Search results

I have about 15 acres of pasture. Gentle rolling hills, not steep except near the pond. Ranges from moderately smooth to bumpy. I'm considering a new mower-- admittedly perhaps a stupid overkill-- 48hp diesel zero turn mower. Ferris IS6200Z...

Over the past few years I've planted about 30 bare root apple trees. Three out of 30 died, all the rest are doing nicely. All are protected from deer by wire fencing. (that ... was a lot of work!) Today I discovered a dead one, in the exact same place where I already replaced a dead one last...

I invited a 15 year old "city boy" male relative to spend a week at our rural CA ranch property. He accepted-- aaaahhh, now what? I would like to make it a good visit for all. Expose him to things not possible in the city environment he has always been in. So I am seeking input on what sort of...

Does anyone have experience with a towable boom lift? Good? Bad? I've flirted on and off for years whether to buy one. I could use it for tree trimming (extensive), painting my barn and residence, for starters. I would prefer towable since I could use it in more than one location. But that...

I have years of old dead pine trees on the ground-- hundreds of them. Aftermath of a bark beetle invasion. I want to get rid of many of them. I'm thinking of stacking and burning, but due to size I have to cut them first. (Typical log is probably 16 in diameter and 60ft long. Regulations in CA...

Hopefully my experience might help others purchasing online. Although I try *not* to buy on Amazon, I recently ordered a number of items. All orders were fulfilled except one. I ordered Feb 12, on Feb 16th the status changed to "shipped," and on Feb. 21st status changed to "out for delivery."...

I would like to have a new 3/4 heavy duty diesel pickup. My 2011 GMC 2500HD has given me excellent service. I have maintained it well, its running fine now, but since it has over 250k miles I am thinking of getting a new one. Now 13 years old, I feel I need to re-start the clock on a new truck...

I replaced an aging PC yesterday with a new one. Since then I periodically get a notice when browsing TBN that the site is unsafe and I should not proceed. It's not happening with any other sites.

I have a metal building with deep gutters-- I think they are 8" deep. They span 60 feet of building with a downspout on each side. Last winter, ice tore the gutters up so badly they need removal and complete replacement. I am replacing them now. Also, I have a downspout on a corner of my...

I have constant problems with my hitch ball / coupler connections. No matter how I seem to manipulate the coupler latch device, the coupler does NOT want to come free of the ball as I jack the trailer up to disconnect. This is an ongoing problem and it nearly caused a disaster. I brought a...

I'm building a retaining wall using stacking stones (not the kind with a lip in back.) It's kind of a lazy quarter-circle shape, slowly descending, about 100 ft long, with a gentle slope behind it. I have excavated a trench about 2 ft wide and roughly a foot deep-- for 6" of compacted type 2...

I have about 75 gals of 4 year old diesel fuel and am wondering what I should do with it. The fuel has been sitting in the fuel tank of a diesel pusher motorhome fuel tank. The fuel tank is 150 gals, or about 1/2 full. The motorhome has been always stored inside an insulated metal building...

Used my grapple to move a pile and twisted heap of old metal-- parts of a frame, an axle, and assorted hardware from an antique wagon. Picked up the metal pile with the grapple. After lifting, a few metal strips were dangling (too) close to the ground. I was worried one of those strips might...

I'm moving down from a monster diesel pusher motor home to a shorter, less powerful gas unit. I towed my Jeep wrangler behind it once but found I would like something lighter to tow. The wrangler is 3,500lb +/-. A chevrolet Spark is about 2,200 lbs and manual shift models can be flat towed...

Saw a bat today. It was in my barn attic below several layers of wood lattice. I discovered it when I moved the wood. It moved only slightly. At first I thought it was a small tarantula. Once I figured out it was a bat I replaced a piece of lattice over it and left. I did not touch it. I was...

I need to add fencing near a neighbor who is doing things to make me want that. It's about 1,000 feet of fencing total. For strength, I'm considering wood posts at end points, and also periodically along the run. The rest will be metal T-posts. 4' high. My wife is concerned about wildlife and...

I'm considering purchase of a grapple. The vendor asked if I had "Pioneer" hydraulic fittings on my tractor (Massey 1758.) Do you know if Massey uses these? Or some other brand?

I want to build a shed to store firewood and garden tools/supplies. Dimensions are 11ft wide by 6ft deep. 8 foot front wall, 6.5 foot rear wall, single slope roof. Half will be devoted for firewood storage-- I estimate about a cord and a half of hardwood such as oak. So I have the weight of...

I am having fencing/gates installed. Steel material that is/was powder coated. The photos are for hinge welds for heavy gates. 6x6 steel posts and steel gates to cover a 16 foot opening. Before approving the job, I'd like to make sure the weld quality is sufficient for long term reliable...

Using my front forks, I was moving a loaded pallet and backing up when suddenly the right side of the pallet dropped. The top right-side fork assembly had come loose from the right-side QA plate that is connected to the cylinder. I'm not sure why this happened-- the forks have been used...

I have a irrigation water distribution box that needs replacing. But I'm not sure how to build a new one that seals tight? The box is 4' square, 2' high walls. Existing walls/bottom use redwood 2x8's. The box sits sub-grade with only the top lid above grade. The old box is 50 years old, and was...

I'm installing a new propane-based whole house generator. It will install outdoors where an old spa heater used to be. I need to redo the existing gas pipe T, add 3-4 feet of 3/4" black iron pipe extending toward the generator, and add a new shutoff valve. Then attach the 3/4" flex line that was...

Before planting last Spring, I added fresh topsoil in our raised planters. No other prep. This was year 2 of having a home garden. My wife grew tomatoes, squash, green beans, and ... more. But this year, the planters are full and I don't have the option of mixing in additional fresh soil. How...

I've been planting bare root apple trees to replace a mature apple orchard that is slowly dying out. This summer, my small trees were nearly wiped out by deer. A drought year left little for the deer to eat elsewhere, so they got aggressive even in spite of fencing. At first, I used two T-posts...

I want to prep my barn for paint, and carpenter bees have caused widespread damage to the wood. There are numerous holes in the siding-- typically the size of a dime, or a nickle. The eaves have some larger holes/voids that are maybe 1-2 inches across. Typically where the boards under the eave...

I have a chance to pick up a Case 590 for a pretty good deal. It has a 4-way bucket and backhoe. Would one of these be good around a ranch/farm? The backhoe on it is bigger/stronger than anything I have. But the backhoe is dedicated-- no PTO or 3 point hitch on the back .... How are these for...

Our irrigation ditch water this year has ended due to drought. But with the amount of hot summer days left, all the grasses are going to stress out, and die. Or at least most of them. I can do partial irrigation using hoses and sprinklers. The grasses are about 8-10" tall. Should I mow to have...

I'm overwhelmed with yard debris and need some ideas. My outbuildings are surrounded by many black oaks that exceed 100ft in height. Years of falling leaves have left about 8-12" of solid leaves on the ground, intermixed with vegetation and small sticks/branches. The bottom 3" is compacted so...

I'm familiar with, and often use typical household mouse traps in my enclosed garages (Victor brand.) But I need to do some hard core serious mouse reduction. In about a month, I'll be storing a motorhome in my barn. I don't want it to be quickly destroyed by mice. I've never done any mouse...

I have a Ventrac 4500Y with tough cut. Just over 100 hours. My belts still work fine but every time I engage the blades they squeal. Which reminds me they are a replaceable part. What is a good source for belts, and is there a master list of what sizes I would need? Or just take them in and...

During construction, a freezeless yard hydrant was broken off. It is metal, but was plumbed from the bottom using 3/4" pvc pipe. The threaded male part of the pvc male adaptor is stuck in the bottom of the (metal) assembly. The rest of it is broken off flush. I can't figure out how to get it...

I want to add an automatic entry gate. Two 7' bi-parting gates, outward swing. 14' width totall. One exit loop, and an entry keypad on a gooseneck. I will probably have two rock columns to the outside of each gate post, but might instead do a rock wall. My asphalt driveway has been removed, so...

Last fall I noticed it seemed a bit more noisy when I used power steering left or right on my Ventrac 4500Y. Didn't use it over winter. This spring, the noise increased. Then I had slowly decreasing power while mowing. I did a test with keeping blades engaged, turning, and lifting the deck all...

We have a light on a pole in our driveway. Its in a center circle bordered by pavers. I want to replace the light with a water feature. I turned power off, removed the light and pole, and found two romex lines. One was still hot (don't ask!) They are about 2 feet below current grade, and about...

I want to transport some boulders about 50 miles. I have a 5x8 heavy duty dump trailer that should probably handle 2 or 3 of them. How in the world do you fasten them down for transport? Or not bother? The sides on my trailer are high enough where the boulders could not possible fall over the...

About 3 days ago I found a dead goose in the pond. It was at the waters edge, part in and part out of the water. Other than being dead, it looked completely healthy and normal. I checked it over and didn't find any wounds or injuries on it. I removed and disposed of it. Since it was at waters...

My pond spillway is concrete. It has a provision to put boards across the face of it, horizontally, to prevent water from escaping and raise the pond level. The boards currently are 2 x 8's. About 40" from side to side, and I can stack 3 more boards on top of the first. The 2 x 8's act as a dam...

My new residence is serviced by an old well. Circa 1995, 2hp motor, about 25gpm +/-. The existing bladder tank is shot, the system sometimes short cycles, plus it is .... old. So I've decided to install a new pump, motor, and constant pressure system. My well guy advises leaving the existing...

Just getting started with my Farmi 351p logging winch. I recently played out the cable, and winched it back under load. So its now ready for some logging work, but I have a few questions: I want to winch a fallen oak limb out of a forest to a clear spot, only about 60-80 feet. The limb is about...

It is time to post No Trespassing signs on the perimeter of my property. This is due to trespassers in general, plus unruly tree crews who work for the local electric utility. I learned they are trained to behave differently if working near a property posted with such signs. I would like to...

I have an older IH tractor. During backhoe installation, with no manuals, we accidentally routed the hydraulic lines incorrectly. I believe I deadheaded the pump-- which blew it up. Is there a way to add some sort of relief valve so this couldn't ruin a second pump if the same thing repeated...

I'm rehabbing a 1950's International TD-9. First time I tried to pull the lever to lift the front blade, there was a buzzing/chattering from the hydraulic system. I'm not sure if this is normal but it sure doesn't sound normal. Before trying this, I had checked the hydraulic tank and found it...

I am getting a 1950's vintage International TD-9 crawler back in operating form. Right now I can run it on gas then diesel, and I can operate it in forward and reverse. Initially, with the engine at RPM, the control lever to raise the front blade did nothing except make a lot of...

One of my fence lines has out-of-control invasive willows. My neighbor finally pulled all of his out, which was 80% of the quantity. So I need to do the 20% on my side. He used a Bobcat with a 4-in-1 bucket. Clamping down on a clump of willows and pulling them out by the roots. I don't have...

Someone suggested using PEX pipe for lawn sprinklers. I've always used PVC schedule 40. Is PEX a good alternative? I drain pipes for winter, as it often is 15-20F here in winter. How deep would I bury it? Any tricks I should know about? What tools are needed?

My neighbor has two dogs. One of them likes to run. None of our properties are fenced. He has about 5 acres, I'm closer to 100. I know his dog is frequently on an obscure part of my property, as my trail cams catch pictures of him. Yesterday, the dog was in my pond, chasing the ducks and geese...

I need to dig a lot of trenches this spring and summer. Mostly for irrigation pipe such as 1" schedule 40. Lines are drained in fall so they only need to be about a foot deep. Is there something, somewhere, that will let me modify the bucket to something more friendly for trenching? I only need...

I let a friend drive my GC1710. I warned him not to drive with the bucket raised. He did exactly that and a firewood round tumbled back and smashed the hood and headlight. Aahhh. The tractor runs fine, but I need a new hood, etc. Is circling back to my dealer the best option?

At the center of my irrigation system I have a 2 1/2 inch pvc pipe with 35 psi. Max flow is about 45 gpm. I want to increase the psi as some sprinklers require 40 psi. My target is 45 psi. I don't want to use an electric pump. Gravity only. The psi is generated because the pipe runs up a...

A river otter found my fish-stocked pond. It's living in the pond now, and is decimating the fishery. All my big catfish have been caught and eaten. It's working on the bass now. I am checking with a trapper tomorrow, but if that doesn't work I need to take care of business. I've never seen it...

One of my game cameras caught some interesting bear footage. I'm pretty sure these two were cubs were born last year. Seems about 3am they just couldn't resist having a little wrestle match in front of my camera.

I have spent years trying to eradicate Scotch Broom from my California property. It's invasive, it's a huge wildfire hazard due to oils it produces, it will take over any area where it gets established, and the seeds can lay dormant for up to 80 years, then re-germinate. In Nevada County, CA...

Found a skunk behind my barn this afternoon. At first I thought it was dead since it was in an open pasture area and not moving. Then I saw its head bob up and down a few times. That's its only movement-- head bobs up and down once in a while, then head back on the ground and no movement. I...

I noticed the kitchen faucet was pulsing water, and pressure seemed a little low. Usual house pressure is 60psi but I don't know what it is right now as my gauge failed. I checked the expansion tank at the well. It had about 45psi in it. So I pumped it up to 60 psi and it seems to have fixed...

New Year's Eve was the coldest night of the year so far-- 22F. Our pond is half frozen over this morning. I found a dead woodpecker on the frozen lawn this morning. No marks on him-- looks like he just died and fell out of a tree above. Can birds freeze to death or do you suspect it was...

I'd like to learn some additional ways to be a truly good steward of the land. My rural property has a residence, barn, pasture, apple orchard, forest, creek, pond stocked with fish, and a lot of wildlife. A recent success was trimming my large oak trees, which improved safety and the tree...

I have an apple orchard that is many decades old. Some trees have died, and some continue to produce apples but are very, very old. I want to plant new trees to rejuvenate the orchard. My local nursery said to plant bare root trees in January. They have many "varieties" that grow in my area...

I just had 10 Black Oaks and 1 Pin Oak tree trimmed. These tree are hundreds of years old, about 125ft high with enormous limbs, some up to 60" diameter. A tree crew with a "spider lift" spent a full week here doing it. Now, I am chipping up LOTS and LOTS of branches and limbs. (Saving larger...

I'm building a new residence in Northern Nevada. Framing is done, windows in, most exterior doors installed, stucco lathing done. Almost ready for drywall. Lots of square footage and some 10' and 12' ceiling heights. Insulation is starting to be installed today. Drywall installers say they need...

Got my Woodland Mills WC88 chipper recently. Unit arrived damaged- ugh. It was packed really, really well but dents and scuffed paint here and there. Plus one cracked weld. Factory says it was shipping damage although the outside of carton was unblemished. They are sending replacement parts and...

My irrigation system has a drain that extends into and underwater in the pond. There is a gate valve near the end of that. Somewhere in the vicinity of that piping and valve there is a water leak. So I am losing irrigation water out of the system, which I don't want to have happen. I need to fix...

I have an off-road farm dump trailer. It uses a standard drawbar setup to connect to the tractor drawbar. I hook the trailer tongue to the tractor drawbar, insert a pin, and go. I want to be able to reposition the trailer from one spot to another using my truck. So I need some way to attach the...

My seat switch is incompatible with using my new Woodland Mills WC88 chipper. When I leave the seat to use the chipper, everything shuts down. The manual says PTO and engine will *still run* if Park Brake is engaged and selector is in Neutral-- but it doesn't behave that way. Trying to stuff a...

I am hiring a company to trim the huge oak trees at our property in a few weeks. These are mature, huge oak trees. Everyone that sees these trees calls them gigantic. Unbelievably the all-in cost for end weight reduction and trimming is upward of $10k -- after getting multiple bids. They are...

I have a Massey 1758 cab tractor, with HLA grapple. My old demolished deck has been on a side hill for months, and I finally got a 30 yard dumpster so I could dispose of it. I foolishly thought I could approach the rotted lumber pile from the downslope side, coming up, and "Grab" a pile of...

I bought a Berkelman off road dump trailer a while back. I am just now wanting to put it into service for some firewood work. I went to connect it to the tractor and ... whoa ... I'm not sure how to do it? Here is a pix of the front tongue of the trailer. The end section that will take a pin...

It's time to clear some space in the barn. That means going through decades of accumulated stuff. I have rented a 30yd dumpster which arrives soon. The true junk is easy to throw away. But then I come upon things like old motorized equipment. A rototiller, reel lawnmower with front catch, gas...

I want to create a level RV parking pad. The area has a slight side slope from right to left, and a slight upslope as you pull forward. I need to level both of those. I have a 40hp tractor, 6 foot box blade, landscape rake, and top n tilt. I started by tipping the right side of the box down...

I have an old tractor (International 3414) which recently blew the seal on the hydraulic pump. A friend was connecting up an attachment, and when he hit a bypass valve I believe it deadheaded the pump. Soon after, hydraulic fluid was shooting out the back of the pump. The pump is a Dynamatic--...

Went to the bank recently (Wells Fargo.) Presented a completed deposit slip with my business name and account number. I was depositing cash receipts from that same business. I heard: "Sir, I need to see your ID." What? My ID? To give you CASH? I have deposited cash for many years. My business...

Went to Oakland, CA yesterday to review a unique wall and door system for our new residence. The trip reminded me why I like Rural Living. Traffic was a nightmare, of course. Bumper to bumper on I-80 in both directions. We finished our visit and departed at 1:30pm. Leaving by 1:30 apparently...

I'm building a new residence, about 5,600 sq ft total. The garage is on one side, great room/laundry room about the center, and bedrooms and master on the other side. My architect planned an on-demand water heater in the garage, mainly servicing the kitchen and a bath in that area. And a second...

I'm ready to build a manifold to route irrigation/sprinkler water from the main supply to three different directions. Should I put the valves right at the supply and manifold? This is convenient as all the wiring also only has to go there and I could install drains. Or, should I run pressure...

I am going to run some 1" sprinkler lines at my Nevada property. These will only be operational in summer/fall and I will include drains so I can winterize the lines. Someone here told me I need 19" of depth for schedule 40 PVC due to freeze issues. But my lawn had schedule 40 at about a foot...

I like my Massey 1758 tractor. But I have to nominate how to change the dashboard display from Km/Hr to Miles per Hour as one of the most user UNFRIENDLY things I've seen on a tractor. Here are the steps to changes from Km/Hr to Miles per Hour on my 1758: 1) Turn ignition key off and leave it...

I'm getting tired of constant weed eating along irrigation ditches. It takes a long time and I'm looking for a better solution. The ditches are near fence lines, ranging from 1-5 feet from the fence and meandering around. So it is hard to get power equipment on the "other side" of the ditch to...

I maintain two rural properties each with acreage. Mowing the lawn, brush hogging, setting sprinklers, keeping water flowing through piping and infrastructure, weed eating irrigation ditches, weed eating around fences and the pond, spraying blackberries and weeds, eradicating scotch broom, and...

In the corner of the barn, there is a jumble of lumber, ranging from 2x4 to 2x12. Some pieces are short, others medium or long. And some odd things like a pair of cutout 2x12 that could be used for stairs, and some sheeting. If I stack some of the lumber overhead, sitting on cross beams, how...

I'm living at our ranch property for the next year, and trying to figure out reliable phone communication. Cell service does not work here. Zero bars. Cell phone amplifiers don't work. ATT used to offer landline and DSL. Several years ago they stopped doing any new DSL connections. Now, they...

My new garage is finally going up. It's 3,600 ft, 60ft x 60ft. My engineer designed for 9 light fixtures, 3 rows of 3, using "4-lamp T5 equivalent." I need to choose just what that "equivalent" fixture is!! When shopping I found there is great variation of wattage, lumens, and cost. Some...

I'm putting a small office and bathroom in my new garage. Probably should have made it larger but too late for that. It's designed for a regular door to the small office, and a second regular door from the office to a bathroom. Due to tight space, I think I've already decided to redesign it so...

Saw this recently while enroute to our property ....

I have an above ground diesel tank. About 300 gallons. There has been a small quantity of fuel in it for many years. I believe I need to purge the old fuel and replace it before using? There is one fuel line (underground) to a diesel heater in the residence. The heater also has not been used...

Log prices have climbed, and I have the opportunity to do a Timber Harvest for my property in California. I've never done this before? My understanding is I need a Timber Harvest application submitted to CalFire, signed by a Registered Forester, and identifying a Licensed Timber Operator (LTO)...

I need to drill 50+ holes for a new deck and fence. If I use a tractor at all, I must use a subcompact due to terrain and lawn being involved. I'm a little leery since the subcompacts have limited capability. I've heard that lack of downforce can be an issue, causing it to be hard to get the...

I am putting in a detached garage and current plans are to set a 100a electric subpanel. It will connect to a 400a subpanel at the house. (Existing 200a panel presently being upgraded to 400a.) In the thread about my garage, many here advised to upgrade the garage subpanel to a 200a model, for...

I travel over Donner Summit (I-80) between Nevada and California pretty frequently. This section was entirely refurbished a few years ago. I watched the concrete pour and it seemed like about 14 inches thick with lots of rebar. Now, a few years later, I am seeing ruts in the concrete in the...

Finally got a very good workout with reasonably deep cover of semi-wet leaves yesterday. The Husqvarna GT48 mower and Cyclone rake is a good combo. Last year, three of us spent at least a half a day raking leaves onto tarps, emptying the tarp into my dump trailer, and then dumping leaves. I...

I'm running two 1" schedule 40 underground conduits from a subpanel in my barn to a small adjacent garage, maybe 30 feet or so. One conduit for power, one for phone. Zinsco breakers, but that's another story .... I will come up the side of the building using schedule 80 above ground, then use...

Momma bear and cub are trolling the neighborhood annoying people. Recently I had them both on my front porch, which is surprising since it is very well lit. Then one of them opened the sliding barn door and pillaged through the trash can (no food in trash.) I don't have food anywhere on the...

I am trying to fire up an old gas powered tractor. I know it ran about 6 months ago because I started it. Then I removed the battery to charge it and now it behaves oddly. The dash gauges flash, and it won't turn the starter. Reading the manual, it says to use a screwdriver to jump two of the...

My 2 acre pasture is flood irrigated in summer. The topsoil has many rocks, about the size of a potato. It has had cattle on it which I believe caused compaction. When dry it is sometime tricky to walk on as the surface is choppy and uneven. I've recently had heavy equipment such as a large...

I am fairly new to tractors. I appreciate how dangerous they can be. "Tractor Jim" just posted about pushing tree limbs with his tractor, and how one acted like a "bow" and snapped back against his forehead-- almost killing him. There are many stories like that. Before tractors, I flew...

Finally broke ground for my new garage. Soon my tractor and related equipment will have a new home!! The new garage is 60x60. In addition to the tractor stuff it will also house a motor home, vehicles, car lift, and small office/bathroom/shower. I have rear access to the property so I won't...

Anybody making anything new for aftermarket? Grapple, subsoiler, ummmm... what's new?

These two equipment items in combination do a great job. But, I recently got a full load of wet, mulched leaves into the Cyclone Rake trailer/bagger. It was so heavy I couldn't lift the bag on its pivot. I had to dig out some of the wet stuff first to lighten it before dumping. I noticed while...

Early in 2017 there was a forum debate about the merits of a John Deere X380 riding mower vs a Husqvarna GT48DXLS riding mower. I first went to a Deere dealer to purchase an X380, did not do so. I then learned about and bought a Husqvarna GT48DXLS. Since it was a brand-new model for 2017, I...

I am considering the purchase of a Ventrac 4500, but am undecided on engine option. I've narrowed it to either Kubota gas or diesel. My expected use is summertime mowing/brush hogging. My inclination is diesel, for two reasons. One is fewer problems with fuel, such as if the unit is parked for...

I'm looking to possibly add a Ventrac, mostly for light brush hogging on slopes and hard to reach areas. But, they also offer a front mount stump grinder. I have lots of stumps and have looked at the Woodland Mills rear PTO stump grinder. Does anyone have advice or experience with using a...

I had a recent demo of a Ventrac 4500Z. Worked well on my slopes, using a brush cutter and dual wheel kit. What might the closest reasonable equivalent be with Power Trac? I have larger tractors, etc for bigger tasks. I'm mostly focused on mowing on slopes and under the canopy of trees.

My neighbor has a large area of invasive willows, right up to his/my property line. He doesn't remove or control them as they provide privacy. Along my side of the property line, I have surface irrigation ditch water. It's an ideal breeding ground for expansion of willows into my property...

I posted this in Owning/Operating but since it is safety related I will summarize it here: I was moving heavy items, using two chains, each connected to a hook on the top side of the bucket. Wrap around my item, lift and go. Finished up, and tossed the chains in the bucket. Was returning to...

I was moving heavy items around the property today. Typical config-- two chains, each connected to a hook on the top side of the bucket. Wrap around my item, lift and go. Got the last item moved, unwrapped the chains, and tossed them in the bucket. Was returning to base at moderate speed, but...

Someone said the manual called for a first oil change at 8 hours. I read it now and it says do it every 50. I didn't see a sooner interval for the first one? The deck washout instructions advise to have water flowing, engine at high rpm, and engage the blades. Yikes. I only engage blades at low...

What are the pros and cons of the JD mower owners that use Tweels? Is JD the only manufacturer offering them as standard equipment on some models? Another thread here discussed functional features, and the "vanity" of operating a tweel-equipped mower. What are the pros and cons about...

Well my Husqvarna GT48DXLS mower rocks, no question. But my yard is bumpy and there is no suspension seat. The "Tweels" supposedly improve ride without tearing up turf. Anyone know if they will fit a GT48DXLS?

I have a one acre pond which has suffered through four years of drought. In that time many aquatic plants began to grow. For the first time this year, I have floating plants/algae. There are two established colonies-- one about fifteen feet across and one about ten feet across. I was advised to...

I would be nice to have something "John Deere" at our property to accompany two Massey tractors and a Husqvarna mower. The tractor rotary cutters cut acres of tall pasture stuff just fine. The Husqvarna GT48DXLS mows lawn like a beast. But, I have an in-between need that maybe a new John Deere...

Just finished first cutting a new-to-me 15 acre pasture with rolling hills bounded by a forest. Avoided many obstacles with my twin spindle 8 foot rotary cutter, but did hit an eight inch stump. The cutter rode over the top of the stump when I was turning. I was slowly picking my way through a...

The 50:1 pre-mix seems *way* more expensive than mixing my own. But, very convenient to use and store. Is there any functional advantage to pre-mix except for storage? It seems that stuff is ~$20/gallon, more than double the cost to mix my own?

I was putting my mower away and noticed the digit 8 had appeared in the hour meter. It wasn't the elapsed time, since that is now 4.5 hours. I looked in the manual and couldn't find any code or reference to the hour meter. Is it capable of displaying more than just elapsed time, and is this some...

Finally got my new Massey Ferguson 1758 into operation! Spent several hours brush hogging yesterday. What a difference from brush hogging with my Massey GC 1710 open station! Bugs are *outside* the cab. I'm in the shade, with a/c, sitting on an air ride seat. The cab model is not as nimble to...

I just used Mr. Funnel to filter the diesel while fueling my tractor. Should I keep that funnel "diesel only," or is it OK to use the same funnel for gasoline also? And, although it is brand new, my Mr. Funnel acts like an old timer. With a full funnel of diesel, it flows good. But as the level...

I greased all the obvious zerk fittings recently on my GC1710. Loader, backhoe, etc. I know there are some I missed, but I cannot find anything in the operating manual or service manual? Does anyone know of a diagram or list of all possible greasing locations?

Will soon be driving through forest slash with rimguard filled tires. If I puncture one, what's the best process, or is there one? Doesn't sound like fun, but I'd like to know the plan just in case!

I'm looking for a good brush cutter for slopes and areas where a riding mower and rotary cutter can't safely, or practically, go. Everyone seems to have a *bad* walk behind model, and it would be hard to spend $3,000 given the poor reviews. The best reviewed one seems to be discontinued (Stanley...

I'm still filling 5 gal cans to fuel my tractor (ugh.) When pouring fuel yesterday, I noticed that one or more small contaminants also went in with the new fuel. Agghh. What sort of filter is recommended when fueling from a 5 gallon can into a tractor diesel tank?

I've narrowed my choices down two rotary cutters, using 3 point, Category 1 hitch. This is to cut 12-15 acres of pasture a few times a year for weed control. Few saplings, mostly weeds. Mostly level, only moderate slope. Pasture is lined by a forest so some backing into tight areas between trees...

In Fall, I get enormous covering of leaves on the lawn I measure in feet, not inches. With days being short, we always seem to be raking right up until dark. I'm looking at a new riding mower/lawn tractor and cyclone rake to make this an easier process. Has anyone added a LED light bar to a...

I narrowed a riding mower/lawn tractor down to Deere and Husqvarna. Husqvarna has made good strides with their latest model for 2017. A Deere x380 is probably better, but Husky is catching up fast. Husqvarna dealers want to deal, offer services, fuel, delivery, discounts on implements and...

I'm looking at a bush hog bh26 rotary cutter. It's a 3pt hitch model, single spindle, 6 foot, heavy duty cutter. Needs 45pto horsepower which is exactly what I have. Also considering a Rhino se8a. It's a pull or semi mount, twin spindle, 8 ft medium duty cutter. Needs 45pto as a 3pt, 40hp as...

I've greased my MF GC1710 a few times, using a hand held grease pump and lithium based grease. I'm about to take delivery of another tractor, a MF 1758. I want to upgrade my grease knowledge and capability. I only have a manual grease gun now. I'm considering a Dewalt 20V portable electric...

I need to choose a brush hog type mower for 12 acres of mostly open pasture. Mostly weeds, don't notice any saplings, up to 2-3 ft high. Light to moderate slope. There is one draw/ravine where water drains (winter.) The pasture is lined with large trees, and it is desired to do some amount of...

I am trying to sort out conflicting opinions. Some say 43 PTO horsepower is limited to only a 6 foot rotary cutter, others say 7, 8, or even 10 foot is OK. I noticed the HP requirements vary quite a bit by brand. I have 12 acres +/- that I need a rotary cutter for, and I want heavy duty...

Anyone have experience with a grapple for the front of a GC1710 or similar tractor?

I'm having a hard time sorting out what wood chipper to buy, and whether to just rent one instead. Home Depot and other companies rent them, usually 6" chippers. With rental, I dislike needing to prepare a huge pile of stuff in advance, just so I can play "beat the clock" and keep the...

I've been very pleased with my Massey GC1710. It's my little workhorse. It will soon be joined by a shiny new Massey Ferguson 1758 cab model. Should take delivery in about a month. The 1758 has SSQA FEL, grapple, top-n-tilt, quick hitch, hydraulic controlled landscape rake/blade, box scraper...

Thank you to so many who replied to my inquiries about what tractor to select, and how to outfit it. The answers were very helpful. I bought a Massey Ferguson 1758 cab model. SSQA FEL, grapple, top-n-tilt, quick hitch, hydraulic controlled landscape rake/blade, box scraper, and rears loaded...

I'm looking at a Wallenstein BX52 chipper. One model is "self feeding" while another has optional hydraulic feed. Self feed is around $3k, hydraulic feed almost double. Also, I see some marketing that the design of the blades on the BX52 promotes "self feeding," which sort of implies that...

I have 52 hours on my Massey SCUT tractor. I've been *very* careful to avoid side slopes when using it. I bush hog about two acres, and if there is much of an incline I go up/down rather than traverse it sideways. I keep the bucket lowered while turning. This season, I will have a 50+ hp cab...

Cleaning up my forestry mess, I will often be working alone. Mostly level ground, lots of brush and debris, many trees down, average log size 10", mostly pine, ranging up to very long lengths. I've never done this before. I will have a 50+ hp cab tractor with front grapple and rear landscape...

I'm closing in on a tractor and grapple purchase to clean up a forestry mess. Also considering a skidding winch, 3 point grapple, tongs, or $300 poor man's log lift. Or a simple drawbar and chain! Not sure yet. My question is about processing the logs once I get them to a staging area. Is there...

I'm homing in on a tractor purchase. Need advice on whether to load the rear tires or not. A big project is forestry cleanup with grapple, rake, maybe a skidding winch. I understand loaded tires are desirable for that. This is a big project but a one-time project even though it make take two...

Still evaluating a 50-60hp tractor choice. Along with regular mowing and a one-time cleaning up a forestry mess, I need to install a lot of posts and fencing for horses. John Deere advertises their model 4066R has an optional hydraulic downforce kit, which supposedly assists digging post holes...

I have owned a SCUT tractor for about a year. That is my entire tractor experience, so I am still a "newbie." I recently started shopping for a larger tractor. I'm a cash buyer. Budget is $50,000+. It has been a difficult experience. After great help on this forum, I chose a Kubota Grand L6060...

After much hand wringing about which trailer to get, and what type, I finally bought one! Bought a 20 foot Big Tex bumper pull equipment trailer, with mega-ramps on the back. I wanted the 14,000 gvr trailer since it has bigger axles and brakes, but didn't want to trigger the need for a CDL. So...

I own a Massey GC1710. Very pleased with it. Have 45 hours on it now at a 2 acre property. For another property, about 90 acres, doing mowing and clearing logs and brush, I had settled on a Kubota Grand L6060 cab model. Well over $60,000 with goodies and attachments. But no dickering yet. And I...

I want to get some weight on the back of a Kubota L6060 to get full use out of the grapple and loader bucket. I was advised to get 1,200 lbs on the rear of the tractor for counterbalance, and to help keep too much weight off the front axle. Loading the rear tires increases weight, but not...

Can you help me understand float vs detent for the rear remotes? I want to operate a box scraper, and a hydraulically controlled landscape rake / blade combo. In theory I know that a "float" can let the box scraper drag across the ground just using gravity. But I'm confused if I need one...

I want a single trailer to "do it all." That includes hauling my tractor and implements when needed, hauling a car and/or ATV when I go camping, hauling logs and/or brush and debris when I am clearing my land, and doing all the other things a dump trailer can do. I'm looking at a 17' overaxle...

I have settled on a configuration for my Kubota L6060 cab model. Thank you all for helping. The tractor, with some land pride equipment, retails for about $65,000. I can pay cash or finance. The dealer is quoting about $62,000, either for cash or Kubota 0% financing. I like the idea of KTAC...

My needs are to mow 15-20 acres in summer, and do a one-time clean up about 8 acres of downed trees and debris. I had previously decided on a Grand L6060, cab model, with loader, heavy duty bucket, grapple, and skidding winch. Some of the reason for the 6060 model was power to run the skidding...

I bought a LOT of G70 bulk chain when my hardware store went belly up. I can't remember what size it is though. It was a killer deal I couldn't pass up. I used calipers to measure it. The measurement was larger than 5/16 but smaller than 3/8. ???? Very confused. A 5/16 G70 grab hook grabs it...

I'm expecting to soon purchase a 60hp tractor and skidding winch. Some basic research shows using a tractor for logging activity is very dangerous work. I'd like to learn more of the risks? So far, I've read about skidding cables snapping, short logs being dragged behind a tractor hitting a...

The consensus about how to clean up 6-8 acres of downed logs and debris was a 50+hp tractor, grapple, and skidding winch. (Assuming a tractor, not a telehandler!) I am looking at a Kubota Grand L6060 cab tractor, grapple, and Wallenstein skidding winch. Grab the debris with the grapple and move...

Thank you to all who replied to my inquires about a L6060 for mowing 20 acres and cleaning downed logs from 8 acres. I am focusing on the configuration listed below. There is already a bushhog at the property. What changes would you make to the configuration I am focusing on? Kubota L6060, cab...

I'm shopping for a Kubota Grand L6060 but don't know how to outfit it with options. This tractor will manage about 80 acres, with 60 forested acres and 20 acres of level to moderately sloped pasture to mow. I need to mow the 20 acres a few times a year to keep weeds and fire danger down. There...

These two tractors seem right-sized for my new property. I would add SSQA, front loader, and grapple. No backhoe as I have a small backhoe on my Massey SCUT I could use in a pinch. Maybe a Wallenstein skidding winch but I'm still evaluating that. Neither are inexpensive, but I'm grappling with...

A year ago, I bought a Massey SCUT TLB for a 2 acre property. It's worked well for me, mostly for mowing and small loader jobs. I just acquired an 88 acre ranch. It recently had tree disease in the forested part, resulting in LOTS of downed logs and debris. About 8 acres where it looks like a...

Got excellent dealer service to repair a bad seal in the backhoe ram. As explained in an earlier post, even with the engine running the backhoe would slowly drop. Once a new seal was installed, all was well. But, after a few hours of digging, the problem returned. Another call to the dealer...

I have a Massey GC1710 SCUT. I know woods make a 3 1/2 foot rotary cutter, and also a 4 foot rotary cutter. I'm curious which might better match up to my SCUT? I only need to mow about two acres.

I received Ken's bolt on hooks but have not installed them yet. I will put a few on the loader and one on the backhoe. In case I encounter an especially heavy rock or something similar, is the loader, or backhoe, the stronger lifting force? Or, due to hydraulic pressure, are they equal?

I'm gearing up for spring and summer, so I will need some help. Currently I am looking at purchasing the following for my GC1710: Woods RC3.5 rotary mower Woods GBC48 Box scraper Woods LRS52 landscape rake Worksaver post hole digger w/9" auger I believe I have a justifiable use for each of...

I am putting some backhoe time on my new GC1710. Tearing out 35 year old overgrown junipers. So far, the digging part works great. But I noticed something that does not seem right. The backhoe arm will move on its own. When I extend the bucket straight out, sort of at eye level behind the...

A description I read about float mode is that when you use float mode the bucket/blade whatever follows the contour of the ground automatically. I'm curious if that is correct, and if so, how does it do that? Are there sensors to determine when the ground contour changes and make adjustments...

I'd like to have the option to pull or reposition trailers, etc. with my SCUT. At the low end, I'd like to pull a small garden trailer (like a Polar?) behind the tractor to do some work. In the middle, reposition and move my small dump trailer (1,500 lbs empty, 5,000 lbs load capacity.) Ideally...

I like to obtain service manuals for the equipment I own. Is such a manual available for the Massey GC1710, and the Iseki engine it uses? Does anyone have a source?

While shopping for a SCUT, I sometimes saw an option for a dealer upgraded alternator. I presume this would only be needed for a tractor used a lot at night, running many lights? Is there any such option for the massey models, such as a GC1710?

Now that I have the Massey GC1710 in the garage, it's time to get ready for work! I have two acres to mow, which are mostly barren now from drought and winter but will begin sprouting vigorously in Spring. I have irrigation water rights and can flood irrigate the entire two acres. I presently...

Thanks to all for excellent input to this totally "green" shopper for a first-ever tractor. I bought one and spent a couple of hours using it at the property yesterday! I researched John Deere 1025R, Kubota BX-25D, Kioti, Mahindra Max 25, and Massey Ferguson GC1710/1720. I drove all of them...

With 2.5 acres, it seems a SCUT such as a Kubota BX-25D will handle all my mowing, digging, and other needs. After narrowing my choice to a Kubota BX-25D or a Massey SCUT, I realized I had missed the most important factor of all: my comfort during usage. Someone pointed out that any SCUT is...

I have quotes in hand for the Massey GC1710, GC1720, and Kubota BX-25D. I am working with three different dealers. Each dealer is only quoting one machine. Prices do not include tax. I believe all three are competitive quotes, but maybe not down to the "last nickel." Here is what I was...

I have never owned any tractor. But I need a SCUT for 2.5 recently purchased mostly level acres of pasture, plus some digging and landscape projects. I looked at the John Deere 1025, Kubota BX25D, Kioti, and Massey Ferguson 1710/1720. I researched the Mahindra Max25 but never saw one. After...