Extra things with tractor purchase?

[Cliff_Johns]

So, if you buy a new compact tractor and you havn't had one before,
what things will you probably not have that you need? I don't
mean attachments and things like that, I mean the extras like

A good grease gun
A yellow 5 gallon fuel can
Bib overalls

Stuff like that.
Cliff

 

[BigAl]

1. A big belt buckle with the tractor name on it .
2. Cowboy hat or baseball cap if you got a sunshade .
3. Dozen roses for the little woman .
4. Mig welder to put on all the new hooks on the bucket you got .
5. A felt marker to write "DIESEL" on the new fuel can .
6. A tooth pick to chew on .
7. Go ahead and order a set of new mud flaps that say"CAT"
8. Big can of hand grease cleaner .
9. Your new sign that says "Tractor Parking Only"
10. A tow strap for pullin out your buddy's
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Big Al

 

[riptides]

A lean to too keep it in.

A shed when you realize the lean to is too small.

A barn when you realize the shed is too small.

A garage when you out grow the barn.

An attached garage next to the house where you can work on your tractor in a cooled/heated controlled environment.

An attached garage with an in-law apartment so you can sleep
next to your equipment to get an earlier start on the days jobs.

-Mike Z.

 

[PineRidge]

Lots of land to be able to use it correctly.

A pressure washer to keep it clean.

A $10,000 set of Snap-On tools to keep it together.

Access to an unlimited knowledge base available here at TBN

A diesel fuel truck parked in your drive to keep the tractor fueled up.

 

[WCarlson]

Cliff,
When I moved up from a 815 lb JD 445 garden tractor to a 2700 lb JD 4200 CUT my wife's comment upon seeing the new purchase for the first time was: "We need more land".
Bill

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
So, if you buy a new compact tractor and you havn't had one before,
what things will you probably not have that you need? )</font>

Assuming you plan on doing more than jumping on the machine and
pushing levers, the single most important accessory IMHO would be
the service/parts manuals for the tractor. They may set you back ~$100
or so but their cost is dwarfed in comparison to the cost of even routine
maintenance items. Given the utility of these documents they
represent the greatest return on investment you are likely to
receive from any accessory.

 

[surfran]

A bunch of SMART guys today I see /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Well here is my serious answer for my Kubota BX1800.

- Good set of Metric wrenches/sockets
- Special size 30 mm Socket for mower blades (for mine at least).
- Strap wrench for oil filter.
- Pressure Washer (cuz I actually wash the tractor once in a while)
- Furniture dollies for storing attachements and easily moving them around to attach (or make your own).
- Welder if your so inclined to build stuff (otherwise friend with one)
- Properly sized trailer if you intend to use in places other than your main property. Along with this is proper tie down chains or straps.
- Diesel Fuel Conditioner for cold weather as well as keeping the injectors clean.
- Some like to have spare filters in case something happens when dealer is not around.
- You already hit the grease gun /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
- Understanding wife for all the things you will end up wanting/needing going forward.

And last of all

- Imagination cuz you will find many things you can do if you think about it.

 

[keeney]

Rags. Lots of rags.

And old clothes to wear. Whenever I go near my machine, no matter how carefully I wipe the excess grease off, I always manage to get some on my hand, elbow, or face that eventually makes its way onto my clothes.

- Rick

 

[KiotiJohn]

One thing you may want to get is a very large (at least 5 gal.) oil collection pan. When you change hydro fluid, the normal smaller one you've been using for oil will not be big enough and while your changing the fluid is not the time to discover it just keeps coming! Also, buy at least a few extra hitch pins, they're cheap and you'll find they can just disappear at times. I had one get ripped off my lower hitch arm and one off my ROPS while doing brush/tree work, and working in mud. Agree with Surfran, get the metrics and make sure you have every size your mower etc. will need. I'd get a good air compressor with a long air blower attachment for cleaning out the hard to reach parts. Get a soft bristled brush or small vacuum cleaner for cleaning out the radiator and oil cooler fins (they're very fragile, so if blowing with air, be careful). John
Oh, and one more thing I'm adding. Read the Safety forum and learn all the safe operating techiques you can as a tractor accident can happen in a fraction of a second. No joke. John

 

[fishman]

Cliff,

Some really good answers already. I would add that you ought to get at least two yellow diesel cans so that you don't run out of go juice at the most inopportune time. Of course, if you're just down the road from the fuel stop, maybe this isn't an issue.

You're right, a top quality grease gun is essential. I bought a $30 jobby from the local bearing company and just changed the grease cylinder in it last weekend. Wow! So much better than any of the cheapies I've used. It has two valves. One allows you (when pushed) to pull the plunger out. The other (when pushed) allows you to seat the plunger in the new grease tube. Call me a grease gun novice, but I've never used one as nice before. Oh, and it has a flexible hose instead of a rigid one to get in all those nooks and crannies.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is something I wear on my tractor 95% of the time. It's a combination hardhat, face screen, and earmuff. I got it to use with my chainsaw. I can't count the number of times something has swatted me in the face, only to be turned away by the screen. Earmuffs are great and cut down on fatigue. The hardhat is for real emergencies. I also have a good pair of gloves usually when working. If I don't want to wear them I throw them on the flat operator deck or put them behind my back in the seat.