Maintenance myths

[k0ua]

Finishing up -head into house , sit in recliner to find a big grease smear on the lazy boy

I hear ya, but I am not sure a little extra greasing on a wheel spindle of a little mower would be much of a problem. Of course no sense in wasting grease with unneeded greasing, but I doubt you could hurt wheel spindles.

 

[sd455dan]

This is exactly what I was thinking about when I read the original question. Some engines with sleeved cylinders are know for having problem with cavitation and developing pinholes in the cylinders if the coolant degrades too far.

Just to be clear - referring to a
WET sleeved diesel engine correct?

DRY sleeved diesels are supposedly about the same as a parent bore design, as far as coolant cavitation damage risk.
I have heard dry sleeved engines may not cool as well as a Wet sleeve design though. Of course this wouldn't help the water pump damage shown do to worn out/ depleted / or incorrect coolant.

 

[Wagtail]

Finishing up -head into house , sit in recliner to find a big grease smear on the lazy boy

I'm pretty sure you just have to be in the general vicinity of the tractor for the grease to jump onto your clothes.

 

[murphy1244]

Finishing up -head into house , sit in recliner to find a big grease smear on the lazy boy

Man I ruined a brand new LL Bean sweatshirt changing buckets out. I heard about that for a loooong time.

 

[aarolar]

I started wearing coveralls any time I start messing with the tractor got tired of ruining all my clothes

 

[ustmd]

As an OEM Service Manager (not for industrial equipment), I hear this complaint all of the time. Customers almost always think that we are trying to rip them off on the recommended service activities. I get yelled at in a lot of meetings.

Of course on the flip side, I do get a small sense of satisfaction when the customer's equipment crashes after they have ignored the PM schedule.

 

[big bubba]

I agree that it's easy to get carried away with too much maintenance, but find that the most common problems with tractors and cars is the lack of maintenance. One thing that struck me when I bought my zero turn mower is that they put a plug in at the spindle for the front tires and the dealer said that Scag removed the zirk fittings from there because people where over greasing it. They want it done at 100 hours, and not all the time. I do it once a year, regardless of hours, but that's just me.

good point. in regards to over greasing the ZT ft wheel spindle (vertical, not the wheel bearings/axle) i drilled a very small hole in the removable top cap (kinda like the one on wheel bearings)....that way i keep fresh grease (they get a lot of use!) and grease weeps out rather than compromising seals, etc. just a thought, works great

 

[Snobdds]

As an OEM Service Manager (not for industrial equipment), I hear this complaint all of the time. Customers almost always think that we are trying to rip them off on the recommended service activities. I get yelled at in a lot of meetings.

Of course on the flip side, I do get a small sense of satisfaction when the customer's equipment crashes after they have ignored the PM schedule.

 

[Looking4new]

My Jeep has been on the 'extended life'/'long life' plan for antifreeze ever since I bought it in 2005. It is a 2001. Every 5 years I get new antifreeze, I have in the past used regular tap water for the mix, but now I will be using distilled instead. The Kioti will be on the same plan come next year.
As for grease? Grease is way cheaper than loader bushings and snow blower bearings. Not to mention the expense and aggravation of changing them.

 

[colsonbrooke]

That is the new thing, antifreeze can a last 2 years by the manufacturer standards, and they also make some products that Last 5 Years. But growing up we never change the radiator fluid. I had an 87 Chevy Silverado my dad bought original . And last year is the first time it got a antifreeze changed when I change the radiator.