New 370D owner

[demigodofa]

Just purchased my first small tractor, I bought it off of a friend that was done using it. I thought I would post a picture of it's first job after I changed all of the fluids. The first thing I need is some weight in the rear. This tractor will lift anything at idle, I LOVE IT!

 

[demigodofa]

I was curious if anyone has sourced a comparable front rim for this tractor? I scoured through old posts but couldn't seem to find an answer.

 

[skylarkguy]

I suspect valley power can help you out. But what I really want to know about is that loader I have never seen one with the holes in the frame like that.

 

[fosterchild420]

you probably can still score a used rim with tire from Valley. When i got my rear wheel from them, they had at least 2 fronts there.

 

[demigodofa]

Yeah, the loader appears to be factory made. And very strong.I will try to attach another picture of it

 

[Freakingstang]

Yeah, the loader appears to be factory made. And very strong.I will try to attach another picture of it

That is not a factory made loader.

Two companies made loaders. They were BlackHawk and Swartz. Both have been of business for years. They both used retangular tubing. Those arms are cut out of thick, heavy solid steel. It looks well built, but honestly a little over kill for our little tractors. Just be careful of over loading that front axle. they are very pricey to replace and break fairly easy. Welcome to the board. Awesome little tractor you have there!!!

 

[techwrtr2]

If you search on my username in this forum, you will find a number of pictures of my S370 with Blackhawk loader and hoe.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

Just be careful of over loading that front axle. they are very pricey to replace and break fairly easy...

Indeed. In fact, it is highly questionable whether or not the original designers of these size tractors gave any thought to the installation of loaders for them from a capacity standpoint at all. In any case, I'd make sure the relief valve on the loader controller is set rather low to help avoid inadvertently breaking something. I've heard where the rated capacity is only about 500 lbs and that is easy to achieve with two cylinders and 1900 psig of hydraulic pressure possibly going to each of them.

 

[demigodofa]

Good advise on the lifting capacity of the loader vs. what the tractor can handle. I don't have any weight in the rear end so I figure if the rear tires come off the ground I shouldn't lift it. That being said I always like to push the envelope a little and I have some old weight lifting plates that I think I'm going to bolt to the rear rims for weight. In everyone's opinion what is a "reasonable" amount of weight?

 

[demigodofa]

What parts of the front end are susceptible to breaking? I try to baby it and only run it a little above idle, but..... I tend to push things sometimes. I guess if it breaks it breaks. I'm thinking of drilling and tapping a few more holes for the front rims. I don't think it will weaken the hub and 4 bolts just seems a little weak. I work for a welding company so I'm thinking of making some brass "lugs" and setting the egged out rims over them and welding around the brass to fill in the wasted away metal and hopefully make them like new. The front bolts were loose when I received the tractor. (I read in another post that this and not keeping the clutch pedal locked down in storage are no-no's) I have enjoyed reading eveyones previous posts on these tractors by the way, VERY informative.

 

[Bob77064]

Congratulations, you already put it to work. That loader is a real back saver.

 

[demigodofa]

techwrtr2. I see you have a grapple on your tractor. Is that homemade? Any pics of it would be great as I would like to see a general setup of one before diving headfirst into fabrication.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

What parts of the front end are susceptible to breaking? ...

The rims as you mentioned, the bearing housings, and differential shafts.

 

[demigodofa]

Here is a pic of the gentleman I bought the tractor from with the backhoe on the front. He was finishing up the last of his drainage ditches when I snapped this pic. It has a small quick attach plate system on it to change between the two buckets. The backhoe (front hoe) doesn't articulate (which I'm sure if it did would too much strain on the front of the tractor) but it sure beats a shovel, he was digging a lot of dirt with it fairly easily, and that was in rocky upstate NY soil.

 

[techwrtr2]

techwrtr2. I see you have a grapple on your tractor. Is that homemade? Any pics of it would be great as I would like to see a general setup of one before diving headfirst into fabrication.

Grapple is semi-homemade. Built that half that's attached to the loader, the grapple portion I found on ebay and welded into place. Not exactly pretty, but it does work and work well. 3rd function is accomplished with a valve in series with the loader valve.

 

[Freakingstang]

The small little U-joint inside the knuckle is what seems to break the most often. Search this site, as this company makes a new yoke out of cnc billet heat treated steel.


Precision Specialists Inc


Did you get the front bucket? Any more pictures? That is totally something I could/will make....

 

[demigodofa]

Awesome source on the U-joint. Really good to know. I take some more pics of the bucket/arm etc. I think the bucket is too big by looking at it, but the guy said he's used it a ton and works great. The part I like best is the small Quick attach that is on the loader and trencher buckets.

 

[demigodofa]

Almost forgot to add the latest workload. Cleaning up a pine tree removal. I'll pile it up out of the way and deal with it later. I have 110 lbs of extra rear weight and when i got off of the tractor the right rear tire was off of the ground 6" at least. I cannot believe how much work this thing can do! Oh, and with the 2 cylinder engine I know I'm going to run the tank dry because I only have about 2 gallons in the tank and this things been running forever! I'm going to forget where to put the diesel between fuel ups.

 

[Freakingstang]

that's pretty awesome. I too would love to see pics of the Quick Attach. I need to make something for mine....

 

[techwrtr2]

This is my grapple in use. Not pretty as previously stated... but it is very useful for moving things like that rock. I never had to bother dismounting to pick it up and drive off.

As to the concerns of weight up front... My tractor has been in 4wd for probably 99% of its life and I've not had a problem. But... I have a backhoe on it most of the time so I'm pretty well ballasted. I also travel slowly when I have a load on and even slower if the ground is at all uneven. In all the years I've been operating it (we bought it new in 78 when I was rather small), I've not broken the front axle. I have broken the frame twice. Three times if you include breaking a repair on one occasion.

If you look at this picture, the white support bolted to the frame is for the loader. Directly in line with the forward set of bolts I broke the frame on both sides (different occasions). The last time I had to transport it home using chain binders to hold it together. I properly plated it and haven't had problems since. The lesson learned is that you don't rush with these little machines. They are tough and eager to work (I ripped out the final remains of an oak stump with my backhoe this evening). But you can break them if you abuse them.