4310 moves my world

[SteveH_CT]

Hey Guys - I'm so impressed with the work I have been doing this past weekend I just had to come on here and chat... I've cleared about another 1/2 acre this past weekend with the 4310. Stumping, rock moving, brush pile "relocation"... it has done it all without a complaint. I even managed to push over some smaller trees - like 4" diameter. It sure is faster than the chain saw!

So anyway - no complaints - just good vibes from the JD 4310. After reading about CraigG's problems I was worried about mine coming in, but so far it's solid as a tank.

Let me know if anyone wants lot clearing pictures, I'm happy to share.

Take Care

 

[rockyridgefarm]

same here. We all had a ball this weekend. My wife has a little trouble sharing the seat time. But its worth it to see the smile on her face while she tears around on that thing, and our little place keeps looking better.

One of our driveways was always pretty sorry, and she has been playing at fixing it up. Can't believe how much better it is, and we have already weathered some early mosoons...

Yesterday I pulled out a T post that I have been battling. I have a T post popper that usually does the trick. All I have been doing with it on this post is breaking the 4" thick concrete pavers that I had been using to increase the foot.

So I wrapped it with a chain and she lined up the tractor. I attached it to the loader bucket and she gave a good curling pull. BIG EYES!!! She gently lowered the back tires back to TerraFerma...

I swung it around and went to work with the backhoe. It wouldn't pull straight up so I worked it back and forth and side to side. I FINALLY got it out. It was a 7' post with three foot planted in the ground, and was spiraled like a cork screw.

I told my daughter Never to pound any more posts in the ground like that. That girl is scary sometimes... I hope I never have to pull out the Schedule 40 pipe posts she drove...

 

[SteveH_CT]

I'm glad your tractor is putting a smile on your face too.

LOL - I can imagine the look on her face when the wheels left the ground... I've done that a few more times than I care to admit by using too much downforce on the FEL. My learning curve can be a hairpin turn sometimes... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I've read a few threads questioning the purchase of a BH - but man oh man, in the two weeks I've owned this thing I've found so many uses for it. I'd say it's well worth the extra $$. The other factor is the more I use it the better "it" performs... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'll have to talk to your wife for advice - As soon as we are thawed I'm going to trench along the side of our main driveway to get the water to run somewhere else. This will be all BH work due to the stone wall about 4' away from the driveway.

Take Care,

 

[Hypernix]

Steve,

Bring on the pictures! We all like those cool pictures! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Hyp3rnix

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Here is a link I got on TBN a long time ago. Sure has been a big help:
Maine Camp Road Maint. Manual

it is a pdf, but a good read, anyway.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Thanks! That will surely help.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

of course we want lots of lot clearing pictures /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

Sorry Guys - got home too late last night - pics should follow tonight.

 

[JayC]

Yeah, don't forget the pics! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

OK All - sorry for the delay - it was a super busy week - I was bringing up a pretty good size LAN in one of our prisons... anyway I finally snapped some shots of my first job with the 4310.

Keep in mind when you see these shots that the area I cleared was very dense with scrubby trees and rocks. Once I drop the large trees I'll be bringing in fill, soil, then grading it. What a difference it's made already - we get so much more light into the house by moving the tree line back.

Enjoy! I sure am.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Pic # 2 - I hope the snow doesn't chill you folks down south... it's still hanging on here even though it was 55 today.

 

[SteveH_CT]

And the last pic - This one might be a bit larger - I'm experimenting with larger pics with more compression.

Now that you've seen these feel free to offer advice on grading blades - front mount vs. rear mount.

Thanks All! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[PerryWhite]

Steve,
Do you think you should notify the authorities?
The tractor has been stolen from your pictures. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyway,
It looks like you already have a loader so how about
a rear blade or rear box blade? It would cost a lot
less than a front blade. If you don't have a quick hitch
or Pat's easy change you might consider one. No more
wrestling with attachments or pinched fingers. Best
thing I ever bought. In our area TSC has the best price
but you have to buy your own can of green paint.

 

[jdmar]

I have a 4300 (FEL, BH,etc) and am still impressed with all the work it can do...and I have about 400+ hrs on it already. Glad you are happy with your purchse and it looks from your pics like you have been having a ton of fun!

Now, re the grading blade. I bought a yanmar 1500 this past fall that came with a small (about 5ft) rear blade. I have been amazed at what this little blade can do!...snow...dirt..... stones...it works very well.

If you want to do final leveling after bringing in fill/topsoil there is a better tool though. Drag an arena mat over the area several time in multiple directions. It moves a little dirt from high areas and fills low areas...just a little at a time. You can also use an old mattress spring or a section (about 10 foot) of chain link fence with a heavy bar at the front to hook up to your drag bar. The heavy front (steel, piece of 6 x 6 post, etc) distrubutes your tractors pull force as well as keeps the whole thing from "floating" too much. I did final leveling on 4acres for turf about 18 months ago...I used a friends arena drag mat and was trully amazed at how well it worked. It leveled significantly better than my dozer, blade, hand raking...even better that a rented rock hound.

 

[SteveH_CT]

LOL - Not stolen - I was just trying to show the work I"ve done - I'll be sure to include it in the future. It just got it's first wash down today - it was all mud from the wheels on down.

Thanks for the info on the blades - I've been leaning towards a rear blade so that I can work with that and the FEL.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Wow - I've never heard of using chain link fence - of course since I'm new to tractors there is a lot I've got to learn. Do you weight the chainlink section at the rear?

 

[jdmar]

You try not to weight at the rear of the chain link. If you do, the bar/board/whatever can tend to collect dirt and dump it more unevenly. If the chain section is long enough it will lay relatively flat or a little curl at the back just makes for a nice smooth spread of the dirt.