Warnings on new Kubota

[RjCorazza]

My L4060 won't go 25-50 hours between regens if I run it a lot at idle, or low rpm's. Last time I noticed a short Regen cycle was when running a lot at around 1000 rpm doing a fence installation - 19 hours. My overall average over the past 750 hours is 50h between regens.
The conventional wisdom is to run dpf machines at 1500-2000 rpms, and not unnecessarily idle them.
For the OP :
It's unlikely you need to do anything other than start up your tractor and when it asks for a Regen throttle up until the raise rpm light goes off. There are several stages that get increasingly aggravating with beeps and flashing lights on the L60 series tractors. The process takes less than 15 minutes, and for a standard Regen you can (and should) continue to use the machine. I usually save a small project or two to do if the machine calls for a Regen when I'm otherwise done working.

 

[deserteagle71]

If you have a new tractor you need to read your owner's manual! They have a whole section in there about regeneration...and if you don't follow the instructions, you are asking for problems, expensive problems, in the future.

Here's a couple screen shots from the owner's manual for my 2016 M7060 which will address some of your questions. Since you say you run your tractor at or just above idle a lot, pay attention to what Kubota says about that.

So the next time you see that "sideways shower" symbol, turn up the rpm and let the regen process take place. If you don't, as one of the posters said above, you'll have to call your dealer to do a forced regeneration.

After getting used to my old John Deere diesel where engine rpm didn't make any difference it took me a while to get used to having to run the Kubota at high rpms all the time. But once I got used to it and religiously followed the engine operating instructions in my owner's manual, I've had no problems. Been mowing the past 3 days and yesterday that "sideways shower" regen symbol came on. Seven minutes later it went off and the regen process was done. It's not a problem - nothing you have to do except make sure the rpms are up there - the regen process is completely automatic as long as engine rpms are high enough.

 

[deserteagle71]

I assume that on the newer model tractors that if you are willing to let it regen for half an hour every 25 or 50 hours, it can be run at low speeds the rest of the time. Is this correct?? How many run their tractors that way?

rScotty

If you let a Tier IV tractor idle all the time it loads up the DPF quickly. No way will it go 25 hours before the regen light comes on. When I first got my Kubota and let it idle a lot the regen light would come on in less than 10 hours. And the regen process does not last half an hour - mine has always taken less than 15 minutes. Most times less than 10. Work the engine hard, so the exhaust system is really hot, and regeneration cycles will be 50 hours or more apart.

You have no control on when and for how long the regeneration process takes place. The tractor will sense when regen is needed, and it will last until the sensor tells the system that the DPF is clean. There is a process outlined in the owner's manual for a "Parked Regeneration" that you can initiate but that's used after something went not according to plan. So if the OP turned his tractor off after the regen light came on, he may have to go through the Parked Regeneration process to clear the DPF. See the manual's warning about interrupting regeneration in my post above.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I use our tractor mainly for PTO implements, so… it’s always grunting at 2500RPM. I wonder how long it’ll go

 

[jyoutz]

I use our tractor mainly for PTO implements, so… it’s always grunting at 2500RPM. I wonder how long it’ll go

I have 67 hours on my MX6000 and the machine hasn’t regenerated yet.

 

[workinonit]

When I bought my tractor, all of the things you did are the huge no-nos when it comes to DPF tractors that the dealer warned me about. I was warned to keep the RPMs above 1200 and never, ever stop a regen.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The Intellipanel display on many Grand L series Kubota tractors will show the relative status of the regen cycle. I use it to plan how I work the tractor. When the display shows I'm getting close to a regen cycle, I'll pick a job from my "to do" list that requires high RPM. Usually, it's brush hogging or finish mowing. That way, I never notice the regen cycle. I've owned the machine 4 years now and only had to do a parked regen once.

I realize you can't always plan ahead this way but using the DPF display does lessen the regen inconvenience.

 

[Paystar]

I like that particulate matter scale on the Intellipanel that shows the status of your DPF. I wish they all had that feature. Even class 8 trucks. Some truck brands have that in the display but not all. I think that is valuable information.

And has been mentioned here.....Kubota is horrible when it comes to their owners manuals.
There is so much mis-information in some of them. The one for my tractor doesn't even show the proper locations of all the oil drain plugs.

 

[stephenh]

My 4701 is "newer" and I bought it in 2019. Took me a little while to get the regen thing down, as I'd had two previous Kubotas and neither had regen; and the service manager at the dealer was clueless how the system worked and what to do. The operating manual was not exactly helpful. However, I did figure it out. I live on very steep mountain property and often need to keep the RPMs lower. I do run them up as often as I can, and I have to regen' about every 30-35 hours. Talked to a guy who says he has to do it about every 15 hours. As someone above said in a previous post, or hinted at, if the regen lights come on while you are operating, it is quite simple [at least on the 4701] to do the regen, as you can simply run the RPMs up. You can either park the machine and set the RPMs and wait a few minutes, or you can drop down to a low gear and keep the engine revving up. You need to keep the engine temperature up as well or the regen will stop [again, at least on mine].

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

When I bought my tractor, all of the things you did are the huge no-nos when it comes to DPF tractors that the dealer warned me about. I was warned to keep the RPMs above 1200 and never, ever stop a regen.

I humbly and strongly disagree and I would suggest a new dealer or at least use someone else at the dealership for advice.

Preventing or stopping a regen. is not something a person should do regularly thats for sure but stopping or preventing is a definite necessity in some circumstances.

There are certain situations like when loading straw or hay into my storage shed, driving through or mowing tall / dry grass, etc... that a regen can be down right dangerous. Prevent regen when the extra hot exhaust gasses are dangerous. Then force a regen when situation safe to do so.

Hotter exhaust temps burning off the crap in the filter and pushing it through the pipe can increases chance of starting exhaust fires. When risk is high avoid a regen and then turn back on when safe or use the parked regen function when back in a safe situation.

Inhibiting regen in some situations is a much needed function IMHO.

(let the flaming begin)