Breaking-in new Diesel Machine

Date 03-01-2011 03:11

I picked up a new Vantage 400 today with Perkins power. Do ya'll recomend I have it load banked (@ 60hr.) or just run it hard and burn some big rod until it gets some hours on it? Tell me what y'all have done and recommend if you would. Much appreciated.

Caleb

By 52lincoln (***)

Date 03-01-2011 03:13

im thinking that it has already been load banked from the factory.

By KSellon (****)

Date 03-04-2011 15:45

Run it easy up to 25hours, change out the breakin oil. Run her like your gonna.
Change your oil as required. If you allow her to sit at idle for 30 mins out of every hour then you'll notice 'wet stacking'. If you run in 3rd gear all day everyday you need to run her to max once a month the clear the carbon build up out of the cylinders.

By Caleb C. (**)

Date 03-01-2011 04:04

Really? Hmm...that would be good. My owners manual doesn't say anything about load banking it etc. It just states to not run it for prolonged periods at low loads. Maybe I need to just go burn some with it, it kinda' sucks I haven't even started it yet because I want to do this right.

By 99205

Date 03-01-2011 04:32

Call Lincoln and ask them.

By J Hall

Date 03-01-2011 13:16

We just put them to work. Don't let it idle a lot and don't just run light loads. Make it do some work.

By Caleb C. (**)

Date 03-01-2011 15:38

I appreciate the responses. I'm thinking I'll do just that, put it to work and run it fairly hard. It seems to me if load banking was necessary they would at least recommend you do so in the manual.

Thanks,

Caleb

By Cumminsguy71 (*****)

Date 03-01-2011 15:44

You will be surprised at the difference in the engine sound when loading it real good. I use mostly 1/8 or 5/32 rods and decided to throw some 3/16 at my machine and crank the knob and fired off those 3/16 rods and you could really hear the ol' gal lugging!

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 03-02-2011 01:40

Untill You get some hours on it, don't let it idle for extended periods. If You know You won't be welding for a bit, sut it down and restart shortly before You will be welding again.

Run some big rods just for the hell of it, operating at load helps seat the rings properly.

By bigrod

Date 03-02-2011 02:26

I just cranked my 300D all the way up and burnt a lot of 3/16" rods and it helped it out a ton.

By Nitrowelding (**)

Date 03-02-2011 02:16

When I got my 300D it did say in the owners manual to load bank it, I called my local "guru" and he told me just leave it at high idle for the first 100 hours. I was mostly burning 3/16 jetrods for those 100 hrs and my machine broke in well and didn't "wet stack" hope this helps

By Johnny Walker (***)

Date 03-02-2011 02:23

I just broke my vantage in by welding with it and it does fine !

By Caleb C. (**)

Date 03-02-2011 03:00

Thanks to each of ya'll for the advice. I fired it up today and burned a bunch of 1/8 and 3/16 rod and alternated between the large and small rod and played with the amperage just for good measure. I never let it sit idle for more than about a minute except when I cooled it down before I killed it. I think I'll keep doing that procedure for a while as everybody suggested and save my money. Thanks again.

Caleb

By rcwelding (***)

Date 03-02-2011 03:01

Enjoy... I love mine more every day I use it..!!

RC

By Robert48 (**)

Date 03-31-2011 00:22

I bought a Pro 300D last yer and had it load banked before I ever welded with it. I got it done at a Miller authorized service center, and they gave me a recipt with the machine serial number on it saying it had been broke in. They charged me one hours labor and ran it for a few. They told me not to let it idle for over 10-15 min for the first 60 hrs. To me the documentation is worth the price they charged. Especially on a 10k machine.