Tractor Break-in?

[VTtractorguy]

I'll be making my purchase soon on either a 2305 or 2320. I've been on the fence for quite a while but it is decision time... I recently asked a dealer what the breakin period is for these machines and he said "run it like you stole it" I looked at him like he was nuts. But then I looked at the manuals on line and either I missed it or there is nothing in them about break-in period. What do you guys say?

Do you just set the throttle at speed and let her rip or should you vary the RPM a bit? Maybe it's not like a car where you should vary your speed during the first 1K miles or so. At any rate... gotta take care of my new toy.

 

[JerryG]

he said "run it like you stole it" I looked at him like he was nuts. But then I looked at the manuals on line and either I missed it or there is nothing in them about break-in period. What do you guys say?

Do you just set the throttle at speed and let her rip or should you vary the RPM a bit? Maybe it's not like a car where you should vary your speed during the first 1K miles or so. At any rate... gotta take care of my new toy.

Your dealer is right except you do need to vary the RPM and also not lug the engine for the first 50 hours. If you can give it more fuel and have it accelerate, then it isn't lugging.

 

[RoyJackson]

I agree with the dealer and Jerry's responses. Definitely vary the RPM's for those first 50 hours. When running a constant RPM task (such as mowing), just stop every 20 minutes or so and reduce the RPM for a few minutes, then increase to PTO speed and continue mowing. That seems like a pain, but it's not...and it's only for the first 50 hours.

Do NOT change your oil for those first 50 hours! That break in oil is necessary for the rings to seat.

 

[slaveToHorses]

interestingly enough, my 3720 manual doesn't even mention doing the 50 hour oil change!! It's on the service chart at the dealership but not in the manual.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I posted this elsewhere, but they dropped the 50 hour service on the TWENTY series. There were several changes. The chart at the dealership is likely more general and you probably should follow the manual.

 

[cast_and_blast]

I posted this elsewhere, but they dropped the 50 hour service on the TWENTY series. There were several changes. The chart at the dealership is likely more general and you probably should follow the manual.

My manual for my '06 JD 2305 (delivered thed end of July) clearly shows the 50 hour oil and oil filter change. As I understand it, this is "break in" oil.

Is this the TWENTY series you're referring to?

Scott

 

[slaveToHorses]

I posted this elsewhere, but they dropped the 50 hour service on the TWENTY series. There were several changes. The chart at the dealership is likely more general and you probably should follow the manual.

Really? Sorry to bring up old news but that's weird. The service manager looked it up on his computer the day before yesterday. I asked him what was listed to do. He said it was just an oil change and check wheel bolt torque.

So now they recommend not changing the breakin oil until 200 hours? That's the first oil change (every 200 hours) that they have listed in the manual.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I posted this elsewhere,

Oh BOZO alert. I just realized what you meant. Apparently I posted the same thing on two different threads, sigh; A senior moment.

I could not find the first 50 hour oil change in my manual but I just talked to a rep at Deere and she found it in hers. It did list the initial oil change at 50 hours for the 3x20 series. She was looking at their on-line manual so you would think (?) that it is the latest greatest...I think I am going to go ahead do the oil change. sorry again for the double posting.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I was NOT chastizing you for double posting. Your posts were both appropriately placed. But I figured I ought to mention MY double answer so you didn't think I was gangin' up on you or something.

I work in the automobile industry. Up to a short time ago we were always able to use 'summary' maintanence schedules for the variuos models. But now, we have individual ones for each version. Partly because the designs wqarrant it and partly because it is so easy to get the right info in front of people.

Actually, the final answer to this is your dealer. They may be able to see some variable that anyone else would miss, and they are the first line to your warranty coverage...