task specific uptime to downtime ratio

[Soundguy]

I went and mowed today after work. Driving time to and from my pasture on the tractor was 15m each way, for a total of 30m.

Mowing time was 1hr 15m 10ac

Now.. when i got back to the barn, I refueled, greased tractor and batwing, swept mower off, and checked 4 gear box lube level.

Maint time = a whopping 1 hr !!

Mind you I don't always check mower gear box oil level.. but i usually try to every other cut.. but that only added about 5-8 minutes to the chore.

Anyone else have any task/uptime/downtime figures to compair too?

I used to think 'finagling' with my old antique fords for an hour to get them to work for 5-8 hours was a bad ratio, till I started thinking about my mowing issue.. etc.

comments are welcome, and solicited.

Also.. as a side question, what's everybody doing for pre trip / post trip ? I'll start.

pre:

check oil on tractor, start tractor, walk around and kick tires, look at lugnuts, fold up jack on mower, come back to tractor.. look for anything leaking, get on and start work.

post:

park at barn after working, refuel, hit grease fittings, inspect for damage or missing parts / wear items, check lamps, quick cleaning of tractor or mower.. nothing major.. just nocking the big stuff that will hold water off., drive to storage, park, lower mower jack...

Soundguy

 

[Doc_Bob]

Also.. as a side question, what's everybody doing for pre trip / post trip ? I'll start.

I do one major item every time I go out, nothing like what you do! But I run for 2 hours, then quit. I back in, check a fluids (tranny, oil, radiator, brake), then go in to the house. When I come out to do my next two hours, I will check air pressure in the tires. When done, I will check nuts and bolts, look for leaks (I actually do that all the time), then put it away. Next trip out, grease (and check nuts and bolts, look for leaks that are close to zerks). If I do something before each start and with each shutdown, I spend very little time and it all gets done every 10 hours, which is way more than the factory calls for. But I don't run the hours like you do.

Bob

 

[txdon]

Hmmm, I can play this. While doing a three hour pond clean out I was stuck in the mud for 20 hours (12 actually trying to get out, slept the other 8). Then it took me three hours more to clean off the black mud and grease the tractor. Then I had to drive 20 miles to get more diesel, another hour. Of course a few days later I spent another hour covering up the ruts and getting the wood I used to get unstuck out of the edge of the pond.

Total: Work 3 hours
Other 17 hours

 

[Doc_Bob]

Hmmm, I can play this.
Total: Work 3 hours
Other 17 hours

WOW!

Your tractor gets very little use and must be very clean!
Bob

 

[Croomrider]

Soundguy, You just need a bigger field to cut or a smaller tractor. That way you would have more "work" time for the amout of maint time.

CR

 

[3RRL]

Soundguy.
I do pretty much like you do...
Before working...check under hood, check oil and hydraulic levels, walk around and check tires, look for loose nuts and bolts (tighten), start tractor, check for anything leaking, stow my coffee thermos, mug, 2 way radio and rifle, get on and start work. After working...park in canopy, refuel, grease zerks, inspect for anything obvious, clean out cab area and quick wipe down, open hood to keep the critters from building a nest in there.
I might spend 30 minutes to an hour for this routine....depends.

 

[LarryD]

I can't say I spend that much time doing maintenance on a monthly basis, but then right now I'm only getting 10-15 hours a month.

I do the old military pre-start every outing but grease and roll under inspection is only once a month. I do park on a clean concrete floor so I guess I'm using that as a leak indicator check.

I do use my shop vac to blow the dust off before putting it away and that only takes a couple minutes.

 

[ksmmoto]

I take about the same time also Soundguy. I think I'm getting worse as I get older, just way too picky with my equipment.

I have 24 acres to brush hog for the CREP program I signed up for and I have about 5 done. And my 550 hour maintenance is over due, at 560 now.

I'm thinking I may skip this oil change as I did the last at 515 hours and maybe do the 600 early. Kubota calls for 100 hours between engine oil changes and 200 on the filter. I do both at 50 hours, but it sure comes up quick!

Also, I use a handheld leaf blower after each use on the tractor and implement. Works great and is portable. I see many locals that leave the debris on their equipment and it is really hard on it after it gets wet.

ksmmoto

 

[Soundguy]

The leaf blower is a good idea. I sometimes use one.. however mine is electric, so sometimes it's easier to grab a broom and just quickly sweep the deck vs unrolling the ext cord and getting the blower out.

Hey.. I'm beginning to think that picky is 'smart'. Looking at the prices of tractors and implements.. nothing is getting cheaper.... got to make what we got last. I sure don't forsee ( or want ) to have to buy a new mower any time soon.. way too spendy... even though I got a good deal on my mower... I don't want to have to find another good deal, if I can help it.

And yep.. the water setting on it doesn't do it any good. The only rust that was on my mower deck when i got it was right around the deck drain holes.. that were plugged with clipping debri that wasn't cleaned off.

Soundguy

I take about the same time also Soundguy. I think I'm getting worse as I get older, just way too picky with my equipment.

...

Also, I use a handheld leaf blower after each use on the tractor and implement. Works great and is portable. I see many locals that leave the debris on their equipment and it is really hard on it after it gets wet.

ksmmoto

 

[N80]

I lube the FEL and other stuff about every 10 hours as per manual. I do the same for the 2 or 3 zerks on the mower. Otherwise I don't have a set procedure but when thinking about your list, I do most of them in a roundabout way.

My tractor lives out doors under a tarp. So each time I pull the tarp off I look for mice and rats nests. (Had a dead and rotting mouse cooking on the engine a few weeks ago, took me a while to find the source of the awful odor.) I look at the lines and wires to make sure they aren't chewed up. I look at the site window for the hydro fluid every time before I crank it. Just a habit when pulling the tarp off. I do not check engine oil very often. Probably should, but its new and there's no evidence of leaks.

However, at the end of any given job or weekend I rinse the tractor off with the hose and occasionally wash it with some soap. As I do this I look over everything very well and this typically serves as a post work inspection. I think, for me, this is a very important part of maintainence. I get all the dust and mud off that can hold moisture against metal. I wash off the radiator screen, etc. My mower sits out in the elements so I always get the dirt, dust and grass off of it because even the dew can make it damp and lead to rust.

I need to check engine oil more often as well as checking the mower gear box.

In any case, it is hard to give a ratio of uptime vs downtime but I'd say at the end of a weekend of work, say 5-10 hours (I don't work the whole weekend!) I'll put in a good 45 minutes making sure everything is clean and in good shape. Not too bad, but is a new tractor.