David Brown 1210 service schedule
David Brown Selectamatic · 1971–1980
Every maker's service job for the David Brown 1210, counted in hours, with the oils, filters and parts each one needs. Add your tractor to Farmyard Workshop and it works out what's due from your hours and dates, and keeps the service history.
Track your 1210 for freeVersions: Two-wheel drive; Four-wheel drive
Service intervals
| Job | When |
|---|---|
| Engine oil and filter change | every 125 hours |
| Fuel filter elements (two) change | every 500 hours or every year |
| Valve clearances | every 500 hours |
| Transmission and hydraulic oil change | every 1,000 hours |
| Antifreeze renewal | every 2 years |
| Transmission hydraulic filter | when needed |
Service jobs and parts
Engine oil and filter change
Engine · every 125 hours
No 1210 handbook was found. David Brown's 1200 Selectamatic book and the 990/995 handbook (995 has the same engine) both say change the engine oil every 125 hours (Task B) and the filter every 250 hours (Task C). Here the filter is changed with every oil change. Check your own handbook.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil | 1 | Grade for the season; quantity: check your handbook and fill to the dipstick | check your handbook |
| Oil filter element | 1 | Also sold as K902321 | K902125 |
Step-by-step
- Run the engine to warm the oil, then park level, lower implements, stop the engine, take the key out and chock the wheels.
- Let it stand a few minutes. Hot oil burns, so wear gloves.
- Drain the sump while the oil is warm and refit the plug.
- Undo the filter centre bolt, throw away the old element and wash the cover in diesel with a brush, not a cloth.
- Fit the new element, check the rubber sealing ring and tighten the bolt firmly (the 990 handbook says 1.4 kg m / 10 lb ft).
- Fill to the safe mark on the dipstick, turn the engine on the starter to fill the filter, then start it, check for leaks and recheck the level.
Tools: Drain tray (15 L), Spanner for sump plug, Spanner for the filter centre bolt, Small brush, Gloves
Fuel filter elements (two) change
Fuel · every 500 hours or every year
The 1210 has two fuel filters in series with a sediment bowl, like the 990 and 995. Their handbook says renew both elements every 500 hours and at least once a year. Check your own handbook.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel filter element | 2 | Later fuel filter K960911 is listed for 1210s after serial 730828; check yours | 960911 |
| Sealing washers | 2 | Check your handbook | check your handbook |
Step-by-step
- Stop the engine, take the key out and chock the wheels. Keep naked flames away.
- Clean the outside of each filter before opening it.
- Undo the centre bolt, throw away the old element and flush the base clean.
- Fit the new element on its sealing rings with a new washer under the bolt. Do both filters.
- Clean out the sediment bowl.
- Bleed at the lift pump and filter inlet until fuel runs with no air, then tighten.
Tools: Spanners, Container for fuel, Rags
Valve clearances
Engine · every 500 hours
The 995 handbook (same 3.6 L engine) says check the valves every 500 hours and set them to 0.25 mm (0.010 in) cold. Check your own handbook.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocker cover gasket | 1 | Genuine number per Sparex S.57557 (1200, 1210, 1212) | K905229 |
Step-by-step
- Stop the engine, take the key out and chock the wheels. Work on a cold engine.
- Remove the rocker cover. Number the valves 1 to 8 from the front.
- Turn the engine until one valve is fully open, then adjust its partner (the pairs add up to 9: 1 and 8, 2 and 7, 3 and 6, 4 and 5).
- Set each to a light drag on a 0.25 mm feeler and lock the nut.
- Refit the cover and check for leaks.
Tools: Feeler gauges, Ring spanner and screwdriver
Transmission and hydraulic oil change
Transmission · every 1,000 hours
The David Brown 1200 Selectamatic book puts the transmission oil change in Service Task E, every 1,000 hours: drain both gearbox plugs while warm, clean the filter and refill. Old oil wears the Selectamatic and hydraulic pump.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and hydraulic oil | 1 | Check your handbook | check your handbook |
| Transmission hydraulic filter | 1 | Check your serial number | K920522 |
Step-by-step
- Park level, lower all implements, stop the engine, take the key out and chock the wheels.
- Work the hydraulic controls with the engine off to let out trapped pressure.
- Drain the oil while warm, not scalding, change the filter, refit the plugs and refill to the mark.
- Run the engine, work the lift up and down, lower it and recheck the level.
Tools: Large drain tray, Spanners, Pump or funnel, Gloves
Antifreeze renewal
Cooling · every 2 years
David Brown's 990/995 handbook says never keep the same antifreeze mix for more than 2 years. Check your own handbook.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antifreeze | 1 | Diesel-rated, mixed with pure water, ≈14.2 L system | check your handbook |
Step-by-step
- Only work on a cold engine. Take the radiator cap off slowly to let any pressure out.
- Drain the radiator and cylinder block with the cap off.
- Flush with clean water, close the drains and refill with the mix.
- Run the engine to warm up, let it cool and top up.
Tools: Drain tray, Hose, Antifreeze tester
Transmission hydraulic filter
Hydraulics · when needed
The filter part number is known, but no source for the 1210's own interval was found, so this task is not scheduled. Check your handbook. On the 990/995 it is every 500 hours.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission hydraulic filter | 1 | Listed for 1210s up to serial 730827 (Selectamatic). Gasket sold separately. Check your serial number | K920522 |
Step-by-step
- Park on level ground, lower the linkage and implements to the ground, stop the engine, take the key out and chock the wheels.
- Move the hydraulic lever to lower and work any spools with the engine off to let out trapped pressure.
- Let hot oil cool to warm before opening anything, and wear gloves.
- Change the filter as your handbook shows, top up with the right oil and check the level.
Tools: Large clean drain tray, Spanners, Gloves
Oils, fluids and capacities
| System | Oil or spec | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | David Brown 3.6 L (3,594 cc) 4-cylinder diesel | |
| Engine oil | Check your handbook. The sister 995 handbook gives grades by air temperature and allows API CB oil if listed brands are not available. | Check your handbook (no reliable source found) |
| Coolant | ≈14.2 L. Diesel-rated antifreeze mixed with pure water (check your handbook). | |
| Valve clearances | 0.25 mm (0.010 in) cold, inlet and exhaust (figure from the 995 handbook, same engine; check your handbook) | |
| Transmission and hydraulics (shared) | Check your handbook | Check your handbook |
| Front axle (4WD) | Check your handbook | Check your handbook |
| Fuel tank | Diesel | ≈81.4 L (21.5 US gal) |
Specifications
| PTO power (tested) | 66 hp (49.2 kW) |
| PTO power (claimed) | 61 hp (45.5 kW) |
| Weight | ≈2,660–3,130 kg (5,860–6,910 lb) |
| Front tyres (common) | 7.50-16 |
| Tyre pressures | Check your handbook |
| Linkage | Category II; lift 997 kg recommended, 1,995 kg maximum |
| Hydraulics | Open centre, 2,500 psi (172 bar), 26 L/min |
| PTO | 540/1000 rpm, independent |
| Transmission | 12-speed synchromesh (the 1212 is the power-shift version) |
| Serial number (year) | Plate on the clutch housing: 1971 from 720001, 1976 from 11150001, 1980 from 11166342 |
Known problems
Will not go into gear
Owners report that if the 1210 will not shift into any gear, the shifter pawls are often worn or broken.
Filter changes at serial 730827/730828
Parts lists change the hydraulic and fuel filters around serial 730827/730828, so give your serial number when buying filters.
Synchromesh or power shift
The 1210 is the synchromesh model; the 1212 is the power-shift version. Make sure parts and advice are for the right one.
Air in the fuel
Two filters in series and a sediment bowl give air several ways in. Bleed at the lift pump and filter after any fuel work.
Parts and know-how
As an older tractor, some parts and experienced mechanics can be hard to find. UK David Brown specialists are the best bet.
Repair guides
- Selectamatic hydraulic lift will not lift, will not hold or drops (Hard, 2–8 hours (diagnosis and bleeding); longer if the pump or ram seals are renewed): Linkage will not lift at all, lifts only light loads, creeps down after raising, lowers too slowly or traction control acts erratically. Common on hard-worked and loader tractors.
- Hydraulic filter: which one you have, and warning lamp on (Moderate, 1–2 hours): Hydraulic warning lamp stays lit once warm, slow or weak lift, or you are not sure which filter to buy because the type changed with the year and serial number.
- Air in the fuel: bleeding the fuel system (Easy, 30–60 minutes): Hard starting, engine starts then dies, misfiring, or no start after a filter change or running out of fuel.
- Will not go into gear: shifter pawls and transmission cover (Hard, 4–8 hours): The lever moves but no gear will engage, gears jump out, or the lever feels loose or vague.
- Head gasket replacement (Hard, 6–10 hours): Coolant loss with no visible leak, bubbles in the radiator, white exhaust smoke, oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil, or compression leaking between cylinders.
- Injector removal, testing and refitting (Moderate, 2–3 hours to remove and refit; testing is done by a diesel specialist): Rough running or misfire, black smoke, knocking, loss of power, or hard starting after the fuel system has been bled.
- Water pump and thermostat (Moderate, 3–5 hours (longer to rebuild the pump)): Coolant leaking from the pump weep hole, a rough or noisy bearing, wobbling fan, or overheating with a cold top hose.
- Clutch replacement: splitting the tractor (Hard, 2–3 days): Clutch slips under load even with correct free play, judders, will not free so gears grate, or the PTO clutch slips.
- Brakes pulling, weak or uneven: adjustment (Moderate, 1–2 hours): Tractor pulls to one side when braking on both pedals, long pedal travel, weak handbrake, or pedals not level when latched together.
- PTO output shaft oil seal leaking (Moderate, 2–3 hours): Oil dripping from the PTO shaft or running down the back of the tractor.
- Hydrostatic power steering: heavy, leaking or vague (Moderate, 1–3 hours): Steering heavy at idle, jerky, wanders, oil leaks at pipes or the ram, or the reservoir keeps needing oil.
The full step-by-step guides are in Farmyard Workshop once you add your tractor.
Sources
- Rocker cover gasket OEM numbers and fit list
- Transmission oil change and filter clean in Service Task E, every 1,000 hours (David Brown 1200 Selectamatic instruction book; the OCR is poor, so check your handbook)
- Years, power, hydraulics, linkage, PTO, fuel tank, weight, tyres and serial numbers
- Engine displacement, bore/stroke and coolant capacity
- Task system and intervals for the same 3,594 cc engine, valve clearance, fuel filter and antifreeze rules (990/995/996 Operator's Manual Pub. 9-5126)
- Engine oil every 125 h, oil filter every 250 h (David Brown 1200 Selectamatic instruction book)
- Engine oil filter K902125 fits the 1210 (UK specialist)
- Hydraulic filter K920522 for 1210 up to S730827; filter kit with fuel filter 960911
- Shifter pawl fault (owner report)
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