ideal rpm during break-in period

[deepsnow]

NH TC25D @ dealership waiting for FEL. Question: What operating rpm is recommended during the first 150 hours for optimum "break-in"? Does it make a difference if your are in low, med. or high range? Heavy or light work load. The first 150 hours will probably be spent grading XC ski trails, grading the "driveway", moving piles of earth (if the piles are not frozen by the time the FEL arrives) and moving tons of snow(average around 16 feet of snow, heavy snow seasons have exceeded 24 feet). This is my first tractor and first diesel anything. Major league knowledge & experience gap.

 

[Bird]

Deepsnow, you probably want to keep it 200-300 rpm below wide open, but keep the rpm up enough that you never "lug" the engine, and vary the rpm instead of keeping a steady rpm. And 50 hours is plenty long enough to consider a "break-in" period. As a practical matter, I'd just say to run it like you intend to use it in the future.

 

[MChalkley]

deepsnow - Bird pretty much summed it up. You can keep your eye on the exhaust (when it's safe to do so - remember: safety first!!!) - if it's putting out black smoke, ease up a bit. More importantly than the load, though, since cold weather is coming, is using the right viscosity oil for the temps you're going to be running the tractor in, and making sure you let it warm up according to the manufacturer's recommendations before using it. Make sure your diesel fuel is winterized, too - you can do that by just buying on-road fuel at any major truck stop after it gets cold. Do those things, and you won't have any trouble, or if you do, it won't be your fault.

MarkC

 

[mikim]

wow ... now THAT'S a signature file!

 

[jinman]

Hey Bird! I echo what Mikim said about your signature. Wow! Now there's two "bald eagles" in all your posts.
/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimI

 

[Buck]

Interesting points about Diesel Break-In

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://http://www.ford-diesel.com/contents/getitems.php3?Breaking%20in%20a%20Diesel%20Engine/>BreakIn</A>

 

[webbmeister]

Hey Buck:

The link doesn't work. Try again?

Jim