Working with tractor in regen mode

dennis5150 · Mar 31, 2015

I am looking at a Kubota L3901 and I am curious if anyone has any experience with this model yet. I am curious if the tractor is operable while in regen mode due to the increase in rpm and heating the exhause to burn off the soot collectd byt the DPF.

Steppenwolfe · Mar 31, 2015

If you read the owners manual, it clearly states to continue working as normal. If not possible, let the tractor regen in park mode. Do not be afraid of these new tractors, it's a new day and it's not going away. I have the L3301 and love it.

MHarryE · Mar 31, 2015

Don't have a 3901 - mine is much larger - but best regen is working hard, harder the better. One display I can select is DPF temperature. If I am pulling rel hard, or am using the PTO hard, there is only a slight temperature increase during regen. If I am doing lighter work like gathering big round bales, it adds more fuel to get the required heat.

rabcon · Apr 2, 2015

I have a MX 5200, and to do the regen it has to be in neutral with the brakes locked. Would be kinda hard to do anything !!

MessickFarmEqu · Apr 2, 2015

rabcon said:
I have a MX 5200, and to do the regen it has to be in neutral with the brakes locked. Would be kinda hard to do anything !!

thats for a parked regen that you run manually. You should not have to do that unless you've bypassed the automatic one and plugged the DPF. Not normal. When you start your tractor, be sure to select auto-mode and you'll never have to worry about this.

tcartwri · Apr 2, 2015

If you're working the machine at a moderate level or higher, the regens should be pretty infrequent anyways.

George2615 · Apr 2, 2015

I have an LS tractor. The regen cycle is fully automatic. There is a 3 position rocker switch on the dash. Every time the tractor is started the regen cycle is in automatic mode and will regen when needed. However, due to extremely high temps while in regen mode I can choose to disable or inhibit the cycle. If I'm in the woods or any area with combustible material I press the switch down for 2 seconds to disable the cycle. When I'm out of the woods I can press it up to 2 seconds to restart the regen cycle. I can continue to use the tractor normally while in regen since RPM does not change on the LS when in regen. Each tractor manufacturer determines how they want their regen cycle to work. I liked the LS tractors ability to disable regen in areas where a fire could easily be started.

MessickFarmEqu · Apr 3, 2015

George2615 said:
Each tractor manufacturer determines how they want their regen cycle to work. I liked the LS tractors ability to disable regen in areas where a fire could easily be started.

Thats basically how every DPF system works. These are not systems crafted by the tractor manufacturer, most are Denso and Bosh systems. There are more commonalities than differences.

I can't speak to LS, as I've not been though the same training on them... but on the Kubota stuff the DPF does not get any hotter while doing a regen then it would at wide open throttle while operating. I suspect LS is the same. The initial concerns about unexpected heat are probably a non-issue.

George2615 · Apr 3, 2015

MessickFarmEqu said:
Thats basically how every DPF system works. These are not systems crafted by the tractor manufacturer, most are Denso and Bosh systems. There are more commonalities than differences.

I can't speak to LS, as I've not been though the same training on them... but on the Kubota stuff the DPF does not get any hotter while doing a regen then it would at wide open throttle while operating. I suspect LS is the same. The initial concerns about unexpected heat are probably a non-issue.

I basically quoted what my owners manual stated about the higher temps in regen mode and the LS does regen at idle or any RPM you are running. One of these days (if I remember) I will take readings with an infrared heat temperature gun of both normal operation and regen just to see how much difference there is.

ishiboo · Apr 3, 2015

MessickFarmEqu said:
Thats basically how every DPF system works. These are not systems crafted by the tractor manufacturer, most are Denso and Bosh systems. There are more commonalities than differences.

I can't speak to LS, as I've not been though the same training on them... but on the Kubota stuff the DPF does not get any hotter while doing a regen then it would at wide open throttle while operating. I suspect LS is the same. The initial concerns about unexpected heat are probably a non-issue.

Probably depends on how the regen is done. I know on my truck (different beast entirely of course) the exhaust is VERY hot when it's doing a regen.

MHarryE · Apr 3, 2015

My Kubota display has I believe 21 parameters of which it can display any 4 at one time. I often have one set to DPF temp and one set to percentage of maximum power. If I am in a steady pull at 90% to 100% max power the DPF temp will be 900 to 1000 degrees. When it regens the DPF temp will max out at 1120 degrees plus or minus 5 at the end of the regen cycle so it doesn't really heat a lot above working it hard. I've never had to do a parked regen but I assume that in order to burn out the carbon it will need to always be about the same temperature. Mine is one of the first of its models shipped. It has a button to push to enter auto mode. The newer shipments of the same model have deleted the auto/manual button. I saw that in the WSM and verified it on the dealers lot a couple weeks ago. The dealer said they were experiencing a lot of misunderstanding so to simplify things they eliminated the manual option.

MHarryE · Apr 6, 2015

Tenneco Supplying SCR System To Kubota - Diesel Progress - March 2015

As to suppliers of emissions systems, here is an article stating where Kubota's new SCR system is being sourced. New Tenneco plant, new system. This will be the one used on the M7 & M6 tractors available later this year. Not sure about the M5.

jrbarnard · Sep 16, 2015

Okay, I have googled tons of times and cannot find something that specifically discusses regen mode. So, for us folks trying to learn something here and don't want to appear stupid (I know.. too late.. right?).. can someone explain this mode what it is why it is etc?

Thanks.

Russ

MHarryE · Sep 16, 2015

jrbarnard said:
Okay, I have googled tons of times and cannot find something that specifically discusses regen mode. So, for us folks trying to learn something here and don't want to appear stupid (I know.. too late.. right?).. can someone explain this mode what it is why it is etc? Thanks. Russ

If the tractor has a Diesel Particulate Filter, it collects soot particles and periodically burns them leaving some ashes. This periodic burning is called regen or regeneration. The DPF then starts collecting all over again. At some point in time the ashes need to be cleaned out of the DPF which involves removing the DPF and taking or shipping it to a cleaning outfit. For mine I think it is every 5,000 hours but it depends on tractor and how it's used. Not all Tier 4 tractors have DPFs. Not all DPFs regen the same way. My Kubota regens by injecting a bit of fuel in the exhaust stroke where it's burning will create a high enough temperature to burn the soot.

jrbarnard · Sep 17, 2015

Outstanding, makes sense now. Thanks for explaining to us common folk!

Russ

KBinCT · Sep 20, 2015

The biggest problem I have with my Kubota L3901 regenerating is it always starts to regenerate just when I'm getting ready to shut the tractor off. Other than that it's no problem.

mikes1165 · Sep 22, 2015

KBinCT said:
The biggest problem I have with my Kubota L3901 regenerating is it always starts to regenerate just when I'm getting ready to shut the tractor off. Other than that it's no problem.

On my L3901 if it starts flashing the regen light and I'm not going to run it long just push the no regen button. it won't try to regen but will reset and next time I use the tractor it will start as soon as the conditions are right.

KBinCT · Sep 22, 2015

mikes1165 said:
On my L3901 if it starts flashing the regen light and I'm not going to run it long just push the no regen button. it won't try to regen but will reset and next time I use the tractor it will start as soon as the conditions are right.

Yeah I could postpone the regeneration but I just let it do its thing and get it over with. It only takes a few minutes anyway.