David Brown 885

[Exfarmer]

Not too much though, a few pumps of the grease gun, no more, otherwise it could blow the seal out.

I would go as far to say, just one pump

 

[Boohoo]

I use sae 140 gear oil in the reductions. It's GL1 spec if I remember correctly, so no EP additives, which are meant to be harmful to brass, bronze or whatever strange metal is somewhere in the reductions.

 

[New Puritan]

Did I mention cleanliness...?

Okay - so I'll just bung some oil in when it's parked half on the muck heap and see how I get on? Or better still, I'll park it over where there was an oil spill and there's sand spread everywhere? Ha - no I have taken your points on board, I will make sure everything's as clean as can be. Nevertheless we can all look forward to the next thread I post on this tractor where something's packed up 'cos I got the oil dirty...

Thanks once again everyone, the advice on this forum is so helpful.

 

[Netherfield]

You're supposed to use 140 oil in the king pins as well, but like 99% of users have in the past, grease will do fine.

And lift the loader to the top before checking the oil level in the gearbox, and if you're draining the oil make sure the loader is at the bottom.

 

[Exfarmer]

The worst thing ever happened to DB tractors were the quick fit couplings because all the crap got in their when changing trailers loaders etc. always be very careful, they are lovely little tractors when they are going right and that is most of the time!

 

[New Puritan]

The seat in the tractor is fairly terrible, and I'd like to put something more comfortable in. Just looking at the Agriline catalogue as a starting point, do all of the seats listed as suitable for an 885 fit, or were there different trim levels or something?

It's got this arrangement at the moment:

That knob on the back doesn't seem to achieve very much when it is turned - what is it meant to do?

Any help or constructive comment appreciated, as ever.

 

[haggard143]

The seat in the tractor is fairly terrible, and I'd like to put something more comfortable in. Just looking at the Agriline catalogue as a starting point, do all of the seats listed as suitable for an 885 fit, or were there different trim levels or something?

It's got this arrangement at the moment:

View attachment 765946 View attachment 765948

That knob on the back doesn't seem to achieve very much when it is turned - what is it meant to do?

Any help or constructive comment appreciated, as ever.

bit of straw in a cake bag or hessian sack jobs a good'un i think you can get seat pan recovered, screw the knob up should pull springs tight, reasonably comfortable the piston is a damper, would other seats give the right position for the clutch i always find it a bit awkward maybe just me

 

[Netherfield]

You're looking at £100 or so to replace the seat pan, the damper and springs do get tired over the years

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/173779805496?chn=ps

Then there's this, but unsure if the angle is correct for the existing bracket.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/252668779533?chn=ps

Never the most comfortable even when new

 

[haggard143]

You're looking at £100 or so to replace the seat pan, the damper and springs do get tired over the years

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/173779805496?chn=ps

Then there's this, but unsure if the angle is correct for the existing bracket.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/252668779533?chn=ps

Never the most comfortable even when new

we put one of them cheap yellow seats in an old deere when you put the clutch down you can feel the whole seat twist other than that nice springy seat

 

[Selectamatic]

@New Puritan you big girls blouse! Man Up!

The seat does look a bit upright, is it the right mounting, or has it been bent at some point?

The knob adjusts the spring tension, to coincide with the weight of the attendant, it will need some WD40 and freeing off, no doubt.

You can buy replacements, about £100, and they do the job ok. I am happy enough with mine.

Problem with the 'better' new ones is they are often to big for the cab, so getting to levers, in and out, seeing whats going on behind is not always easy.

 

[New Puritan]

@Selectamatic - None taken....

Okay, I'll have a tinker with it. It looks bent to me, but I've no idea whether they were all made like that on purpose, like them putting in the stop cable back-to-front etc. And @haggard143 - your suggestion of the sack of straw is what it already has, but I moved that out of the way to take the photo

Incidently I can't seem to find the iPhone plug and holder in the DB's cab - can anyone tell me where they are please?

 

[Mursal]

And the value of the straw in the bag, a new seat would be cheaper.
But you don't seem to be able to get the suspension bit?

 

[haggard143]

@Selectamatic - None taken....

Okay, I'll have a tinker with it. It looks bent to me, but I've no idea whether they were all made like that on purpose, like them putting in the stop cable back-to-front etc. And @haggard143 - your suggestion of the sack of straw is what it already has, but I moved that out of the way to take the photo

Incidently I can't seem to find the iPhone plug and holder in the DB's cab - can anyone tell me where they are please?

 

[Selectamatic]

@Selectamatic - None taken....

Okay, I'll have a tinker with it. It looks bent to me, but I've no idea whether they were all made like that on purpose, like them putting in the stop cable back-to-front etc. And @haggard143 - your suggestion of the sack of straw is what it already has, but I moved that out of the way to take the photo

Incidently I can't seem to find the iPhone plug and holder in the DB's cab - can anyone tell me where they are please?

The stop cable is not back to front, its all the other tractors which are back to front!

Your iPhone stuff is in the roof, next to the radio and climate control, next to the GPS and built in fridge compartment, keep looking...

 

[New Puritan]

Groan - so I'm still tinkering about with the DB. Can anyone tell me where I can buy air filters from for it? David Brown parts and Agriline don't seem to do them; and nor does the Ernest Doe CNH dealership near me. Are they the same size as ones on anything else?

 

[Netherfield]

Surely it's got an oil bath air cleaner fitted.

 

[Boohoo]

It'll probably be an oil bath air cleaner, a paper element was optional but I've never seen one.
This is from my 990/5/6 operators manual

If the wire mesh element has a lot of hay/straw/rushes in it I usually set it on fire to clean it, don't forget to take the rubber sealing ring off if you do this.

 

[Exfarmer]

You probably have not dropped it off
It may be very stuck by now. Slacken the clip it may drop and slop oil all over the battery if you do not support it.
You will probably need a screw driver to get them out. Do not force them take care.
Be careful not to short the battery when you do this!
There are normally 2 wire filters in the system I would not advise burning them except as a measureof desperation!
Refill only to the line with clean engine oil

 

[Netherfield]

If for any reason someone has bodged it, and fitted a dry air filter, try here:- http://www.barcleywilliams.co.uk/

We did have one with a paper element in the pre cleaner,because it was used with a loader for cleaning poultry sheds of deep litter which created a lot of dust.this was an alternative fitting but still sat on top of the oil bath and was designed for very dusty foreign countries.

It wasn't until the 90 series that dry paper elements became the normal fitment in UK tractors.

 

[New Puritan]

Okay, thanks everyone, very helpful as ever! I just assumed (without looking at it), I would need to buy a replacement flter when I serviced it. So instead I need to take it apart and clean it as per @Boohoo & @Exfarmer - thank you! And thanks for that link @Netherfield - they do lots of useful stuff.