David Brown 995 questions

[Richard]

Preface: I live on my wife's family farm. With the passing of her father, there are now 12 owners of the farm specifically (my home is deeded on its own)

So there are others who take care of the place, along with me. We're looking for a batwing mower and a tractor to pull it.


I come home the other day and low & behold, there is a tractor sitting there. Seems my brother in law went to a local auction and bought a David Brown 995 open station.

Today was the first day I got it started (he had it running the other day but only to load and unload it)

Today, I was going to add my finish mower behind it so I can cut the fields.

The 3-point arms on the back are "stuck" in the UP position. Moving the lever did nothing. There is a knob under the lever and that didn't do anything. I also stood on them.....nothing.

Brother in law says they were down when he bought it, raised them to move/load it....and noticed they didn't go down when he unloaded it so they got in the way of his chains (or something). Bottom line, he didn't pay too much attention to that reality, figuring there was a knob or lever he missed. This is exactly what I was thinking earlier today.

So, when stuck up....how do you let them down?


Question 2: The unit has what I think is a breather tube. It's on the right side of the engine (passenger side) and appears to go up to the head. I had some water (steam) hissing out of it in the time it took me to drive it out to get the mower (which I couldn't add) and drive back. He said he glanced at the water the other day so we are presuming it's got water in the radiator but I don't know for sure. Still....that tube didn't strike me as a radiator over flow tube but more likely, a breather for the valves which would imply some negative things if water is steaming out.

Blueish smoke out the stack so I get that it's burning some oil. It's not pouring the smoke out but you can see it.

Question 3: There's the PTO clutch on the left. I get it. But, other than that, is there another way to disengage the PTO? I'm not too thrilled with the clutch being engaged all the time (which I think it says NOT to do), therefore, I'm even MORE un-thrilled (I just now made that word up!) that the PTO might be on all the time as we'll likely have a mower attached on the back and I don't always want those blades moving.

Question 4: Starting procedure?? Turn key 1/2 on, flip switch to glow plugs. Does it go out on its own? Do I just wait 20 seconds? the crank her till she starts?


and I thought our International 444 was a bit funky....

 

[Agvg]

You have the PTO lever on your left under the seat, you have 540 and 1000rpm and neutral.

You also have a lock on the three point on the left where the liftarm are connected.

 

[Agvg]

If it's in ok condition you should just be able to start it without any preheat, it has a flamestart in the intake, if it works you will hear it ignites after 20 to 30 seconds

 

[Richard]

You have the PTO lever on your left under the seat, you have 540 and 1000rpm and neutral.

You also have a lock on the three point on the left where the liftarm are connected.

Found the lever under the seat. I didn't look (nor think about looking) for a neutral. It seems to me though that it would be able to "fall" into gear then? I DID move it and without clutching anything, it jumped from 540 to 1,000. You could see the PTO jump up (or down) in speed. I didn't try a middle. Thank you!!!

Where the lift arms are connected huh??

I'll have to look for that tomorrow. I didn't notice anything however, will admit, I didn't spend much time looking.

 

[Richard]

If it's in ok condition you should just be able to start it without any preheat, it has a flamestart in the intake, if it works you will hear it ignites after 20 to 30 seconds

I saw a youtube where someone started it in something like 22 degree weather. He turned a valve on the bottom of the fuel pump, started machine then, if I recall, he turned that valve off.

Is that related to this flamestart or is it somehow, automatic? (or is that red switch part of the process?)

I need to try to find a manual on this thing.

 

[Agvg]

Do you have a hand clutch for PTO? You might have 996 then. The hydraulic pump will be disabled if you use that for stopping the PTO.

 

[Agvg]

Found the lever under the seat. I didn't look (nor think about looking) for a neutral. It seems to me though that it would be able to "fall" into gear then? I DID move it and without clutching anything, it jumped from 540 to 1,000. You could see the PTO jump up (or down) in speed. I didn't try a middle. Thank you!!!

Where the lift arms are connected huh??

I'll have to look for that tomorrow. I didn't notice anything however, will admit, I didn't spend much time looking.

Jump in speed? Is it very loose?

 

[Weedaway]

PTO clutch should be a hand lever on your left, unlike the earlier two stage foot clutch.

The 3 point hitch may be help up by the lift latch. It's a crescent shaped handle on the left rear of the axle. Says 'Push to engage'. It needs to be vertical, either up or down. You may need to lift the weight off the arms before you can turn it. If you force it the plastic handle will break.

You can get an operator's manual for it here:David Brown info II Please read it before you break something or hurt yourself. The exact title is: "David Brown 990 995 Tractor Operators Manual", about halfway down the page.

There is a dedicated DB forum here: DBTC Forum (Amended �9 May 2�18) - David Brown Tractor Club Forum

 

[Richard]

Do you have a hand clutch for PTO? You might have 996 then. The hydraulic pump will be disabled if you use that for stopping the PTO.

It does have the hand clutch on the left and yes, that does stop the PTO. I just don't like the idea of that being engaged 50% of the time (or whatever time that the mower is attached but not in use) I'd rather totally disengage the PTO and release the clutch.

 

[Richard]

Jump in speed? Is it very loose?

Now we have to define loose?

With the engine running, I was able to lift/lower that lever and move the PTO from the 540 to 1000 range without any clutching. Yes, there was a slight gear grind but the first time I did it, I didn't know what the lever was for. Now I do.

Still.... I thought it was perhaps strange that you could "live swap" between the two speeds without having to clutch.

Then again, I also figured out that the foot clutch works.....but.... it has to be ALL the way to the floor to work 100% and when you start lifting your foot, the clutch starts to engage immediately. Suggesting to me it either needs adjusted or is near worn. (I much prefer the clutch to do its thing on the early part of the stroke, not the last part)