rebuild question

samn40 · Oct 24, 2012

How many hours do you guys get on your diesel tractors before they need a rebuild? I know that is like asking how long is a piece of rope?....But I keep on seeing you all talk about buying tractors with motor rebuilds and yet the hours are low-ish. We never think of rebuilding unless something breaks....usually the rest of the tractor wears out just as fast as the motor and 10,000+ hours is common and around 8000+ on yard tractors or tractors that are not doing hard work. I wonder is it the dry dusty conditions you have....See we hardly ever have to clean or change an air filter......
Just curious....
Sam

Lou from Wi. · Oct 24, 2012

Sam" Speaking from experience, Rebuilding occurs when the tractor is beat all to H--l,and neglected and continued patched up for what ever reason, Owner out of funds, gonna sell it to some un=suspecting sucker, .Sure, we spent a great deal of time and effort, (which we can't recover in monetary means) but learned a heck of a lot as what to expect if we ever venture into that swamp again..Have pictures of our 706 which was as I described above, went through the tractor and virtually made a new one after months of rebuilding.P.s. Our 706 isn't diesel. it's gas. Regards LOU.

showcrop · Oct 24, 2012

I think that a lot of people can't make themselves follow instructions on air cleaner service and they have to check it and blow it out every month or two. I was shown some bearings out of a motor that had turned a bearing at about 7,000 hours. I looked up the damage pattern that was on the bearings in the shop manual and it showed very clearly dirt in air intake. The Caterpillar owner's manual that came with my dump truck said "Don't you even think of opening up that air cleaner housing until the fuel restriction indicator tells you to."

Welding man · Oct 24, 2012

In my part of the country that would depend a lot on how cold the winter gets and how much starting fluid gets used. I rebuild one or two every spring that has busted a piston or a liner by using too much starting fluid.Rebuilt a 5.9 cummins a while back on a vibratory roller that the block was worn so bad it had to be resleeved back to standard. 8000 Hours in the dust.

55deere70 · Oct 24, 2012

I would say diesel tractor engines should reasonably go 10,000 hrs before thinking about a rebuild with proper maintenance.

wisbaker · Oct 24, 2012

How long does a tractor engine last? 3 Factors 1- what it is, some are built better and have engines that will last longer than some of their competition, we could mention names but that would upset some folks 2- how it is cared for, someone who doesn't regularly check oil or change it at the appropriate intervals will diminish the service life of the engine, also included are if they are using the correct oil as far as service rating and viscosity, are they keeping the radiator clean and keeping it full of coolant? Are they using the proper fuel and is it kept clean of are they dumping a lot of dirty adulterated fuel into it/ 3- How the tractor is used, Start and stop like on a loader? Overloaded with too much draft from pulling equipment larger than it should? Trying to pull the proper sized equipment too fast? A neighbor of our regularly ran his Massey Fergusons to 7,000 hour with no major service work, in fact he had 3 or 4 on the farm with 7,000 plus hours on them. I don't think his cousin, also a neighbor of ours ever had a tractor make 3,000 hours without needing major repairs.

Tony in Mass. · Oct 25, 2012

That depends on the make and model too doesn't it?
A Perkins or propritary engine who's parts are getting rare, if not necessary to do now, atleast buy the basic kit minus bearings and wait like at an Irish wake.
A Continental burning oil and low compression might as well come appart the next major breakdown. Personally, it takes me so long to break a tractor and change a clutch, in another few days, I could/might have the engine rebuilt. A Standard diesel, first minor problem- push the bloody thing off a cliff!!!

dhermesc · Oct 25, 2012

We've averaged 9000-10000 hours on rebuilds with diesels used as field tractors. Most of their work is done with 10 to 20 hours with each turn of the key. Chore tractors with indifferent operators (meaning kids that are as young as 10 years old to hired hands that don't give a *#^$) can be anywhere from 6000 to 9000 hours.

Surprising enough our one GAS 656 also managed almost 8000 hours between overhauls - it was run by everyone and their dog and did everything from bale hay, to pull the planter to grind feed and load silage. With well over 20K hours on it my brother still owns it. The hydraulic pump still whines just like it did 40+ years ago.

Meanwhile our cranes and excavators at work usually manage about 14,000 hours between overhauls. The engine is usually outlasts the equipment.

rebuild question

samn40

Well-known Member

Lou from Wi.

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

Welding man

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55deere70

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wisbaker

Well-known Member

Tony in Mass.

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dhermesc

Well-known Member

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