newbie 955 questions

[dfkrause]

Ok I am the proud new owner of a 1996 John Deere 955 with 70a loader. I am completely new to tractors and have a couple questions because the owners manual is a little confusing.

1.) Can my turf tires be set up in either the narrow or wide positions? the manual gives specs for both but then in another sections talks in circles stating that only one size rear turfs can be mounted wide and that is on the 855.

2) I have the 60 inch belly mower on this, could someone explain the mower adjustment knob a little more clearly for me. I know mower height is controlled along with the 3 point but not sure exactly what the turn knob on the floor board area does.

3) I am going to buy a box blade for this, the three point dosent have the upper center 3 point arm, I was at tractor supply and know I need a Cat 1 arm, but they had several diffrent lengths, what do I need?

Thank You for any and all help, any other tips tricks or good to know info is appreciated as well.

Dennis

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:

The belly more adjustment knob is to stop the deck at a certain height when you lower the deck down to cut. Deere always designs to carry the mower, as they are not designed to operate running on the ground on the anti-scalp wheels full time. The knob is adjusted to that preferred height to carry at.

The top arm should be adjustable to several lengths. Those lengths will somewhat depend on the box blade and the length of your lift arms.

Regards the first question, I'm sure you can adjust the turfs to a wider width, but the limit may be the 60" mower deck (as the deck may hit the tires when raised). Others will have more info to help answer your questions too.

 

[dfkrause]

I have the 35 inch tire on the rear and 25x8.50 on the front, can the fronts be mounted wide ?

Couple more questions, I have 2 springs sticking out from under the seat right between my legs as YOU sit on the tractor, the ends are not connected to anything, I am guessing they are supposed to be under the seat and hooked to something to put tension on it for the flip forward but can not see a attachment point.

I also have found 2 electrical connections under the seat area one is a plug tied into light harness logical answer is this is for the rear work light, is this correct? The second is a black momentary button switch which at the time is taped so that the button is pushed in, it has 4 wires coming from it????What is this ????

In regards to mower knob, what I am understanding is this controls the lowest point the mower will sit when the hydralics are put into the full down position, i.e. so it sits at the height you want and you also don't have it trying to drive its self into the ground on foward movment, is this correct. The part of the statement in the manual that concerned me is the statement about damaging parts "Turn depth control lever COUNTER-CLOCKWISE far enough to permit mower to be lowered to the surface. DO NOT turn lever too far. Otherwise depth control may be damaged and or the center shield may bend."

 

[tag01]

I have a 955 with back wheels are currently at widest stance, I was gonna turn them around to narrow stance but I noticed the pilot hole on the rim had the bell (curl) on it so rim was not designed to be reversable. What I mean is the bell will not let the rim mate up flush with the hub.

 

[deeref935]

As far as your tire question goes I own a jd 755 my tires are turned to wider stance for hill mowing but they can be run narrow or wide no issue with center hub hole on the tractor the question you ask about the momentary switch what I think your talking about I could be wrong is what they call a dead man switch its designed to shut the pto off in the event you flip the tractor or get off the seat the best way to test it is to start the pto or mower deck stand up if you hear a click and the blades shut off then dead man switch is working as it should if the blades don't turn off then they taped it down for convince for them and you can remove the tape if needed

 

[Acehardly]

You should have 36" tires on the back if I remember correctly. Mine is totally reversible on both front and rear. Keep it on wide unless you really need it to be narrower. You are going to love that tractor.

 

[Mechanos]

You could mount the fronts in the wide position but it's pretty pointless. Since the front axle pivots on a pin at the center of the tractor, there is no increase in stability by mounting the fronts wide. The only thing you will accomplish is to increase the turning radius of the tractor which is counter-productive.

 

[Ron JD670]

Ok I am the proud new owner of a 1996 John Deere 955 with 70a loader. I am completely new to tractors and have a couple questions because the owners manual is a little confusing.
...... 3) I am going to buy a box blade for this, the three point dosent have the upper center 3 point arm, I was at tractor supply and know I need a Cat 1 arm, but they had several diffrent lengths, what do I need?

Thank You for any and all help, any other tips tricks or good to know info is appreciated as well.

Dennis

Dennis,
If you buy the box blade/ scraper from a dealer they can set you up with the top link. When on level ground and the box blade down and at working level you measure from the top link on the BB to the attachment point on the tractor. Keep in mind you will need to extend and shorten this for different working situations or different attachments. I now have two top links. You will want at least 1&1/2 of thread bite on each end at full extension.

Also, you may want to consider looking at quick hitches QH before Buying the BB and top link. You will want the BB on -or a ballast box - while doing FEL work but probably not while mowing. If you're like most of us you'll be getting other attachments and a QH Will save time but more important save your back and fingers. I went with Pats QH because my used attachments were not current standard configuration check out www.pats3pointHitchSystem.com

If you go to a type 2 top link and use shims to reduce to cat 1 you have less chance of the top link collapsing under heavy use.

Check out You Tube Search under
"Using a subcompact tractor to ______"
The following one is good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoc2Mf5yRZI&sns=em
Also check out
Wilsonoutdoors

Also there are some very good threads here on TBN see if you can find these two.
Beginners guide to using a box blade
Rear Blade: How to grade a driveway

If you are working hills or slopes get some good advise to be safe. This site has saved my &()/!? With good safety suggestions, but also helped me spend a few $$$.

Best wishes
RoN

 

[deeref935]

I didn't say anything about mounting the fronts I was talking about the rear when I was saying they were mounted wide I run the front wide too just to match closer with the rear I see no issue in turning radius so what it takes two miles to turn the tractor