JD 1020 break-in procedure

jimmyO

Member
Hi;
My 1020 had to have the engine replaced. The old one had a cracked block, and all the pistons had major chunks missing. And those were the minor items...

So now it has a replacement block and all new internal parts. The mechanic said I needed to run it "quite a while" at full power to break it in. The manual doesn't specify what to do. I have had other advice.
For all practical purposes, this is a brand new engine.
What is the recommended break-in procedure. After spending all that $$$$$$$$, I really don't want to mess this up!
Thanks,
Jim
 
Put it under a good steady load for an hour or so, keeping an eye on the temp and oil pressure. Make it smoke a bit....if it's a diesel.
Ben
 
basically run it as you would normally run a tractor under load. vary the load and rpm for a few hrs. then go to it.avoid overloading and lugging it too much. your not going to do harm unless you idle around a lot without it up to operating temperature. you want those piston rings to force themselves into the cyl. walls and get seated , accomplished under load not idling.
 
I take my overhauls to a jd dealer or an independent to dyno, just depends which one the owner is close to. The dealer will run it 6 hours and the independent will run 8 hours. But these are larger tractors 4020-4440.
 
Best to put it to work, run it several hours, the 4020 got put right on the planter after an overhaul and ran for 30 hours, used a quart of oil in first ten, and nary a drop of oil used now.
 
It's a gasser! And OH BOY did it smoke before replacement.
I don't want to do that again. It's too expensive!
Jim
 
Right or wrong, this is what Deere Company told us to do after a rebuild. Never let the engine idle and do NOT work it steady at full load. At first run, run it at very load levels. 1/4 load, then 1/2 load, etc. Much easier to control on a dyno then in the real world. I suggest just do not lug it and do not let it run much at low idle speed.
 
Oh yes there are many different ideas on how to put a new engine back to work,,Break in oil or a Zinc additive is needed,, then just put it back to work, the only thing that really needs to "break in" is the rings,, this happens when the pistons go up and down... I sent 14 fresh engines out the door last year,,no dyno time,,,just put them to work and all was/is good... the only engine I have ever had to use oil after an O/H was one that we did not add Zinc additive to,, and after we did it cleaned up,, and that was several years ago..
 

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