JD 3720 - Initial Service ???

sunnyside360 · Jul 6, 2007

My 3720 is approaching 50 hrs so I checked the owner's manual to see what service needs to be performed. SURPRISE!! Nothing specified until 200 hrs or one year whichever comes first. All of my previous tractors (six) specified service at 50 hrs, eg, engine oil & filter, transmission oil & filter, front diff oil.
I plan to call the dealer next week but they will likely "go by the book". What initial service are all you 3x20 owners doing? TIA John B.

radman1 · Jul 6, 2007

The owners manual does state the first service is at 50 hours.

Woody_NH · Jul 7, 2007

sunnyside360 said:
My 3720 is approaching 50 hrs so I checked the owner's manual to see what service needs to be performed. SURPRISE!! Nothing specified until 200 hrs or one year whichever comes first. All of my previous tractors (six) specified service at 50 hrs, eg, engine oil & filter, transmission oil & filter, front diff oil.
I plan to call the dealer next week but they will likely "go by the book". What initial service are all you 3x20 owners doing? TIA John B.

As radman has indicated, the manual (page 46) calls for change of engine oil and filter after first 50 hours.

Some time ago I wrote about a rockshaft problem on my 3320 at 66 hours and the dealer had advised to also change the transmission oil and filter at 50 hours, see:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-owning-operating/82563-report-3320-hydraulic-fluid-filter.html

sunnyside360 · Jul 7, 2007

My owner's manual in the service interval section (page 46) indicates 200 hrs or one year whichever comes first -- no mention of engine oil & filter change at 50 hrs. This is why I asked the question. My tractor was built in early March 2007 and I took delivery in mid March 2007 (I ordered it with features I wanted) and am thinking they may have changed the owner's manual. My manual is version OMLVU17926 H5 - English. At any rate it is probably a good idea to change oil & filter at 50 hrs service.
In reference to transmission/hydraulic oil & filter my manual states 400 hrs. I am wondering about this also as it seems like a very long time for initial oil which could have metal filings from manufacture. Your experience/post should be helpful for doing this. Thanks.

sunnyside360 · Jul 7, 2007

John Deere's website has a copy of the 3X20 Operator's Manual and it also specifies changing engine oil and filter at 200 hrs or one year.

OMLVU17926_H5

Willl · Jul 7, 2007

Try this one.

Service Intervals

sunnyside360 · Jul 8, 2007

Willl said:
Try this one.

Service Intervals

This is word-for-word what is stated in my operator's manual which I received with the tractor 3 mos ago. No mention of 50 hr initial service, only 200 hrs or 1 yr whichever comes first. I will contact John Deere to see what is correct.

Greyfields · Jul 8, 2007

My 4120 also specified the first oil change at 200 hours, not 50.

AKfish · Jul 8, 2007

Let's see.... previous tractors -- six. Changed oil at 50 hrs. Check.

New Deere manual says 200 hrs. Cost savings for Deere? improved engines, oils, filters? Maybe..

How much would it cost to change the oil and filter yourself? Minimal... Good insurance, cheap insurance... Yes.

If it were my brand new, shiny, intercooled turbo diesel 3720... would I change the oil and filter and the hydraulic filter at 50 hrs?

YES. YES. YES.

AKfish

browns40 · Jul 8, 2007

I changed engine oil & filter; hydraulic oil & filter, drained & replaced the front axle oil... all at 50 hours.

In the front axle, I found little bits of metal, and the fluid shimmered from metal particulates from normal wear/manufacturing "leftovers"...

In the transmission, the fluid was pretty clean (course thats a LOT of oil!), but in behind the hydraulic filter I found a couiple metal shavings/scraps...

The engine oil was barely blackened by then... 200 hours seems like a long time to have to "break in"... maybe there's a difference between the JD's & Yanmars?... maybe longer is recommended for both to break in now?

What I do know is: I could have lets those fluids sit, could have taken a chance there were no manufacturing remnants (they come in all colors!), could have taken a chance that remnants weren't going to add any more metal to my metal to metal contact or push around through my pumps.

I'm glad I did not take the chance...instead, I knew exactly what was what... it probably will make no difference... but I KNOW I removed particles from my fluids by doing the preventative maintenance early, so...

I consider the owners manual to be the minimum standard needed to protect my warranty (after break-in), but the owner determines what maintenance gives them piece-of-mind.

Willl · Jul 8, 2007

Does JD use 'break-in oil' in their new engines ?

Regardless, to keep the warranty in check, I'll do as the book says.

sunnyside360 · Jul 8, 2007

AKfish said:
Let's see.... previous tractors -- six. Changed oil at 50 hrs. Check.

New Deere manual says 200 hrs. Cost savings for Deere? improved engines, oils, filters? Maybe..

How much would it cost to change the oil and filter yourself? Minimal... Good insurance, cheap insurance... Yes.

If it were my brand new, shiny, intercooled turbo diesel 3720... would I change the oil and filter and the hydraulic filter at 50 hrs?

YES. YES. YES.

AKfish

Actually, I will be changing fluids and filters at 50 hrs. However, I doubt if JD would specify 200 hrs if it increased the risk to damages which would be covered under warranty. But, there is a chance that the 50 hr maintenance interval was inadvertently omitted from the latest version of the Operator's Manual. I emailed JD today and will post their response.

GreenMtns · Jul 8, 2007

Willl said:
Does JD use 'break-in oil' in their new engines ?

Regardless, to keep the warranty in check, I'll do as the book says.

Yes, JD does use break in oil but I changed it at 50 hrs anyway. I refilled it with fresh break in oil and will do this at the start of each year until it get 200 hrs on the engine. Then I will switch to synthetic oil. That is what my dealer recommends.

Al

sunnyside360 · Jul 9, 2007

Below is John Deere's email reply to my question. I doubt if they checked to see if by chance the 50 hr service interval was inadvertently omitted.

Like I said above I will be changing fluid and filters anyways at 50 hrs.
======================================================

Dear Mr. Bechdel,

Thank you for contacting our Web site.

The current version of the 3720's Operator's Manual indicates that the initial oil change should be at 200 hours or 1 year of use whichever may come first.

If we can be of further assistance, please call the Customer Contact Center at 1-800-537-8233. Our center is open 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday and 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST, Saturday.

Thank you,
Ken
John Deere Customer Contact Center

sunnyside360 · Jul 11, 2007

It's interesting what answers you get from who. Just got back from the JD dealer with all fluids and filters for first change in my 3720 which has 49.5 hrs on the meter. Spoke to shop manager and he recommended changing engine and transmission oils and filters at 50 hrs even though the manual says 200 hrs for first change. Manager recommended using 10w-30 break-in oil for the first change and then switch to JD Plus 50 at 200 hr mark. This is to ensure the engine is broken in properly, especially rings, cylinder walls, & bearing surfaces. He seemed to know what he's talking about. It's also a little more insurance (or peace of mind) for the longevity of the tractor beyond the warranty.

BloomingtonMike · Jul 12, 2007

I am getting close to 50 hours. How hard is the transmission service to do?

In the manual link posted it did not say transmission change until 400 hours.

browns40 · Jul 12, 2007

Hi Mike,

The transmission service is pretty easy--I drove up onto 2x8 to be sure I could get a 5 gal bucket under to drain tyhe fluid into (you'll need 2!)... also need a BIG filter wrench to remove the hyraulic filter under the machine... otherwise it's pretty straight forward...

Reach up behind where the filter sits (CLEAN hands of course

) & see if you find any larger metal bits back there... thats where mine (not even 1/2 a BB's worth) were hanging out--too big go go into the filter, too heavy to get pushed out by the fluid.

Good Luck!

Woody_NH · Jul 12, 2007

BloomingtonMike said:
I am getting close to 50 hours. How hard is the transmission service to do?

In the manual link posted it did not say transmission change until 400 hours.

Take a look at:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-owning-operating/82563-report-3320-hydraulic-fluid-filter.html

sunnyside360 · Jul 12, 2007

Holy smokes! JD dealer did not have the hydraulic filters yesterday so he ordered them and I picked them up today. The inline filter was almost $50 and the suction filter was almost $80. Anyways, this was a shock because I have two other tractors (Massey 1045 and Kubota M8200) and those hydraulic filters are all under $30 a piece. Napa does not list the JD 3720 filters so I guess there are no other options. If anyone has found another less expensive source please post. Thanks.

Zinno87 · Jul 12, 2007

sunnyside360 said:
Holy smokes! JD dealer did not have the hydraulic filters yesterday so he ordered them and I picked them up today. The inline filter was almost $50 and the suction filter was almost $80. Anyways, this was a shock because I have two other tractors (Massey 1045 and Kubota M8200) and those hydraulic filters are all under $30 a piece. Napa does not list the JD 3720 filters so I guess there are no other options. If anyone has found another less expensive source please post. Thanks.

What did you purchase other that what is typically included in the JD filter kits? I'm not sure whether the suction filter or the inline filter is included in this kit, but it sure sounds like you paid a lot. I'm approaching the first service on my 4320 and I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

eBay: JOHN DEERE FILTER KIT FOR 4120 4320 4520 4720 TRACTORS (item 110116482893 end time Jul-17-07 09:12:05 PDT)

They have similar kits for the 3720 too.