Vibration, how much is too much?

[Teikas Dad]

I've never owned a tractor bigger than a John Deere lawn tractor so this is all new to me. I've got a new B3200 that I had been lusting over for about a year. One of the things that concerned me buying it was some owners complaining about excessive vibration.

Seeing that I've never run another tractor I have no baseline to compare to. I was moving some firewood around today so after the tractor warmed up I ran the throttle up to 2400 rpm (the tick mark on the tack for the PTO). The engine runs at a pretty good clip at that speed and I could feel vibration through the steering wheel. It wasn't shaking the steering wheel or anything like that, it was a bit more than a garden tractor steering wheel, and I could only feel a little vibration through the seat and floor.

I guess what I'm asking is, what should I be looking for to determine how much is too much? The tractor only has a couple of hours on it so it's not even broken in yet. Is this something that I shouldn't worry about until I've got some hours on it?

Thanks, you guys are a great resource!

 

[mjaybee]

I have a B3200HST with 17hrs on it, and the first thing I want to say is why are you running it at 2400 RPM's? The manual says to take it easy and not run the engine at full speed for the first 50 hours. I keep mine below 2000 RPM's. As to the vibration you mentioned, haven't felt it.

 

[Swiftriver]

If you're just moving firewood around you don't need to run it up that high. That speed is if you are running an attachment off the PTO and half the time I don't run it up that high. You'll get the feel of it when you start running a bushhog, woodchipper etc. Take it easy with the RPM's for the first 50 hours. As far as the vibration, its a tractor, not a Honda Accord. I don't feel any more vibration with my B3200 than I did with my JCB loader/backhoe that it replaced. I love mine. The size is perfect to move around in my woodlot and the HP will run any attachment that I will ever need. Enjoy your seat time.
:drink:

 

[rider0]

I have a B3200HST with 17hrs on it, and the first thing I want to say is why are you running it at 2400 RPM's? The manual says to take it easy and not run the engine at full speed for the first 50 hours. I keep mine below 2000 RPM's. As to the vibration you mentioned, haven't felt it.

That would mean you couldn't use any PTO driven implements for the first 50 hours. I think people misinterpret the "Do not Operate the Tractor at Full Speed for the First 50 Hours" section of the owners manual. Kubota is saying not to run it at full ground speed. The mention of engine speed is merely "Do not run the engine at speeds faster than necessary." If 2400 RPMs are necessary, then they are allowed

Keep in mind it's worse to lug the engine than to rev it.

 

[kevin37b]

The best thing for that new engine is get out and work it . Put the bushhog on it and put aload on it . Vary the RPM's some as you are mowing . Don't lug the engine , but work it .That is how you get the rings seated and have a healthy engine .

 

[roostersmasher]

I have been running my B3200 a lot since I bought it back in the middle of the summer. Just turned 72 hours. While working with the frontend loader and moving crushed concrete I felt I needed to run the RPM's up a bit while transporting up a slight hill. I did notice some vibration, but nothing that had me concerned. Think I was running about 2200-2400 rpms. I extra vib's was no biggie to me. This tractor is perfect. I thought it was more tractor than what I needed. Turns out I made the perfect pick.

 

[Tx Jim]

There's also a vibration that sometimes can be felt that isn't engine/trans related. The vibration that I'm referring to is caused from the lugs on the tires. Type of tires and air pressure can also affect the vibration in question.

 

[Teikas Dad]

Thanks all. I wasn't running it at 2400rpm for any amount of time, just ran it up to that speed for 10 or 15 seconds to see if there was any vibration. I didn't think it would hurt it for a quick burst. I've been running it around 1000 to 1200 rpm so far and it seems to do everything just fine at those rpms, absolutely no vibration at the lower rpm range. Maybe I'm reading more into it than I should, like Swiftriver said, it's not a Honda Accord!

I appreciate the input, I guess I'll have to get more seat time to get used to everything.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks all. I wasn't running it at 2400rpm for any amount of time, just ran it up to that speed for 10 or 15 seconds to see if there was any vibration. I didn't think it would hurt it for a quick burst. I've been running it around 1000 to 1200 rpm so far and it seems to do everything just fine at those rpms, absolutely no vibration at the lower rpm range. Maybe I'm reading more into it than I should, like Swiftriver said, it's not a Honda Accord!

I appreciate the input, I guess I'll have to get more seat time to get used to everything.

I agree. No problem with the 2400 intermittent. Theres the other side tho. 1000 is too low to carry a load. 1200 is marginal. 1500 is OK.
larry

 

[Teikas Dad]

Thanks Larry, I'll have to remember that. This is my first diesel.