Tom_Veatch
Platinum Member
Used my YM2220D to bush hog about 8 acres today. It was a wheat/milo field that has lain fallow for a couple of seasons. Weeds, native grasses, and volunteer wheat had just about taken over. Some were higher than my head as I sat on the tractor. Along about dusk, I noticed that the alternator light was on. I'd never noticed it before since this is the first time I've used the tractor after dark and the light was apparently too faint to be noticed in bright sunlight. So I don't know how long this has been going on. And, when I turned on the headlights and equipment light, the alternator light went out.
When I go to start the tractor, I've never noticed any indication of the battery being low, or having anything but a full charge. Is that light telling me that the alternator is putting out too much? If it was signaling a discharge current, I'd expect it to get brighter, not go out, when I increase the electrical load on the system. I'm confused. Does anyone have any comments about this?
On to other things. I don't own a rotary cutter (yet) but my neighbor was kind enough to allow me to use his John Deere 5' rotary mower. I was a little concerned about the size and weight of that big mama. Also, the tractor doesn't have a live PTO, which concerned me a little, so I bought an overrunning clutch from Hoye Tractor.
But, with the ORC installed, the mower PTO shaft was about 2" too long to get hooked up. Since I didn't think my neighbor would take too kindly to me taking a hacksaw to his PTO shaft, I did without the ORC. The tractor did get pushed around a little, but the field was flat, level, and wide open, so there was no real problem.
As far as the size and weight of the mower is concerned, it's almost like the tractor didn't even know it was back there. The 3pt handled the lift with no hesitation and the tractor pulled it without looking back.
I ran the tractor at about 2250 RPM in 3rd Range on the gearbox and 3 on the PowerShift. This gave me a ground speed about the same as a good brisk walk. A couple of times, in the thicker and heavier weeds, it acted like it might want to go a little slower so I'd drop back to 2 on the PowerShift. But in general, I think the tractor would have been happy to move a little faster. Maybe I would have, too, if I had been wearing a seat belt and a kidney belt. As it was, that was about as much bouncing around as I wanted to do. Have you ever noticed, these tractors don't really have a smooth riding suspension?
I don't really mind borrowing a tool for a one-time thing, but keeping these acres maintained is going to be a continuing project and I hate to keep going back to the neighbor's well. So, it looks like a rotary cutter is in my future. I don't think I need as heavy a workhorse as the JD, and I know I don't need the expense. But, I think maybe something in the class of a 5' King Kutter might meet my needs.
Do believe I like that tractor more every time I use it.
When I go to start the tractor, I've never noticed any indication of the battery being low, or having anything but a full charge. Is that light telling me that the alternator is putting out too much? If it was signaling a discharge current, I'd expect it to get brighter, not go out, when I increase the electrical load on the system. I'm confused. Does anyone have any comments about this?
On to other things. I don't own a rotary cutter (yet) but my neighbor was kind enough to allow me to use his John Deere 5' rotary mower. I was a little concerned about the size and weight of that big mama. Also, the tractor doesn't have a live PTO, which concerned me a little, so I bought an overrunning clutch from Hoye Tractor.
But, with the ORC installed, the mower PTO shaft was about 2" too long to get hooked up. Since I didn't think my neighbor would take too kindly to me taking a hacksaw to his PTO shaft, I did without the ORC. The tractor did get pushed around a little, but the field was flat, level, and wide open, so there was no real problem.
As far as the size and weight of the mower is concerned, it's almost like the tractor didn't even know it was back there. The 3pt handled the lift with no hesitation and the tractor pulled it without looking back.
I ran the tractor at about 2250 RPM in 3rd Range on the gearbox and 3 on the PowerShift. This gave me a ground speed about the same as a good brisk walk. A couple of times, in the thicker and heavier weeds, it acted like it might want to go a little slower so I'd drop back to 2 on the PowerShift. But in general, I think the tractor would have been happy to move a little faster. Maybe I would have, too, if I had been wearing a seat belt and a kidney belt. As it was, that was about as much bouncing around as I wanted to do. Have you ever noticed, these tractors don't really have a smooth riding suspension?
I don't really mind borrowing a tool for a one-time thing, but keeping these acres maintained is going to be a continuing project and I hate to keep going back to the neighbor's well. So, it looks like a rotary cutter is in my future. I don't think I need as heavy a workhorse as the JD, and I know I don't need the expense. But, I think maybe something in the class of a 5' King Kutter might meet my needs.
Do believe I like that tractor more every time I use it.
