daugen
Super Star Member
after patiently waiting for JR Long to build a grapple bucket for it, my new Kubota cab tractor was delivered today,
and naturally I had to get the bucket dirty... My first FEL and I have a long learning curve ahead of me.
The grapple is seriously heavy and without anything in the ballast box, now full of rocks, the tractor was scary light in the rear.
I had to shift into 4wd just to get up a hill with some damp grass on it.
Even with the ballast box mostly full, picking up a full bucket of dirt was pretty bouncy, so it's clear I need more weight back there, likely starting with
wheel weights first, then filling the tires if need be. I'm trying to balance my reality of not making the tractor too heavy to tow with my Suburban, vs. the safety factor, and
it didn't take long with that light rear end to make me focus on getting that handled promptly.
It was a sunny day, the cab got warm, the a/c worked nicely, though the radio was tinny, no surprise for tiny speakers. So I turned that off and just listened to the machinery.
I've waited a long time to get this tractor and I didn't want to rush the experience.
I picked up a few large tree rounds, and practiced picking them up and putting them down. Sight lines on the bucket with those thick top plates isn't great, but with time this should be more
natural for me. Hydraulic top link on order, and that's about it although I think those quick hitch adapters are on my xmas list.
Tomorrow my wife sees the tractor and my little personalization in her honor. Her brother is an excavator so I bet she wants to climb in and try it out; she's no stranger to dirt work.
So until I get my skills improved, the bucket will stay low and I will stay off hills for sure. The grapple is mostly for firewood work and clearing brush in the woods; I'll find a flat spot to practice in.
My landlord, who owns the farm I act as caretaker for, was thoroughly impressed, and was delighted that he no longer had to use a shovel on the dirt pile.
Dirt? how much and where?...
Most importantly I have to think before the foot goes down on the treadle. My first ten feet of operation included dragging the ballast box along the ground, which was embarrassing.
I asked the dealer to weld on some lift hooks, which seemed small to me, but were sized for 3/8 chain. He did it for "free", which was sure nice of him.
The dealer, Histands in Doylestown PA (north of Philadelphia) provides excellent service and that was my primary consideration, not lowest price, though what I paid was about 15% off list, which satisfied me.
Whenever I go into the dealership to get equipment worked on, I take them donuts or bagels. And my stuff gets fixed really quickly and I know the price will be fair. My grandfather dealt with this
dealer more than 50 years ago, and it's nice, and getting rarer, to have a friendly "local people" relationship. I'm retired and I use this equipment for fun, and keeping busy, so a dealer with the right
attitude is a blessing. Even if the Kubota filters are absurdly expensive...
I'd better get a case of grease cartridges, man there are a lot of zerks on this thing. No problem, I like to do maintenance.
and naturally I had to get the bucket dirty... My first FEL and I have a long learning curve ahead of me.
The grapple is seriously heavy and without anything in the ballast box, now full of rocks, the tractor was scary light in the rear.
I had to shift into 4wd just to get up a hill with some damp grass on it.
Even with the ballast box mostly full, picking up a full bucket of dirt was pretty bouncy, so it's clear I need more weight back there, likely starting with
wheel weights first, then filling the tires if need be. I'm trying to balance my reality of not making the tractor too heavy to tow with my Suburban, vs. the safety factor, and
it didn't take long with that light rear end to make me focus on getting that handled promptly.
It was a sunny day, the cab got warm, the a/c worked nicely, though the radio was tinny, no surprise for tiny speakers. So I turned that off and just listened to the machinery.
I've waited a long time to get this tractor and I didn't want to rush the experience.
I picked up a few large tree rounds, and practiced picking them up and putting them down. Sight lines on the bucket with those thick top plates isn't great, but with time this should be more
natural for me. Hydraulic top link on order, and that's about it although I think those quick hitch adapters are on my xmas list.
Tomorrow my wife sees the tractor and my little personalization in her honor. Her brother is an excavator so I bet she wants to climb in and try it out; she's no stranger to dirt work.
So until I get my skills improved, the bucket will stay low and I will stay off hills for sure. The grapple is mostly for firewood work and clearing brush in the woods; I'll find a flat spot to practice in.
My landlord, who owns the farm I act as caretaker for, was thoroughly impressed, and was delighted that he no longer had to use a shovel on the dirt pile.
Dirt? how much and where?...
Most importantly I have to think before the foot goes down on the treadle. My first ten feet of operation included dragging the ballast box along the ground, which was embarrassing.
I asked the dealer to weld on some lift hooks, which seemed small to me, but were sized for 3/8 chain. He did it for "free", which was sure nice of him.
The dealer, Histands in Doylestown PA (north of Philadelphia) provides excellent service and that was my primary consideration, not lowest price, though what I paid was about 15% off list, which satisfied me.
Whenever I go into the dealership to get equipment worked on, I take them donuts or bagels. And my stuff gets fixed really quickly and I know the price will be fair. My grandfather dealt with this
dealer more than 50 years ago, and it's nice, and getting rarer, to have a friendly "local people" relationship. I'm retired and I use this equipment for fun, and keeping busy, so a dealer with the right
attitude is a blessing. Even if the Kubota filters are absurdly expensive...
I'd better get a case of grease cartridges, man there are a lot of zerks on this thing. No problem, I like to do maintenance.
