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.

 

[TripleR]

When breaking in a tractor, I go by the manual, but find I can run pretty hard and don't baby it, as mentioned they are made to work. I do allow for cool down epecially with turbo and vary the RPM.

 

[mjaybee]

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.

And that's why I like this forum, good info. I was not thinking of ground or pto speeds. I haven't had the pleasure of using the pto yet as I haven't hooked my 4' tiller to it (not QH compatible) and will be buying a KK 5' PRO model very soon. The weeds aren't high enough for the mower yet either.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Had a B7800 first then a B3200 then a B2320 and now a B2620. Had some other models to but these were the B models. They all have some vibration and I believe my B2620 has more than the others. The B3200 did have some but it was mostly at higher revs above my normal operating range. Yes, they are tractors and not cars. My B2620 has Orange on the tach at around 2100-2300 rpms which is where I run it when operating the BH and working the FEL. Usually drop the rpms when traveling from garage to work site.

 

[leonz]

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

Just so you understand your tractor,

The Kubota engines have been detuned from the original specifications to get around the EPA pollution limits by having the timing advanced
and that is why you will have the vibration/rough idle at the low rpm
setting.

You can ask your dealer to correct this and restore the original settings and you will nolonger have a vibration problem ever.

 

[tc18ny]

I did some research into the b3200 engine vibration issues in the last couple months as I just purchased a new one. I talked to the mechanic at my dealer and he did admit that some of the early units had this issue but kubota has since fixed the problem. They added rubber mounts to the deck and changed the fuel delivery timing some according to him. He said maybe one in a hundred units now has a problem that requires an adjustment. Mine does have slight vibration and assured me that he could adjust the fuel timing but it will make absolutely no difference with the vibe. Sounds like he has been down this road before. That four cylinder engine seems to have vibrations at certain rpm levels no matter what. Just my experience.

 

[leonz]

Once you have the engine timing set back to the "original engine specifications" as set from the factory IN JAPAN
you will have no issues with timing and the vibration and there will be no need for their rubber mount crap and rubber mats.

It will make a difference if it set properly.

 

[PHILIP8N]

The GrandL line of tractors come equipped with balance shafts in thier 4 cylinder engines. I must say my L3940 engine runs very smooth. Does the B3200 engine have balance shafts? Philip.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I think a lot of things get blown out of proportion on the internet. I have a B3200 and while it does vibrate a little it is nothing that would keep me from buying the same tractor again. Same with my parents who have a new L3200, which has the supposed jerky hitch, never seems to bother them. If you go looking for a problem you can find one on most any tractor.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Also remember that a tractor engine, frame, transmission is all hard bolted together. There is no rubber isolation brackets like on cars for engine, steering, seats etc. All engines have some vibration and most have rubber isolation points to keep the operator from feeling it BUT not on a tractor.

 

[Gary Fowler]

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.

You need to find some way to work this tractor under as much load as possible to help seat the rings. DONT baby it around especially at idle. You need to vary the RPM but don't run it at less than 1500 for long periods, nor at maximum RPM. DONT lug it but put a load on it. I don't know what you have that will do that but in order for it to break in properly, it needs to have some kind of working load. I used the FEL and box blade on my LS to dig a pond loading it up enough to spin all four tires many times and using the foot throttle to vary the RPM from 1500-2000 between loading the bucket and dumping it. My LS engine 540 PTO rpm speed is 1950 engine rpms which is low compared to my Kubota B26 which is WOT at 2400. I am glad I don't bush hog with it.