Hi Steve,
Still liking the 1533? I looked at one this week (which is why I am now researching on the web). I know NOT MUCH about real tractors so the sales guy's info must be linked with (not to be disparaging) "real people" info
He grew up locally and has been around tractors all his life but has only been at this dealer for 2 weeks and since they just started carrying Mahindra (they've been selling Massey for quite a while) they gave them to the new guy, he has to start somewhere and someone has to be the first to learn the new line right? He personally has an older Deere about the same "size" which he says does more than it should for him (you guys know how it is right, just a LITTLE more!), but said the 1533 would do more, never had to take the Deere to the shop but said if he had to replace it, he would buy the 1533. He seems pretty genuine, but don't all dealers?
The only real concern with the tractor on the lot was getting the parking brake on. The lever KINDA went up and when it did engage, it could be felt but it sure wasn't a positive or "repeat first time every time" thing and the light on the dash never went on. Does your parking brake lever give positive visual indication it is engaged, like it moves UP and stays there? I ASSUME it is just something that needs to be adjusted.
Interesting the guys here are saying to load the tires, he said that because the weight is centered farther back than on some other tractors, the loader can lift more weight. I guess there is a limit to everything but that limit can be changed a bit.
My situation is:
- about 4 acres of pasture. It was let go and I had a guy down the road sickle-bar mow it last year and this year. LOTS fewer big weeds out there this year than last. I'm hoping if I can keep it cut down before the weeds go to seed, the grass can reclaim the land. If I get hay eating animals, they would have feed, if not, maybe I can sell some hay. So I need a sickle-bar mower.
- ~20 acres of woods, mostly hardwoods. I would like to harvest 4-5 cords a year for my own use. The land (pasture and woods) is ANYTHING but flat with a lot of ledge, some very visible, some hinted at in the pastures by the rise and fall of "crests" some of which are CLEARLY ledge at the peak. So besides having to make a "logging road", I'll have to winch out and around. But that could be some years out, get the low hanging fruit around the edges first, right?
- I figure to get a backhoe for it so I can dig out the rocks in the pasture that are too big for me, my spading fork, shovel and a lever bar. I've pulled out any number of rocks that seem to have NO connection to each other as to the the type of rock. I guess the glacier that carved this area brought rocks from far away. And then there was the "rock" that when I tried to find the perimeter turned out to be the peak of a long ledge that sloped down. I could pick up the grass, roots and all and see a couple of feet down the ledge. Is there anything like a 3 point jackhammer I could get to just bang out a few inches of these big "rocks"? I wish the people who settled the area had had a love of TNT
- And I want to dredge out the shallow mucky pond behind the barn. It was really dry here a couple of years ago, at least half the "surface area" was dry clay that could be picked up in 8" chunks 3 or 4 inches tall. If we don't have another such drought, I would have to just reach as far as I can with the hoe from the outside until we do (NOT ASKING FOR DROUGHT!). Not sure what the "base" of the pond is but the SE side is pure sedimentary ledge that slopes down into the pond. Don't know how deep it goes before it starts rising up to the ledge peeking out about 100' away on the other side of a fence. I have NO idea how the fish (bullpout catfish presumably, the biggest I've seen was about 6" long and dead) and frogs make it through the winter every year.
- And a post hole digger for its obvious use.
- pallet forks so I can stack wood in "moveable units" rather than having to pick each piece up, put it in some sort of conveyance, take it out and stick it in racks on the porch every week. I moved about 8 tons last winter and that does not include stacking it in the barn when it was delivered or bringing it from the porch into the house - add another 8 tons. Oh, or putting it in the stove, add another 4 tons. Why don't I look like Charles Atlas???
- And maybe some land leveling implements (or are those attachments?) Again, not sure WHAT to use since nice looking grass on top might be only a couple of inches above a massive ledge which could be solid rock or "easily" removed sedimentary rock. I have no idea if the lack of flat around the house is due to rocks/ledge or just a job poorly done but I suspect the device needed depends on the answer to that question. Plus, I think rocks are the biggest non cash crop in Vermont, they just keep pushing up out of the ground.
Sorry for the long post.
