Really, really basic questions about maintenance

[City_Boy]

I just bought a Mahindra 2810 HST. What a great machine. The dealer, however, was less helpful than I had hoped once my name was on the dotted line. And the owner's manual is also less helpful than I had expected.

Can anyone give me some real step-by-step directions on how to grease the tractor? How do I access the drive shaft on the rotary cutter to apply lubrication? I feel like such a moron for not knowing this stuff. My dealer is closed until 2004, so my tractor is parked until I do the required maintenance on it. I've used it about five hours (bush hogging, moving some dirt). Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas to you all.

 

[City_Boy]

Another question: do you guys really do every recommended check for fluid and lubrication every time you start your tractor? I absolutely intend to take care of this thing right, but it seems like it will take an hour of prep time every time I use it. Am I missing something?

 

[art]

There are certain things that need to be done at certian times and it is best to follow the guidelines set up in the manual. For the believe it or not column you can over grease. I've never heard of a dealer closing for xmas week!!! must be something new as my wifes complaining were open till three on xmas eve!

 

[therrien]

City boy
I do not check all fluids every time I use my tractor
BUT I do check the OIL EVERY day I use it and again if I let it sit for any time over 2 hours. I do the same and more on any small engine I have.
One time I had a piece of equipment leak oil in between tasks and the Warning light was faulty. When a gas engine sounds like a diesel, IT's TOO LATE.
I do not do this to my road vehicles except the first time I get gas after an oil change.

 

[grainger12002]

If this tractor is new, I would not be afraid to use it a little, certainly don't have to leave it sit. Check the oil,check for any leaks,then use it. The lubrication process is fairly straight forward,there should be an access hole-or two on the PTO shaft,probably on the plastic shield that will allow you to grease it.

 

[5030]

On this site, any answers you garner will absolutely not be simple /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[BeeFarmer]

I would at least make sure you check the unit after you buy it... I heard where dealers really don't do as good of a job making sure things are up to level.. as your's may have done seeing's he's lost interest in you already. Implements that require fluilds also need to be checked to see if the dealer loaded them up with fluid before selling them.

 

[cowboydoc]

As many tractors as we have and as many hours as we go all we check each time are the fuel, engine oil, and hydraulic oil. We have a chart in the shop and each machine is on it with the recommded levels of maint. Each tractor is greased when needed and oil changed as recommded. We change all hydraulic and four wheel drive oil each late spring whether it is time or not. The reason being is that there are numerous studies that show alot of condensation over the year in tractors. As far as greasing everything is greased following mfg. rec. Get yourself one of the battery powered ones. They make greasing fast and easy. Even my 8 yo can operate it.

 

[GlennT]

Check everything you can think of!! When I accumulated enough hours on my John Deere to do the first oil change, I found that the oil drain plug was so loose that I could unscrew it with my fingers!
I was lucky it didn't vibrate loose and fall out.

 

[rdam]

I found that trying to grease the u-joint on the driveshaft was near impossible through the tiny holes provided in the safety cover. Take a few minutes and figure out how to slide the protective shield back so you can get a good look at, and properly grease the u-joints

 

[frank_f15]

some of the shafts from pto to implement can be a bit tough to find the grease fitting, but it can be done. also about checking every fluid on the tractor each and everytime in my estmation is not necessay FOR THE AVERAGE GUY, my tractor is stored in the garage, and i am always checking the floor for leaks. i usually chek the engine oil every 2nd ot third time i use it. nwo if it is used comercially or not stored where leaks woud be apparent then u might want to check all fluids more often.

 

[5030]

Richard is right on about the battery powered greasers.

They are a little pricey for a good one like a Lincoln, but worth it.

I've used them before, but I have a bulk greaser that takes a 120 pound open head drum and has 50 feet of grease hose. Grease is much cheaper in bulk and most hand guns (the battery powered gun included) can be loaded from a bulk greaser.

If I didn't have the bulk grease setup, I'd have a battery powered gun. The bulk unit is much more costly than any hand gun ever hoped to be.

One nice thing about a bulk setup is that the follower plate has a heavy spring on it, much heavier than a hand greaser. If it's cold out (and it gets cold in Michigan), the grease will not feed in the hand gun because the follower plate in a hand gun doesn't have the tension to push it up the barrel. Bulk greasers don't have that problem as the grease goes down, not up like a hand greaser.

I might add that I use different types and grades of grease for different applications . The not often used greases like the low temperature lithium disulfide grease is kept in a hand gun. The general purpose synthetic based grease is the one in the bulk unit.

 

[Larry_T]

City Guy Once you have checked everything.you only have too check oil /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Read book 8-10 times.You have too use it before you grease,8-10 hours. Big Larry-301o /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[RalphVa]

You may need a skinny-ended grease extension for some U joints. Also, a flexible, generally 90 degree grease gun head is more useful than a straight one unless you have a lot of fitting where you have to reach a lot with the straight one, then buy the flex or 90 degree extension.

You need to get a grease gun with a release on the tension spring that keeps pressure on the grease inside it, as the seal on the end of the spring will often leak grease past it if the spring leaves it in contact with the grease all the time. Maybe those battery powered ones folks recommended do this, too.

Just watch for leaks of transmission or hydraulic fluid. If no leaks, best not to ever check them because you can get dirt into the check holes during the checking. Similar for checking coolant. Don't if no leaks or don't need to if it has an expansion tank that you can see through.

I only check engine oil about once/week or after a heavy, long usage.

Check tractor for loose stuff, out of place, etc. every time you use it. Make sure that dip stick is turned so the handle is in towards the engine. I had brush remove the dipstick once and learned this trick.

Be sure you know your wire routing in case brush hits it and moves or removes it, so you'll know where to put it all back.

Make sure your radiator screens are cleaned regularly. Also, if you have a foam element over your air cleaner, remove it and wash out with soapy water regularly.

Ralph

 

[Phred]

City Boy,

If the manual is thin you may wish to get the shop manual for the tractor. Pricey but maybe worth it if you do all the work yourself.

I put togheter a check list in excel for routine tasks, oil changes, etc....
Keep it as a log with dates and it will make your tractor easier to sell one day not to mention help you keep up with what needs to be done and when.

Fred