Feeling good about the 4310

[LAXPatrick]

...in the spirit of the 4110 poster!

I've had my tractor for over a month now - it's been great!

First project was to flatten some berms down the pasture that used to be a dirt bike track. The 4310/430 loader handled that with no problem whatsoever - although I did almost flip it when carrying some dirt going downhill slightly off camber. Lesson learned, no harm no foul. I'm lucky to be unharmed follwoing that episode. I ALWAYS wear the safety belt when I'm digging now.

Got to try out the 6' rear blade - works great. With more practice I get more proficient. My general observation is that there are two ways to get it done - multiple, gradual passes, or one pass with skilled constant adjustment of blade height. Since I lack skill, the multiple passes serve me quite well...

I got the 1072E rear grooming mower - works quite well. Handles the heavier grass fine and does a good job. I've entertained thoughts of upgrading to the non "E" version. I bought an IMatch only to find out that it's not compatible with that mower so the IMatch may have to go back. Either that or I spend more money and get the heavier mower. I think I'm glad that I did the 3 pt mower - comes on and off easily and once I got used to the wide swinging deck on turns, I was cooking. Nice to be able to back the mower into spots.

Loader is a beast. Next major project will probably be to build some kind of ballast box - maybe the muck bucket version or similar. I'm getting 35 yds of screenings for the pole barn Friday, so I'll likely wish I had that...

Moved the boat around the other day - 19'Kenner bay boat. Much more maneuverable than the Dodge for moving it around the property! I informed the wife-in-training (right!) that she missed an excellent photo op in the life of our baby (4310). Not impressed. I don't think I've got the guts to move the gooseneck horse trailer around with the 4310. I'll leave that to the truck.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the tractor. When I began my quest, I'd started with the 2210 and its kin. I think that the 4010 would've been my "ideal minimum" for my horse property needs. That said, I can appreciate the additional stability, power, and features of the 4310. My hinder certainly appreciates the nice suspended seat. I did the 50 hour service myself (bought it "new" with 42 hours driven by an old lady to/from church) and that was a good get-acquainted session with the tractor. Only outstanding issues are a missing hood guard (it's in!) low fluid in the front axle and need more hydraulic trans fluid to top it off (it takes a LOT of that). Love the eHydro and LoadMatch seems to do a good job of making sure that I keep on going and don't worry about what it's doing.

LAXPatrick

 

[deerefandave]

I've had mine exactly 1 year. I too have a 4310, with a FEL (430) and love it. I have a horse farm too, with pretty good size property to maintain. We also just finished a large addtion to the house, so I've got to put it to the test. I've moved yards and yards of soil, and done all of the landscaping. Even built two retaining walls with those 60+ pound engineered blocks. The loader (72"bucket) handled 12 of them NO PROBLEM.

One thing you should consider is balasting the tires instead of the weight box. I bought the weightbox with mine, used it for 6 months or so, then got the tires filled with calcuim and water. I'm MUCH happier. Cost about $100 or so at the local tire dealer (you have to find one that will do it.) I don't have a trailer for mine, so I had to take the tires off to bring them in. The hard part was getting them back on!

I can now handle a FULL load of wet soil, and not worry about traction or tipping unless I'm on VERY uneven ground. Even still, I'm very carefull, wear that belt!

Good idea on the 3pt mower, I have the 7 iron, and it spends most of it's life in the corner of the barn. (anyone want one? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )


-D

 

[LAXPatrick]

Sounds like you're putting it to the test!

I've considered filling the tires, but I'm concerned about the extra weight when I'm mowing - I've got R4's and I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of more damage when I'm knocking down the dandelion crop. Thoughts?

PC

 

[txhawg]

I would use both. I have filled rears, and there have been a couple of times when I have lifted the rear wheels. The only good substitute for a really heavy balalst box is my MX5, because of the leverage it provides hanging so far off the back. The problem is, that it hangs so far off the back. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I am saving for a ballast box and will fill it with the heaviest weight possible. Oops, I forgot, my wife won't let me chop up my mother in law to make her fit. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Dang, I'll have to find some lead somewhere.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color="green"> The only good substitute for a really heavy balalst box is my MX5 </font>

NO

NO

NO!!!

A backhoe is the ONLY effective rear ballast, pound for pound. None of the others add another set to your tractor... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JEP]

You should be fine with loaded R4's. Make sure the ground is dry and gentle with starts and stops. I rarely tear up the grass. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[txhawg]

Mike,

On the one hand you are correct. I think ound for pound, a BH is probaly best for ballast. On the other hand, if I do get a backhoe, I will never be able to make my tractor fly like the one in your sig, what with all that extra weight and all. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I can tell you from the hour of playing I got to do on a 4310, it would be one of my top choices for a 30+HP tractor. I was very impressed with the design of the tractor, on first glance there were a lot of things that I thought were in the wrong places! (bear in mind I currently use a New Holland and a Kubota, but don't hold that against me) After sitting on the machine and playing and touching and thinking I realized that some of the positions of things that I thought were strange were actually absolutely genius locations to put them. I wish my dealer were one of the good one, but I don't hold that against the brand. The 4310 is an awesome machine for its size range, to say I am impressed with it is an understatement. Its good to know that it lives up to all the things I think are true about it, have fun with your tractor!

 

[dmp437]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sounds like you're putting it to the test!

I've considered filling the tires, but I'm concerned about the extra weight when I'm mowing - I've got R4's and I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of more damage when I'm knocking down the dandelion crop. Thoughts?

PC )</font>

My R4's are filled with RimGuard and the front tires cut worse than the loaded rears when mowing the lawn. I'm in the middle of moving a couple of hundred yards of clay around for a motorcross track and when using the tractor to compact the dirt on the faces of the jumps, the fronts do a better job (more pressure per square inch) because of their narrower profile.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I love mine.

2years and 7 months old, 165 hours on the meter, No problems.

 

[Bob_S]

My 4310 has been 100% for 2-1/2 yrs now. I think the 4310 is will be a classic /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LAXPatrick]

Screenings? You call those screenings?

30+ yards later - my barn floor sits a little higher and a whole lot smoother. I had no trouble digging into the pile and filling the bucked to the point of overflowing. LoadMatch be thy name! As long as I had the throttle in the appropriate position, it would just keep on digging and never let me down.

I was able to do it without a ballast bucket - BUT there were a couple of times backing into the slight grade of the barn that I could tell that I was a little light on the big tires. Note to self: build a ballast box already!

Smoothing it out was first accomplished by dragging the bucket and then making the rounds with the 3pt blade. I think that overall it turned out quite well and I had a hoot in the process. Worse part of the project was moving the various items out of the barn - luckily we were down to only 15-20 bales of hay so that was cake. Need to get some pallet forks so I can turn that one into a tractor task (fun).

LAXPatrick

 

[dicker]

I also have a 4310 and think that it is a great machine. I have had it for 2 years with 620 hrs on the clock and I have not been easy with it.

I use it exclusively for backhoe work and front end loader only. I have had a few problems.

1) Battery leak that took out the hydraulic cooler and alternator.
2) Bent dipperstick cylinder on the 48 hoe.
3) Leaky rear end.
4) Instrument glass fogging which I chose not to worry about.
5) Right now I have a sticky parking break that I will have to tend to.
6) Stuck tilt steering which I was able to unstick myself.

Hopefully, it will continue to serve me well.

Richard

 

[benjo4cole]

I love my 4310 with MFWD. I use it year round here in northern New York. I own a small horse farm and my 4310 can handle everything from moving my manure pile, to dragging my riding pen, to mowing my 10 acres and snow blowing 24 inches of snow. I have owned it for a year. The only problems I have had are a foggy instrument panel and my front left tire leaks air on occasion.

Benny

 

[VTer]

I also purchased a 4310...back in December. I have loaded R4's (Rimguard), iMatch, eHydro, 300CX loader, boxblade, and MX-5 cutter. Initally I used it to clear out some snow using the bucket...still have not purchased a blade or blower.

Over the past few days, I have been able to exercise it for what I really bought it for...grading the driveway and cutting my fields. I have to say I am very impressed with this machine. I don't feel like there is a lack of power whatsoever...in fact I find that I really need to be careful as it has plenty of power to get me in trouble fast if I'm not careful!

The cutter went through the fields like a hot knife through butter and the boxblade did a great job of collecting material and dragging it back up the driveway. At first, before really using it, I was wondering if the eHydro was the best choice. I can say without hesistation that this I'm very pleased this is what I purchased. With a rear implement, I am constantly looking rearward while feathering the implement up and down (my land nor driveway is not flat). One hand is on the wheel, one hand is on the 3 point lever, and the foot is on the hydro pedal...works great. The Loadmatch feature is real nice, particularly when using the rotary cutter and getting into thicker grass. The machine compensates nicely.

Overall - I'm pretty pleased. At this time, my 4310 is limited by the operator rather than its capabilities.

Next - a landscape rake!