861 Temps and Oil Pressure

[Tom Bond]

Well, now that I'm pretty sure I have all my issues with fuel flow worked out, (knock on wood) how do you think these #'s look? I ran the tractor for about 20 mins. at various rpms and here's what I have without any physical load on it yet.
At idle (about 600 rpm on my proofmeter) 29 psi oil pressure, at 900 rpms 35 psi, at 1100 rpms 39 psi and at 1400 rpm 40 psi.
Exhaust manifold temp anywhere from 380°F to 450°F .
Bottom radiator hose 110°F and at the t'stat neck 135°F.
Outside temp is 80°F.
Probably not the most prudent time to ask but do you think it will handle plowing snow with an 8ft. Woods blade? (350lbs.) What gear and what rpm do you run at while plowing or is it just trial and error and keep the tires from spinning? Nothing in the tires and no weights on the tractor.

 

[souNdguy]

oil pressure shows moderate wear on the engine.. but nothing to gasp at. it's got decades of tolerance left in her.

if that was on 10w30 oil.. i'd say you are plenty fine. if that was on 20w50... just keep an eye on the gauge.. if you get drastic drops or big changes.. then investigate..

 

[NoNewParts]

like SG said, oil pressure is ok
drop it to idle after some hot work and check it again
to see how big a 'swing' you have
I run 15w-40 diesel rated oil in all my tractors

Your tractor will easily handle the plows weight...front or rear
8 footer is a pretty big snow load if you live in the snow belt.
I run a 6 footer (front) on my NAA which is a little lighter and less powerful.
I have chains, wheel weights, filled tires, and a big counterweight
to push snow.
Plowing snow well is done at a good clip to get the snow 'rolling'
off the blade.
On a known surface, I use 2nd gear, but if I'm not sure what's there,
I use First. My mount is homemade and I don't want
to break it if I whack something unseen.

 

[Royse]

As far as the snow goes, here in Michigan I can't push snow without weighted tires and chains.
In a light snow, or if I was to go plow it as it snowed maybe, but a good wet, heavy snow over night, I can't push it.
I have loaded tires, chains and a front blade on a 2N with a heat houser I use for light snow. If I get drifted I get out the front end loader and move the drifts.
My tip for plowing deep heavy snow though, is idle it down. If you're doing a long clear stretch, then yeah, speed it up and roll it out of your way, but think about the next time you'll have to do it. If you just roll it off to the side and leave it, where are you going to put the next snow fall?
I idle mine down and push it well off the side of the drive. Less spinning, more pushing.

 

[Tom Bond]

When I bought the tractor a few months back, all the fluids were changed by previous owner. He told me he put in straight 30wt oil and it looks really clean so I haven't changed it. When it's time, I was going to drain and go with 15/40 living in Northern Illinois and will be using it in winter. He also told me he used 80 wt gear lube in the rear end and tranny. I pulled the plug on the left side of tranny (plug behind running board in pic) and the fluid started pouring out. I think it might be overfilled. Can I just drain from there till it stops to get to correct level? Now I'm thinking I better check the rear end level too. Hydro oil looked clear and at appropriate level on the stick.

 

[awhtx]

Remove the plug and let it drain until it stops at the bottom of the plug's hole. Running it over-full increases the chance it may leak out the front seals onto the clutch.
And recheck the level after running the tractor for a few minutes. If it's over-full again you may have the dreaded ruptured hydraulic pressure tube. Of course if you've run it for several hours and fluid isn't leaking out of the shifter you're probably safe.

 

[old]

Just to give you an idea of what the 3 point can handle as in weight look at the picture. This is a heavy blade with 6-85lbs suit case weights on it and a 150 lbs wheel weight on the center link area and it lifts it no problem. But I do also have a loader on it so if you did that the front might get a tad light but this says what it will lift. This on an 841 by the way

 

[Tom Bond]

I pulled the plug on the tranny and got 1.75 gals of fluid out of it. Now I need to run it for awhile and see if it overfills again? If it does, what type of issue might there be? I'll give it a try tonight. I'll let it run 10 mins or so and see what happens. Rear end was filled right to hole. Although fluid was much darker.

 

[awhtx]

If you have a ruptured pressure tube in the trans the Hydraulic reservoir will be going dry, not the rear axle.

 

[Tom Bond]

Understood about the hydro . Worded it wrong I guess. Just wanted to say the rear end wasn't overfilled like the trans...I'll check the hydro level after I run it tonight.

 

[Tom Bond]

Ran the tractor for about 1/2 hour last night and about the same today. Hydraulic fluid level hasn't changed. I pulled the trans plug again and it hasn't refilled. Guess the previous owner might of just over filled it.