bnmccoy
Member
Haven't driven a hydrostatic tractor before other than dealer's lot. So a little getting use to same.
We were doing a large brush pile burn today. Got that going and then got on the tractor to go hitch up the grader blade. Have a long dirt drive with a little (mostly gone) gravel. It was really rutted from some large tripple axle dually goose neck trailers hauling out scrap metal last month when thawed out one day. The grading went pretty well.
Went to push some of the brush from the edge into the fire, went fine and helped fire.
Later went to do same thing, only on side of fire, which I had to approach going down a slope. The brush pile was in a dug out area for that purpose. I got close to edge with front tires and my brain had me pushing the forward pedal all the way, when I think my brain was saying brake. I dropped somewhat over the edge; but left foot went for clutch; and I realized my mistake and backed right up and out. Did that one more time before day was out, just not at the fire. I'll eventually get it right and it will be second nature.
Used the loader to collect other scrap wood and feed same to the fire.
The new tractor has lots of mud on the mat now; the soot from the fire wiped off of the front end loader bracket. She will have to wait on that cleaning. My wife heard me referring to the tractor as a she and said she figured the tractor would be referred to in the masculine; I said not my tractor, but really didn't get much deeper.....
It did surprise me that there is no horn and that the headlamps are what I guess to be low beam only. No rear utility lamp either (knew that going in) but noticed a taped connector back there; hopefully that will work for a rear lamp. There is a donkey on the property adjacent to us; guess I can't honk the horn at him (to say hi?) anymore.
I have a suspension seat on the Dexta and it really helps with the rough parts of the field when bush hogging. I also got use to same type of seat when using son-in-law's 4530. I may have to change the seat on the 3316; I'll wait and see.
So overall, no regrets of purchase. I think with a little more use the hydrostatic drive will become second nature to me.
I had read about being able to lock the clutch for storage. I was looking how to put a padlock on the clutch last night and only found this spring clip to hold the clutch pedal down. Finally read the manual and found out it was to keep the clutch off the flywheel so it wouldn't stick during long term storage. I do the same thing with the Dexta but use a socket wedged in the right spot. Funny how when reading the sales literature I thought I could lock the clutch
Guess I'll read the manual again and see if I missed something....... or can learn something else.
I will say I have read the safety forum section to way back; spent a few nights, just trying to learn a few things to stay alive. Never wore the seat belt before on any of the tractors that had them; I am now wearing same; but would be nice if it had a retractor or something so the loose end didn't drop to nowhere everytime I get off of the tractor.....
Okay, sorry for long post. Thanks to all that have shared experiences on here as I don't post a lot but do read a lot; and have benefited from the many shared experiences.
Bob
We were doing a large brush pile burn today. Got that going and then got on the tractor to go hitch up the grader blade. Have a long dirt drive with a little (mostly gone) gravel. It was really rutted from some large tripple axle dually goose neck trailers hauling out scrap metal last month when thawed out one day. The grading went pretty well.
Went to push some of the brush from the edge into the fire, went fine and helped fire.
Later went to do same thing, only on side of fire, which I had to approach going down a slope. The brush pile was in a dug out area for that purpose. I got close to edge with front tires and my brain had me pushing the forward pedal all the way, when I think my brain was saying brake. I dropped somewhat over the edge; but left foot went for clutch; and I realized my mistake and backed right up and out. Did that one more time before day was out, just not at the fire. I'll eventually get it right and it will be second nature.
Used the loader to collect other scrap wood and feed same to the fire.
The new tractor has lots of mud on the mat now; the soot from the fire wiped off of the front end loader bracket. She will have to wait on that cleaning. My wife heard me referring to the tractor as a she and said she figured the tractor would be referred to in the masculine; I said not my tractor, but really didn't get much deeper.....
It did surprise me that there is no horn and that the headlamps are what I guess to be low beam only. No rear utility lamp either (knew that going in) but noticed a taped connector back there; hopefully that will work for a rear lamp. There is a donkey on the property adjacent to us; guess I can't honk the horn at him (to say hi?) anymore.
I have a suspension seat on the Dexta and it really helps with the rough parts of the field when bush hogging. I also got use to same type of seat when using son-in-law's 4530. I may have to change the seat on the 3316; I'll wait and see.
So overall, no regrets of purchase. I think with a little more use the hydrostatic drive will become second nature to me.
I had read about being able to lock the clutch for storage. I was looking how to put a padlock on the clutch last night and only found this spring clip to hold the clutch pedal down. Finally read the manual and found out it was to keep the clutch off the flywheel so it wouldn't stick during long term storage. I do the same thing with the Dexta but use a socket wedged in the right spot. Funny how when reading the sales literature I thought I could lock the clutch
Guess I'll read the manual again and see if I missed something....... or can learn something else.
I will say I have read the safety forum section to way back; spent a few nights, just trying to learn a few things to stay alive. Never wore the seat belt before on any of the tractors that had them; I am now wearing same; but would be nice if it had a retractor or something so the loose end didn't drop to nowhere everytime I get off of the tractor.....
Okay, sorry for long post. Thanks to all that have shared experiences on here as I don't post a lot but do read a lot; and have benefited from the many shared experiences.
Bob
