New 6500 2WD

NTex6500 · Jul 17, 2006

My brand new 6500 is being delivered tomorrow and I have about 30 acres that I need to mow as soon as possible. Any tips on breaking in a new tractor while doing an all day mowing job would be very helpful. The mower is also a new 7ft. rotary cutter. It is 102 today and predicted to be 103 tomorrow if that makes any difference. I have always owned very used tractors so I've never had to break a new one in before.

dale1653 · Jul 17, 2006

congratulations on the new 6500. I picked my new 6500 2wd about two weeks ago, when I bought it I asked the dealer about breakin period. He told me to work it like I stole it, so I did. I cut, raked and baled (round and square) 50 acres of hay fields the first week. I'm in Alabama and the heat sounds alot like yours. I was very impressed with the tractor, never tried to run hot or anything like that. The only problem I had was the pto seal started to leak, and the dealer is taking care of that. Overall I'm very pleased with this tractor.

hudr · Jul 17, 2006

We work equipment on the first day of ownership just like it will be worked on the last day of ownership. Breakin? I bought my tractor to do a job and I expect it to do it from day one.
This may cause a little flak, but...honestly, I don't think "break-in" periods are all that necessary anymore with all the improvements in lubrication and machining processes.

BobG_in_VA · Jul 17, 2006

Point of order here: Diesels need to be run in so the cylinder walls don't "glaze". Glazing is caused by not putting enough load on the engine and possibly idling it too much. Glazing will cause excessive oil consumption. In other words the rings need to be properly seated against the cylinder walls. You don't need to abuse it to use it. Your manual will tell you how to breaking your engine. I think the owners manual says to change your engine oil/filter at 50 hrs, however the Shop Manual/Service manual will tell you to change the oil/filter at 25 hours and then again at 50 hours. That's what I did with my 6000. I broke it in by cutting 15 acres of pasture grass (3 to 4 ft in height) with a 7 ft brush hog. I varied the engine rpm as I went and cut in 3rd gear for a few hours. I have 240 hrs on the engine and it has yet to use an additional drop of oil between changes. Good luck with your 6500! BobG in VA

jwcinpk · Jul 17, 2006

My dad is a mechanic. He's been in the auto industry or the coal mining industry all his life. He's 61 now. When we bought our 6000 new I asked about breaking it in, he said run it like I will normally run it. If you will baby it all the time then baby it, but since noone does once the new wears off just run it like you ran your other tractors. I have a little over 500 hours on mine now and it doesn't use a drop of oil. I agree change your oil as often as practical. I didn't get to my first change til a little after 50 hrs and then again at 100 and again around every 100 after that.

NTex6500 · Jul 17, 2006

Thanks to all for the quick response and all your answers. I definitely won't be babying this tractor. I'll try to vary the engine RPM's and just go at it till it's all cut.

fish_wisperer · Jul 17, 2006

i would vary from 1700 to 2150 rpm, in 3rd and 4th gears. i heard one guy talk about one babied at breakin that ended up smoking, he cured it by towing a big truck with the trucks brakes applied for a mile or so at a high rpm, the smoking problem went away and didnt use any oil after.

BobG_in_VA · Jul 18, 2006

I guess you can see that everyone has their own way of doing things. It's YOUR tractor. Break it in like you want to....baby it, or whip it like a rented mule. However suggest you read your manual first. By the way, I didn't have ask someone that was a mechanic; I re-did my first 6-71 Detroit out of a Euclid earth mover about 38 years ago. BobG in VA