Farm Tractor and Equipment Maintenance
Contents
1. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Florida Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet EES 47 November 1992 ZAAN SH Farm Tractor and Equipment Maintenance Dalton S Harrison INTRODUCTION American farmers have improved productivity more than any other group in the U S Yet farm tractor and equipment maintenance lags far behind the productivity of farmers This form of neglect costs individual farmers thousands of dollars each year A recent study of 50 farm tractors conducted by the University of Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station shows that the average farm tractor operates at less than 90 efficiency and uses 15 more fuel than necessary This means that a Diesel tractor 40 60 hp that uses 3 2 to 4 9 gallons of fuel hr according to Nebraska tests may be wasting as much as 3 4 gallon of fuel hour if proper maintenance is neglected Operating at 10 hours per day and an average of 80 days year the amount of fuel wasted is 10 X 80 X 0 75 X 0 90 gallon 540 00 of fuel wasted each year or 2 700 00 over a 5 year period A 9 000 00 turbocharged engine amortized over 5 years costs the farmer an average of 1 800 00 per year to own If maintenance is neglected and it lasts only 3 years then the cost goes up to 3 000 00 year plus the cost of overhauling the engine which is another reason for regular and routine maintenance A reliable estimate is that the average tractor farmer gets less than 4 000 hours of ope2. actor and equipment maintenance can help to conserve energy and prevent needless repairs but it is impossible to cover all the tips such as servicing filters belts hoses or hydraulic systems The suction pipe should be several inches higher than the bottom of the tank Adding a filter to the pumping line of the storage tank can also be Also a bleed plug on the filter Farm Tractor and Equipment Maintenance A manufacturer s operating and maintenance manual should be read and followed carefully for each type of equipment that is operated Page 5 cP EXCEEDS MANUFSCTUPER S SPECIFICATIONS PRESSURE X REGULATOR ALVE OPENS IF PRESSURE Vv or Figure 3 A Full Flow Filter System REFERENCES Baldwin Filters 1988 Farm Equipment Maintenance and Filter Guide Cromwell R R 1977 Selecting Power Equipment to Save Energy EC 19 Florida Cooperative Extension Service IFAS University of Florida Cromwell R P 1977 Tractor Operation for Fuel Savings EC 21 Florida Cooperative Extension Service IFAS University of Florida Cromwell R R 1980 Nebraska Tractor Test Results Agricultural Engineering Extension Report 80 6 Florida Cooperative Extension Service IFAS University of Florida It s a Traders Market 1988 Case IH J 1 Case Racine Wi
3. be of high quality only a few years Remember that good oil darkens quickly after it is ago will not give good service in today s high put in use because of its detergent and dispersant action performance engines which run hotter at higher rpms and have closer tolerance Table 2 One fact is certain Consult a further well defined engine service you do not save money by buying cheap oil and you do classification for engine oils Table 3 not save money by trying to squeeze extra life out of oil Farm Tractor and Equipment Maintenance Table 2 Guide to SAE Viscosity Typical Recomme Page 3 o i PRESSURE oat j WOE roe ZIF x 7 ron 321E 20 20W 30 OF 10W Below 0 F 5W NOTE Single grade oil generally not recommended for cold w Society of Automotive Engineers SW and SW 20 NOT suitable for sustained high speed Follow Manufacturer s Recommendation for Specific Mode W SAE grade numbers Plan Adequate Lubrication for Irrigation Engines Adequate lubrication at regular intervals is a necessity Running an irrigation engine is like puffing 1 000 to 1 200 miles on your car each day day after day Proper filtration can prevent costly repairs and help avoid breakdowns at critical times when irrigation is badly needed There is also a growing trend toward the addition of extended life by pass filters attached to lubrication systems that formerly had only full flow filters The way to
4. by the University of Florida s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences through the Cooperative Extension Service The information contained herein is the product of the Florida Energy Extension Service and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Florida Energy Office The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer authorized to provide research educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race color sex age handicap or national origin For information on obtaining other extension publications contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Christine Taylor Stephens Dean Farm Tractor and Equipment Maintenance Page 2 lifes bhe4 soeps nakailag ORES Setifepm engines Always have engine turned off when servicing the air fitter Before removing top cover wipe it off Caution Do not change in unprotected place as dust is likely to blow in Extreme care should be taken to prevent dust from falling into the clean air space or outlet of the filter while removing fasteners and holders Many air fitter problems are actually caused by dirt falling into the filter while servicing Remove cover and inspect cover gasket Replace this gasket at least once a year more often if needed Caution Warped and de
5. electric motor bearing because additives are NOT desirable in this case SC Controls high and low temperature deposits Has wear rust and corrosion resistance specified by car and some truck engine makers 1964 67 SD Can be used to replace SC Provides additional protection against high and low temperature engine deposits wear rust and corrosion Specified for 1968 70 some 71 and later cars and some trucks SE Used in emission controlled engines 1971 79 Can also be used where SC or SD is specified SF Provides increased oxidation stability and anti wear performance Used in 1980 on cars and some trucks Can also be used where SC SD or SE is specified CA Mild Service Used in very old engines burning high quality low sulfur fuels Do Not use on modern engines CB Mild to moderate duty Primarily used before 1965 Do not use on today s engines unless specifically recommended by the equipment manufacturer CC Moderate to severe duty Introduced in 1961 Protects against high temperature deposits and bearing corrosion in diesel engines Also resists rusts corrosion and sludge in low temperature operation of commercial gas engines CD Severe duty Introduced in 1955 to provide protection from bearing corrosion and high temperature deposits Used on severe duty naturally aspirated turbocharged or supercharged diesel engines or when fuels with high sulfur contents are used Can also be used whe
6. ionths of an inch The best filtration may be provided when both filters are used on the same engine Hydraulic and Transmission Systems Manufacturers suggest checking the hydraulic fluid level every 10 50 to 250 hours It can be checked every time the regular oil level is checked because most systems have either a sight glass or a dip stick Fill the systems as needed but never over fill them Fuel Storage and Avoiding Moisture Because most of Florida s small farmers have changed to diesel tractors and power units the proper care and maintenance of fuel storage tanks also is vital to saving energy dollars and needless repairs Three phases tell the whole story 1 purchase clean fuel 2 keep it clean and 3 keep it free of water Because less than one ten thousandth of an inch separates moving parts of some diesel fuel injection engines one can imagine that it doesn t take much abrasive material or water to be harmful to parts with this small amount of clearance Farm Tractor and Equipment Maintenance Table 3 API engine service classification for oil S for Gasoline Engines Cars and Light Trucks Page 4 C for Diesel Engines Commercial and Farm Equipment NOTE CA CB and CC also used on some gasoline engines SA and SB Obsolete classifications denoting oil which is inadequate for today s engines Do not use unless specifically recommended by the equipment manufacturer SA could be used for oiling
7. make sure that the addition of a by pass filter does all that you want it to do is to install a B 7500 housing The filter is available with the extra long life P 7500 filter element for double dirt trapping ability and extra protection These filters are available in both 750 cu in and 500 cu in Do not ever extend the oil and filter change period beyond one year Tn a full flow system all the oil passes through the filter before being sent on to lubricate the bearings and moving parts Figure 3 This means that the full flow filter cannot possibly remove contaminants as small as those removed with a by pass filter A by pass filter system Figure 2 continuously filters a portion of the oil while the engine is operating Figure 3 This filtered oil is returned to the crank case where the by pass filter prefilters the oil to take much of the load off the full flow filter The oil then flows through the by pass system much more slowly while LED fi h 7 f ANNS Scot WSS TEN Sy SABES ASS PRESSURE Lp REGULATOR KX CRANKCASE RETURN LINE ras lt j SS j g Py pas System N SS Figure 2 By Pass Filter System trapping contaminants much smaller than those trapped by a full flow system Figure 3 A full flow filter usually filters out 25 micron sized contaminants A human hair is about 40 microns in diameter The Baldwin P 7500 filters out 3 micron sized contaminants or about 3 39 mill
8. nted covers will not seal properly and must be replaced Lift out element carefully to prevent dirt from falling into the engine pipe Caution Do not pry old element from filter housing This could cause distortion and permit unfiltered air to enter the engine Warm parts to ease separation in cold weather Use a clean moist cloth to wipe up any dirt in the filter housing Caution Put outer cover over opening to guard against dust entry Do not use air hose to clean finer housing as this will blow dirt into engine If the pre cleaner consists of tubes clean with a stiff brush compressed air or water Caution Dry thoroughly before returning to service Inspect all gaskets and replace those which are worn or damaged Here are the usual gasket locations outer cover inner cover filter retention washer filter body and dust cup Caution Re installing worn or damaged gaskets particularly on bolt is one of the biggest causes of air filter failure The air filter can t work if the gasket lets air bypass the filter Re assemble in reverse order of disassembly If the lid has bolts tighten uniformly by criss cross tightening Clamps and mounting bands should be uniformly tightened also Caution Make sure dust cup fits airtight Inspect and tighten all air cleaner induction system connections Replace cracked rubber connectors Caution Watch for unusual amount of dirt gathering at a connector This could mean a leak Important Conside
9. ration from a tractor before an overhaul of LOOK FOR THE API ENGINIE OIL SERVICE SYMBOL API TO MATCH OEM REQUIREMENTS ENGINE OIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS SYMBOL TOP PERFORMANCE QUALITY 2 CENTER viscosity 3 BOTTOM IF FUEL SAVING PROPERTIES DEMONSTRATED THE SYMBOL ILLUSTRATED LEFT 1S ON THE LABEL OF ANY OIL CONTAINER AS A STANDARDIZED METHOD OF PRESENTING THE INFORMATION Figure 1 American Petroleum Institute Service Classification Symbol the engine is needed when he should get 6 400 hours or almost a 52 increase The cost of purchasing a 100 hp tractor requires an investment of almost 50 000 00 in capital while a combine may sell for almost 100 000 00 An example of poor maintenance is cited by a major company service engineer As a generalization the farmer is getting about one fourth to one half the engine 1 This document is Fact Sheet EES 47 a series of the Florida Energy Extension Service Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Publication date November 1992 2 Dalton S Harrison Former Energy Extension Specialist Energy Extension Service Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Gainesville FL 32611 The Florida Energy Extension Service receives funding from the Florida Energy Office Department of Community Affairs and is operated
10. rations The major difference is that the farmer often neglects an engine while the fleet operator has a rigid schedule for Select the product based on your equipment maintenance and care A tractor pulling a hay wagon manufacturer s recommendation and idling at less than half the slow idling speed causes scarred cylinder walls Unfortunately the tractor driver As major filter companies recommend select the oil assumed he was saving money on fuel when in fact the based on the API American Petroleum Institute tractor was not getting proper lubrication Reading the Service classification symbol There are 3 items or operator s manual and knowing the correct gear speed parts to look for a Performance quality at the top ratio could have prevented this needless repair of the symbol b Viscosity at the center of the symbol and c If Fuel Saving properties MAINTENANCE SUGGESTIONS demonstrated at the bottom of the symbol Figure 1 and Table 2 Oil Lubrication Systems Other factors to look for when purchasing the right Oil reduces wear cuts friction absorbs shocks oil are additives oxidation inhibitors foam cushions loads seals between cylinder wall and piston inhibitors rust corrosion and antiwear additives rings cools prevents bearing corrosion provides rust pour point depressants viscosity index improvers protection and neutralizes and cleans working surfaces and detergents and dispersants Oil considered to
11. re CA CB or CC is prescribed CE Turbocharged supercharged heavy duty service Introduced in 1987 for engines manufactured since 1983 operated under high load condition whether at low or high speeds Can also be used to replace any of the above classifications NOTE Use oil with service classification specified in service manual or a universal oil If the diesel fuel you use has a high sulfur content it is necessary to use a grade oil containing more detergency or greater neutralizing ability such as one meeting API service category CD C E SF CD or SF CE API American Petroleum Institute Much of the contamination of diesel fuel comes in storage after delivery Some of the items that cause contamination are rust and bits of worn hose evaporation causing gum to form which clogs fuel lines and water rusting inside the tank which can damage the fuel injection systems on diesel engines Always fill the fuel tank at the end of the day to avoid air and moisture problems When air is present in the tank overnight it cools and permits moisture from the air to run down into the fuel In below ground storage tanks the tank should be tilted and the drain at the lower end to permit pumping out the excess water and debris while the upper end of the tank should be provided with the filler pump for filling the tractor or other equipment an added benefit housing will rid the system of entrapped air SUMMARY Remember that tr
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