Engine Hours Cancel The title field is required!

1. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   4/15/2013 6:04 AM

   What is expected hours for this engine? 2004 Toro 3100gm engine(Vanguard BS 18) has 5500 hours, should we have gotten more out of this engine or is it past its useful life. Would you rebuild it or buy a new one?

   
   
   
   
2. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   4/15/2013 9:04 AM

   Justin,
   
   In my opinion and experience that engine served you well. You do not say what is wrong with it but we no longer rebuild engines with that many hours on them and choose to replace with new rather than have the next weakest item go a year down the road.
   
   The days of rebuilding a engine 4 times has seemed to pass us bye, The parts are too expensive and scarce.

   
   
   
   
3. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   4/15/2013 2:04 PM

   David, this is our tee, approach and fringe mower(retired greens mower). A few months back we had a bent push rod on this engine. Do not know what caused it and with out tearing it apart we just stuck a new rod in it and continued on. Now we are beginning to have oil blown back into the air filter and loss of power. My belief is like you said, If we replace what is bad when is the next weakest part going to break.
   
   We have a new engine ready to install this week. I just wanted to see if this is a typical lifespan or did we go beyond what most do. Thanks

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   4/15/2013 2:04 PM

   If the rest of the machine is in good shape, including hydraulics, the cost of a replacement engine is negligible compared to buying a new mower. I've replaced this engine a couple of times through Repower Specialists and have extended the life of a mower by at least another five years.

   
   
   
   
5. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   4/15/2013 2:04 PM

   I would say you did good, best we've gotten out of our Briggs engines is 3555 on one of our Ransomes. We replaced that engine last summer and are happy with the machine. You got 5500 hours on yours that's pretty darn good in my opinion.
   
   
   We had our other Ransome 3-wd mower have it's engine go bad at 3301, it was rebuilt with another engine from one of our other courses that only made it to about 2600 hours. We did get another 1000 hours with that and then had to replace it this past summer too. I wish we wouldn't have had to do that because that machine now with 4654 hours is a dog, with wheel motor and/or pump issues.
   
   I remember the old single cylinder Kohler's, we would get about 1500 hours on them and then do a short block, don't know why we didn't bore out once or twice? Maybe because we couldn't afford to have the machine down for that long? I was just an assistant back at that course.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
6. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   4/16/2013 6:04 AM

   Andy, new hydraulic valve bank and new engine are ready to be installed. Even that cost is small compared to new machine. We have never bought a new mower for tees, they are always the hand me down greens mower. So when they start out they are at the 2500-3500 hour range.
   
   We run old equipment, unfortunately, last equipment purchased was in 09. Needing to upgrade our workman that is at 6500 hours with the original engine.

   
   
   
   
7. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   4/23/2013 8:04 AM

   this post has me thinking, so what cost is acceptable to invest into a machine before one replaces it?
   
   I know we can keep machines running by replacing parts, but at what cost? The one triplex mower we are going to replace this season is 12 years old, has 4661 hours on it, we replace the engine last summer, we know there are hydraulic problems, we should replace the steering box, $1,000. We have either wheel motors that are bad at about $1,000 apiece (the back 3 WD motor seems to be the only one pushing the machine), could there be a hydraulic pump problem? We're not sure and don't have the test equipment to test it. We have one head mechanic who repairs most of the repairs for 3 courses, so taking the time to troubleshoot doesn't occur. We are in the transition zone so in theory we do have some time to overhaul stuff but we don't (some of it budget issues) we tend to let them go until they break down.
   
   Would love to hear some comments to really see if we are doing the right things.....My Lake City background and some of the hours you are getting out of your machines tells me no.
   
   Thanks, Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
8. Matt Falvo

   

   0 posts
   
   4/23/2013 9:04 AM

   Melvin Waldron, CGCS said: this post has me thinking, so what cost is acceptable to invest into a machine before one replaces it?
   
   I know we can keep machines running by replacing parts, but at what cost? The one triplex mower we are going to replace this season is 12 years old, has 4661 hours on it, we replace the engine last summer, we know there are hydraulic problems, we should replace the steering box, $1,000. We have either wheel motors that are bad at about $1,000 apiece (the back 3 WD motor seems to be the only one pushing the machine), could there be a hydraulic pump problem? We're not sure and don't have the test equipment to test it. We have one head mechanic who repairs most of the repairs for 3 courses, so taking the time to troubleshoot doesn't occur. We are in the transition zone so in theory we do have some time to overhaul stuff but we don't (some of it budget issues) we tend to let them go until they break down.
   
   Would love to hear some comments to really see if we are doing the right things.....My Lake City background and some of the hours you are getting out of your machines tells me no.
   
   Thanks, Mel

   
   
   
   Mel,
   I believe the R.O.I. for hydraulic testing tools will be rather quick in your case with 3 courses. They eliminate the guess work and parts changing. A reasonably priced and reasonably accurate set up can be put together using Northern Tools for around $1000.00.
   
   These tools can also be used to determine if a machine isn't worth putting money into. If flow rates and pressures are too far out of spec, a repair price can be put together to help decide if replacement is the best option.
   
   
   Bret Hart
   Equipment Manager
   Turning Stone Resort