Post Emissions tractors

[Jerry/MT]

I know this could turn into a lengthy post. But I’m really care more for a short answer. What are the issues with tractors made after the post emissions technology? Are they more troublesome? More complicated for the backyard mechanic? Lost their simplicity?

The simple answer is yes. Given the environment a farm tractor operates in (dusty, high vibration, high humidity, wide temperature variations, etc), all the emissions technology to date has meant higher initial cost, less reliability, and higher cost of ownership. And for what? I see no changes in air quality on my ranch nor on anybody elses.

 

[ericm979]

The simple answer is yes. Given the environment a farm tractor operates in (dusty, high vibration, high humidity, wide temperature variations, etc), all the emissions technology to date has meant higher initial cost, less reliability, and higher cost of ownership. And for what? I see no changes in air quality on my ranch nor on anybody elses.

Yea, that's cause you're in the middle of nowhere (of which I'm envious).

I grew up in the greater SF bay area and live pretty close to it still. There's a lot of people and the cities are surrounded by mountains on three sides. The prevailing wind comes from the ocean side. So it's a natural air pollution trap. Since the '70s the air in the bay area has gotten noticeably cleaner even though there's 50% more cars and trucks. That's due to emissions laws. While I don't agree with every one of those, overall they have been effective in reducing emissions.

As far as tractors go I can see (and breathe) a big difference in the exhaust of my 37hp Branson vs the 17hp Kubota I had before. The pre-emissions Kubota would stink up the air around it when running a PTO chipper unless the wind was the right direction and stink up the barn idling for a few minutes. The Branson doesn't do that. Can't even see any smoke from the exhaust. I'm sure it's better for my lungs too. For me the lack of diesel stench is worth whatever the additional cost was.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Yea, that's cause you're in the middle of nowhere (of which I'm envious).

I grew up in the greater SF bay area and live pretty close to it still. There's a lot of people and the cities are surrounded by mountains on three sides. The prevailing wind comes from the ocean side. So it's a natural air pollution trap. Since the '70s the air in the bay area has gotten noticeably cleaner even though there's 50% more cars and trucks. That's due to emissions laws. While I don't agree with every one of those, overall they have been effective in reducing emissions.

As far as tractors go I can see (and breathe) a big difference in the exhaust of my 37hp Branson vs the 17hp Kubota I had before. The pre-emissions Kubota would stink up the air around it when running a PTO chipper unless the wind was the right direction and stink up the barn idling for a few minutes. The Branson doesn't do that. Can't even see any smoke from the exhaust. I'm sure it's better for my lungs too. For me the lack of diesel stench is worth whatever the additional cost was.

I have no smoke coming from tractors and none of them are Tier IV.
Most of the emissions problems are in/near big cities. It's due to the numbers of vehicles. Bur don't regulate emissions on farm tractors. They are a minute part of air quality problems and margins are so slim in agriculture we don't need more cost with no benefit.

 

[fried1765]

That's the problem which I'm having. My tractor sets outside, although I do keep a tarp over the engine compartment. For the second time in 3 years I'm starting to have fuel problems. I do add biocide but hadn't been faithful about it for a while, as I kept forgetting to pick up a bottle while I was in town.

"forgetting to pick up a bottle while in town" ??
The nice man in the big brown truck can bring that stuff right to your door.

 

[mo1]

I have no smoke coming from tractors and none of them are Tier IV.
Most of the emissions problems are in/near big cities. It's due to the numbers of vehicles. Bur don't regulate emissions on farm tractors. They are a minute part of air quality problems and margins are so slim in agriculture we don't need more cost with no benefit.

The smokiest engine I've been around was the 329 six in a Deere 4400 combine. That would belch vast quantities of smoke until it warmed up, and then after that it cleaned up quite a bit and made a mild haze. But wow, you did not want to be in the machine shed when that fired up, your eyes would water and the inside of the shed looked like the inside of Cheech and Chong's van for half an hour despite all of the doors being wide open.

The 1987 Massey-Ferguson I used to have would smoke a bit at startup and then none after about 30 seconds. It would stink up the garage but that was about it. It also had about 4000 hours which was a boatload for a compact tractor, so I bet it was getting a little worn out and probably was a little smokier than it should have been.

Anything we had made after 1990 but before Tier 4 would make a tiny puff of smoke just at startup and then absolutely none. You could smell a whiff of exhaust now and then but that was it. I could tell when the off road diesel went to ULSD around 2010 with these engines as it went from the typical diesel exhaust smell to something that smelled a lot more like jet exhaust.

The only post-Tier 4 unit I've ever even been around is my Deere 5075E. No smoke whatsoever. Exhaust smell is nearly absent, when I do smell anything, it smells like hot metal.

 

[Jstpssng]

As much as we hate it, the new low sulfur fuel seems to run cleaner. Even my old 1984 L275 Kubota smoked a lot less when the formulation changed. That may have been coincidence though, as I had been running Sea Foam and also running the engine a bit harder than before. Still, I'd had it about 5 years so believe that it was at least partially related to fuel.

I notice the diesel smell when running my father's no emissions L2800 vs my 3301; just as I can tell when somebody just had a cigarette by the smell on their clothes. If you are used to it you won't notice in either case. Once I get all of my projects done though I probably will trade for something with lower emissions though... my next tractor purchase will be my last. (I know, that's what I said three years ago. )

 

[Thunder chicken]

That's the problem which I'm having. My tractor sets outside, although I do keep a tarp over the engine compartment. For the second time in 3 years I'm starting to have fuel problems. I do add biocide but hadn't been faithful about it for a while, as I kept forgetting to pick up a bottle while I was in town.

I know ya’s get some rain over that way, but why put a tarp over the engine?
I found tarps act like plastic cling wrap….
keep the sun off maybe? But seems to be a great way to trap the humidity and heat in, maybe helping to speed up your water/algae problems? I cringe every time I see a firewood pile covered up to the ground with a tarp mind you.

 

[Jstpssng]

I know ya’s get some rain over that way, but why put a tarp over the engine?
I found tarps act like plastic cling wrap….
keep the sun off maybe? But seems to be a great way to trap the humidity and heat in, maybe helping to speed up your water/algae problems? I cringe every time I see a firewood pile covered up to the ground with a tarp mind you.

There's plenty of air circulation up underneath, but yes, it's to keep the sun and rain off. I know what you mean though.... tarping tightly often will cause more problems.

 

[coobie]

Care to provide a link for your claim? I don't buy it. Maybe under 25 horsepower as with all units so far but over 25, don't think so, like I said, Substantiate your comment with a link or hard facts, not your opinion. They may not have an ECM but I don't believe they don't have some sort of post treatment of exhaust gasses.

Having said that I don't know squat about a Branson, no dealers anywhere around here anyway.

Speaking of links ..Do you have that link or page number in the owners manual you stated in a previous thread(2016 chevy 2500 truck) about your wife's 2020 chevy burb having the Allison transmission option availability.Love to see it..

 

[coobie]

I will just post a link to my own thread on what I did to my "post Tier 4" tractor to remove the DPF/DOC filter:

Exhaust Mod on my 3725

And I can absolutely state it as FACT that the Branson will run without any issues at all if you take the exhaust filter and data logger off.

Mine's been running that way for over 2 years now. Not. One. Single. Problem. since taking it off.

And mine's a 37 hp.


I know you're just itchin' to argue over things, but in this particular case, you are dead wrong.

And we know you don't know squat about Branson's. It doesn't seem to stop you from making wrong statements though.

"Frequently Wrong, Never In Doubt".

Don't you go changin' buddy.

Great post you HIT THE NAIL on the HEAD with 5030 posts..