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Maintenance intervals on low use machines?

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Armymutt

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May 3, 2015
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67
Location
Sanford, NC
On my JD 310SG, the maintenance intervals are in hours of use. I don't use it all that often, so it might take me a couple of years to get to the 500 hour services. Is that safe? My vehicles are all mileage or time, whichever comes first. Should the maintenance be done annually, no matter how many hours it's been used?
 
D

Delmer

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WI
There's plenty of old machines and tractors that get the oil changed every two, three or five years. At that point of low use, if the engine is getting condensation inside it, then it's not going to make much difference if you change it yearly or every three. Start out with getting the bugs worked out, and then change all the fluids if you don't know the hours on them, then change the filters at least every couple years so they don't fall apart from age. Keep fresh diesel in it. And keep the coolant maintenance up to date, use the correct type, and maintain it accordingly.

This assumes you're checking the oil levels before each use, at least until you know what to expect. Draining the water out of the bottom of the fuel tank is a good habit too.
 
skyking1

skyking1

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Nice post Delmer, I have nothing to add. I did just that on the dump truck yesterday, I really did not know the diff or trans fluid ages so they got dumped.
 
Coaldust

Coaldust

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Annually is a good rule of thumb for engine oil, fuel and air filters, grease, service battery and battery box, wiper blades and cab filter. Typical 500 hour PM stuff.

Sample all the boxes to see how the lube is doing.

For justification, the Filter Manufacturers Council, says that air filters have a one year service life. They claim the cellulose starts breaking down at that point. (They are also in the biz of helping their members sell filters.)

interesting note, the FMC also says air filters have a three year shelf life. Donaldson says the same thing.

The reason I’m aware of this is because I had to keep an inventory of “ volcano” filters in stock for my Anchorage fleet of fuel tankers for a Municipal fuel contract. For when Mt. Redoubt gets angry.

The last time Mt.Redoubt blew up, within hours, air filters were sold out everywhere. Which reminds me, I’ve been lazy about keeping extra filters around for my stuff. Should stock up again. Between the weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and wildlife, Alaska is constantly trying to kill me.
 
A

Armymutt

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May 3, 2015
Messages
67
Location
Sanford, NC
Thanks all. I'll put it in my annual rotation. Good point on the fuel thing. I saw there's a screw at the bottom of the tank.

Where do you order maintenance parts from, like filters? Can't find a place online that tells which filter model I need.
 
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C

cosmaar1

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May 14, 2020
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512
Location
Ohio
Armymutt said:
Thanks all. I'll put it in my annual rotation. Good point on the fuel thing. I saw there's a screw at the bottom of the tank.

Where do you order maintenance parts from, like filters? Can't find a place online that tells which filter model I need.
Click to expand...

i have a local Baldwin dealer near me. Their website allows you to search and get whatever filters you need for your machine.
 
T

Tenwheeler

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Wix also has a site online and they are made in NC. I see crazy price differences on filters depending on the distributor.
 
Coaldust

Coaldust

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https://napafilters.com/filter-lookup/

The NAPA filter site is handy. Filter media and beta ratios, too. Thread sizes. A great cross reference, as well.

The Fleetguard site is good.

Hate to say it, but Amazon is pretty good for filters. Especially for Motorcraft.
 
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cosmaar1

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Ohio
Here’s a price comparison for y’all. I ordered 2 Baldwin fuel filters from my local dealer, but they were back ordered. They were $13ish a piece. I was in a pinch and had no choice and went to Napa. The same filter, although their NAPA (wix) brand was $38. Talk about price gouging.
 
Swetz

Swetz

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cosmaar1,
Napa is quite a bit higher, but they sure have bailed me out when I had the wrong filter (in a pinch). Also, I have found that Napa prices vary quite a bit between stores.

I have used this site with good results. They give discounts based on how much you spend. I have 3 functioning tractors, so I try to buy for all at once...Never had a lick of problem with wWx or Baldwin. Have also used Hastings without a problem, but do not seem as common today for some reason.
https://www.fleetfilter.com/?msclkid=95012761f0cb1b343ece470845f090d2
 
C

cosmaar1

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May 14, 2020
Messages
512
Location
Ohio
Swetz said:
cosmaar1,
Napa is quite a bit higher, but they sure have bailed me out when I had the wrong filter (in a pinch). Also, I have found that Napa prices vary quite a bit between stores.

I have used this site with good results. They give discounts based on how much you spend. I have 3 functioning tractors, so I try to buy for all at once...Never had a lick of problem with wWx or Baldwin. Have also used Hastings without a problem, but do not seem as common today for some reason.
https://www.fleetfilter.com/?msclkid=95012761f0cb1b343ece470845f090d2
Click to expand...

O’reileys was actually a few dollars more for the same Wix filter. I couldn’t believe it!
 
Coaldust

Coaldust

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Hastings was purchased by the same group that owns Baldwin Filters. Same filter now, different color of paint. Hastings is primarily marketed by Federated Auto Parts. So, unless you shop at Federated,...
 
old-iron-habit

old-iron-habit

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Moose Lake, MN
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Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Easy to crack the drain plug on transmissions, chain boxes, etc. to check for condensation. It also makes a day and night difference if a seldom used machine is parked indoors or outside. The biggest preventative medicine I believe is to make sure you buy non-bio off road fuel for your machines that the fuel sets in for a long time. That bio-crap don't last and makes a mess. Many, actually most distributors here have the non-bio for use for off-road and for #2 heating oil.
 
T

Tenwheeler

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Dec 15, 2016
Messages
870
Location
Georgia
old-iron-habit said:
Easy to crack the drain plug on transmissions, chain boxes, etc. to check for condensation. It also makes a day and night difference if a seldom used machine is parked indoors or outside. The biggest preventative medicine I believe is to make sure you buy non-bio off road fuel for your machines that the fuel sets in for a long time. That bio-crap don't last and makes a mess. Many, actually most distributors here have the non-bio for use for off-road and for #2 heating oil.
Click to expand...
Thanks I have been struggling with fuel in low use machines.
As for the original poster we do this with some machines. Before they are ever fired up after sitting for many months crack the drain plug on everything. It is amazing what comes out some times. We still change engine oil at least every other year on those seasonal units. Many are 5,000 miles or less in two years.
 
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