Flat rate manual

[Rick L.]

Does anyone have an old flat rate book that would tell the hours
It should take to completely overhaul the Diesel engine on a 720
John Deere? I even had to take the crankshaft out,replaced all bearings, and replaced the injectors and rebuilt the head. I'm just
Curious about how long it should take a real mechanic.

 

[Mike M]

I think I have one ? It is a joke ! no way are they accurate especially now that all these years of wear and corrosion are against you.
You could maybe get a starting point by tripling it.
Back when stuff was brand spanking new everything would of went much better and little to no clean up time needed either.

 

[Rick L.]

thanks Mike, I have about 161 hrs. In this and I am a little ashamed, thinking it is way to many. Rick

 

[Mike M]

I was back in the building last night and forgot all about looking for it , darn it.

Completely is the key phrase as most were just done partially. There is one heck of a lot more to remove,clean,rebuilt and reinstall to completely get one of those engines down.

Just think how many countless hours I spent on my 720D electric start ! I took it 100% down to an empty case and EVERY bearing,bushing and seal was replaced along with several other major parts.
I could not imagine doing that again !

 

[Rick L.]

Mike I'm still having nightmares about how small the crankcase openings are on this tractor. My friend that owns this 720D brought it to me to get the starting engine running. Well long story longer, the big engine crank would not turn a full rotation, locked up at the same point forward and backward. I took the pony off and opened the crankcase up to find the right rod bearing spun. The journal was .080 under. Took the crank to Effinham regrinding and he welded the journal up and reground the whole crank (.020 mains .010 rods) . Later I found bad injector lobes on cam so sent it the same place and he reground the cam as well. I had to remove oil pump and all oil lines also, so I think you would have to say I went through it completely. New valves and seats, rebuilt injectors, new radiator core, new wiring(almost as much pain in a$$ as the small crankcase openings) and the old boy is now running.

 

[Mike M]

Well it's been about 29 years since I did mine (time flys)and my back still hurts ! Those parts are HEAVY !
I'd sure hate to do one now.

 

[Rick L.]

I agree, it will be quite some time before anyone talks me into doing another one of these tractors again. I know now why, when I was growing up the old mechanics at the JD dealership were always in what seemed to me, to be a bad mood.

 

[Mike M]

Well here is the info.
Copyright 1960 based on $5.00 per hour.
The book only shows dollar amounts. The highest one I
could find in the engine and clutch overhaul catagory says
to charge $ 206.00 lol! That's only 41.2 hrs.
I have some notes jotted down where I came up with my
own formula using this data. I would of estimated 68.7 hrs.
and likely still used $ 35.00 figure per hour. So you can see
why I never got rich fixing this junk! I always tried to be fair
given adding in parts prices and price the tractors are only
worth.
I could easily see a dealer today charging at least $ 5000
labor minimum.
In conclusion I don't know what you were expecting to get
for doing this job or what you and the owner discussed ?
Believe me I know how tough it can be to try and be fair
and still try to get any sleep at night !
How does my 68.7 hr guestimate stack up to what labor
figure you had in mind verse the real life hours and
frustration ???

 

[Rick L.]

i guess if I had waited till I had all the parts in front of me I might have made better time, but when you only work 3-5 hrs at a time you can't make flat rate. Like I said I think it will be along time before I do this for somebody else again. That being said a guy wants to trade me a 70D that needs rebuilt for a Oliver70 std. That I now own, hmmmm. I'm thinking. Rick