Minimum time to have tractor run?

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Hey everyone,

I have a 2005 4320 JD compact, my question is what should the minimum time of running the tractor?

I use the tractor mainly for the FEL, I use it to move round bales and cattle tubs a short distance, I hear it's not good to start a diesel up, run it for 10-15 mins and shut it back down.

Is there a minimal RPM or run time I should try to hit?

I usually start it up, run it around 1500RPM, haul what I need to haul and park it back in the barn, 15-45mins usually. Thanks

John

 

[tractordog]

Hey everyone,

I have a 2005 4320 JD compact, my question is what should the minimum time of running the tractor?

I use the tractor mainly for the FEL, I use it to move round bales and cattle tubs a short distance, I hear it's not good to start a diesel up, run it for 10-15 mins and shut it back down.

Is there a minimal RPM or run time I should try to hit?

I usually start it up, run it around 1500RPM, haul what I need to haul and park it back in the barn, 15-45mins usually. Thanks

John

Don't no what the minimum is but 15 sounds like enough. I worry about less than 5 and not planing on starting again for days or even weeks.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Currently I'm running it weekly to bi-weekly for feeding cattle at the min, some weeks more than others. I usually pull it out of the barn and let it idle while I prep the bales, load the bale up with the FEL, cut the net off, open the gate and drive it to the feeder, shut the gate and park the tractor. 15 mins is usually the min I would say, sometimes not even up to operating temp.

Also is there an RPM to stay away from when she's cold? I usually am in the 1100- 1500 range letting her idle.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's not the ideal working life for a diesel, but it is what it is. You may want to use a block heater when it's cooler or maybe a rad shroud to get temperature sooner when it's colder.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I have averaged 3h per month since I have owned the tractor. (4 months). So I may be running it a bit more than I thought.

 

[newbury]

I have averaged 3h per month since I have owned the tractor. (4 months). So I may be running it a bit more than I thought.

How does your tractor keep track of hours?
Mine are based on pto speed, if I'm not running at full pto speed (say 2,000 rpm) it measures time as a fraction. Thus if I run it at half pto speed for 2 hours it only registers one hour.
Some tractors keep track of time whenever the ignition switch is on.

 

[joeu235]

When I was in the Navy, the diesel engine on the submarine had to run 20 minutes minimum. I believe it was to reduce carbon buildup.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Since my military days I have always practiced operation long enough to get to full operating temperature +. That helps get rid of condensed moisture in the lube oil and keeps the battery(ies) topped up. Makes sense to me. We started equipment daily whether we used it or not to assure it would start when needed.

Ron

 

[user4211]

No more than you use it, you aren't going to hurt it no matter what you do. Hop on and use it. It won't know the difference.

 

[bspeedy]

Hard to hurt these new diesels. Due to my storage situation, my tractors get started, moved a few yards and shut off more often than I'd like. I'd rather not do that, but it is what it is. You aren't hurting your tractor with 15 minutes of run time. Use it wisely and maintain it properly and your grandchildren will be operating it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Ideally, you want to run the tractor at operating temps for at least 15 minutes to burn off any water accumulation in the oil. In practice for most CUT chores, that isn't going to happen very often.
I would just let it warm up a couple minutes at 1500 RPM, then do my chore and park it. Compensate the lack of run time with a yearly oil change to get rid of any contaminated oil. I would not worry about it otherwise, your engine will likely outlast you.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Yeah I did the math and to get her to 6000 hours with my current usage, it will take another 152 years lol

 

[Thomas]

My rule of thumb...heat gauge reach normal temp at 1500 rpm.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

How does your tractor keep track of hours?
Mine are based on pto speed, if I'm not running at full pto speed (say 2,000 rpm) it measures time as a fraction. Thus if I run it at half pto speed for 2 hours it only registers one hour.
Some tractors keep track of time whenever the ignition switch is on.

I just clocked it today, it goes by fractions of an hour, digital display. I ran her for .3 of an hour today which was 18mins, that's 6mins per .1, if it's by 10 it's right on 60 min hour at any RPM, I was only running 1200-1500rpm, PTO speed is 2500 RPM.

So it clocks the key not the RPM.

 

[dodge man]

I'm not sure what RPM you are using when actually doing work with the tractor. I always feel anything less than 2000 rpm's is to slow. Some people think keeping the rpm's down is some how saving the engine.

 

[TheMadOne]

With HST and tier IV, anything under 2K RPM while moving is doing more harm then good, IMO. Not making enough heat for the DPF to get going and strangling your oil flow, which can be bad for your pump.

 

[aeblank]

I try to let mine run a while when I start it up.
That said, don't be a slave TO your machine. It's there to help YOU.

 

[RNeumann]

The problem with repeated short starts is three fold. One is the design tolerances of the lubrication and internal parts. They are designed to function best at normal operating temperature (I'd put the carbon buildup mentioned above in this category) When cold they are outside the ideal specs. The second is in regards to emissions. When a motor is cold, the emissions are higher. The third is condensation. Every time a motor is shut off and begins to cool it produces condensation internally. The idea behind extended run times after restarting is to ensure the condensation has been cleared.

The "minimum" run time is as long as you need to. The ideal operation would be to amass enough tasks to ensure the motor comes up to normal temp and stays there for some time. That time will depend on humidity and air temp etc- hot dry desert not long, cold wet Pacific Northwest maybe 20' or so.
The RPM is a subject of much debate- some heated- on this site. My manual (Mahindra) suggests moving to 1500rpm once started. All my Toyotas take the RPM over 1000 when cold (it drops as coolant temp increases). Back in the day, after rebuilding an engine, we would take the motor to 1500rpm at initial start to ensure good oil flow which protects the cam and other parts. Remember the oil is thicker when cold and as RPMs change so the the oil pump operation. Having said all that others swear just the opposite and insist raising the RPMs causes more engine damage. That one is up to you, your research and your manual.

 

[newbury]

Yeah I did the math and to get her to 6000 hours with my current usage, it will take another 152 years lol

Well you should take care of yourself and strive to live another 153 years!

 

[motownbrowne]

You gotta do what you gotta do. The tractor is a tool. That said, for the reasons everyone's listing, short run times aren't ideal. The oil capacity of these small engines is pretty large. That oil doesn't get up to full operating temp in 15 minutes, and it doesn't stay hot long enough to remove all the moisture that will occur from this type of use. To combat the moisture buildup, I think it's good to run the machine hard every once in a while. Don't worry about the 15 minute stints, but every two or three weeks, warm up the tractor, then do something at full PTO RPM with a substantial load, like taking a drive in H range around the neighborhood, or bush hogging, or pulling a disc, whatever you like. Let it get up to temp and stay there for 25 minutes or more. It makes me feel better knowing that all the fluids in my machine have gotten the chance to steam off some condensation.