about forums is that they are open to the general public and you get all sorts of views allowing you to see others views and make your own decisions.

HTH,
Mark

 

[Lunk]

Cool.

I don't know if I was tired or what, but when I read your post, my first thought was - Seems like I may have ticked him off!

I agree with everything you've said, as it seems that the OEM's, and service folks are in cahoots to separate the maximum amount of dollars from our wallets.

Take care!

Lunk