Break-in Question

[Skeeter]

New member and new owner of a '12 MX5100HST. I haven't taken delivery of my tractor yet (next week), but I got my operators manual from the Dealer. I immediately searched for the break-in and learned that Kubota does not recommend working the tractor hard or PTO operations (WOT) until it has 50 hrs on it. I asked the Dealership about such an unusually long break-in and they said they weren't aware of the requirement. They indicated they "break them in the way they plan to use them."

My question: Does everyone follow the recommended break-in procedures as outlined in the owners manual? If so, what do you do with the tractor to put 50 hrs on it without really using it?

 

[Iowan]

My Bx Had seven hrs on it when I had forty tons of gravel delivered to my driveway last April, Then twenty eight hrs of tilling and its been working hard since. (190 hrs now) My dealer also told me to beak it in as I would work it, however I would keep an eye on the temp gage and fluid levels.

 

[Bluegill]

I just used mine like any of our other tractors. But didn't run it at full throttle and I varied the rpm some while mowing. I actually never run any of our rigs at full throttle, so it was easy.

Welcome, and enjoy your new orange.

 

[TripleR]

I've broken in a BX2200, BX2660, M8540 and L5740 and did pretty much what Bluegill said. The 540 PTO RPM is not full throttle, so I worked my tractors taking occasional breaks to allow a cool down and varied my throttle settings occasionally running it up and down a few times.

I threw some loader work in with bush hogging.

I use my tractors quite a bit, so 50 hours didn't take long.

 

[bosshogg]

Spare the rod and spoil the Kubota....

Like others have said...I would be real easy the first few hours then gradually become more abusive.

 

[Skeeter]

Spare the rod and spoil the Kubota....

Like others have said...I would be real easy the first few hours then gradually become more abusive.

Thanks for the feedback...Work it, just not at WOT.

 

[Bluegill]

Thanks for the feedback...Work it, just not at WOT.

Sounds like you really want to work it at WOT?

 

[TripleR]

I really can't imagine any instance in which you would need to run a tractor WOT. I "worked" all our tractors, pulled them hard, put a load on the engine, just allowed cool down and avoided running at the same RPM for extended periods of time; not really a big deal.

 

[kub3700]

Skeeter,

I just p/u my MX5100 last week, asked the dealer the same question. They said Kubota runs the motors before they send them out, so theyre ready when delivered. I personally let mine idle for about and hour and then have been working around the house but not taking the rpm's over 2000 and not for extended periods. I have my first bushhog job next week I will probably try to run the mower @ 2000rpm. So far running this thing at 2000 shows a lot more power than the L3700su. I have noticed though when cranking up the motor a puff a black smoke billows out and at night with the lights on this thing actually smokes quite a bit ( you can't see the smoke during the day, just at night with lights on). When you get yours, let me know if you experience the same issue. Does anyone reading know if this is normal for this make and model?

 

[Bluegill]

Skeeter,

I just p/u my MX5100 last week, asked the dealer the same question. They said Kubota runs the motors before they send them out, so theyre ready when delivered. I personally let mine idle for about and hour and then have been working around the house but not taking the rpm's over 2000 and not for extended periods. I have my first bushhog job next week I will probably try to run the mower @ 2000rpm. So far running this thing at 2000 shows a lot more power than the L3700su. I have noticed though when cranking up the motor a puff a black smoke billows out and at night with the lights on this thing actually smokes quite a bit ( you can't see the smoke during the day, just at night with lights on). When you get yours, let me know if you experience the same issue. Does anyone reading know if this is normal for this make and model?

The smoke thing is normal.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Is WOT the same thing as WFO???

 

[TripleR]

The smoke thing is normal.

Agreed, all our tractors do it, you usually just don't notice it. Our M8540 has a vertical stack, so you really don't see it unless someone else is running it or you see the shadow.

 

[kub3700]

Agreed, all our tractors do it, you usually just don't notice it. Our M8540 has a vertical stack, so you really don't see it unless someone else is running it or you see the shadow.

Thats good to know....I guess I never realized it on the L3700. Is there a way to adjust the fueling so it smokes less?

 

[skeets]

Dealer told me to brake it int like I did my bikes,,, Run it like you stole it.. 3 years onthe BX and other than people thinking the damn thing is a tank I got no complaints

 

[Skeeter]

Sounds like you really want to work it at WOT?

Bluegill:
Perhaps my inexperience with this tractor is showing. I don't intend to run it any harder than needed to do the job, but to get 540 RPM on the PTO it appears to be really close (per the tach) to the max RPM for the tractor. Given that i have only driven it around the Dealer's parking lot, I really don't know. I do have approx. 20 acres that needs to be mowed now (I bought a Bush Hog SQ172) and didn't want to wait for snow to be able to use it.

Guess my experience with bass boats is showing in my terminology use (WOT -Wide Open Throttle). Work with me fellas. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Uh yep WOT is the same thing as WFO

Wide Open Throttle

Wide F'n Open

 

[hodge]

I don't know about the rest of you, but the 540 RPM rule isn't something that I hold hard and fast to. I don't even have a tach on my tractor- unless I'm mowing thick and heavy, I usually run it at about half throttle. My guess would be that you can do your mowing, just watch the RPM's. If it will get the job done without going wide open, you will be fine.

 

[TripleR]

Thats good to know....I guess I never realized it on the L3700. Is there a way to adjust the fueling so it smokes less?

Not that I know of, but I'm certainly no mechanic.

 

[TripleR]

Bluegill:
Perhaps my inexperience with this tractor is showing. I don't intend to run it any harder than needed to do the job, but to get 540 RPM on the PTO it appears to be really close (per the tach) to the max RPM for the tractor. Given that i have only driven it around the Dealer's parking lot, I really don't know. I do have approx. 20 acres that needs to be mowed now (I bought a Bush Hog SQ172) and didn't want to wait for snow to be able to use it.

Guess my experience with bass boats is showing in my terminology use (WOT -Wide Open Throttle). Work with me fellas. Thanks for all your help!

As Hodge points out, it is not necessary to run at full 540 PTO speeds to get an acceptable cut, you "may" need to adjust your ground speed or maybe not depending on what you are cutting.

Out of curiosity, I have experimented with our M8540 and L5740 and I can get a decent cut under the 540, just cleaner at full 540, but I am pretty particular; also depends on what you are cutting.

I really wouldn't worry too much about it, I didn't just took a few precautions and piled up the hours.

I normally mow at the full 540, but also have some older tractors on which the tachs haven't worked in years and go by "feel" and performance.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I'm scratching my head trying to remember where Vic chimed in on a post recently and had said something to the effect that the engine has a limiter on it and if you crank it open to full throttle the engine wont put out but so much because its governed.