Around 1992 I bought a brand new b7100 with a 1630C fel and a 4' bush hog and 5' box blade complete with tandem axle trailer for the grand sum of $10,500. At 875 hours the cylinders had to be bored and the pistons and rings had to be replaced with the next size over. I now have about 1400 hours on it and so far no problems. I have always wondered what could have caused this and don't want it to happen again. I always changed oil and filter and kept the air cleaner clean or replaced.
Here is a little history of it's use.
For several years I used it to till several acres of ground that I grew pumpkins on. The tiller probably was used once or twice a week throughout the growing season. Depending on the condition of the ground the tiller put a real strain on the engine. At one point I had a high school boy helping me and I observed him tilling. His technique was to set the throttle wide open drop the tiller all the way and ram the hydrostat pedal to the metal. Then just before the engine died he would let off and when the rpm peaked again he would repeat the process.
I also used it to clear a lot of woodland and I would cut trees with a chainsaw and use the tractor to push them into a burn pile. As the fire burned I would drive the tractor as far as I could into the burning pile and compact the limbs with the loader. Also while the piles burned I would continue to push and carry more limb onto the pile.
Other than the above the tractor has just been used for post holes, moving dirt and gravel, box blading, raking etc.
I have a couple of ideas that might have made it wear out and would like to know what the rest of you think.
In the case of the tiller, could the extreme load have caused the engine wear? Could it have been the technique of my teen age helper?
In the case of the clearing and burning I have always wondered about the effect of ashes. Could the ashes have been so fine they were able to get through the air cleaner?
Then I wonder about the fact that I used high sulfer off road diesel? Or at one point my pipe broke off my muffler and I wonder if rain could have found it's way into the cylinders?
Any ideas that could prevent me from rebuilding again would be appreciated.
Here is a little history of it's use.
For several years I used it to till several acres of ground that I grew pumpkins on. The tiller probably was used once or twice a week throughout the growing season. Depending on the condition of the ground the tiller put a real strain on the engine. At one point I had a high school boy helping me and I observed him tilling. His technique was to set the throttle wide open drop the tiller all the way and ram the hydrostat pedal to the metal. Then just before the engine died he would let off and when the rpm peaked again he would repeat the process.
I also used it to clear a lot of woodland and I would cut trees with a chainsaw and use the tractor to push them into a burn pile. As the fire burned I would drive the tractor as far as I could into the burning pile and compact the limbs with the loader. Also while the piles burned I would continue to push and carry more limb onto the pile.
Other than the above the tractor has just been used for post holes, moving dirt and gravel, box blading, raking etc.
I have a couple of ideas that might have made it wear out and would like to know what the rest of you think.
In the case of the tiller, could the extreme load have caused the engine wear? Could it have been the technique of my teen age helper?
In the case of the clearing and burning I have always wondered about the effect of ashes. Could the ashes have been so fine they were able to get through the air cleaner?
Then I wonder about the fact that I used high sulfer off road diesel? Or at one point my pipe broke off my muffler and I wonder if rain could have found it's way into the cylinders?
Any ideas that could prevent me from rebuilding again would be appreciated.
