Oil & Fuel 2015 Branson 3520h DPF Issue

[ericm979]

If my DPF clogs and I have to replace it with a muffler I'll be bummed as I hate breathing sooty diesel exhaust. So far I'm at 120 hours and it's running fine. Could be that the 42 hours of PTO chipper operation keeps the DPF clean.

I wonder if the injection timing has been retarded from the factory to reduce NOx. That also increases soot, but the DPF would take care of that (unless it's clogged). If you're getting rid of the DPF then setting the timing to optimum (if it isn't now) could reduce soot and may prodvide a performance increase or fuel consumption decrease, at the cost of increasing NOx emissions.

 

[ptsg]

I don't think that removing the DPF would cause it to smoke to the point of feeling it in the air.

I mean, on my F36, same as the 3515 for the US but without all of the DPF crap and it runs really really clean. That thing doesn't even smoke at all. Can't even smell the smoke in the air on a closed garage. Just a little puff at the start up and that's all. Even under load it won't smoke.

To be honest it seems that the DPF on these tractors is just to meet the government emissions restrictions. This system is so simple that I doubt it will be really effective with the emissions. It will just make it burn way more fuel since they want us to run wide open.

 

[Warsign]

I don't think that removing the DPF would cause it to smoke to the point of feeling it in the air.

I mean, on my F36, same as the 3515 for the US but without all of the DPF crap and it runs really really clean. That thing doesn't even smoke at all. Can't even smell the smoke in the air on a closed garage. Just a little puff at the start up and that's all. Even under load it won't smoke.

To be honest it seems that the DPF on these tractors is just to meet the government emissions restrictions. This system is so simple that I doubt it will be really effective with the emissions. It will just make it burn way more fuel since they want us to run wide open.

Can you share some photos of how your exhaust is routed from your manifold > Muffler > exhaust pipe?

 

[ptsg]

Sure.

This some pictures I've found on the internet. It's late here so I can't go over to the tractor. If you need a couple more, just tell me, I will take some pictures of my tractor.

The first one is from a F36, not turbo. The other one if from a 00 series tractor with turbo.

 

[cottwood]

I have a 3520h. I replaced my dpf with a muffler and it is not any louder and it doesn’t smoke anymore than with the dpf on it. It runs great! I can idle all I want and don’t have to run wide open for loader work. Uses much less fuel! I think the fuel savings will pay for the swap. About $400 at genes muffler shop in castle rock, CO.

 

[ning]

I'm only at 110h on my 3520h (got it about a year ago), but my experience - a lot of my use wasn't at high RPM (post-hole digging and a variety of chores learning how to tractor), and one day I was doing a bit more loader work and going up my "steep" hill at about 2000rpm the tractor started smoking a bit, which startled me, until I realized that it was finally running hot enough to cook the DPF and was burning off accumulated stuff. The smoke passed in a few minutes (very few), and in the next 40 hours I haven't seen it again, and there hasn't been any other changes in how the tractor operates though I've been doing a lot more 2000+rpm work digging (with BH) and moving about 100y of dirt.

I have some suspicions that my hydraulics aren't quite right (can barely push front end up with the FEL, and backhoe seems pretty anemic) but so far my tractor's been everything I need it to be; when I was researching which tractor to choose, I figured if the DPF ever became an issue a muffler swap or straight pipe would be my choice as well.

 

[dancath]

I have a 4720h about 100 hrs. My even cheaper way was to pull the canister off then drill or punch enough holes to shake all the platinum out then replace.

Iff you get into a work hard situation you will burn more fuel thus more smoke because there is nothing left to trap it. I can now idle all day if I have to or run wide open all burning less fuel. I am real happy with my fix.

Dan

 

[dancath]

I have a 4720h about 100 hrs. My even cheaper way was to pull the canister off then drill or punch enough holes to shake all the platinum out then replace.

Iff you get into a work hard situation you will burn more fuel thus more smoke because there is nothing left to trap it. I can now idle all day if I have to or run wide open all burning less fuel. I am real happy with my fix.

Dan

 

[Warsign]

Thanks for the photo PTSG, I believe I can order the muffler from Branson. I would prefer to just swap out than damage the DPF filer.

 

[Texasmark]

Really makes you wonder why everyone else went with electronic injection.

Everybody else aren't sporting CUMMINS engines. Wink!

 

[beaurrr]

What is the dealer procedure for cleaning the DPF?
This system is unusual in that it has no provision for introducing fuel (regeneration) into the DPF, which is key to how they work. Are dealers replacing the clogged DPF? Manually removing the soot?

 

[ptsg]

There is a green band on the tachometer of the tractor that should be the sweet spot to run the tractor while keeping the DPF clean and free of soot.

So you pretty much have to avoid idling and running on low RPMs as there is not enough heat to burn the soot.

Now, I've read somewhere but for the life of me can't remember wher, that there is a plug on the DPF canister, that you can remove when the DPF gets clogged to the point of preventing the tractor to start. It will start by die shortly after. So you would remove the plug, start the tractor to clear all that stuff out, and then install the plug again. Although I'm almost sure that it was for another brand.

I don't have experience with DPF on the tractors. In Europe there is no requirement to have DPF on tractor up to 70-ish HP I think. I'm just giving tips that I've read on this forum about this useless DPF crap that just makes the tractor burn even more fuel.

 

[ericm979]

There's a plug on the exhaust manifold that you can remove to get it to run in an emergency if the DPF is clogged. It'll let some exhaust out of the manifold bypassing the DPF.

I think Branson uses a low temp continual regen process. I posted a link to a paper on that (by people other than Branson) on this forum a while back. It's a solution that works with mechanical injection. I don't think it requires more fuel.

DPF cleaning is a pretty common thing for large diesel trucks. There's a number of companies that do it.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

It's just the continuous heat of the exhaust gasses that heat the filter (or "soot cooker") to a high enough temperature that it will then burn off the soot particles trapped inside. The only way to keep the exhaust gasses hot enough (over 1100-ish degrees F), is to run the engine under load, with rpm's inside that green band on the tach. The system the Branson uses does not inject any extra fuel into this particle filter. The "plug" is like Eric says, just something you can remove if the filter gets plugged up enough that the engine won't run, so that you can then load the tractor on a trailer to transport it for repair. My dealer told me the only way that he's aware to "clean" the filter, is to remove it and send it off to be baked in an oven (the cleaning service that Eric references).

My plan is just to replace mine with a muffler. Once the filter is off, and the data logger is unplugged from the harness (and I will take it off and store it next to the filter on a shelf), then the tractor will run just fine without it. Hopefully will get this done this year before winter sets in. Not too much of a job, think a local welding shop can fabricate up what I need. Hardest part may be taking the hood off to get to everything.

 

[HudoRanch]

Quick question, do the newer engines in the 20 series (tier 4 compliant) ones still have this same DPF/DOC emmisions system? This thread originally started about a 2015 tractor.

The reason I ask is that I am in the process of replacing my 40 year old Long 510 tractor (52 hp) with a new Branson and on the Branson website it shows the 20 series as being tier 4 compliant engine. The 15 series is not specified as being tier 4 compliant. The reason I am asking is because I would rather buy one of the 15 series or an older version that get something I am not able to work on myself. I would not remove the emmisions system immediately, but I would like to know that if it starts giving me problems I can.

I am still in the process of researching what exact model I am going to get but I am leaning toward the 4020R or 4520R. THis is a little spreadsheet that I put together for the 30-55 hp shuttle shift Branson tractors off the info on their website in case anyone else is shopping

 

[ptsg]

All Branson tractors are Tier 4 Compliant. And the best part is that they don't need any computer to run the engine. Hence the ease of the removing all the DPF parts. Just need to remove the data logger, the DPF can and get a new muffler on and it's good to go. However, it seems that the Branson DPF system doesn't give much problems at all. Still it's good to know that can be easily "fixed" if there is any problem.

The 15, 20 and 25 series are pretty much the same. Being that the 15 series doesn't have cab (They just started selling them with cab in Europe) and it's a bit smaller frame than the 20 and 25 series. The 25 series is a newer and upgraded series of the 20 series, so it might have some minor bugs corrected from the previous series.

The 20 series are discontinued here in Europe, and I'm pretty sure the same happens in the US. They might just be selling the left over tractors they have.

I have one of the 15 series and I just love it!

 

[ericm979]

New tractors are all Tier IV. Below 25.5hp the requirements are easier and DPF or DOC is not needed. At 75hp the requirements are more stringent.
The Branson DPF needs to get hot enough to clean itself. That's not a regen in the usual sense and the DPF temps are lower. But it doesn't happen when the engine is at low speeds. My 3725's tach has a green line from 2000 rpm to 2500 and the manual recommends running it in that range. I don't do that all the time but when it's working it's at 2000 rpm at least, 2450 rpm (in regular PTO gear) when running the PTO. The people who have had problems with the DPF clogging have not been running it at the recommended rpm or working it hard (i.e. they do primarily loader work and don't set the throttle at 2000).

The fuel injection is old fashioned mechanical type with a Bosch VE type pump, which is a common type of injection pump. That should be serviceable at a diesel shop that works on injection pumps.

Right now the 25 series in the USA is only the 37 and 42 hp models with the A2000 2.1 liter engine. The larger 20 series have the A2300.
I think Dave mentioned a dealer meeting coming up soon. Your dealer may have new information after that.

 

[Hombre]

Hardest part may be taking the hood off to get to everything.

The hood shouldn't need to be removed however it will make the job a bit easier.