I've been browsing the forums a bit today after a long break and thought I'd post a bit of a report/review on my 5010.
I bought the tractor in June of 2012 and have put over 400 hours on it (heck maybe it's over 500 I'll have to check) and have beat it to near death a few times! However, it just keeps going and going (except when the glow plug relay died but that was fixed).
First off I should tell you that I keep it on our property which is about 3000' in elevation in the woods and hills of northern Washington. Lots of hill terrain to deal with so the tires are all filled with biogaurd which helps with stability and ballast.
I've used it so much to remove rocks and dig things up that the bucket shows some of that beating but it's still in great shape minus the scratches and dents
I've also used it to plow a couple acres with an old set of discs, skid trees with a small crane on the back, load trees onto my sawmill with forks, plow a LOT of snow, work the roads with the box blade and drill holes for a gate and such. Basically I use it ALL the time!
Problems: I've had to replace the relay for the glow plugs, replace two broken bolts in the FEL attachment at the frame (yes it's been abused), replace some grease zirts and even broke the 3 point chain mount on the right side (when I broke my plow for the second time).
I bought a set of chains for it as Les Schwab but the back ones suck and will get replaced when I can afford it. The fronts work good though and I couldn't manage without them in the winter up here.
I've had the fuel almost jell so it wouldn't start (it barely ran) but diesel 911 solved that problem and I've kept it added when needed (down to -20 up here in the winter sometimes). Frankly, I love the tractor and don't think I could live without it!
Only real issue I have now is trying to find where to plug in my new work lights since the OEM lights suck and are blocked by the brush guard and FEL.
Plowing snow
Backblading snow
Hauling logs to the mill
All in all I have to say that I love the tractor. I would however, if I had the money, love a cab! AC and heat wouldn't hurt but I live with an open seat and besides I've run the canopy into the trees more than once!
One dislike I have about the open seat vs a cab is that the key has gotten frozen in place on me a couple times and I've had to use a torch to thaw it out, I've also had the ignition freeze so I couldn't get a key in it -- ditto on the torch. All that before I burned off the key guard (yes) by accident when thawing out the ignition! I've also had the horn button freeze on! I had to dig it out with a knife and it no longer works well -- sure the horn comes o but the button sticks on too:laughing::thumbdown:
This is my first tractor so I've had to learn a lot. Some of those things are:
1. Buy heavier implaments! Don't scrimp and buy a cheap plow blade. I broke mine twice and this last time also broke my three point which leads me to...
2. Don't plow in midrange 3rd gear!!! It's too fast and when you hit a frozen rock and the plow desides to stop your tractor won't which means something must give. Twice the plow gave and the 2nd time so too did th 3 point chain attachment (came off at the welds).
3. Grease often (after every day of use I'm told). I've not had a problem but just something I tossed in.
4. If a grease zirt breaks, or should I say WHEN, have some spares on hand. Happened twice to me.
5. Check hydraulic fluid! I had mine almost empty once but no damage.
6. There are two drain plugs -- you use them both!
7. Get a funnel to put the oil in, it's too far a reach.
8. Check water/coolant levels and make sure it's good to your lowest possible temp and then some (no problems there but I have had it get hot a couple times in the summer when mowing).
9. Mow slow. Engage PTO then raise the RPMs -- yes I had to learn that the hard way by breaking sheer pins a couple times.
10. Sheer pins are cheap -- get lots and prepare to change them when brush mowing in the woods!
11. Use Farm Diesel! It's cheaper I found a source in town (only one) and it's at least 50 cents a gallon less.
12. The lights suck and are useless, get ROPS lights right off, don't wait!
13. Forks are great! I use them a LOT
14. It's an FEL not a backhoe
All in all? Love it and recommend them to others.
I bought the tractor in June of 2012 and have put over 400 hours on it (heck maybe it's over 500 I'll have to check) and have beat it to near death a few times! However, it just keeps going and going (except when the glow plug relay died but that was fixed).
First off I should tell you that I keep it on our property which is about 3000' in elevation in the woods and hills of northern Washington. Lots of hill terrain to deal with so the tires are all filled with biogaurd which helps with stability and ballast.
I've used it so much to remove rocks and dig things up that the bucket shows some of that beating but it's still in great shape minus the scratches and dents
I've also used it to plow a couple acres with an old set of discs, skid trees with a small crane on the back, load trees onto my sawmill with forks, plow a LOT of snow, work the roads with the box blade and drill holes for a gate and such. Basically I use it ALL the time!Problems: I've had to replace the relay for the glow plugs, replace two broken bolts in the FEL attachment at the frame (yes it's been abused), replace some grease zirts and even broke the 3 point chain mount on the right side (when I broke my plow for the second time).
I bought a set of chains for it as Les Schwab but the back ones suck and will get replaced when I can afford it. The fronts work good though and I couldn't manage without them in the winter up here.
I've had the fuel almost jell so it wouldn't start (it barely ran) but diesel 911 solved that problem and I've kept it added when needed (down to -20 up here in the winter sometimes). Frankly, I love the tractor and don't think I could live without it!
Only real issue I have now is trying to find where to plug in my new work lights since the OEM lights suck and are blocked by the brush guard and FEL.
Plowing snow
Backblading snow
Hauling logs to the mill
All in all I have to say that I love the tractor. I would however, if I had the money, love a cab! AC and heat wouldn't hurt but I live with an open seat and besides I've run the canopy into the trees more than once!
One dislike I have about the open seat vs a cab is that the key has gotten frozen in place on me a couple times and I've had to use a torch to thaw it out, I've also had the ignition freeze so I couldn't get a key in it -- ditto on the torch. All that before I burned off the key guard (yes) by accident when thawing out the ignition! I've also had the horn button freeze on! I had to dig it out with a knife and it no longer works well -- sure the horn comes o but the button sticks on too:laughing::thumbdown:
This is my first tractor so I've had to learn a lot. Some of those things are:
1. Buy heavier implaments! Don't scrimp and buy a cheap plow blade. I broke mine twice and this last time also broke my three point which leads me to...
2. Don't plow in midrange 3rd gear!!! It's too fast and when you hit a frozen rock and the plow desides to stop your tractor won't which means something must give. Twice the plow gave and the 2nd time so too did th 3 point chain attachment (came off at the welds).
3. Grease often (after every day of use I'm told). I've not had a problem but just something I tossed in.
4. If a grease zirt breaks, or should I say WHEN, have some spares on hand. Happened twice to me.
5. Check hydraulic fluid! I had mine almost empty once but no damage.
6. There are two drain plugs -- you use them both!
7. Get a funnel to put the oil in, it's too far a reach.
8. Check water/coolant levels and make sure it's good to your lowest possible temp and then some (no problems there but I have had it get hot a couple times in the summer when mowing).
9. Mow slow. Engage PTO then raise the RPMs -- yes I had to learn that the hard way by breaking sheer pins a couple times.
10. Sheer pins are cheap -- get lots and prepare to change them when brush mowing in the woods!
11. Use Farm Diesel! It's cheaper
I found a source in town (only one) and it's at least 50 cents a gallon less.12. The lights suck and are useless, get ROPS lights right off, don't wait!
13. Forks are great! I use them a LOT
14. It's an FEL not a backhoe
All in all? Love it and recommend them to others.
