Lessons learned by the new guy

[Yankee]

Let's see, I think I can add a few ...

Just because you know that the phone wire is 12" deep at point "A" doesn't mean it's 12" deep at point "B". (Yes, I cut it with the box blade rippers).

When the tractor won't move, it's a good indication you HAVE hit something like a fence or post. (or in my case the septic vent, which I was fortunate in not damaging)

While you're checking bolts, check them on your implements from time-to-time. I'm missing the PTO hanger from my RFM. Must be out there somewhere ... where the mower will find it ...

Don't put the pins down. Don't put the pins down. Don't put the pins down.

On the positive side, you can clear the clay out of the tires really quickly with a brisk run up the road. Makes a pretty good roostertail, too.

Bill

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> (Yes, I cut it with the box blade rippers). </font>

Speaking of box blades, someone posted this one here in the past...

When hooking up the box blade, don't forget to attach the toplink. Your tractor's rear tires will thank you for it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

These ones are mine...
Don't get in a hury when you are removing your rear finish mower. You might forget to remove the PTO shaft from the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Also, when you get stuck in a wet spot in the yard at your wheels start spinning, make sure there's not a plastic drain pipe in the ground under your wheel in that spot, or the spinning tire will leave nothing left of it! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[OkieG]

Bob,
I like your first "off the top of my head" item: <font color="blue">Never let your wife know how much fun it is to play, er work, with your tractor </font>

If your wife is anything like mine...well, no way can I fool her anymore. Even on tractor jobs I don't really look forward to, I can't convice her I don't love it. I don't get any sympathy no matter what tractor work I do now. She just thinks I'm escaping and goofing off. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif...which is only true most of the time.

OkieG

 

[Bob_Skurka]

OkieG, I think the reason I keep 3 or 4 tractors around all the time is so that she can go out on one of them too. It sort of evens things out around the house because she can go out an mow a field to do her escaping too. She loves the Cub Cadet and she is learning to love the Ventrac, but she won't get on the New Holland or Kubota and she stays away from the Olivers that I restore (becuase she knows who put them together /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif!

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "...the wife. Spending a few hours operating the tractor sounds waaaay more difficult than just driving it around for a while " </font>

Yeah... I suppose you married guys have to worry about stuff like that... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[frank_f15]

take your time ! it gets better /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif like the time a new guy with hydro, got nervous and slammed on the brake, only the brake on the new tractor was the hydo pedal /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[rswyan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( it gets better like the time a new guy with hydro, got nervous and slammed on the brake, only the brake on the new tractor was the hydo pedal )</font>

Yup did that one week before last - fortunately all I ran into was a hedgerow .... unfortunately it was a rather nasty one ......... tractor came through with hardly a scratch ..... I wasn't quite as lucky (but no serious damage ..... other than my pride)

 

[Henro]

If you decide to wash the dirt/mud off your tractor and happen to have a backhoe, and happen to raise the stick (dipper) so it is horizontal and easier to was the mud out of the bucket...

Remember to put the dipper back down in the normal transport position before you back up close to the house, especially if you are in front of that large window...touch...crash...oh, sugar! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Remember to put the dipper back down in the normal transport position before you back up close to the house, especially if you are in front of that large window...touch...crash...oh, sugar! )</font>
Not unlike remembering to put the ROPS down before you go into your lower roofed shed. Those falling boards hurt when they fall on you. Also, careful how you pull out those lynch pins 'cause they snap hard on your finger and leave a blood trail. The last one is careful when backing up with your landscape rake in wooded areas as those tines break off pretty quickly when you back into a tree! John

 

[MicroPilot]

Get at least 2 extra lynch pins of each size and keep them in your toolbox.