regen while mowing dry weeds? fire hazard?

[icandigit]

New MX4800 owner here. What are opinions on allowing auto regen while mowing dry weeds?

I mow early AM only, bush hog or flail.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Any tractor work in a dry field is risky, but the regen process does not significantly raise that risk higher.

Just be smart about keeping the machine clean under the hood and not running in deep dry conditions.

 

[sheepfarmer]

How high are the weeds relative to your exhaust pipe? My sciency background says this would be a great experiment for one of those aim and shoot temp measuring devices. Just stop everything hop off and measure exhaust gas temps the next time it regens while you are mowing... Record air temp too while your at it. Kubota does suggest choosing a non flammable environment for regens "exhaust gases and exhaust filter components reach temperatures hot enough to burn people, or ignite or melt common materials."

Considering where you are, and that dry in your neck of the woods is probably REALLY dry, you might want to be overcautious and take it out of auto regen so you can check where you are when the regen light blinks. If weeds are short, proceed with regen, if they are tractor high, find someplace else to run the regen.

 

[RCW]

I was visiting daughter in Santa Cruz area a couple weeks ago. First time I saw the Pacific. Even near the coast it’s REALLY dry. (To me, anyway)
We’ve had close to 10” of rain at home since July 1, so quite a contrast from upstate New York.
Gosh, hogging really tall stuff out there would scare the hell out of me, regen or not!!
Here’s where you need to consider the source since I have no experience with that kind of drought, and guessing it is better to get the stuff mowed down.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fordtech86]

Not sure if tractor regens are the same as pick up regens,assuming they are fairly similar tho,I work on fords,when we have to perform a regen during service temps inside the dpf can reach 1200 degrees plus,at the tip it can be around 800 degrees of so,have to be careful what’s around the truck when doing it

 

[nickelplated5s]

That heat is why us SuperDuty drivers get those fancy double vented tips. Seriously though, carry an extinguisher.

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to the OTT forum Dig It. As you can see, great place to get answers.

Enjoy.

Here in Alabama we get those kinds of droughts in the summer months. That is why the state mows the right-of-ways along all roads, regularly. All it takes is one cigarette to start a wildfire.

 

[icandigit]

Thanks for all advice. 5' weeds are mowed early spring here, before fire season. Now on 2nd or 3rd mowing, 1-2' weeds, but very dry. I think I'll go with parked regens.

 

[troverman]

Not sure if tractor regens are the same as pick up regens,assuming they are fairly similar tho,I work on fords,when we have to perform a regen during service temps inside the dpf can reach 1200 degrees plus,at the tip it can be around 800 degrees of so,have to be careful what’s around the truck when doing it

The process is the same, except Ford dumps fuel into the cylinders on the exhaust stroke...Kubota is more like GM with an extra injector right into the DPF. But if you are using your tractor a lot at high RPM (I flail mow with my MX4800 at wide open throttle) than regens are not until 35-50 hours.

As I side note, I find my MX4800 to be a bit on the weak side given its HP rating.

 

[bucktail]

I'd get an IR gun and check the temps on the bearings too. One of the main sources of combine and hay equipment fires.