What have you done to your Branson today?

[ericm979]

Is that a tool box built into the seat back? I wonder why Europe gets front ROPS and North America gets rear ROPS?

I went from a Kubota B7100 to a 3725. It felt huge as first but after a few tens of hours it felt normal. Even my wife (who has yet to drive the Branson) says it looks normal sized to her now.... it's been 6 months and 70 hours.

 

[ptsg]

Congrats on your new toy(work tool). Love the pictures.

Sent from my XT1650 using TractorByNet mobile app

Thanks! I will post more pictures as soon as I have a chance.

Is that a tool box built into the seat back? I wonder why Europe gets front ROPS and North America gets rear ROPS?

I went from a Kubota B7100 to a 3725. It felt huge as first but after a few tens of hours it felt normal. Even my wife (who has yet to drive the Branson) says it looks normal sized to her now.... it's been 6 months and 70 hours.

This tractor didn't came with a toolbox. Even though I really miss having one. On the back of the seat it's just a little compartment for tractor documents or manuals. But it doesn't seem to be sealed so I won't use too much probably.
Eventually I will add a proper toolbox once I find something I like and a good place for it.

It's very common in Europe to have this style of ROPS because these compact tractors are used in orchards and vineyards which don't offer much space for larger ROPS. Most of the times the ROPS need to be folded down because of the branches.

As far as the size, yes, I agree with you, it feels normal after a while. I just have 5 hours on it anyway.

 

[Texasmark]

In retiring and downsizing, I don't go to the bulk fert. distributor anymore. Besides I sold my farm truck and no way am I going to take my good truck there.

This morning I'm fertilizing and using the 500# capacity conical 3 pt spreader. I take my little 2400 that I bought for purposes such as this and go over to the skid of 50# bags, set the bucket to match the height of the stack, slide them over into it and load the first 10 bags.

The spreader has to be fairly high as the PTO shaft will hit the end of the drawbar if too low and I'm not taking the bar off as I will use it to drag my harrow over the broadcast rye and fert before I drill in the field peas. Trying to load 50# bags at shoulder height is a bear without the loader. With it, I just drive up along side, slide, not lift, the bags over to the edge slit 'em open and in she goes. Slick and no back pain.

 

[Cougsfan]

I washed my 4720CH. Not that I am **** about such things, but she was getting pretty grody looking. The slime spots along the tractors leading edges from mowing fields with milkweed (I assume that is what did it) was stuck on like paint. Never did get it all off. Not sure what it would take to get it off. Inside the cab was getting pretty dirty too, so I just took a hose inside and washed down virtually everything but ceiling and the dashboard. Was a little worried about doing that but it worked out just fine.

 

[Texasmark]

Cut hay.

 

[Branson Bob]

Cut hay.

I don't know much about hay or North Texas but I'm curious.

Will this be the last cut till the spring?

 

[ptsg]

I've been playing with the new toy. I've put 18 hours on it these week just mowing brush.

The first job was cleaning one land that was flat and had light to mid sized brush. The tractor handled just fine. No lack of power at all. I even used the 540E gear on the PTO and speed up the main gearbox to 3rd gear on low range. I'm really pleased with this machine. The engine runs really cool, probably because of all the airflow it gets to the radiator since the compartment has a lot of space.

The second job, that is not finished yet, is a lot more dangerous. I'm working on a almost a 30ｺ slope with a lot of hidden boar burrows which are pretty deep. This piece of land has a lot of heavy sized brush. I'm using the regular 540 gear and 1st on low range and once again the tractor doesn't lack of power at all. I think I still have 1 or 2 days worth of work on this land. I've spend 2 days so far.

I'm quite surprised to see that after 23 hours, the engine and gearbox/hydraulic oil still looks really clean, like if I just had opened a brand new jug of oil.

One thing that I really need to make when get the tractor to the workshop again, is a skid plate. I've almost ripped apart the fuel line and hydraulic return line with the heavier brush. Also got a stick stuck between the clutch pedal that almost broke the clutch sensor. I will also build some sort of bumper also so the brush doesn't scratch the hood.



And here is the video:

 

[LouNY]

Nice looking tractor and good job of brush hogging.
I notice that you don't have a loader on your tractor.
I see that you are mulching it right down to dirt level.
When I'm working brush, I often go into it in reverse with the mower cutting about a foot high the first pass,when I mow in a forward direction
i run my bucket about a foot of the ground with in curled back most of the way to act as a bumper and an indicator of something I might not
want to hit.
Enjoy and have a good day.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks LouNY.

Yes I don't have a loader yet. I'll see if I really need one or not. Then I decide to either buy one or make one. I had one that I built on the previous tractor.
I usually do exactly the way you do for brush heavier or taller than the one you see in the video. I don't need to take the risk of break something underneath the tractor. But for some reason when I edited the video I cut most of the parts that I go reverse.
On the sloped land that I've been working, I always go in reverse about 10 Cm of the ground, then I go forward all the way to the ground. But the brush it's much heavier and thick. Even though the tractor won't even bog down.

 

[Branson3520R]

It's been a little over a year now, 72 plus hours and still going strong!! Changed all of the fluids and filters at 50 hours with no issues. Hydraulic fluid looked new and very clean. Since joining we have added another 7.5 acres to our almost 5 acres of land! We have done a lot of clearing of small trees, brush and the dreaded Wisteria vines!!
Used the backhoe to install a water line and dig up several stumps.
Love BIG RED, what a beast!!