So I did a thing... Agria 8900D

[ptsg]

I've thought about it but it would only work for non PTO powered implements. Anything that uses a PTO, will just get in the way.

The PTO gearbox on this tractor bolts on like an add on, so it sticks way out the back. Adding to that, the PTO shaft that actually gets used, sits too low. It's very easy to get the PTO shaft on a bind due to excessive angles and that also puts the PTO shafts almost inline with the arms.

Shims to adjust the spacing between the arms and the vertical sliding plate are my only option right now.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[ptsg]

So the other day, I noticed the alternator getting way too hot and them letting out the magic smoke. I went and grabbed my ammeter and it was drawing nearly 3 amps with nothing On.

Turns out the rectifier just decided to quit. After a long time researching, since there is virtually no numbers on the alternator, I found a replacement rectifier.

This also brings me to the topic of the starter. Ever since I got it, the coil will do this weird thing where it pushes the bendix out but as the motor starts spinning, it will go back in, which causes a lot of grinding noises. I've opened it, cleaning everything inside, checked everything, including taking the coil apart and checking and measured the coil resistance. All good but still does this weird thing like every 2 times out of 3 attempts.

Anyway, I've started working on the tiller. Lots of fabrication work on the cover. The mechanical part is surprisingly in good condition. Just needs new seals and a good clean up. Oh and the bottom of the gearbox has worn out quite a bit. I'll add some plates to give it a fighting chance.

 

[MTGreen]

I probably missed it early on in the thread, but that top PTO shaft I'm assuming runs at double or half speed?

 

[ptsg]

I probably missed it early on in the thread, but that top PTO shaft I'm assuming runs at double or half speed?

That top PTO shaft runs double the speed of the bottom shaft and it's a smaller 1 1/4" 6 spline shaft. The bottom is the standard 1 3/8". The top is always engaged. All the time. Unless you press the clutch.

Since the High/Low range + Reverse gearbox is before the PTO and 1st to 4th gears, both PTO shafts have essentially High and Low range + Reverse on top of the 540 + 540Eco on the bottom shaft.

Kinda of a different setup and one does need to be aware that the PTO shaft will spin in reverse, when the tractor is going backwards. Some implements can get damaged doing so.

 

[ptsg]

Some more pictures on the tiller. Mainly the gearbox.

All the shafts on this tiller use a labyrinth style seal, for the lack better word. Not an actual seal, but create the same effect since the flanges have this lips sticking out. The seals are behind that labyrinth and are just standard rubber seals.

Input shaft. As you can see, not leaky at all. It dumped all the oil on my trailer during the entire time I was working on the tractor.

The other end of the gearbox. Note the wear on the bolt heads and actual gearbox from dragging on the ground for who knows how many hours. The bottom bolt wore half way through the head and even exposed the hose on the big flange. I will add some material using flat bar.

The internals of the gearbox. Really in fantastic shape. Gears and bearings are perfect. It actually uses bigger bearings than my big tiller.

Today I got all the seals, a new U joint for the super short PTO shaft this uses and some more kerosene to use on the parts washer so I can wash all these parts.

Not an huge fan of these tillers with the gearbox in the center but with this tractor, that actually works well. Since the tines are "open" in the sides, it lets it steer with the tiller still on the ground very easily.

 

[ptsg]

Remember my ordeal with the charge light and the need for a diode? Well, turns out that light was doing it's job perfectly all along. It was telling me that was something wrong with the alternator. I should've figured that out since just about everything in this tractor was broken in one way or another.

Yesterday I got my replacement rectifier. Put it on the alternator, tested it and worked perfectly. Then I bypassed the diode and sure enough, the light goes out as intended.

I removed the diode since that would actually preventing me from knowing if it was actually charging or not.

 

[ptsg]

I realize I kinda neglected this thread, however, I did finished the tiller and got going again, which makes the project pretty much completed.

So far I've put about 6 hours on it. A couple of adjustments needed here and there, perfectly normal. Mainly brakes, without split brakes, it's a bit tricky getting both wheels braking equally, so I need to go up to speed and brake gently to see which wheel locks up first, then proceed to adjust.

I can say, this thing without power steering, it's an handful for sure, specially dragging an implement on the ground like the tiller. It probably doesn't help that I replaced the old cracked and bent steering wheel with one that fairly smaller in diameter.

It does have a different gear pattern but once you get used to it, it's actually nice and kinda makes sense being that way. All the controls work very nice and smooth, I'm super happy with how it feels.

The low profile is great. I can fit this tractor in places I thought I would never put a tractor in there.

The tiller was disappointing, even though the tines are wore out, I would've expected better performance from it. It barely scratches the surface and I have to do multiple passes to even get an half decent job out of it.

I think I figured out why it's not working very well. I believe someone put shorter tines for some weird reason. I still have to go and measure the tines to confirm this theory though. That's another €120 for 24 new tines.

Eventually, I'll make a video with all the pictures, including some machining videos.

 

[ptsg]

A couple days I ago, I test fitted the brush cutter on the little Agria. It's too big for and a little bit on the heavy side but still managed to lift it. Ideal cutter for this tractor would be at 1 meter width. This is one is 1.3 meters and being that it uses chains, it makes for a lot more load on the tractor.

I didn't get to run it because it would require me to cut the PTO shaft about 150 mm. While it would still leave plenty of overlap for the Branson, I still rather cut if I really need to use this cutter on the Agria, so I'm holding off on that.

 

[K5lwq]

A couple days I ago, I test fitted the brush cutter on the little Agria. It's too big for and a little bit on the heavy side but still managed to lift it. Ideal cutter for this tractor would be at 1 meter width. This is one is 1.3 meters and being that it uses chains, it makes for a lot more load on the tractor.

I didn't get to run it because it would require me to cut the PTO shaft about 150 mm. While it would still leave plenty of overlap for the Branson, I still rather cut if I really need to use this cutter on the Agria, so I'm holding off on that.

View attachment 870268 View attachment 870271

It looks angry with it on the back though. Like it is ready to get serious.

 

[ning]

I could really use a little tractor like that in my small orchard and unfortunately-located vineyard.
I don't need it per se (I have a mower and a line trimmer...) but I could use it

 

[ptsg]

I could really use a little tractor like that in my small orchard and unfortunately-located vineyard.
I don't need it per se (I have a mower and a line trimmer...) but I could use it

Trust me, you need it!

It maneuvers so well on a orchard and being so low, you can get really close to the trees.

I just wish it had power steering and that's mainly the main reason I'll consider trading it or selling it for another project. Articulated steering without power steering is honestly a big no from me now that I have the experience with this one.

 

[MTGreen]

Any possibility of adding power steering with some fabrication? You certainly have demonstrated that you have the skill set

 

[ptsg]

Any possibility of adding power steering with some fabrication? You certainly have demonstrated that you have the skill set

It's doable and would be a cool project but very very expensive.

I would need to get a steering valve, a cylinder, a pump, hoses, fittings, etc. I'm estimating around 1000€.

Would need to figure a way to mount another pump, ditch the current steering box to mount the steering valve, figure out cylinder mounts. Another option could be getting a bigger pump to replace the current one and use a flow divider with priority for the steering.

This wouldn't necessary be a problem for me, I like these kind of challenges and I could probably make it look very nice with some nice tubing, but it's just too much money in my opinion.

If the tractor had a title and license plate, which in this tractor would increase its value by another 1000€ to 1500€, I would definitely consider making that investment for the steering.

 

[ning]

If the tractor had a title and license plate, which in this tractor would increase its value by another 1000€ to 1500€, I would definitely consider making that investment for the steering.

seems like a pretty small unit to road?

 

[airbiscuit]

People are retrofitting old tractors with electric power steering from salvaged cars,

 

[ptsg]

seems like a pretty small unit to road?

Not at all.

Here in Europe, the ancestors own multiple small pieces of lands spread all over small villages. Over time, their children and grand children inherit those pieces of land. So this is one of the biggest reasons we tend to road our tractors so much on this side of the pond. Distance varies a lot accordingly to various factors but usually no more than 4 or 5 miles.

Over here, any road legal trailer above 1650 lbs gross weight has to have brakes. In the case of agricultural trailers, they often have hydraulic brakes and the tractor is fitted with a brake valve tied to the brake pedal or they just use a single remote from the tractor to engage the brakes.

These little tractors like the Agria often get a 6600 lbs braked tow rating or 1650 lbs non braked.

When it's grape harvest time, you should see all the little tractors on the road pulling trailers full of grapes so they can go unload on the wineries. They make this huge lines on the roads near the wineries as they wait to unload.

On winter time, you would see trailers full of logs that people take home to cut, split and burn for firewood. Or even loaded with pine needles so they can use it as bedding material for the cattle.

As luck would have it, I was looking for some pictures during grape harvest to show you as an example and ended up finding one with a little Agria just like mine. A bit hard to see, but you can see the trailer in the back with the containers filled with grapes.

 

[ptsg]

People are retrofitting old tractors with electric power steering from salvaged cars,

I've been thinking about that solution for my backhoe but haven't found one of those steering columns that just needs positive, ground and ignition to work.

For the Agria, I don't think it would work very well.

 

[ptsg]

Got my new tines this week. As you can see from the pictures, the old ones were just barely broken in. They were also the wrong length at 170 mm vs 205 mm for the correct ones.

These new tines kinda arose another issue, which is the missing skate under the gearbox. I'll need to build one now because it just goes too deep and causes the entire tractor to bounce constantly.

Regardless of this minor issue, it now tills super nice. I'm much happier with it now.

 

[etpm]

Got my new tines this week. As you can see from the pictures, the old ones were just barely broken in. They were also the wrong length at 170 mm vs 205 mm for the correct ones.

View attachment 872830 View attachment 872831

These new tines kinda arose another issue, which is the missing skate under the gearbox. I'll need to build one now because it just goes too deep and causes the entire tractor to bounce constantly.

Regardless of this minor issue, it now tills super nice. I'm much happier with it now.

View attachment 872832 View attachment 872833

I don't know why you were so eager to replace those tines. I'm sure they had at least 5 minutes of use left. No sense in being wasteful, we gotta use everything to the utmost.
Cheers,
Eric