Still way behind the curve here at my place and it seems that small problems have a way of cascading into more and increasingly challenging issues. Earlier last week I was mowing a filed near the cabin and the tractor went limp. Three alerts flashed up on the instrument cluster at the same time; the dreaded red “STOP” indicator, a contaminated Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) warning, and the engine de-rated symbol.
After running through the fault troubleshooting/clearing decision tree in the owners manual, the fault cleared for roughly 2 seconds and came immediately back on. Damn.
When a New Holland tractor gets ‘de-rated’, the computer will not allow the engine to rev beyond idle. Once de-rated, the pencil-necks that designed the electronics figured they would give an owner three attempts at fixing the problem. Once you use up your three tries, the entire system, including engine, shuts completely down. The trouble is that what it counts as an attempt may not actually be one. For instance; turning the key ‘on’ without starting the tractor, then off again and waiting 15 seconds before turning the key on again and starting the tractor counts as an attempt. Being the conservative that I am, I was unwilling to risk attempting another reset on the off chance that it would be read as the third.
After chatting with the son-in-law we agree that we get the pro’s involved. For a small nominal fee (normally your first born male child) they will travel the 60 or so miles out to our place, pick up the tractor, and off they go to both their facilities and the bank. So far so good.
On Friday they bring the tractor back and while pulling onto the property the driver takes the corner to tight coming in the front gate….the trailer that the tractor is riding on catches the gate and not only bends the two mounting bolts that attaches the gate to the 8″ by 8″ post, but also “tilts” the post so that it is no longer perpendicular to the ground. Just for clarity, I now have a 14 foot gate hanging on a post that wants to wiggle when the gate is moved. No way to keep the free end of the heavy gate from plowing into the ground.
The worker unloads the tractor by the barn and he and I return to assess the damage to the gate: It’s pretty hosed up but in my estimation fixable with some bracing and ingenuity. I send him off. As I go to hook the tractor back up to the brush-hog, I notice that while the stop light had cleared and the engine de-rated symbol was off, the contaminated DEF warning was still on. WTF? Apparently the dealer determined that it was a bad DEF sensor that caused the engine to de-rate, but did nothing about the other sensor that was indicating contaminated DEF. In other words, fix the fucking problem
Bottom line on the tractor is that I do not know if the DEF is good or bad and so now need to drain and refill that system. I spent a good part of Saturday, pausing for the Alabama/Duke football game (Roll Tide), bracing and adjusting the front gate. It turns out that the mechanical/physics related portions of the repair were easier, but not easy, to execute than the electronic adjustments. It took me three attempts to set the mast and close limits for the gate, but finally got it so that it does not try and rip itself apart as it opens and closes. Given my experience with this gate, that’s a wonder all into itself.
So everything is all good—mo better (I suppose). My beloved tractor works well enough for me to perform corrective maintenance, Alabama topped Duke, and wifey can get in and out of the gate without getting in and out of her car.
Life on the farm is nothing but sweetness and light!