New JD 4120 and a few questions

[Burple_X]

This is my first tractor and I have some challenging land to maintain with it. We have just bought the land and the undergrowth has already gotten ahead of us. Where the timber was cleared a few years ago, the undergrowth is now over 8 feet high. It is mostly briars and locust trees covering the limbs and debris left behind by the loggers. I have been nibbling on it with the bush hog, but I am hesitant to launch into it for fear I will either get stuck in one of the numerous creeks or find a hole on the hilly terrain. Can some of you more adventurous operators tell me how hard it is to get the tractor stuck in the soft ground around the creeks or how much grade you would feel comfortable bush hogging? As you can see from my attached photos, the back tires are spread out pretty wide so it is set up for the hilly terrain.

 

[mfreund]

She is a beauty. As for getting finding things in the brush, use the loader as your "junk" feeler. Keep it a couple of feet off the ground and it will let you know when it "finds" a treasure. I would watch the front tires and if you see water on them you might want to back up. If that is too slow of a warning system I have used the loader to push the tractor back to solid ground. As for the slopes, I use the butt pucker method. If it makes your butt pucker STOP. I know that sounds silly but when you get there you will understand! Keep the ROPS up and wear the seatbelt. In new areas you cannot go too slow. Hope this helps!!

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with mfreund and would also add that a good way to clear this would be to back in the MX6 first keeping the tractor on ground you know about. This method clears a path slowly and allows you to pull forward and away from the mess saving you the damage to your tractor.

Be careful about short cut off saplings sticking up as you can poke a hole in your new tires.


Steve

 

[Cidertom]

Having gone through the same issues, I can comment on what worked for me.

I too back in where I can't tell what I'm dealing with. I had to make a couple of "feeder bars" to push the copious amount of blackberry down so it goes into the mower. I wear a full face motorcycle helment and a leather throat protector when doing this. The front chains don't stop everything and getting hit with the debris in the face can be painful.


On the stuck topic, one trick is keep it in two wheel drive. Then you get stuck earlier, and have the 4wd to get unstuck with. If you have it in 4wd by the time you think you are in trouble, you are.

If in doubt, remember up and down slopes not cross slope. Don't push the limits. If you push the limits and then drop a wheel in a hole you get to find out if the ROPS works as designed.

Have fun, stay safe

 

[kebo]

Great looking tractor! I like the wide rears on it! Can you take a pic of the spacers to show us how the tires are mounted to them??

 

[Uncle Wayne]

Congrats on the new tractor. You're going to really be pleased with it and the bush hog. I'm a proud owner of a new 4320 with the MX6 and love it. I've done what the others have suggested and backed into unknown territory. It's worked for me and the advise about keeping it in 2wd until necessary is good also. The 4wd has a tendency to make you "go where no man has gone."

The 4320 is the first tractor I've had with the wheels filled. It has made a difference in the stability of the tractor and the traction. I've gone through places with it that my Ford 3000, without filled tires, would only spin on the top of the ground before burying itself.

 

[Gator6x4]

Nice tractor, I think I would find someone with a dozer to make the first pass over the land I wanted to bush hog before committing the new tractor. Scratches, dings will occur in the body parts from the briars and locust also finding a stump with the tractor or bush hog could be costly. Also finding a sharp pointed stub sticking up with one of the tires could likewise be expensive. Look for a dozer operator that has a large disc to pull behind the dozer. Pulling the disc behind the dozer will make small items out of large ones, it will also help to fill holes.

 

[carpenter383]

As wide as those rears are I'd say it would take alot to turn it over. Are they fluid filled?

 

[Burple_X]

This is very good info and I used all of it this weekend. Backing in with the bush hog set high then lowering it a little as I came out worked well. As did using the FEL as a feeler when I was moving forward. But some of the stumps are low to the ground and hard to see in time. I've learned to ride with my hand on the PTO lift and not set the blade too low on the first pass.

Carpenter, yes the tires are filled.

Kebo, I'll take pictures of the spacers for you Friday when we go back to the mountains. This thing called a j-o-b is seriously getting in the way of my tractor time!

Here is a video of my wife working around a hidden brush pile. She is being careful not to find any "hidden treasures"
Tractor :: MVI_0832.flv video by Burple_X - Photobucket

 

[Arcane]

Watching the video, a few suggestions come to mind:

Lower the center of gravity by lowering the bucket, use the seatbelt, and please, HEAD AND HEARING PROTECTION! I have a hardhat/facemask/ear cups from Stihl that I use anytime I'm dealing with a cutter or in the woods.

Good luck!