500 miles before towing?

[dward]

I think the owners manual states no towing until 500 miles.
I’m picking up a new DRW tomorrow and taking off for Missouri Tuesday or Wednesday. I would like to take my tractor back this trip but don’t want to spend a day driving around just to get to 500 mi.
Total weight will be around 7k lbs and the first 200 miles home from the dealer is no load and the next 200 towing is pretty flat.
How important is the 500 mile break in or would 200-300 be sufficient?

 

[AH64ID]

Many ignore that break-in, but it’s there to protect the gears.

I believe it also says no driving over 50 mph for the first 500 miles of towing.

If you’re slow and stop to let the gears cool a few times you should have no issues.

Change the OE gear lube out early, it’s not known for its quality.

My first tow was at ~4K miles, so at that point I wasn’t concerned with the speed restriction. The gears should have been well broken in by then.

 

[dward]

Thanks. Maybe I’ll take the scenic way home tomorrow and put a few more miles on.

 

[Bug Out]

Many ignore that break-in, but it’s there to protect the gears.

I believe it also says no driving over 50 mph for the first 500 miles of towing.

If you’re slow and stop to let the gears cool a few times you should have no issues.

Change the OE gear lube out early, it’s not known for its quality.

My first tow was at ~4K miles, so at that point I wasn’t concerned with the speed restriction. The gears should have been well broken in by then.

I'm traditional in that sense. I go 1K still. My 2020 rear axle lube after break in and being changed still runs about 200-205 in temp. Thats the hottest temp I have had yet on the rear axle fluid of all my previous CTD's. The last 2016 with 3:42's ran at about 150ish towing the same load. Of course the 2020 is 4:10's with the 12" rear axle.

 

[AH64ID]

I'm traditional in that sense. I go 1K still. My 2020 rear axle lube after break in and being changed still runs about 200-205 in temp. Thats the hottest temp I have had yet on the rear axle fluid of all my previous CTD's. The last 2016 with 3:42's ran at about 150ish towing the same load. Of course the 2020 is 4:10's with the 12" rear axle.

Interesting. I wonder if it’s the gear ratio or the 75w-140 causing the higher temps.

Does the 2020 have a finned cover? I don’t think they do, but not sure.

 

[Bug Out]

I wonder the same thing. I'm sure the 140 w is for the 43K max combined gross rating which I will never be at. The new axles do not have a finned cover that I have been able to find. . I bought a factory AAM finned cover for my 2016 and it made a big difference. Went down towing and not 10-15 degrees.

 

[bcbender]

Does the 2020 have a finned cover? I don’t think they do, but not sure.

My 20' HO does not, I plan to change out the factory fill soon to AMSoil Severe gear 75/90