TODAYS SEAT TIME

[Jstpssng]

I left the house before daylight this AM, as I had some errands to do. After getting home around noon time I did a little mowing...



Then I did a little sawing...

Now I have the plow on,

and am trying to find the energy to turn some sod before dark.

 

[Gordon Gould]

^^^^ Something about this weather makes you use more energy than you actually have.

gg

 

[LouNY]

My seat time was a continuation of my head scratching and hair pulling of the last couple of days.
I'm going to be replacing the front tires on my Branson 8050, after looking up all the facts and figures for my existing fronts which have always had a bit more lead then I liked.
When disengaging 4wd even on packed gravel there has been a jolt through the drive system. So yesterday I started measuring the actual rolling circumference of my front tires and comparing to the published values. Then I lowered the air pressure from the 30 psi I've been using in them, lowered them to 25 psi and measured the rolling circumference then lowered it to 20, and then 15 psi, when disengaging the 4wd there was actually a slight pause in the rotation of the front tires as the rears unwound it got less and less as I dropped the front tire pressure. Then I went back to 25 psi and scooped up a bucket load of gravel which put a good bulge and squat on the front tires and that did away with the front tire lead,engaging and going out of 4wd to tire hesitation or jump.
So researching the new front tires for my Branson 8050 it has Titan Hi-Traction lug 8 ply 11.2-24's on her now.
They are starting to split in the center on one. And Titan has lost a lot of faith in our area the last few years.
It looks like I finally narrowed it down to either a BKT Ridemax or Alliance Multi use 550's in 300/80R24. Got to call a couple of places Monday and see were I go from here.
Not looking forward to those calls.$$$$$$$

 

[4570Man]

This wasn’t today but last week I built this drainage ditch. We had a French drain before that washed out so hopefully this works.

 

[scootr]

My experience with open rock lined ditches is that they tend to fill with earth until the rock is buried

 

[4570Man]

My experience with open rock lined ditches is that they tend to fill with earth until the rock is buried

All the upstream runoff is off parking lots so it should be pretty “clean” water. A culvert wasn’t a good option because the water is coming from more than one spot and a poured concrete basin is way more expensive.

 

[BackRoad]

Nice Mr. 4570. Looks like you thoughtfully included a rock 'curb'!

Suspect the clueless will not be able to drive out of that ditch...pretty substantial.

 

[4570Man]

Nice Mr. 4570. Looks like you thoughtfully included a rock 'curb'!

Suspect the clueless will not be able to drive out of that ditch...pretty substantial.

That’s the idea lol. I still wouldn’t be surprised if they drive over it and get stuck.

 

[Gordon Gould]

My seat time was a continuation of my head scratching and hair pulling of the last couple of days.
I'm going to be replacing the front tires on my Branson 8050, after looking up all the facts and figures for my existing fronts which have always had a bit more lead then I liked.
When disengaging 4wd even on packed gravel there has been a jolt through the drive system. So yesterday I started measuring the actual rolling circumference of my front tires and comparing to the published values. Then I lowered the air pressure from the 30 psi I've been using in them, lowered them to 25 psi and measured the rolling circumference then lowered it to 20, and then 15 psi, when disengaging the 4wd there was actually a slight pause in the rotation of the front tires as the rears unwound it got less and less as I dropped the front tire pressure. Then I went back to 25 psi and scooped up a bucket load of gravel which put a good bulge and squat on the front tires and that did away with the front tire lead,engaging and going out of 4wd to tire hesitation or jump.
So researching the new front tires for my Branson 8050 it has Titan Hi-Traction lug 8 ply 11.2-24's on her now.
They are starting to split in the center on one. And Titan has lost a lot of faith in our area the last few years.
It looks like I finally narrowed it down to either a BKT Ridemax or Alliance Multi use 550's in 300/80R24. Got to call a couple of places Monday and see were I go from here.
Not looking forward to those calls.$$$$$$$

Just out of curiosity how much did the rolling circumference change on your 11.2-24's going from 30 psi to 15 psi ??

gg

 

[LouNY]

The tread is half wore out, new they were supposed to be 134", at 30 psi they were 128", 20 psi was 126", 15 psi they were down to 123".
Got my new ones ordered today getting a set of BKT Ridemax IT 696 in 300/80R24 with a spec'ed loaded rolling circumference of 129.8".
$503.20 each from one of my local tractor dealers, found them online at Pete's Tire Barn for $493.66 each, their closest store to me is Rutland, so 15-20 minutes is nicer then an hour and a half.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm headed to a money making job tomorrow,

Like today, it's going to be another sunny 70's day tomorrow too, so another nice day to be working out.

SR

 

[Runner]

I'm headed to a money making job tomorrow,

Like today, it's going to be another sunny 70's day tomorrow too, so another nice day to be working out.

SR

Just what I need, another enticing photo of a 3-point splitter.

 

[Gordon Gould]

The tread is half wore out, new they were supposed to be 134", at 30 psi they were 128", 20 psi was 126", 15 psi they were down to 123".
Got my new ones ordered today getting a set of BKT Ridemax IT 696 in 300/80R24 with a spec'ed loaded rolling circumference of 129.8".
$503.20 each from one of my local tractor dealers, found them online at Pete's Tire Barn for $493.66 each, their closest store to me is Rutland, so 15-20 minutes is nicer then an hour and a half.

Thanks. That's interesting. I have an L3010 which seems to have to much lead. 4WD gets bound up even in the woods. Often need to put in reverse to shift out of 4WD. My M5640 will go any where in 4WD and hardly ever has any resistance at all shifting back to 2WD. Both handle well but the M is a heavier tractor and may not need the front wheel lead ?? Not sure how that all works except that the fronts are pulling more with the lead.

gg

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just what I need, another enticing photo of a 3-point splitter.

Don't come in here tomorrow, because you will probably see it in action! lol

SR

 

[LouNY]

Thanks. That's interesting. I have an L3010 which seems to have to much lead. 4WD gets bound up even in the woods. Often need to put in reverse to shift out of 4WD. My M5640 will go any where in 4WD and hardly ever has any resistance at all shifting back to 2WD. Both handle well but the M is a heavier tractor and may not need the front wheel lead ?? Not sure how that all works except that the fronts are pulling more with the lead.

gg

It could very well be, have you tried lowering the air pressure to get a distinctive bulge in the front tire and see if it helps.
On my 8050 the 4wd is an electric hydraulic activation which also turns on when using both brake pedals to stop. All of the larger tractors on the farm and my bigger NH are electrically activated also. On them if the lead or lag gets to far out of wack you will hear the driveline clunk when disengaging 4wd.
On the 8050 when 4wd was engaged in the lower gears and just off idle on flat ground you could hear a slight change in the engine. Then when disengaging it the front tires would actually pause for a split second, thats usually only noticeable when traveling slow.
With more lead in the front they will turn sharper and tighter when in 4wd, without the lead the front end will plow or push out when in 4wd.

 

[BackRoad]

Interesting...

Just read my Kubota MX6000 - Hydro manual again and there's no mention of normal operation REQUIRING coming to a stop to shift in or out of 4WD.

It does mention coming to a stop and try going Fwd or Rev, else try turning the steering wheel if difficulty with 4WD shifting.

I may have similar lead. I would have called it "windup or tension" on the MX. Most of the time, from habit now, I stop the tractor and rock it, inching it back, then inching it forward to disengage 4WD.

It easily drops INTO 4WD without issue while underway at low speed.

Mr. Lou, this thread is interesting. With 1200 hours, my tires are wearing, but not EOL yet. I normally mow in 2WD, but with 12 acres to mow tomorrow, I'll have time to play with different front tire pressures and effect on 4WD shifting to see if I can find a sweet spot.

Until this thread, and Mr. Gordon's comment, I thought the need to "stop and rock" to disengage 4WD was "normal"!

 

[LouNY]

Interesting...

Just read my Kubota MX6000 - Hydro manual again and there's no mention of normal operation REQUIRING coming to a stop to shift in or out of 4WD.

It does mention coming to a stop and try going Fwd or Rev, else try turning the steering wheel if difficulty with 4WD shifting.

I may have similar lead. I would have called it "windup or tension" on the MX. Most of the time, from habit now, I stop the tractor and rock it, inching it back, then inching it forward to disengage 4WD.

It easily drops INTO 4WD without issue while underway at low speed.

Mr. Lou, this thread is interesting. With 1200 hours, my tires are wearing, but not EOL yet. I normally mow in 2WD, but with 12 acres to mow tomorrow, I'll have time to play with different front tire pressures and effect on 4WD shifting to see if I can find a sweet spot.

Until this thread, and Mr. Gordon's comment, I thought the need to "stop and rock" to disengage 4WD was "normal"!

My fronts are only half wore out but one of them is starting to split in the center of the tire. And it's most work is in the winter with chains on half the time I'd just as soon take care of the issue now instead of in a snow bank in January. The sidewalls have been checking and cracking for several years. That seems to be a common problem I'm hearing about with Titan R1's on the front axle of the 4wd.

As far as engaging your 4wd on the go the only time you might have an issue is if the rears are spinning. There is no axle or tire wind up until it's engaged.
The older mechanical activated 4wd's that I have operated if they were hard to get out of 4wd applying a bit of pressure while turning going forward or reverse usually helped them slide right out.

 

[BackRoad]

Found it's been dry enough so I could get the tractor and bush hog across a normally swampy area into a 4 acre section that I've not been able to mow in 5 years...

But, it was 5 hours of mostly reverse mowing, including a 2 acre section with thistle and ragweed plus another overgrown 2 acre section that was thick with buck brush, Multiflora and Autumn Olive...and 3 inch, bain of my existence, thorn apple trees. Every plant growing had thorns!

Wishing Mr. North Florida Lineman was Mr. North PA Lineman!

The ragweed is in seed, and so bad that I couldn't mow forward without loading up the radiator triggering a high heat alert. Had to go in reverse and still had to stop and blow it out twice to get done.

But happy with the results. It was a first getting to mow both areas. Also was able to cut a perimeter trail down this section of my property line that has always been isolated from using the tractor.

Might be a set of culverts in my future to get across that swamp more often...

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just what I need, another enticing photo of a 3-point splitter.

Maybe this will help you decide? lol

Tractors and wood! Show your pics

I I took in a load of logs to mill for a guy, here's one of them headed for the BSM, It made some NICE lumber, until I found this, After a little chainsaw work, it was time to change out the band and move on. SR I've heard of the staining which iron causes but this is the first...

www.tractorbynet.com

SR

 

[Jstpssng]

I spent about 5 minutes on the tractor today. I had a box of rotten vegetables to compost and since I had the plow on anyways, I made a pass and turned them under. I then headed down to my mother's house- but before I got there found myself helping to fight several grass fires on the roadside which likely were started by somebody dragging a chain. I had a rake but it was amazing how many people stopped and started stamping them out. By the time the fire department got there they only had one to fight, while citizens must have put out a half dozen or more.