I see a few posts but cant seem to find them now. Going to be loading firewood into a utility cart and stacking. Probably 5-10 minutes between loads. Better to shut the BX23s down or leave it running? If running, leave it at idle or at a higher RPM?
Leave it running or shut it off
- Thread starter pjoh784350
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GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
shut it off, waste of fuel otherwise( $4.50 USD/ USG up here). If you do 12 loads, idling for 5 minutes, that'd be an extra HOUR on the clock...gettin ZERO in return.
I've never understood the 'better to keep a diesel running' mantra... The ONLY place I KNOW it's be true is waaay up north, in Winter, say as an Ice Road Trucker.
I've never understood the 'better to keep a diesel running' mantra... The ONLY place I KNOW it's be true is waaay up north, in Winter, say as an Ice Road Trucker.
Daren Todd
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Lifetime Member
Equipment
Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
If it's 5 minutes or less stacking, just leave it running. The fuel usage is almost nothing when a diesel is idling.
I'll set the parking brake on my zero turn and idle it down if I'm just running in the house to grab a bottle of water or move some sticks to the brush pile.
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I'll set the parking brake on my zero turn and idle it down if I'm just running in the house to grab a bottle of water or move some sticks to the brush pile.
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Are the hours "normalized" for Full rated rpm on the BX series?
It is on a couple of my tractors (I don't have a BX)
If so, the hours accumulate slowly at idle revs.
With that, I shut down whenever I leave the tractor seat to do other things. You can never tell what might come up. I do have to put the B7200 on the battery charger from time to time ( every couple of weeks) when doing wood hauling with the wagon. That little dynamo just can't put the electrons back in fast enough. ;-)
It is on a couple of my tractors (I don't have a BX)
If so, the hours accumulate slowly at idle revs.
With that, I shut down whenever I leave the tractor seat to do other things. You can never tell what might come up. I do have to put the B7200 on the battery charger from time to time ( every couple of weeks) when doing wood hauling with the wagon. That little dynamo just can't put the electrons back in fast enough. ;-)
I’m in the let it run crowd. Fuel usage will be very minimal. Hours? I could care less. I do the same with my diesel truck.
Depends on the equipment and its build but keep in mind that with some EPA devices it might be best to keep the motor at operating temperature.
Creature Meadow
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Lifetime Member
Equipment
2012 L4600, Disk, Brush Hog, GB60 Garden Bedder, GSS72 Grading Scraper
I'm in the leave it running crowd myself, idle for me is little less than 1000. I keep it at 1200 most of the time when just messing around and I use the 10 minute rule myself.
I too don't care about the hours, no intentions of ever getting rid of mine and I call my 4600 the fuel sipper. I ran it all day hogging at PTO and it took 3 gallons to top it back off. Not sure that when I would stop to move some limbs, grab some water, stretch or even eat my sandwich would have made much of a difference if I had shut it off each time, I did idle it back though.
Maybe if you use it all day every day that in a week or two it would add up but not obvious in my case.
I too don't care about the hours, no intentions of ever getting rid of mine and I call my 4600 the fuel sipper. I ran it all day hogging at PTO and it took 3 gallons to top it back off. Not sure that when I would stop to move some limbs, grab some water, stretch or even eat my sandwich would have made much of a difference if I had shut it off each time, I did idle it back though.
Maybe if you use it all day every day that in a week or two it would add up but not obvious in my case.
Let it run, fuel use will be negligable and your starter will last longer, especially if you get into the habit of shutting it off everytime you are off it for a minute or few.
My brother was doing the stop every time stuff.
Then, even with a new battery, he was complaining the engine would, at times, barely start. His frequent starts and short on's was draining the battery. The charging system could not recover during the short run periods.
Now, conscious of what is happening, he leaves the machine run much more often. Problem gone.
Dave
Then, even with a new battery, he was complaining the engine would, at times, barely start. His frequent starts and short on's was draining the battery. The charging system could not recover during the short run periods.
Now, conscious of what is happening, he leaves the machine run much more often. Problem gone.
Dave
Most advise that diesel engines not be shut down in such situations, and I concur.
Fuel usage at idle is negligible and repetitive starting takes a toll on starter drives and ring gears.
SDT
same here. if its at an idle? & you are just filling a load of wood?
let it run. that tiny bit of time on the meter means nothing to me.
hint: best way to keep your hours low on the machine is to not just leave the key on when you walk away from it. YES ive done that. now i take the key OUT when its turned off.
Daren Todd
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Lifetime Member
Equipment
Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
The other issue of repeated shut downs. Do it often enough with out enough run time, and you may hit the key and no start. That started uses a bunch of juice.
If you start the machine, drive it for two minutes then shut it off, start it back up after loading the fire wood, then do another two minute trip. Shut it back off. Your creating a deficit in your charge on your battery. After a while it will get sluggish on starting. And eventually the battery will give out.
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If you start the machine, drive it for two minutes then shut it off, start it back up after loading the fire wood, then do another two minute trip. Shut it back off. Your creating a deficit in your charge on your battery. After a while it will get sluggish on starting. And eventually the battery will give out.
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coachgeo
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Equipment
L225 w/woods Few Mowers & Back Blade, D722 in Motorcycle (Triumph Tiger), LMTV
deleted a couple of post. Honestly think it was just humor gone wrong. Remember folks..... if you intend to be humorous or sarcastics... use the freakin emojis to express that is your intent
. that is what they are their for.
. that is what they are their for. Remember that 95%+ of an engines wear happens during the 5 minutes after each start. The more you can cut that the better.
A few hours, up to a hundred or so are meaningless to the value of the tractor. Yes a tractor with 3,500 hr is generally worth less than one with 700 hours. If the difference between two like tractors is 1-2 hundred hours the price will be the same.
But the people on this forum are generally amateur tractor operators and put 1-2 hundred hours a year. At that rate we will never wear out our engines with in our lifetime.
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A few hours, up to a hundred or so are meaningless to the value of the tractor. Yes a tractor with 3,500 hr is generally worth less than one with 700 hours. If the difference between two like tractors is 1-2 hundred hours the price will be the same.
But the people on this forum are generally amateur tractor operators and put 1-2 hundred hours a year. At that rate we will never wear out our engines with in our lifetime.
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Jchonline
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Equipment
Kubota L6060, KX040-4, M7060, RTV X1100C, M62 (sold)
For the non dpf BX tractor, I would let it idle rather than shut it off. My diesel ZD mowers get started once per day and are idled while I trim and do whatever.
My dpf L4060 gets shut down if I'm going to be off it for 5 or 10 minutes, OR I keep the rpm's at around 1500.
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My dpf L4060 gets shut down if I'm going to be off it for 5 or 10 minutes, OR I keep the rpm's at around 1500.
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If you shut down for every little pause...it is true you might help save the planet by polluting a tiny bit less, and burning a tiny bit less fuel. But you won't help save your tractor...Starting up is when the most engine wear occurs. You'll also wear out the starter faster, and your battery faster.
Your BX doesn't have emissions equipment such as a DPF, which is more sensitive to prolonged idling. There is no harm to idling for a few minutes.
I've told this story before, but last year I was completing a job in the field at night - I idled my MX4800 (with a DPF) for a good 2-3 hours running just headlights and aux lights. Totally didn't care, and that was nearly 100 hours ago. I also idle my diesel pickup for as long as I feel like.
Your BX doesn't have emissions equipment such as a DPF, which is more sensitive to prolonged idling. There is no harm to idling for a few minutes.
I've told this story before, but last year I was completing a job in the field at night - I idled my MX4800 (with a DPF) for a good 2-3 hours running just headlights and aux lights. Totally didn't care, and that was nearly 100 hours ago. I also idle my diesel pickup for as long as I feel like.