Checking out a 4608

[mack101]

Posting a new thread as to not completely derail the 2635 thread.

I was at the dealer playing with the 4608 today a bit. It was -20 C this morning so naturally had trouble starting it. Once it warmed up I drove around the lot, or tried too. Couple things I noticed - until it fully warms up, you cannot rev the engine higher than 1500 RPM, and in gear, the tractor won't rev much past idle. Also all digital temp/hour gauge. After 10-20 minutes, I think it had only reached 2 on the temp gauge. So there is some nanny features built in to a certain extent, and for good reason. Needs to be plugged in if you are in a hurry to do some work. This is all completely new to me since the 2635 is pretty low-tech in this regard and for that matter any tractor I have operated.

Also, the 6 speed box is TIGHT. Anyone else with a 46xx get used to it? I have had sports cars with boxes that are looser! Will take some getting used to, it's night and day from the four-on-the-floor 2635 or the rowboat style side shift of the 390.

Power shuttle is a great feature, and it was nice and toasty in the cab.. still pretty cold up here and good chance I might get to plow with it before spring shows up.

 

[MAN IN BLACK]

Hey Mack,
You are right about the transmission...it is tight.
Being a former truck driver myself...I'm used to shifting...but this tractor is really tight.I have only about 20 hrs on mine pushing & blowing snow, and it is still the same.
It does take a while to warm up, I noticed that also, even when plugged.
The first few seconds ( 20 or so) after start up, it idles pretty rough,then I'm able to throttle up to 1500 rpm and let it warm up...as I mentioned even if plugged in.
The power of the hydraulics on the FEL is great though.
Black

 

[CaptHowdy]

I have a 4610 and have noticed the shifting is very tight also. When moving and trying to change gears sometimes I'll have to come to a stop to finally get it. I'm hoping it loosens up a bit with use. I only have 16 hours on mine so I'm still learning it.

 

[Hamilton83]

Hey Mack, I am land owner in central Mississippi. Got a couple hundred acres, mostly in pine timber, but have a good bit of acreage that I plant for wildlife each year. I presently just have a small 40 hp MF which my father bought for us years ago. It can handle small jobs on the garden and small deer fields but I now need something I can put a good brush clamp on for helping clear cutover, moving dirt, and for planting some larger fields. I have been looking at the same two tractor that you purchased and just wanted to ask you a couple of questions about them.

Several other post that I have looked at had complaints about the clutch and shifting on the shuttle drive tractors like the 4608. I work in a lot of tight spots and am also continuously hooking and unhooking from different pieces of equipment. So, I have become very adapt at feathering the clutch to ease back to the equipment or moving brush piles in the timber or easing up to creek banks. Several people said that it is very hard to ease in and out on the clutch on the 4608. It is either 0 or 100% and that it jerks when coming off the clutch. Also, you can only stay on the clutch for about 30 seconds before the alarm starts beeping. Has this been a problem for you and how do you like using the shuttle shift especially if you were doing something like using a blade or the front end loader where you were going forward and backward all day.

What were the things that made you decide to go from the 2635 to the 4608 and was it worth it?
Thanks

 

[timberjackrob]

after a little while you get used to shifting the trans and it like second nature as for the beeper I hate it cause it so loud im gonna find its location and tape it up to quiten it down I have had no trouble feathering the clutch whatsoever it is not all in all out on my 4610 the engine is computer controlled is the reason for the delay in full power I guess its to protect the engine I have put 236 hrs on it now and happy with it so far but I really do hate that d#@% beeper!!!

 

[Hamilton83]

Thanks for the quick reply. Got some new land and it has a lot of junk trees on it that need clearing out to make room for the oaks and pine and want to setup some new deer and turkey fields. Just started to looking at all the different model tractors about a month ago, but keep coming back to the 4600 series. Gives me a lot of options for attachments on the farm. I think I would have to locate that beeper pretty quickly and clip the power to it. Might get a little annoying after a couple of hours.

 

[VaCoal miner]

Thanks for the quick reply. Got some new land and it has a lot of junk trees on it that need clearing out to make room for the oaks and pine and want to setup some new deer and turkey fields. Just started to looking at all the different model tractors about a month ago, but keep coming back to the 4600 series. Gives me a lot of options for attachments on the farm. I think I would have to locate that beeper pretty quickly and clip the power to it. Might get a little annoying after a couple of hours.[/QUOT
I just ordered a 4608, fell in love with One I tryed out. alot more tractor for the 3k more than the 2635, my dealer has sold 4 4600 series tractors in the last week. There moving good. He's sells out of em quick, and I've not seen one there being repaired yet.....

 

[Hamilton83]

Thanks VaCoal miner. Let me know what you think after you have put a few hours on it. Can you tell me what options you got on your 4608 and some ballpark pricing. I know I need the front end loader on it with the joystick option. Want to rig a skid steer system on it for a brush cutter and brush clamp for helping clean up some cut over timber. Just wanted to get feel for what other people thought would be must have options on this model. Hope to start doing some pricing at the dealerships around MS over the next couple weeks.

 

[VaCoal miner]

I just got the loader and a canopy, 4x4 price was 36900, Itill be a all around farm tractor for me and my small beef operation.(Bush hogging, road maintenance, haying, feeding) may use it to skid and load a few logs,

 

[VaCoal miner]

I just got the loader and a canopy, 4x4 price was 36900, Itill be a all around farm tractor for me and my small beef operation.(Bush hogging, road maintenance, haying, feeding) may use it to skid and load a few logs,