I'm a bit confused here. In your initial post you said this is a new tractor and engine, and in your last post you said you would contact the seller and manufacturer and that the tractor seems sound and you're happy with the purchase. From this I can't tell if this is really a brand new, never been run tractor or a new-to-you tractor that is actually a used machine.

If this is a brand new tractor with no hours on it and you bought it from a dealer, it should be under warranty - return it forthwith and get a new one that has oil pressure or get them to fix it and extend your warranty to cover you against possible damage done by running with no oil pressure. Since you said it never got hot, it probably isn't damaged beyond whatever is causing the no oil pressure situation. Hopefully it is just an improperly adjusted bypass valve in the oil filter head, but it could be trashed bearings or journals, bad pump, etc. All very expensive and time-consuming to fix, except for the bypass valve. Certainly not anything I'd be willing to suck up and eat on a brand new tractor, and not something I'd be tearing into until I knew that doing so wouldn't void any warranty I might otherwise have. You said you already took the valve cover off though, so I guess you're comfortable with that.

If, on the other hand, this is actually a used tractor, or one with a rebuilt engine, then the situation is different. the root cause of the pressure problem is still going to be one those mentioned, but unless the engine is a rebuild with a warranty you're going to have to stand the cost of repairs. Start by hoping you're lucky and check the bypass valve - that one is a free fix. All the others are going to cost some money, maybe a lot of it.

I'll be interested to hear further news on this one - please keep us updated and maybe fill in some of the details about the machine. Brand new, rebuilt, or used? Or maybe I'm the only one confused by this...?


EDIT:

I just thought of something. You said that the oil pressure starts out low and goes even lower after five minutes of operation. This sounds to me like the oil is warming up from your ambient temp of 12 degrees and the viscosity is dropping, something I would expect. At 12F that 15w/40 oil is going to be pretty chewy, I'd guess (just guessing, I live in the tropics) and after five minutes it is probably getting up to maybe room temperature. If you see a pressure drop with the oil still that cool, I'd guess that the underlying issue is not worn journals - the bearings and journals aren't going to change clearances very much with that small a temperature rise, I wouldn't think. But the bypass valve might be allowing significantly more flow with the oil slightly thinner if it is set way too low. I could be totally wrong on t his and if I am some of the more knowledgeable guys here will correct me, I hope. I'm just basing this on what seems logical to me.

Let us know what more you discover, please.

Rich

It's prob. a Laidong KM385,unless it's a new Tier IV TY2100 engine,was this a crated tractor ? If it's not the pressure regulator it will require removing the engine,if you purchased from a dealer you may want to see if the have a replacement tractor

Tommy

Thanks for replies.
They have all been important to me.
If the pressure adjustment does not help,
the engine will definitely have to be removed and/or repaired.
Perhaps because I am very old, it seems to me there are
much greater concerns than my broken tractor.
I've learned to be patient over the years. There will always be defective
or broken things to repair. Thank God for websites like this one
and for people like you all that are willing to share their knowledge.

Best regards

Patrick L.

Hello this is Red Horse Equip, I have been called back to work starting Feb 8, If you need help, I have a week off, call 612-483-4848 I have fixed a lot of these units and I need to get my name out there. I have a few costumers in Wisc. around Medford or superior areas, or call Erickson Welding at 320-242-3210, this is a garage I do repairs for. Good Luck

Quote:
Patrick, I have to ask; How old is "very old"?

Ancient maybe?

Quote:
Well then, you may be only slightly older than me because I invented dirt.

Well I have good news and I have bad news.
You want the good news first? Okay
The low oil pressure problem was due to the oil filter assembly gaskets
being in the wrong position. There are actually two of them due to a thick
spacer between the assembly and the engine.
Took about 5 minutes to change them around. And now I have plenty of oil pressure. Happy days!!

Now for the bad news.
I'm fairly certain that the engine was damaged from running it
with low oil pressure.

So perhaps after you have all had a turn at
and I do this


maybe, just maybe, you could find it in your hearts to help me out of this mess.

Maybe? Please?

Best regards,

Pat L.