I've also go a new L3200 and have a follow up question. PTO rmp's are about 2550, the rated rpm's are 2800, but I believe full throttle would be about 3100-3200 based on the tach. The manual does not indicate. DO I need to base my break in rpm's off full throttle, or rated rmp's? I've been using a rear finish mower and running between about 2100-2500 rpm's which I believe should be fine.
These engines are governed. The high idle should not exceed the book value.
A high idle in diesel talk is opening the throttle wide open without any load on the engine. Doing this and checking the high idle rpm's against the book value is part of a professional diesel tune up.
If it is too low or too high, then the full throttle stop on the injection pump will need to be adjusted.
Normal diesel operating rpm on equipment, boats and other industrial uses is maximum rated rpm, less 10% as a rule of thumb. So if the engine is rated at 2800 rpm (and it was determined that engine was capable and performing at the book high idle value as noted in the above paragraph), then subtract 10% from that value to get the recommended maximum day in day out rpm. Comes out at 2520 rpm, which is pretty close to where Kubota set the engine rpm to run the PTO at 540 rpm.
Sometimes the manufactures will play with these numbers a bit, lighter duty / and or / occasional use equipment where it is not expected that a lot of operating hours or a higher wear rate is acceptable will encroach on that rule of thumb 10% (that way the manufacture can use a lighter and cheaper engine), conversely heavily loaded equipment may have a 20% factor. You actually have to look at the rating - IE Light duty, medium duty and heavy duty to get the black and white numbers, as well as look at the maximum sustained rpm, verses the absolute short term maximum rpm.
David