Most Useful Minor Additions to Tractor

[Snowback]

In that situation you are correct. Keep those thumbs out!

No doubt Silvertramp and dieselcrawler... That could really hurt. Perhaps try one of these for just smooth ground operation, and then fold it in for the rough stuff? I almost lost my thumbs a few times while running old water trucks up and down really rough pipeline spreads up north while a teenager. You can train the new guys by taping their thumbs to their index fingers. Kinda weird, but it works.

I could see the need for one if I did not have power steering but with power steering I can just use the side of my hand and spin the wheel as I wish and I can choose the spot instead of having to go to the spinner

Ed of all trades - I hear you on how easy the hydro steering us. I agree. I also think you'd be surprised how you might not be able to live without a spinner on a hydro steering machine. It really is the best application for them and just makes everything better. Super finite control, no guessing where to put your hand, way less effort, etc... You can always use your heel of palm still, but I doubt that happens much once the spinner is on. Not criticizing your valid current method, but wanting to share a way to make your whole world better! These honestly should be standard equipment in my opinion. Good luck!

 

[Gordon Gould]

Hey Gordon how come you didn't put tire chains on the front tires?

That is a good question and one I ask myself all the time. Especially this winter where we have ice every where. But the short answer is that when I bought this tractor the dealer told me there were two things I needed to understand about the 4 wheel drive on a CUT. 1- is that the front end turns faster than the rear so there is always some slip between the two. And 2- The front end is much less robust than the rear and therefore easier to break.

He thought chaining up the front would be OK on a driveway or an even surface but that working in the woods where the ground is so rough and variable all the slipping and grabbing by the front chains would be very hard on the puny front end components. So he didn't advise chaining the front tires for woods work. However when I started looking at TBN I saw that quite a few folks chain up the fronts w/o trouble but not many work in the woods all the time like I do though. I just remember that initial advise.

gg

 

[AxleHub]

Its been 9 months since I bought my tractor. And during that period many have mentioned steering wheels spinners to me . . . either by written or verbal opinions. Yet I've not seen the motivation, primarily for two reasons:

1. I have power steering and I often steer with only one hand now. If I didn't have power steering . . the situation might be different . . . yet I've yet to see a spinner on a lawn tractor steering wheel either and they don't hace power steering either. But of course . . they are much lighter in total weight.

2. This is an even bigger point imo . . . the reason spinners are outlawed on cars and trucks and have been for decades . . Is they protrude outward from the steering wheel. Their potential to create "over steer" on a car or truck with power steering is considerable . . they were a cause for many accidents forcing them to be outlawed. In addition . . . A normal spinner can easily hook a sleeve or cuff . . again creating sudden unexpected steering movement.

Now when I was younger many moons ago lol, my 1st car didn't have power steering (or air conditioning or fm or . . . ). So I found a spinner that was both legal and "flat", in that it did not protrude above the steering wheel at all. It also did not look like a spinner. After reading this thread . . . It makes me wonder if I didn't save that when I sold that car. I should look in a couple old likely storage spots to see if I can find that. Now that one would be very safe yet offer "spinner" capability.

 

[Snowback]

To spin or not to spin is going to be as big a debate as single lid narrow, vs double lid wide grapple!

I challenge everyone to try a spinner out on your tractor, and then if you don't like it you will be fully justified in saying they are not valuable. Until then, you're missing out in my humble opinion.

Also - my Craftsman lawn mower tractor has a spinner too, and that is equally useful, if not more so due to lack of power steering and lots or turns and backing while mowing.

Good points about possible hangup on sleeves, but my coveralls are baggy and have never interefered. Could happen though I suppose...

Maybe for the purists there is a very low profile sounning disc setup that could be clamped to the wheel. That would allow for side palm spinning with no friction on your gloves or skin...

 

[motownbrowne]

I don't think that it's reasonable to argue against a steering wheel spinner on a tractor if you've never used one...

 

[Al 2]

I vote for the spinner mainly for operating a rear blower or one of the many attachments in the industry that a require the other hand on different controls. I also have an old Case back hoe with power steering that sometimes will spin the wheel violently for whatever reason and as others have suggested , you soon learn to keep your thumb out of the spokes on that wheel. Would not put a spinner on this machine.
Al

 

[tman1020]

I have used steering wheel spinners and have had many a close call to breaking my thumb. That said I did not remove it. They are handy but can be dangerous be careful if you use them. Much safer without them and would not recommend them. My use was on a non-power steering tractor.

 

[tman1020]

As far as best additions for me it would definitely be the quick hitch number one and then the Hydro top link in conjunction with it as number two. Number three this handy little booger right here.

 

[Zerk]

Are you putting drain holes, for air circulation in the tool boxes and ammo cans?

I really like threads like this and tool boxes. Stuff that really helps, and not super expensive. But things we all need.

 

[The Deerslayer]

Most useful minor adds for me mirror others here: 1) rear work lights Huge benefit when using the rear snow blower at night.2) Floor mats for the deck Better grip and protects the deck. Added a mat to the center hump after the pic was taken.
3) Fire extinguisher and larger tool box Both a must have IMO. Also like the spinner knob that I added recently.

Next on the list will be to configure a way to mount a storage system for a chain.