Maintenance Intervals

[KTurner]

I'm looking at the maintenance intervals in the manual for my Ford 3230. The intervals seem to assume that 1200 hours = 1 year of use (that's over three hours every day of the year!). I'm probably looking at 50-75 hours per year.

The thought of swapping out fuel injectors and 15+ gallons of hydraulic fluid every 50-75 hours of use doesn't sound right. What's the consensus on maintenance intervals when you only use your tractor once every week or two?

Thanks
Keith

 

[RickB]

I'm looking at the maintenance intervals in the manual for my Ford 3230. The intervals seem to assume that 1200 hours = 1 year of use (that's over three hours every day of the year!). I'm probably looking at 50-75 hours per year.

The thought of swapping out fuel injectors and 15+ gallons of hydraulic fluid every 50-75 hours of use doesn't sound right. What's the consensus on maintenance intervals when you only use your tractor once every week or two?

Thanks
Keith

Engine oil and filter, fuel filter once per year. Air filters as required, could be 5 years or more depending on operating conditions. Hydraulic oil every so often, dependent on whether the tractor is stored indoors or out. Probably on the order of every three years or maybe a little more. Transmission oil the same. Power Steering oil and filter the same as tranny/hyd oil.
Somebody will take great exception to this for sure.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you are using it just sporatically like you say and less than 100 hours per year, you may want to change engine oil with the seasons. For cold climates, most manufacturers suggest a lighter oil in winter and heavier oil in summer so you may want to change out like fall and spring if you use your tractor in the winter for snow removal etc. Other than that, I think the suggestion that Rick made are ok.
Checking the condition of the hydraulic/transmission oil to make sure there is no water in it would be the critical issue. If it is clean and clear with no evidence of water, you could go 1000 hours on it with no problems assuming that your owners manual allows that. I know some will say that it wears out but really it has no contaminating elements other than water. NOT like engine oil that gets carbon, fuel and metals from bearings, exhaust gases etc into the oil.
Fuel filters, check your glass bowl, if it is clean of sediment and water, let it go unless the flow starts slowing. Usually way before the filter stops up, you will get particles and water trapped in the sediment bowl and that would be my guide for fuel filter change out. When it comes to CUT usage, the amount of fuel pushed through the fuel filters is minimal. IF you keep your fuel clean, the filters will last forever or almost if the fuel doesnt gell up on you in cold weather. Luckily in the South, we dont have that problem.

 

[john_bud]

Engine oil and filter, fuel filter once per year. Air filters as required, could be 5 years or more depending on operating conditions. Hydraulic oil every so often, dependent on whether the tractor is stored indoors or out. Probably on the order of every three years or maybe a little more. Transmission oil the same. Power Steering oil and filter the same as tranny/hyd oil.
Somebody will take great exception to this for sure.

Yep, that's me. Great exception!!

I'd say to change the hydraulic oil every 2 years. That way you can remember that every spring in years that are EVEN you change the hydro fluid. Everything else is good advice. If you don't use the machine in the winter, change the engine oil in the fall so the accumulated moisture will be out.

Speaking of moisture. That will be your biggest issue. Keeping the fluids dry. Normal daily temperature fluctuations will have the machine "breathing" and when the moist air comes it, it will drop off water into the fluids. If it wasn't for the water, you could go much longer between changes. I've seen a few very low hour machines that were totally rusted out from the inside because the owner didn't want to waste money on fluid changes when there were only a few hours on the clock. The other moisture issue is when you do use it in the winter and the water is frozen in the hydro fluid blocking the flow to the pump. You then burn out the pump and that's $$$ a mistake!

jb

 

[RickB]

Yep, that's me. Great exception!!


jb

JB, in your case, I won't take offense to your exception. Moisture IS the problem in this scenario. Dealing with it is the challenge. Perhaps an annual oil analysis would take some of the guesswork out of the hydraulic oil drain interval crapshoot. I certainly won't argue with a 2 year drain interval.

 

[Oldmax]

I have a 1715 N/H which I also put about 50 to 60 hours a year on, Change engine oil and filter once a year along with fuel fliter. Change trans filter about every two years, and transmission oil every 200 hours. or if needed. Check air filter two or three times a year blow out with air & replace if nessary. When mowing with Brush hog be sure to keep radiator cleaned out I blow mine out with air at end of each day of use. A friend of mine just about burned his engine up by not cleaning out radiator. Oil and filters are cheap compaerd to rebuilding an engine.

 

[john_bud]

Perhaps an annual oil analysis would take some of the guesswork out of the hydraulic oil drain interval crapshoot.

Yeah, that would be the thing to do. But, most people that only sporadically operate equipment won't be inclined to crawl under there and sneak out a sample. Too much bother, too much mess, etc.

Actually the best answer would be to change based on analysis but do an annual pump of the fluid through a filter cascade that used water absorbing filters. An hour of cycling would remove all water and contaminates. But, most people don't have a remote filter station or the motivation to create one.

jb

 

[KTurner]

Yeah, that would be the thing to do. But, most people that only sporadically operate equipment won't be inclined to crawl under there and sneak out a sample. Too much bother, too much mess, etc.

Actually the best answer would be to change based on analysis but do an annual pump of the fluid through a filter cascade that used water absorbing filters. An hour of cycling would remove all water and contaminates. But, most people don't have a remote filter station or the motivation to create one.

jb

Both the annual fluid analysis and the remote filter station sound like better ideas than replacing 15+ gallons of fluid every year. Take steps to keep the fluid in good shape and know when it's no longer in good shape. The analysis sounds easy - just find a place to take a sample. Can you explain the remote filter station? I tried a search, of the forums and google, but didn't find anything. It sounds simple, but I don't want to make that big of an assumption.

Another question. Would it be best to run the fluid through the filter station before or after getting the analysis done? On one hand, it seems like you'd want to make sure the filtered fluid is good. On the other, it seems like filtering would alter the results of the analysis and possibly hide some useful results.

Thanks
Keith

 

[WilliamBos]

Another question. Would it be best to run the fluid through the filter station before or after getting the analysis done? On one hand, it seems like you'd want to make sure the filtered fluid is good. On the other, it seems like filtering would alter the results of the analysis and possibly hide some useful results.

Thanks
Keith

I would NOT filter before the analysis, because you would not get a truly accurate analysis because you may have filtered something out.

JMHO.