[jcpconecomp]

Taking delivery on a MY16 3650 tomorrow morning. I have a question for you veterans. First some background:
Located in the Laurel Highlands of W. PA. Elevation 2100', same mountain range as several ski resorts.
Trading a BX2670 with front snowblower, bucket and forks for similarly equipped 3650. BX had replaced B7500 with front plow and rear blower. Property is 5 acres surrounded by game lands and water shed to the top of the mountain.
Hopefully the last big toy purchase as approaching retirement. Since purchasing the BX have added an outside wood burner burning 20+ cords a winter heating a double house. Bobcat is better suited for off road wood work and climbing the mountain trails. Raised 3 boys with 2 Polaris quads which outlasted their childhood.
The question: I picked up the owner's manual and read it. The only surprise was the recommended limit of 15 degrees incline usage. The primary use of these tools is the snow clearing. The private road to our driveway is 500' then about 600' more back to 2 neighbors who were given right of way. They use atv plows but when it's deep, we blow the road open (along with a few neighbor widows). Just after our driveway, the private road rises for about 150' at about a 30 degree incline. Sometimes when it snowed alot quickly we would drive the Kubota up and blow down that section. Our concern is the threads about the MY15 diesel being oil starved when used on inclinations over 15 degrees. Anyone with experience on this and if it changed in MY16. BTW the Kubotas were fine. Thanks for the forum.

 

[KeviNH]

I assume you're talking about the RangerForums thread about "Kohler 1000 engine has a fault with the oil pickup being to high in the sump"?

That thread suggests Kohler was made aware of the problem and the fix is implemented in the MY16 engine, but I haven't seen this confirmed in writing.

 

[Interceptor]

The same engine part number is listed for 2015 and 2016 model years, but it has been superseded by a new part number. No idea what the change is or if/when it was implemented into production. The oil pickup is integral to the oil pan and there doesn't appear to be any updates to the pan or any of the oil pump system parts. I think if I were going to run 30 degree slopes regularly I'd overfill the sump as much as possible and keep a close eye on oil pressure. Too full will cause whipping of the oil by the crankshaft, so watch for foamy or aerated oil. I would guess a quart over would be safe. It looks like the pickup is on the accessory drive side of the engine, so left leaning hills would pose the highest risk of oil starvation.

 

[jcpconecomp]

Thank you both for your feedback. As it won't be regular and there is not a lot of concerned feedback, I'll avoid unneeded time on the hill. Going to see how it moves some logs today.

 

[dufunnel]

Do you mean % grade or degrees? If you're running a 30 degree slope (i.e. 58%), I think you'll have more problems than just the engine. I doubt you would even get up that slope with the 3650. My driveway is 20% and roughly 500 feet long and I have to go pretty slow when I'm using the snowblower uphill.

 

[jcpconecomp]

Dufunnel, I have to confess ignorance. Why isn't 45 degrees 50% if vertical is 90 degrees? My hill looks on closer examination like it is about 25 degrees for the first half and 20 degrees for the balance.

 

[Interceptor]

Grade is the expression of the ratio between the rise and run of a slope. 45 degrees is 100% grade because rise equals the run, or 1/1. 90 degrees would be infinite grade since the rise is not measurable and the run is zero.

The Brutus will climb a 30 degree slope with relative ease.

 

[jcpconecomp]

Thanks for the clarification Interceptor. The Bobcat pulls my log splitter up the grade without a problem. Only 8 hrs so far but it seems noticeably quicker than my BX was.