How many engine hours is too many engine hours?

[Egon]

Hydrostatic transmissions are machined to close tolerances, are not tolerant of cavalier maintenance, and are expensive to repair.

This type of statement seems to keep cropping up but somehow instances of repairs required and costs seem to be almost negligible. So what does it cost to repair a hydrostatic transmission and how often does it happen on these throw away machines?

 

[RickB]

Generally speaking, it is possible to spend as much on a hydrostatic transmission catastrophic repair as one would spend on a major overhaul of the motor that drives the hydro in question. It can possibly match the value of the fully functional tractor if the repair is done at shop rate. As for the probability, I think of a quip in this month's Reader's Digest. The chances of mortality from a given disease may be 0.1% for the public at large, but if it happens to you, it's 100%. If one owns and maintains a machine from day one, the probablity of catastrophic failure due to poor maintainence is managed by the owner. Buying a used machine without warranty with an unknown maintainence and repair history eliminates any prediction of reliability. The classic 'pig in a poke'. It's all about how lucky you feel, and how much you want to spend.

 

[JoelD]

Would be a good idea to compression test, not a big deal if you can find a kit to borrow, they are not much money to purchase, harbor freight sells cheap. I think that would be a good and simple way to get a feel for the health of the motor.

Joel

 

[B2400]

My first inspection would be the air cleaner. It is a simple part to clean and take care of and has a large effect on engine performance and longevity. If maintenance has been slack in this area, chances are good the more labor intensive maintenance has been neglected also. Start the engine cold. A puff of black smoke is no problem, but blue smoke indicates wear. After it's idled for a couple of minutes, bring the throttle up to 1/2 or better. Again, look for blue smoke and listen. A cold diesel will have some clatter,but your listening for any metalic noises. Check the transmission and make sure it goes in and out of the ranges without any major effort. Run it back and forth. It should accelerate and stop without any hard jerking or shuddering. Also smell the trans fluid. A burnt smell could indicate brake trouble as the brakes are lubricated by this fluid also.

 

[lawn_king]

As others have already stated, PM is the ticket for the long haul. Quality oil and fuel, fresh filters, etc. I average around 300 commercial use hours per year. I expect my 2008 GL 3540 to outlast me, im 47.

 

[Larks]

Thankyou all for such very valuable advice. As well as following up on the transmission advice, I will invest in a compression test kit, I have no doubt that it will prove to be a good investment and I will have other use for it with my yacht as well.

cheers all, very very much appreciated.

 

[slowzuki]

I've seen lots of little Kubotas that look to have been beat all to heck during their lives with 5000 hrs on the clock.

 

[_RaT_]

This type of statement seems to keep cropping up but somehow instances of repairs required and costs seem to be almost negligible. So what does it cost to repair a hydrostatic transmission and how often does it happen on these throw away machines?

I'm with you Egon. Years ago when someone here kept spouting off that the hydrostatic transmission might have a catastrophic failure if a .50 cent O ring went bad was unfounded. I actually went to my dealer and inquired about the HST that Kubota was using. He went to the Kubota book and looked up the transmission I had in my L3830. A factory rebuilt transmission installed in my tractor was $2500. More importantly he mentioned that they had never replaced an HST on a Kubota yet. Both my L48 and my L3830 while low on hours certainly had no HST issues. I think there is plenty of advice here and at times its worth what you pay for it, simply your time it takes to read it. I know I have grown quite skeptical of opinions disguised as hard knowledge, politics included.

 

[Egon]

I know I have grown quite skeptical of opinions disguised as hard knowledge, politics included.

Yes, but the test of time has not been met. You must remember that it has to be at least 40 years old to be any good irrespective of the number of hours on the piece of equipment.

I just feel sorry for the active farmers that get a new tractor every 10 years or so and never get a chance to have owned a reliable tractor even though it's hour meter may be approaching the five figure mark but the years are low! Confuses the heck out of me sorta.

 

[WilliamBos]

Yes, but the test of time has not been met. You must remember that it has to be at least 40 years old to be any good irrespective of the number of hours on the piece of equipment.

I just feel sorry for the active farmers that get a new tractor every 10 years or so and never get a chance to have owned a reliable tractor even though it's hour meter may be approaching the five figure mark but the years are low! Confuses the heck out of me sorta.

Some people look at a low houred 20 or 30 year old tractor as a bad investment, depending on the farm type, that could mean they bought 1 more tractor than was needed. But that makes it easier for folks like us to get some good old iron at a decent price.

Others just do not want to take the risk of running a tractor past 10,000 hours(10 years max) because the down time for repairs would kill them. Example a big dairy farm with a tractor on a mixer, if the mixer tractor keeps going down, and cannot be relied upon, then it needs to be replaced. After all, the cows have to be fed on time, since they pay the bills.

For me, I am interested & excited to see how many hours we get out of our 1523 before any major work is needed. We are religious with maintenance, so we will see.