tony123
Platinum Member
toulomne, I don't know how I ever missed your thread? Beautiful tractor and home. Can you describe your property and plans for it a little better?
3520 arrived...first impressions.
- Thread starter tuolumne
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tuolumne
Gold Member
Tony, I responded to some of your questions in your thread. Our property is 24 acres on an eastern slope of the Taconic foothills. This picture is looking east at the Green Mountains.
The property is roughly rectangular, around 600 feet x 1800 feet, and is slopes down from the road from 2% to 12%. There is a ravine at the rear that drops down to a creek with slopes around 45 degrees; hard to navigate on foot. If nothing else, our children have a great sled run! We plan to lay our fruit trees just beyond the snow pile in the forground between the driveway and the house. This is slope is around 8% which is navigable and fine for trees, but a garden would wash away. The slope faces southeast, which I understand to be good for fruit trees. We will plant varieties similar to those we left behind in CT, apples, pears, cherry, peaches and plums. We will be planting raspberries, blackberries and blueberries...somewhere, everywhere! The woods is already loaded with black caps. The existing trees are mostly Ash and Sugar Maple; this was pasture until the 1950's, so those Maples are ready to take their first tap. We intend to do a lot of sugaring (probably foreign to your area
) Other species include Basswood, birch, pine, fir, spruce, cherry, hickory and aspen. I am sure that someone who knows wood would find a lot of other varieties. I miss the oaks we had in CT (but not those leaves!). The forest is very healthy, and I will be taking out the Ash for firewood and leaving the Maples more room to grow. Our slopes lend themselves to sugaring with tubing, but we will start slow with buckets. Speaking of firewood (and to keep on the tractor topic) here is my wood boiler heading into the basement.
This thing weighs 2000 lbs, and I could only pick the forks about 12" off the ground.This is a wood gasification unit, and I will be using 1000 gallons of water as heat storage. I plan to load firewood into the basement in crates through the double doors, so as to limit the number of times I need to handle the wood. It will be split and chucked to the crates to season.
And here is the backup heat and cooking appliance since we anticipate many power outages out in the sticks. (Our neighbor, a lifetime resident, speaks of friends who live "down on the blacktop")
The garden area will be below the house, and this area is not yet cleared. There are about 2 acreas that are nearly flat, and well suited for tillage. The soil is unbelievable on this property and looks like it will grow about anything. I havn't sent any samples off to the lab yet. I don't know where we'll fence in the beasts yet. I don't have any neighbor issues, as the properties on both sides are similar size. There are a few trails on the property from the previous owners skidding out firewood, so access is good. I can go anywhere now that I have tire chains, but was helpless without them with the snow.
To update on the first impressions; I took the tractor between our homes for the second time to clean out the snow in Pawlet. It was just to deep this time for the shovel! Last time I had the backhoe on, and had to drop into third gear on some of the hills. This time I had on the rear blade, and made it up all the hills in 4th. That 1000 lbs makes a difference. I've done plenty of snow removal with the loader mounted blade. It works great, although I often need to get on the steering brakes to keep the edges of the drive pushed back. The chains turned this machine from nearly useless to unstopable. Our driveway got iced up pretty bad with the warm spells we had a few times. I am currently looking for a PTO sander, although I may get a reciever mount style and weld a reciever to the back blade. I like leaving that blade on because it can dig down through the ice when needed, and the snow plow tends to float on top. This tractor has been everything we hoped and more! Now I need to find a trailer like Tony's to take hayrides down to the lake for ice skating!
The property is roughly rectangular, around 600 feet x 1800 feet, and is slopes down from the road from 2% to 12%. There is a ravine at the rear that drops down to a creek with slopes around 45 degrees; hard to navigate on foot. If nothing else, our children have a great sled run! We plan to lay our fruit trees just beyond the snow pile in the forground between the driveway and the house. This is slope is around 8% which is navigable and fine for trees, but a garden would wash away. The slope faces southeast, which I understand to be good for fruit trees. We will plant varieties similar to those we left behind in CT, apples, pears, cherry, peaches and plums. We will be planting raspberries, blackberries and blueberries...somewhere, everywhere! The woods is already loaded with black caps. The existing trees are mostly Ash and Sugar Maple; this was pasture until the 1950's, so those Maples are ready to take their first tap. We intend to do a lot of sugaring (probably foreign to your area
) Other species include Basswood, birch, pine, fir, spruce, cherry, hickory and aspen. I am sure that someone who knows wood would find a lot of other varieties. I miss the oaks we had in CT (but not those leaves!). The forest is very healthy, and I will be taking out the Ash for firewood and leaving the Maples more room to grow. Our slopes lend themselves to sugaring with tubing, but we will start slow with buckets. Speaking of firewood (and to keep on the tractor topic) here is my wood boiler heading into the basement.This thing weighs 2000 lbs, and I could only pick the forks about 12" off the ground.This is a wood gasification unit, and I will be using 1000 gallons of water as heat storage. I plan to load firewood into the basement in crates through the double doors, so as to limit the number of times I need to handle the wood. It will be split and chucked to the crates to season.
And here is the backup heat and cooking appliance since we anticipate many power outages out in the sticks. (Our neighbor, a lifetime resident, speaks of friends who live "down on the blacktop")
The garden area will be below the house, and this area is not yet cleared. There are about 2 acreas that are nearly flat, and well suited for tillage. The soil is unbelievable on this property and looks like it will grow about anything. I havn't sent any samples off to the lab yet. I don't know where we'll fence in the beasts yet. I don't have any neighbor issues, as the properties on both sides are similar size. There are a few trails on the property from the previous owners skidding out firewood, so access is good. I can go anywhere now that I have tire chains, but was helpless without them with the snow.
To update on the first impressions; I took the tractor between our homes for the second time to clean out the snow in Pawlet. It was just to deep this time for the shovel! Last time I had the backhoe on, and had to drop into third gear on some of the hills. This time I had on the rear blade, and made it up all the hills in 4th. That 1000 lbs makes a difference. I've done plenty of snow removal with the loader mounted blade. It works great, although I often need to get on the steering brakes to keep the edges of the drive pushed back. The chains turned this machine from nearly useless to unstopable. Our driveway got iced up pretty bad with the warm spells we had a few times. I am currently looking for a PTO sander, although I may get a reciever mount style and weld a reciever to the back blade. I like leaving that blade on because it can dig down through the ice when needed, and the snow plow tends to float on top. This tractor has been everything we hoped and more! Now I need to find a trailer like Tony's to take hayrides down to the lake for ice skating!
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
It was 20 below zero last night, and 10 below when I fired up the tractor this morning....no problems at all. Last time it got this cold my fuel was all geled up, and it took 911 and a heat gun to get her thawed out. Now I keep some Power Service something or other in the tank, and haven't had any issues. What is this tractor actually doing when it warms up? Does it have the headers open until it reaches a certain temp? I don't go anywhere until it goes back into a normal idle. On a morning like this the hydraulics are a bit sluggish until the fluid warms up. We ran a bit short on firewood for our hungry stove; here I'm loading some logs onto the trailer.
The grapple makes this so easy. I left everything at 12' when I cleared the lot, and this Ash burns really nice even when fresh split. These are the chains I got...very agressive with the ice studs. That steel is also extremely hard to cut...boron steel or something like that.
The chains come off in 30 seconds each, and putting them on is a back breaking 5 minutes each. I've only done it once so far. There is always snow to push around. Here is our driveway from up near the road. Plowing is still fun at this point.
The grapple makes this so easy. I left everything at 12' when I cleared the lot, and this Ash burns really nice even when fresh split. These are the chains I got...very agressive with the ice studs. That steel is also extremely hard to cut...boron steel or something like that.
The chains come off in 30 seconds each, and putting them on is a back breaking 5 minutes each. I've only done it once so far. There is always snow to push around. Here is our driveway from up near the road. Plowing is still fun at this point.
newt92
Gold Member
Tuolumne, awsome place, great pictures. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming!!
Dennis
Dennis
grainger12002
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 806
- Location
- Pomfret,Connecticut
- Tractor
- yanmar 336d w ldr,Cub,many attachments
Tuolumne- Great place and lots ofgreatpics,very intersting to watch your progress, where did you move from ? Glad you are getting some well deserved seat time !!
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
Ellington. I worked in Hartford as a structural engineer.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
Congratulations on a nice new rig and toys, am very interested how it works in tight quarters.
Steve
Steve
putt_putt_green
Silver Member
I recently read that south facing slopes can be bad for fruit tree production. The reason being that the trees will start to bud out earlier in the spring (since they are getting more sun exposure). This makes them more likely to get hit by a frost, killing the buds. So my suggestion would be to plant them where they will be protected by the hardwoods in the early spring, but get full sun once the danger of a hard frost passes. Thats what I'm planning to do when I plant my orchard.
By the way, thats a lovely homestead you have there.
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
I believe there is a picture further back in the post of the tractor grading out gravel in the basement. The turning radius on these machines is extremely tight, and using a steering brake you can spin around on one tire. This was also very useful when logging off our site, and the tight turning allowed me to maneuver the 12' logs through the woods very effectively.jenkinsph said:
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
You will find a host of information at hearth.com in the "boiler room." I plan to continue posting progress information there. My system is an EKO-40 gasification boiler, which has an upper primary combustion chamber, and a secondary lower combustion chamber. A nozzle injects the wood offgas into this lower chamber where it is reburned at 2400 degrees F. These units are quite efficient and produce little exhaust when going all out. For that reason, I am using a large water buffer to store the heat. I have two 500 gallon propane tanks that will be part of the system water to store the extra energy from a burn. Our house has around 65,000 btu/hr heat loss at 15 below zero. In theory, really cold days will require several boiler firings, normal winter days (20's) require a single hard burn, spring/fall require a burn every day or every few days, and in the summer I will burn once every 7-10 days to heat the domestic hot water. The years will show how well all these calculations play out. We are very excited to have no fossil fuel in the new home...except the tractor of courseJDPN said:
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tuolumne
Gold Member
I thought a photo could better demonstrate the turning radius of the 3000 series. There was a bit of fresh snow on the ground this morning so I did a quick turn.
Here is a picture of the grapple at work. It still never ceases to amaze me what a machine can do....to just grab a bunch of logs that I counldn't even budge with a pole.
I don't think I've posted any photos of the snowplow. A loader plow is very useful for pushing piles back, allowing a high reach to knock the top off first.
For those wondering about rear blades versus snow plows, this photo illustrates one difference. The right side was done going up the driveway with the rear blade, and the left was done coming back down with the snow plow. You can see that the blade digs down a bit more.
Here is a picture of the grapple at work. It still never ceases to amaze me what a machine can do....to just grab a bunch of logs that I counldn't even budge with a pole.
I don't think I've posted any photos of the snowplow. A loader plow is very useful for pushing piles back, allowing a high reach to knock the top off first.
For those wondering about rear blades versus snow plows, this photo illustrates one difference. The right side was done going up the driveway with the rear blade, and the left was done coming back down with the snow plow. You can see that the blade digs down a bit more.
rkylane
New member
Where did you get your tire chains ? I also have a 3520 but was wondering about clearance with chains on the rear tires. They look pretty tight between the R4s & the fender.
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
I bought them through my dealer in VT....I believe they are the ones distributed by icechains.com. I have the larger R4 tires, and clearance is OK. The smaller tires would have a lot of room. I need to zip tie the loose ends back to keep them from flailing the fenders, but you would need to do that anyway. There is about 3" between the fender and the ice studs, just enough to get my arm in when putting them on. I've only used these in snow...I wonder what will happen when I use these in mud? Clumps may bump....I don't know yet. They are suprisingly smooth for road travel with all the contact area. In top gear I'll get a bit of a "buzz" but no jolting like other chains I've used. Still, the 1/2 mile or so I've gone to help a neighbor is as far as I would want to go.rkylane said:
Tuolumne,
I am really enjoying your pictures. The new place looks great, doing it yourself too.
I am enjoying my year old 3320, have the same fork lift, a Patu dc-40 (Finnish) chipper, MX-5, belly mower and 300 cx with the HD bucket & JD tooth bar. The CX loader is amazing, really the whole machine has been just great.Do get a tooth bar for the dirt work if you have not already. I have the R3's, fluid loaded, and the rear weight box filled with concrete. I got the double link chains from that online place, but yours do look smoother on the road, and maybe no side slip. Do you have front chains? This year, though, you northerners have had all the snow and I have not even have to put them on. Agreed loading the tires is a must. I now wish I got the turbo, but only when using the chipper or MX cutter. That said, it really does very well with those attachmments too. I got all the hydraulics for the hoe, but it was too pricy at the time. Having rented a 10000 lb class IHI before, and that was amazing, I wasn't too sure the 48 would just be a toy. Is it worth the dollars?
I was interested you were an SE in Hartford, I am an SE in New haven. Perhaps we met not wearing the "green". What are you doing up there in God's country now?
Keep the pics and stories coming- great fun to read up on a winter night.
Dave
I am really enjoying your pictures. The new place looks great, doing it yourself too.
I am enjoying my year old 3320, have the same fork lift, a Patu dc-40 (Finnish) chipper, MX-5, belly mower and 300 cx with the HD bucket & JD tooth bar. The CX loader is amazing, really the whole machine has been just great.Do get a tooth bar for the dirt work if you have not already. I have the R3's, fluid loaded, and the rear weight box filled with concrete. I got the double link chains from that online place, but yours do look smoother on the road, and maybe no side slip. Do you have front chains? This year, though, you northerners have had all the snow and I have not even have to put them on. Agreed loading the tires is a must. I now wish I got the turbo, but only when using the chipper or MX cutter. That said, it really does very well with those attachmments too. I got all the hydraulics for the hoe, but it was too pricy at the time. Having rented a 10000 lb class IHI before, and that was amazing, I wasn't too sure the 48 would just be a toy. Is it worth the dollars?
I was interested you were an SE in Hartford, I am an SE in New haven. Perhaps we met not wearing the "green". What are you doing up there in God's country now?
Keep the pics and stories coming- great fun to read up on a winter night.
Dave
mjncad
Super Member
"Originally Posted by tuolumne
One thing that has been annoying is the operator presence switch. I often stand to align an implement or see the bucket better and the silly thing cuts out the machine. This seems less safe to lose power at a critical moment. Has anyone disabled theirs?"
I was a bad boy an disconnected the lawyer switch...err...occupant sensor switch and placed a jumper across the wires using two 1/4" male quick connects and a piece of 18 Gauge wire. Now the engine doesn't cut out with the PTO active if I stand up to get a better view; because as far as the tractor is concerned, someone is always sitting in it now. What I did with the jumper is similar to what I did to my L130 lawn tractor's lawyer switch. See my lawn tractor gallery accessible via the link in my signature for more information. I may put a switch in that allows me to use the lawyer switch when mowing, and disable it when I need to have the PTO running while I tweak my sprayer's settings.
One thing that has been annoying is the operator presence switch. I often stand to align an implement or see the bucket better and the silly thing cuts out the machine. This seems less safe to lose power at a critical moment. Has anyone disabled theirs?"
I was a bad boy an disconnected the lawyer switch...err...occupant sensor switch and placed a jumper across the wires using two 1/4" male quick connects and a piece of 18 Gauge wire. Now the engine doesn't cut out with the PTO active if I stand up to get a better view; because as far as the tractor is concerned, someone is always sitting in it now. What I did with the jumper is similar to what I did to my L130 lawn tractor's lawyer switch. See my lawn tractor gallery accessible via the link in my signature for more information. I may put a switch in that allows me to use the lawyer switch when mowing, and disable it when I need to have the PTO running while I tweak my sprayer's settings.
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
Dave, I was with Macchi for 6 years. We moved to VT to support a small offspring of our church. When the house building slows down I am opening up shop for SE in VT, but things are very slow in our area. I have a VT license now, but will probably find most of my work in CT still. The last job I did in New Haven was Pfizers clinical research center. I don't miss CT traffic! The 448 is not a toy at all. I spent a lot of time on full size TLBs as a kid, and large excavators as well. This is a powerful little hoe, and doesn't make too much of a mess with an 18" bucket. I trenched nearly 450' of 48" deep utility trench in a short day. It works out to about a foot per minute in typcial new england till. Lomac in East Windsor had a used 448 last time I looked...it might be gone now, as that is a rare find.
OP
tuolumne
Gold Member
I've been putting the pallet forks to work again as I moved my woodworking equipment into the new house as well as some lumber. Here is the kitchen/dining floor.
Here is are the kitchen cabinets Use your imagination, I've a bit of work to do yet.
I am sure glad for the tractor in those more frustrating moments of getting stuck. I've pulled plenty of people out of our driveway from a semi with a 53' box (empty) to boom trucks to compact cars, but this is the first time I had to pull myself out! I got off the edge of the driveway when backing down with the trailer, and well, it's springtime in Vermont.
I just put the van in neutral and ran back and forth to adjust the steering every few feet. I have guessed at the loader capacity a few times, but unloading some sheetrock a few days ago made for an easy calculation. I took 34 sheets of 1/2" 4x8 off a flatbed which was atop some 12's and 14's. I got it up a few inches but no more. That's 1870 lbs plus the weight of the forks to a bit over 6'. Does anyone know how much the forks weight...42" fixed? I would guess around 3-400 lbs. I had the rear blade turned around which puts it out about 4' and loaded tires, but the rear end was as light as I've felt it on this machine. I'm sure the backhoe, weightbox or chipper would have kept things firmer. I went straight back, but any slight turn of the wheel and the opposite side would start to lift...plus one for the creeper gears. Once the load was down near the ground things were more stable. Why? It would seem that the lever arm is a bit greater when the load is low. Anyway, that was the last load of drywall and I'm getting close to wrapping that up. They wouldn't bring it on a boom truck, only a 4x4 flatbed...yup, it's springtime in Vermont.
Here is are the kitchen cabinets
Use your imagination, I've a bit of work to do yet.I am sure glad for the tractor in those more frustrating moments of getting stuck. I've pulled plenty of people out of our driveway from a semi with a 53' box (empty) to boom trucks to compact cars, but this is the first time I had to pull myself out! I got off the edge of the driveway when backing down with the trailer, and well, it's springtime in Vermont.
I just put the van in neutral and ran back and forth to adjust the steering every few feet. I have guessed at the loader capacity a few times, but unloading some sheetrock a few days ago made for an easy calculation. I took 34 sheets of 1/2" 4x8 off a flatbed which was atop some 12's and 14's. I got it up a few inches but no more. That's 1870 lbs plus the weight of the forks to a bit over 6'. Does anyone know how much the forks weight...42" fixed? I would guess around 3-400 lbs. I had the rear blade turned around which puts it out about 4' and loaded tires, but the rear end was as light as I've felt it on this machine. I'm sure the backhoe, weightbox or chipper would have kept things firmer. I went straight back, but any slight turn of the wheel and the opposite side would start to lift...plus one for the creeper gears. Once the load was down near the ground things were more stable. Why? It would seem that the lever arm is a bit greater when the load is low. Anyway, that was the last load of drywall and I'm getting close to wrapping that up. They wouldn't bring it on a boom truck, only a 4x4 flatbed...yup, it's springtime in Vermont.
ScottK
Silver Member
Your forks weigh 380 lbs. I have the manual for them with all the specs.
Scott
Scott
