New Branson Owner 3510i

jcgbranson · Dec 17, 2012

New guy here. Just purchased a 2009 Branson 3510i with very few hours on it. Seems like brand new but has been sitting in a shed for years with very little use. Question I have is how "noisy" is the kukje 3 cylinder supposed to be? I have been around other farm equipment but never a small 3 cyl diesel engine. After servicing it I have noticed what I think might be an "extra" tapping or slapping sound coming from the engine. Exhaust seems like it should (not excessively white or black), no water in oil, etc. Are these just noisy little engines? Should I be concerned at all?

gldwing57 · Dec 17, 2012

I dont think you have a problem. They are a little loud and mine seems to be a little louder when its cold until it worms up a bit. But it has done this since new. If fluids are ok and runs good I wouldnt worry about it. You do probably need to change the oil and filter if its been sitting a long time.

jcgbranson · Dec 17, 2012

Thanks for the quick reply. Serviced it this last weekend with oil and filter and added a kats coolant heater for those cold winter starts. Old oil a bit thick but seemed ok otherwise. Engine only has 20 hours on it but I guess you just never know when you buy something used. All of my other tractors are way old and have been around the farm for about 40 years so I have nothing to compare it to.

Sheddiver · Dec 17, 2012

I have a 3510h that I bought new last year. It also sounds a little bit loud and knocky when first starting up. After it warms up it smooths out. I just completed its 50 hour fluid and filter change last month.

Jenkins003 · Dec 17, 2012

When I bought my 2004 Century 3040 that I had delivered without ever hearing it run I thought at first that it might have something wrong with it. I was used to hearing my little Ford 1710 run. After owning it for about 4 years now I can't say enough good things about it. In my opinion the Kukje engines are just louder.

Stimw · Dec 17, 2012

I have a 3510 and have been using NAPA filters for the engine but for the hydraulic filter I go with Branson.
If you read on here some have had problems with non Branson hyd filters.
Also if you haven't changed the hyd fluid yet there is a drain plug at the front, bottom of the rearend above the driveshaft.

PapeCAT · Dec 18, 2012

My dealer said that Kukje doesn't like to honour warranty if you don't use their filters.

It is a KUKJE manufactured CUMMINS A series 3 cyl motor.

Stimw · Dec 19, 2012

PapeCAT said:
My dealer said that Kukje doesn't like to honour warranty if you don't use their filters.

It is a KUKJE manufactured CUMMINS A series 3 cyl motor.

My tractor is 7 years old so warranty issues don't exist. NAPA Gold Filters are as good as any made.

PapeCAT · Dec 20, 2012

Fine. Go with the napa gold. If it were my preference and I didn't have to use KEKJE filters (My tractor is less than a year old) I would use CUMMINS FLEETGAURD stratopore filters. Haven't heard anything bad about any oil filter besides FRAM which come apart internally and block the motor's oil passageways

claggstractors · Dec 20, 2012

PapeCAT, your dealer is selling you a bunch of manure. Google the manguson-moss act. FYI, I've had Branson replace two engines under warranty and they both had Baldwin filters on them.

PapeCAT · Dec 20, 2012

What does my dealer have to gain? I do not have to buy filters through him, in fact, I don't intend on getting it serviced there any more after the initial 50 hour check.

If I were a manufacturer I wouldn't like to be responsible for failures (even remotely possible) caused by an aftermarket or no name filter. (We all know that SOME operations often run the cheapest most easily available parts) Rather than release a list of approved filters it is easier to "like" giving a warranty for a failure not having the variable of an unknown. After all that is all was said was they didn't "like" to honour the warranty. And cost / availability isn't an issue. I'd just rather use what is recommended.

FWIW Baldwin filters are great. Goes to show what a great company Kukje is for warrantying two motors for you. You must have a large fleet.

midstate · Dec 20, 2012

claggstractors, you are sooo right. I have been in the business for 23 years. 99% of the warranty nightmare stories you hear are due to the dealer not the mfg. Branson is great on warranties! Also, yes, The Kukje/Cummins is a bit noisy.

PapeCAT · Dec 20, 2012

Thanks Midstate. I guess you guys are right. I'm glad Branson is good on warranties. Ted Horning in Galt CA is my dealer BTW. Maybe he can weigh in.

jcgbranson · Dec 21, 2012

Thank you, midstate, for your opinion on the kukje/cummins. I hate to ask a silly question here but if there were some issue with my kukje what are some signs I might look for? Say for instance an injector was going bad or some other horrible thing that I read about on these forums. I hate to wish problems on myself but I'm new to small diesel engines. Other things on my 3510i...hydraulics, clutch, etc. etc. don't bother me in the least....maybe I've just been reading too many threads on pulling engines, holes in blocks, thrown rods, etc.

claggstractors · Dec 21, 2012

Only problem I've had with the A series engine is, very rarely, they will drop the thrust washers on the back of the crankshaft. When this happens there will be a lot of slack back and forth on the crank. I've had this happen on two out of hundreds. One on a 3 cyl. one on a 4 cyl.. Both machines this happened with less than 200 hours. Very rare but can happen. Probably due to improper installation at the factory.

jcgbranson · Dec 21, 2012

Hmmm....thanks claggstractors. When this happens is it a pretty obvious problem? All my buddies are familiar with large diesels so they aren't much help. Maybe I should take their advice and "run it 'til it breaks and THEN fix it". I just thought that maybe the extra little knock I'm hearing could be some old/bad fuel or something simple to diagnose and fix. Thanks again.

midstate · Dec 21, 2012

I think you will have no problems with it. Kukje tells me that 1'800 is the idle RPM that your engine likes best. You may get a little extra noise or vibration at lower RPM's.