How long do you let it run?

[bczoom]

For either gas or diesel equipment:

When you first start it, how long do you let it run before either moving it or operating attachments?

If you need to leave it for whatever reason but know how long it’ll be, what is the time cutoff that you use to decide whether to let it run or turn it off?

 

[DavidJ]

I let my equipment run about a minute before moving it (enough to let the oil circulate) but let it get fully warm before working it at PTO speeds.

 

[johndeere2210]

You should let any engine run long enough to build oil pressure and warm cylinders slightly before applying a load, whether gas or diesel. Even more important is to allow the engine to "cool" down at low idle after running at rated load. This is particularly important on diesels with a turbo. This will allow the turbo to spin down with oil pressure rather than spinning down dry. The few extra minutes of warm up and cool down on any engine will greatly extend the life of the engine.

 

[dmccarty]

bczoom,

The JD manual says let the engine warm up for 5 minutes. What I have noticed is that if it is warm out in 4 minutes or so the coolent temp will be in its normal position. Soooo, I have modified what the manual says to do. Once the temp gauge needle is where it sits when the engine is warm, I move the tractor. In the summer it takes roughly 4 minutes. In the winter in takes more than 5.

I have the throttle set about 1600-1800 RPMS when it is warming up. I let the engine idle at 1000-1200 RPMS for a minute and then move it up a bit.

If the tractor is not being used I generally just park it, lower the FEL, 3PH, set the brakes, put two or three gear levers in N, and let her run. I want the engine to stay warm and charge the battery. Usually when I do this I'm sawing wood. I might let the tractor sit for 45 minutes or so. Remember I'm not idling the engine its running about 1800 RPMS.

I try not to start the tractor if I know I'll have to turn it off without it running at least 60 minutes. The longest I'll run it without using it is when I'm burning. When I burn the tractor does not get turned off until the fire has burned down to somewhat safe level. Usually takes 4-5 hours depending on the size of the pile and wood.

Later,
Dan

 

[beenthere]

Soon as I start my Deere 4300 diesel, summer or winter, I move to wherever I am going and do whatever I plan to do. If I was going to labor the engine beyond putting it in motion (hard field work, or rotary cutting at PTO rpm) then I will get it up to temp first.

For shut down, if I am working it hard (see above) which is rare, I would let it idle to cool for a few minutes before shutdown. With normal operation, I am not running at much more than 14-1500 rpms so figure there is no need to 'cool' down any more. I just park it and shut it off.

I like to run it at least 10-15 minutes between start-up and shut-off, just to get everything warmed up good. Seems shutting it down cold will cause it to smoke on following start-up.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The longest I'll run it without using it is when I'm burning. When I burn the tractor does not get turned off until the fire has burned down to somewhat safe level. Usually takes 4-5 hours depending on the size of the pile and wood.

Later,
Dan )</font>

Dan, What is your reason for letting it run while burning?

Not sure if it's just my tractor, but the temp gauge takes a good amount of time to get up, and up to temp on mine is very low on the gauge.

The way I run my tractor is probably most similar to beenthere. I rarily have the RPM's up and the drive to/from is normally a couple minutes at near idle.

In the winter, I might let it warm up a minute before driving. I have the block heater on a timer set to start about 3 hours prior to the time of day I would run it (shortly after getting home from work) so the engine is already somewhat warm.

 

[Soundguy]

My NH 7610s has a dash warning decal that says let the tractor run for 5 minutes at less than half load... before using it for full load operation... and then let it run for one minute at idle before shutting it off, after running it at full load.

Soundguy

 

[ronjhall]

Here a couple of old threads about warming up a tractor.
Need to Warm Up a Diesel Engine?
Warm up RPMs?

 

[BobCorazza]

If possible, I perform certain tasks after a 60 sec high idle (1200) like putting the trash in the bucket & running down to the dumpster (200 yards away). If the machine has to sit, I run it for a minute at 1200rpm, then 1500rpm for another 4. I am particular about my machine, and always pre-warm the motor with a block heater and 500w light for the tranny when the temps are low. I also let it idle for a minute before shut down. From what I have learned here, the basic idea is to not load the tractor when cold and remember the tranny will be WAY behind in warming up particulary if you're not moving.
As far as extended idling, on my machine anything less than 1500rpm will cause the motor to run too cool.

 

[RoyJackson]

As another poster mentioned, there was a long thread on this a while back...

My machine is parked in a garage. When I start it, as soon as the oil light goes out, I back it out of the garage (otherwise, the exhaust fumes get into the house). Once outside, it sets for about 5 minutes at 1500 RPM or so. In cold weather, it idles longer...until I see the temp gage moving up.

I don't run it a PTO speed or any load until it's up to operating temperature..

 

[SteveM]

5 minutes is a long time...so in the summer I am not that good, usually I have to hook up some implement or trailer, so I will fire it up, let it run for maybe a full minute before moving it around the driveway etc. I never jump right on and put it under load, but certainly part of my warm up time is usually driving to an implement or whatever. Now in the winter, it is a different story. I use a block and crankcase heater, so the fluids are not completely gel- but I give it a real 10+ minutes running before I even back out to begin plowing etc. Usually go and shovel the steps etc to keep moving while waiting. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[GerardC]

I just got my tractor in March 29th of this year. I'm new to all of this.
In the summer I would start it, lift the FEL (3PH if needed) and back out of the garage. I would do this at IDLE speed. I then drive it to where I'm going to do my work (usually at least a minute drive away "at idle") then get to the task at hand. At the end of my work, I idle back to the garage, park it and shut it down. I put PS in the tank at every fill.
As for the winter starting, I will be sure to give it adequate warm-up time. Any other pointers appreciated. Gerard

 

[dmccarty]

bczoom,

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Dan, What is your reason for letting it run while burning? )</font>

In one word Paranoia. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I figure the second worse thing that could happen when I'm burning is that the fire gets away from me and the tractor won't start. So the tractor stays running until the fire has burned down. The 4n1 bucket and a box blade can tear up a fair amount of ground pretty quickly and slow/stop a spreading fire. At least that is the plan. :0

I only burn in the winter when it is wet and no wind is forcast. I have had a bit of dried grass burn out from the pile but it could not go anywhere so I just watched it burn out. I'm very scared of fire...

The WORST thing I worry about is using the tractor to push the fire into a smaller pile and the tractor stalling/stopping. That would be ugly but its what insurance is for I suppose.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I let my tractor warm up maybe a minute before I start moving it. I just lift the loader and 3PH and let it idle out the door. I should probably give it more time than that but I don't like filling the barn with diesel fumes.

I usually let it warm down after using it, too. I'll drive it up to the barn then set the throttle at idle and do my walk around, go turn on the compressor so I can blow off the dust, etc., from the radiator and fill up the fuel tank. THEN I pull it in, park it and shut it off.

With my little IH bulldozer I'll warm it up at least five minutes and try to do it close to ten. I'll do the same kind of cool down after I use it that I do with the Deere.

 

[cisco]

Sure would be nice if there were 1 or more controlled studies on this issue, for instance taking identical diesels and running some under load shortly after starting, and the others only after warming up - maybe a TBN'er can point out where we can find such in print. Baring real data, it's all opinion. Me, I turn on the tractor shortly after opening the garage door, and putter around getting other stuff together until the tractor temp gauge hits the lowest mark - which takes 3-5 minutes in my Southern winter, and 1-2 minutes on summer. My reason is long lost data from oil field pumps (318 motors) in the 1950's - probably has no relevance, but that's all I've got.

 

[frank_f15]

i think a lot depends on the ambient temp and what you are going to do with the tractor, even in summer i give it a few min to warm up, and in the winter at least 10 before i start moving snow,after 5 min i usually cycle the hydraulics and let it warm up some more.

 

[NIXON]

I'm pretty much with Cisco . I open the garage door , start the tractor . When it stabilizes, I raise the FEL and 3ph.
I back the tractor out of the garage , drop everything and raise the idle to around 1200 rpm . I then raise and pin the Rops . By then The temp guage is starting to register . I cycle the 3ph and Fel a few times and I'm off to my chores at about 1500 rpm . I hold it there until fully warm , then use the rpm I need to do what is required .
For shut down I generally just let it idle (1000-1200 rpm) for a few minutes before shut down . John