Lifespan of kubota tractor

[Hoobie]

Well thanks to all for your advice. Sounds like it will be operating longer than me. And I am still in good shape thankfully. I know the 1939 Ford 9n which Dad bought and I used until a number of years ago was bullet proof. Sat outside all those years too. Just kept banging away and the guy I sold it to still uses it in his Christmas tree farm.
As a relative new member I enjoy and appreciate TBN.

Hoobie

 

[Fallon]

Interesting point diesel85. I believe the hour meters on equipment usually record the hours at rated rpm, so low rpm operation will result in less hours than actual operating hours. Hour meters are intended to record level of use on internal wear components like pistons on cylinders, shafts on bearings, etc. Other components on a vehicle may get a different use history.

The hours being off rated RPM use to be the case for mechanically driven hour meters, much less so these days. On a number of machines you could rack up hours if you left the key on while the machine was running. It's simple to run an electrical hour meter off a switched wire. Much harder to find a timing source to feed it RPM info (unlike a gas engine that you can get some signal from the ignition system in a few places).

If course these days with anything over 25hp needing a computer, that information would be easy to get again. But it's probably not worth the effort to design things that way. Hours being a fixed value based on hours is a little more clear than hours not being actual hours.

 

[Eddie1955]

81 Kubota B6200 still running really well with no major problems. Bought it 3 yrs ago for 1600 and it was in pitiful shape, nothing worked except the key switch but it ran good. Did cosmetics with a better hood, glow plugs, changed all fluids and use it quite often for mowing, raking and moving things around. Built very tough for a sub compact.

 

[diesel85]

Interesting point diesel85. I believe the hour meters on equipment usually record the hours at rated rpm, so low rpm operation will result in less hours than actual operating hours. Hour meters are intended to record level of use on internal wear components like pistons on cylinders, shafts on bearings, etc. Other components on a vehicle may get a different use history.

Nope, I measured the on my BX. 1 hour on the meter = 1 hour in real life no matter the RPM. I know on the older machines, it was like that, where it would vary with RPM. Some of the huge machines are like that -- actually some have dual or triple hour meters - idle meters, usage meters, and total hour meters. I know on some of the newer light and medium duty consumer pickup trucks, they are starting to come with idle meters and total hour meters.

On cars, I would rather see an hour meter than mileage. Hours tells me a lot more than mileage. Based on what I know and understand now. Mileage is OK, but it's really not a good classifier in my books.

Just like my Jeep, if I were to sell it right now, I don't need to disclose how many hours are on it, all I need to report is that it's got ~200k on it. But if the buyer knew it was driven mostly in the city at a crawl of 25 mph, with 8000 hours on it, I'd guarantee they'd steer clear of it if they were smart.

Give you an example, ask anyone that is looking to buy retired PI Crown Vics. No one looks at the mileage, they all look at the hour meters they have. The less hours, the better. Even it's got 200k on it. They'd rather have it with low hours and high mileage. Or preferably both, low mileage and low hours.

Another example of this is at my work. We got several service trucks (F-350s & Chevy 3500s) that have less than 20k on them when we retire them. But they got 15000+ hours on the engine. So selling them on eBay for 20,000 miles, you'd think you are getting a deal, when you are getting worn out junk. Legally we don't have to put the hours on the eBay listing, because it's not required for registration. No state I know of looks at hours instead of mileage.

But for most people that don't use their vehicles kind of like tractors where they idle them a lot or use them as consistent service vehicles, it might be unnecessary. I don't know... but it's still nice to know.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
My Sierra and most likely most others tells me both. You simply flip through the options on the odometer until it gives you the hour meter.

 

[HEC]

I have a Kubota L235 purchased new in 1985 and has about 2000 hours on it (and no, it's not many hours for it's age). It's spent most of it's life outside unprotected from the weather. The sheet metal has holes that have rusted thru which means the hood and fenders. The key switch has one terminal that doesn't always make contact and I've replaced the water pump. Otherwise it starts and runs fine for the 33 years I've had it. I try to keep up on all the maintenance and can still get parts for it. I expect it to keep going for another 10 or 20 years.

I inherited my dad's old L235 which was well used as he had market gardens , the only thing he did to it was change the oil regularly . It had so many hrs on it the hour meter no longer worked . It spent a good amount of time outside even in our Maine winters . When I got it I changed all the filters and fluids etc. . the air filter was so full of crap I have no idea how it even run . I had a new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing put in it as the clutch froze to pressure plate for being outside and not used for quite awhile . I cleaned it all up and repainted it and it run like new . I have yet to have a tractor with a better sounding diesel engine . I sold it a few years after I got it for close to what my father paid for it , it did have a new roto tiller with it . That was one fine tractor , the only thing it needed was power steering for when using the front end loader .

 

[Atchuuu]

Nope, I measured the on my BX. 1 hour on the meter = 1 hour in real life no matter the RPM. I know on the older machines, it was like that, where it would vary with RPM. Some of the huge machines are like that -- actually some have dual or triple hour meters - idle meters, usage meters, and total hour meters. I know on some of the newer light and medium duty consumer pickup trucks, they are starting to come with idle meters and total hour meters.

My truck has a hour meter on it that shows driving time and idle time. Was totally shocked at how much time is spent at idle. Can sort of understand why manufacturers are making cars that shut off at traffic lights.

 

[diesel85]

My truck has a hour meter on it that shows driving time and idle time. Was totally shocked at how much time is spent at idle. Can sort of understand why manufacturers are making cars that shut off at traffic lights.

Yupper.

I've measured it on my commute into work from where I live. It takes me 30 minutes to get to work. 15 of that is driving and 15 of that is idling at traffic lights and stop signs. So about 1 hour everyday, excluding those days I need to warm it up. 30 minutes of that commute is idle and 30 minutes is moving.

Then there are times when just my time with the vehicle on a "normal" winter day, will consist of 1hr 20min of the engine running.

But there are days I use my vehicle for work related purposes, and it will stay on for 6+ hours. 90% idling.

According to Ford's Heavy Duty fleet service schedule - Ford's formula is one idle hour = 33 miles.

So technically, my 1 hour total commute will equate to 30 minutes of idle time. Throwing more maths at it: 33x0.5=16.5. Now my commute both ways totals about 28 miles. Add the 16.5 on top of the 28 miles and you get: 44.5 miles each day that should technically be logged on the odometer, but isn't because it's "non-moving/idle" mileage combined.

Those 8000 hours add up quick... That's why mileage means the lesser to me now knowing how things work...

 

[Paystar]

I'm hoping my Kubota lives as long as my 64 year old Allis Chalmers.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm hoping my Kubota lives as long as my 64 year old Allis Chalmers.

It's always good to have hope...…

SR