New XR4155HC on its way!

[Cataclysm]

I found an Italian mfr that had a cross but I couldn't confirm that. My dealer had no luck either. I contacted Wix and they were going to buy an LS filter to do the cross research/testing. They told me 8-10 weeks at that time, which will be next week. I ended up getting one from the dealer for $18 or so. I have been looking for a fuel filter too. I like to keep them changed at least once a year. The XR41 series are too new to have a lot of aftermarket support yet. I will report in to the filter sticky on the LS forum homepage when I get the Wix info back.

Just got my filters from my dealer for the 4155

Please keep me posted on the wix filters.

 

[dntfxr]

Got in a little seat time this weekend! Here I'm building a campfire/cook out spot at a pond. I had previously cleared out some trees and needed to level out the spot. I am amazed at how much that NH/Modern Ag BB will cut. First BB I've had with a tailgate. You can see the waves in the dirt where I'm still getting used to how much it will cut.

Nice! I've got the same box blade and tractor, but with 16x16 shuttle and Ags. It moves dirt so well I decided to sell my dozer and haven't missed it yet!
Btw I'm tagging along for the WIX numbers when available too..

 

[Cataclysm]

That's a great combination! I bet you can really move some dirt! Do you have top/tilt? Its on my must have list.

Yesterday I finalized measurements and cut a skid plate out. This morning I mounted the skid on top of the FEL subframe. It fit perfect and will keep the soft belly of my tractor from getting damaged by the brush. I will take it off later and paint it. I also managed to get that 7' Craigslist bush hog up and running this morning including setting the clutch and a thorough greasing.

On to the seat time!

During the test run I found blades are a little out of balance but its ok to go ahead and use it today and then get some new blades.

I started out with some easy 1" fairly heavy brush. At 1500 rpm you couldn't really tell anything was being cut. Just a little slap here and there when a branch hit the side of the hog. After all the little stuff was cut and the hog still humming along I moved over to the trees. Its basically a forest of 8 to 10' tall 2 to 3" trees. It was pretty dense and more that I would have ever tried to cut with a light weight hog. Besides, I just wanted to give it a try.

I should have taken pic's. This bush hog cut right through these trees. You could tell you were cutting some serious stuff but the hog didn't jump around hardly at all and only once in a while would the 4155 show any signs of a load. Even then it would pull right through. With the HST I was able to feed the trees in slowly and give the hog time to shred everything. I guess this bush hog is pretty heavy duty and 4155 is more powerful that I thought. The only limit is what I'm willing to drive the tractor over which isn't anything bigger than this stuff.

I would not drive over brush like this without a skid plate. I feel certain you would pull off or bend up some of the piping or damage one of the filters under there. I did have to watch the pins on the lift arms where they attach to the tractor. I lost 3 of those pins to the brush. I will probably replace them with bolts since I don't really need to take them off and losing one could damage the lift arms.

Oh, almost forgot, I unhooked the upper link on the 3 point and just used the hog like a trailer on the lift arms. I figured that would be less stress on the tractor. It seemed to work just fine. With the cylinder on the tail wheels I could continually adjust either end of the hog for better cutting depending on the situation. I learned that I could raise the back all the way up, let the front all the way down and back over just about any tree under 4". Some of those I would back into just enough to cut them off then leave them lay.

Last thing that's maybe some help. I've read on here several times that a 7' bush hog is "too long". Well, since it is long, I can back further under the trees and get at more underbrush. So like most things, there are advantages and dis-advantages. For me this almost too big for my tractor bush hog is great and a keeper. Now if it was just LS Blue.......

 

[Cataclysm]

Here's a pic of the hog ready for action.


And here's some of the brush its been shredding with ease.

 

[TSO]

Great pics, nice tractor!

I cleared several acres of almost identical looking material, but I was just using a 6 ft LandPride medium duty hog.

 

[Cataclysm]

Thanks! The tractor is really working out nice.

I left this much of the brush because a buck was staying in here last winter. He would lay with his back to that dark spot in the brush just in front of my tractor and just simply vanish any time I showed up.

Oh, btw, a drive shaft shield is on the short list.

 

[Fairfax]

Cataclysm, can you share any pics/wisdom from your skid plate construction and installation? I've read a few posts concerning damaged filters and other misc things underneath. Seems like a very beneficial modification.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Here you go ...

 

[Cataclysm]

Cataclysm, can you share any pics/wisdom from your skid plate construction and installation? I've read a few posts concerning damaged filters and other misc things underneath. Seems like a very beneficial modification.

Yes, I will be happy to share. I will be taking it off soon for paint and will get pics and dimensions to post up.

I have already tested it out with the bush hog and it works perfect. Zero damage to the skid or undercarriage.

 

[Cataclysm]

Here you go ...

View attachment 464273

View attachment 464274

Thanks Rick, I have the LS Blue sitting on the shelf thanks to your formula!

 

[Underdog57]

Yes, I will be happy to share. I will be taking it off soon for paint and will get pics and dimensions to post up.

I have already tested it out with the bush hog and it works perfect. Zero damage to the skid or undercarriage.

Thanks, I really want to see it also! :thumbsup:

 

[Cataclysm]

Here's pics and dimensions of my skid plate. It's 1/4" steel, 30" wide by 42" long. For attachment I drilled 4 holes. 1 in each corner. 2" from the end and 1" inboard. I drilled 1/4" holes in the plate first then used a jack to push the plate up against the loader subframe. Then I used the 1/4" holes as a guide and drilled through the subframe. Then I put the plate on top of the subframe and bolted it down. The 1/4" plate is pretty stiff already. When I bolted to the square tubing of the subframe it became very ridged. I don't believe brush or the occasional dirt pile can bend it at all. I am going to pick up some grade 8's for the bolts. These were what I found in the bolt box for now.



Sorry for the blurry pic. I can get a better one if needed, at least you can get the basics from this one. This skid covers all the vitals under the tractor except the oil pan which appears to be heavy cast aluminum. I have considered cutting a tounge and bolting it to the front of the skid.



I still need to take it back off and paint it. I am considering cutting holes for the drains and filters but it should be pretty easy to simply take it off for servicing the tractor.

 

[1stDeuce]

Not sure you're still checking this thread, but I'm curious if the Industrial tires rub the frame at full lock... I test drove a 4150 with ag tires and the do in fact rub. The treads being semi-flexible, it doesn't seem to hurt anything, but it seems odd that they'd let them rub like this...

 

[Cataclysm]

Just came back to check the thread. My R4's industrials do not rub anywhere. I am pretty sure the rims are different with R4's compared to R1's.

FWIW 266hrs now. Lots of loader, boxblade, bush hog and flail mower work. Zero problems. Super pleased with the tractor and would buy again.

More and more LS tractors are showing up around here.

I was in Mancos a long time ago. Is that tracked jeep still sitting at the pawn shop?

 

[Cataclysm]

Here's an update on the LS 4155HC. Right at 500 hrs and no issues. Tractor is running great and meeting all my expectations! The tractor is pretty fuel efficient even when working hard.

I installed the WR Long 3rd function kit some time ago and now have a Everything Attachments 72" twin lid Wicked Root Grapple! I call it the Wicked Twin and almost always keep it on the tractor. I have multiple posts/pics in the EA Wicked Root Grapple thread but here's one anyways.

 

[Cataclysm]

Pic's of the skid since fotochuckit got silly.

 

[eonblue]

Man, I have been shopping Kioti and Kubota for a few weeks now and just started considering LS because Im a "bang for your buck" kind of guy. Just wanted to say that this thread is awesome and definitely helped nudge me in that direction. To be honest, the LS pricing for the specs is so good I feel like there has to be some kind of catch. Seems like a lot of tractor for the money.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Man, I have been shopping Kioti and Kubota for a few weeks now and just started considering LS because Im a "bang for your buck" kind of guy. Just wanted to say that this thread is awesome and definitely helped nudge me in that direction. To be honest, the LS pricing for the specs is so good I feel like there has to be some kind of catch. Seems like a lot of tractor for the money.

I’m on my second LS and very happy with my decision. Do you have a local LS Dealer.

What size tractors are you looking into? There’s alway plenty of help on TBN. We can spend other’s money pretty well here.

 

[eonblue]

I started this thread a few weeks ago:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/393144-30-acres-20-years.html

Since I made that thread I've been to look at machines in person and I agree with the notion that I need to go up a frame size. That put me looking at the Kioti DK45(new one coming with HST in May), Kubota L4701/MX series. But then I started reading about LS and specifically that 2017 dealer survey looked real good. Thats got me looking at the XR4145H. I got a quote on one that seems pretty good, especially compared to Kubota pricing(which is ridiculous).

As far as dealers go, unfortunately the only tractor dealers close to me are New Holland. Kioti, Mahindra and LS are all right at an hour away. The LS dealer is a family operation that has been in that location for 34 years. The only thing that kind of worries me talking to them is that they don't have much experience putting on 3rd function and said that they would likely outsource the work. He said they usually tie them to remotes. If I need to make a new thread so as not to hijack this one I can do that.

 

[Snowman87]

Man, I have been shopping Kioti and Kubota for a few weeks now and just started considering LS because Im a "bang for your buck" kind of guy. Just wanted to say that this thread is awesome and definitely helped nudge me in that direction. To be honest, the LS pricing for the specs is so good I feel like there has to be some kind of catch. Seems like a lot of tractor for the money.

I've got an LS XR4155HC that I bought in the fall of 2017 and the main driver for me going down the LS path was really the amount of tractor for the money. I've got about 155 hours on so far with a wide variety of usage - moving round bales, moving a lot of dirt with the FEL, moving snow with the FEL, mowing with a finishing mower, running a box blade, running a landscape rake, and pulling a disc. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase, with LS it seems like you can go up a frame size and add a cab for about the same money as a smaller open platform Kubota.

Overall pluses:

- The cab is great for working dry ground in the summer (AC is awesome!!) and winter plowing (cab keeps me too warm!!)
- I love the HST - it's an awesome feature that helps this tractor act more like a skid steer or lawn more when needed. It's especially handy for fine work unloading trailers vs. a gear drive tractor.
- The larger frame size helps move more material (dirt, rocks, snow, bales) faster considering it's still a "small" tractor. I couldn't imagine trying to move round bales with a smaller tractor...
- 2 sets or rear remotes stock is awesome for top/tilt applications or running a low usage grapple setup.
- 4wd is a must in my mind for the tractor size and what I use it for
- My dealer swung me a bunch of extras - fluid filled tires, free equipment rentals, etc.
- Regen hasn't been an issue at all. Seems like it happens every 50 hours like I was told it would, and it has had zero effect on my usage during that time

Overall minuses:

- While my tractor paint looks great I've got some rust spots on the loader welds and have I've blasted off some weak adhesion on the cylinder rod ends while washing it with my pressure washer. I bought some touch up paint and am not overly concerned, but not ideal for something so new....
- I'm still working on using the vents to keep the glass from fogging while I clear my driveway in the winter. It's not bad at all when my tractor sits in my heated shop, but if it's sitting outside for the day it seems like I have more interior fogging than I'd like.
- I feel like the loader is too slow when trying to run 2 motions at the same time, say lift and curl. I know Kubota advertising on YouTube talks down the New Holland (LS) tractor on this. That said, I don't really "make money" with my tractor so while I feel it's slower than I'd like it still gets the job done and cost way less than the "faster" Kubota setup.

Best of luck!

Nate