Owning a small tractor is a blessing.

[tacticalturnip]

apparently your bud has not been around tractors or machinery much in his 70 yrs

A lot of folks aren't, therefore the versatility of a small tractors is completely lost on them.

I've got a good friend that alwsys gave me a ribbing for owning a small tractor without what he could see as a need for it. Finally I got him on my Kioti, had him run it for a bit, and now he's got himself a Deere 1025R. Years of me telling him about the utility meant nothing until he realized just how easy it was to use.

Now I give him the ribbing, Mr. In-Town lot with a tractor.

 

[JasperFrank]

Even if the trail is never used, its still fun to make it.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Just taking the trash 1/4 mile out to the hard road is reason enough for me to own one.

 

[Jstpssng]

Until 20 or so years ago a lot of people didn't realize how versatile a tractor is.
I often pick up a tree with the grapple, cut it stove length, then pick one of the larger chunks up and hold it over the woodsplitter and split it into more manageable pieces.

 

[Yander]

I used the boom pole on my YM1700 to change the blades on my Hustler Raptor ZTR. I also used jackstands. Recently I upgraded to a Yanmar SA425. The drive belt on the Raptor broke. If you ever tried to push a ZTR, you know why I towed it with the SA425. Pulled to a shaded area, picked up the rear of the Raptor with the bolt on pallet forks, and set it on concrete blocks. Chocked the front wheels and set the jackstands. Got the belt changed, using only a few bad words.

You are going to love the SA425. My wife told me I'm not allowed to sell/trade it because she now uses it often. I get an itch for a different tractor and sell and buy other stuff. I don't see myself ever selling the SA425. I bought it new, and it's a keeper. It is such a powerful little tractor for its weight. Just use ballast when lifting heavy, since it is lighter.

I used the SA all spring and summer of 2024 to do bush hogging, tilling, and grading jobs for $$. I never encountered anything it would not do. I would still be doing some, but my new job is too demanding and has extended hours.

I wanted a light tractor since it is in my yard 90% of the time.

 

[Yander]

apparently your bud has not been around tractors or machinery much in his 70 yrs

No, he has not. I honestly was surprised by how surprised he was that it worked. When I left to get my tractor, I told him not to worry about it. I knew it would work, but he didn't until he saw it.

 

[Yander]

Until 20 or so years ago a lot of people didn't realize how versatile a tractor is.
I often pick up a tree with the grapple, cut it stove length, then pick one of the larger chunks up and hold it over the woodsplitter and split it into more manageable pieces.

I agree with this statement. My dad had an old 8N Ford until he was in his mid-70s. He used it weekly for getting firewood, etc. I finally talked him into selling it and buying a used Kubota BX2200 with a loader. He would then call me weekly and tell me everything he used that little Kubota for. It was so much easier for him to get on, and more compact and maneuverable, that he found way more uses for it than his 8N. He had significant mobility issues and could only walk/stand for about 5 minutes at a time. So he used the ATV and now his Subcompact tractor a lot.

When I'm older, in my 70s or 80s, God willing, I will live that long, I will own another Subcompact tractor.

 

[Yander]

Oh, and I added the JU FabWorks rear tie-down.

View attachment 3578491

It looks like you have a hydraulic top link from the hoses in the picture. It's probably the most useful thing you can put on if you're doing much with the 3pt attachments. I will never be without one on a tractor again.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I agree with this statement. My dad had an old 8N Ford until he was in his mid-70s. He used it weekly for getting firewood, etc. I finally talked him into selling it and buying a used Kubota BX2200 with a loader. He would then call me weekly and tell me everything he used that little Kubota for. It was so much easier for him to get on, and more compact and maneuverable, that he found way more uses for it than his 8N. He had significant mobility issues and could only walk/stand for about 5 minutes at a time. So he used the ATV and now his Subcompact tractor a lot.

When I'm older, in my 70s or 80s, God willing, I will live that long, I will own another Subcompact tractor.

This is at least the second time I've read this story, and it makes me smile just as much as the first time.

 

[tacticalturnip]

It looks like you have a hydraulic top link from the hoses in the picture. It's probably the most useful thing you can put on if you're doing much with the 3pt attachments. I will never be without one on a tractor again.

Extremely useful. Unfortunately that one was sized for use with Pat's Easy Change and now that I have a standard quick hitch I had to order a smaller one.

I'll never be without one again either, it's just beyond convenient.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I messed up today, I did not double check if my SSQA was secure by giving it a little shake close to the ground, and while using the grapple the thing flopped right off. The worse part is the missus hooked them up, so she was feeling down about that, but I always check because on occasion I've missed the hole myself. So it is not her fault, the operator must always double check the system- I was sure to emphasis that to her.

When it stops raining I'll give it a look over and see it's fixable at home, and I'll just need parts. The grapple sits on the trailer tonight and I am frustrated and laughing at myself.

I absolutely prefer the JDQA, but that is neither here nor there.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
Nobody was hurt so it's just a minor problem.

 

[EddieWalker]

I had my grapple come off while pushing up the burn pile after it had died down. It was still burning, but where it fell off, it was on bare dirt. I panicked at first but quickly calmed down and hooked it up enough to get it in the air and away from the burn pile. It happens to all of us.

 

[Runner]

I messed up today, I did not double check if my SSQA was secure by giving it a little shake close to the ground, and while using the grapple the thing flopped right off. The worse part is the missus hooked them up, so she was feeling down about that, but I always check because on occasion I've missed the hole myself. So it is not her fault, the operator must always double check the system- I was sure to emphasis that to her.

When it stops raining I'll give it a look over and see it's fixable at home, and I'll just need parts. The grapple sits on the trailer tonight and I am frustrated and laughing at myself.

I absolutely prefer the JDQA, but that is neither here nor there.

View attachment 4036119

I've never used that type of system, but from here I can't see any damage. Even the hoses don't seem to be leaking. Maybe you got lucky.

 

[RjCorazza]

I don't feel so bad now... I dropped my forks WAY into a pile of cut trees and brush. Ended up getting a chain on it and dragging it out, along with half the pile.
Fortunately in my case I just totally forgot to lock the pins, so it just fell off. Now I make sure to lock the pins immediately after putting any SSQA implement on, and look at both pins.

 

[tacticalturnip]

^^^^^
Nobody was hurt so it's just a minor problem.

Fortunately the family and animals were out back, no one around to hurt but myself, and I'm good at that- but as said, no one was hurt.

On the unfortunate side, it's definitely leaking. Maybe fitting came lose, but we will see.

The hose took a real beating when it was made to support the weight of the falling grapple. All it took was that one quick bungee motion, faster than I could lower the loader.

 

[Gregster613]

Fortunately the family and animals were out back, no one around to hurt but myself, and I'm good at that- but as said, no one was hurt.

On the unfortunate side, it's definitely leaking. Maybe fitting came lose, but we will see.

The hose took a real beating when it was made to support the weight of the falling grapple. All it took was that one quick bungee motion, faster than I could lower the loader.

Hopefully it's just the fitting connection. That's just something that happens, glad no body part got hurt!

 

[sd455dan]

I messed up today, I did not double check if my SSQA was secure by giving it a little shake close to the ground, and while using the grapple the thing flopped right off. The worse part is the missus hooked them up, so she was feeling down about that, but I always check because on occasion I've missed the hole myself. So it is not her fault, the operator must always double check the system- I was sure to emphasis that to her.

When it stops raining I'll give it a look over and see it's fixable at home, and I'll just need parts. The grapple sits on the trailer tonight and I am frustrated and laughing at myself.

I absolutely prefer the JDQA, but that is neither here nor there.

View attachment 4036119

She should not feel bad...

I did similar recently on my spare Rhino 554 purchase -FEL cylinders would not lift and only by closing the Power Beyond port could I get the bucket to raise. I brought my working twin to help load the one I was purchasing, got in a rush and Completely forgot that I could get the FEL to lift so I could load it up on the trailer.

Used my FEL to lift the other and got loose with the controls and drove forward while lifting , now the bucket sits 1" off the ground on the left side. Plain stupid move on my part. I have all the hydraulics repairs done and even converted to a home built single joy stick to replace the lift and curl levers.

Squaring the FEL back up is alluding me so far.

Good Luck on the QA repair hopefully an easy fix.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Yup, little tractors are very useful for lots of stuff I never imagined!

I call My Little Baby Fergie (MF GC 1725 MB) a Swiss Army Knife Tractor ... It's AMAZING what I have been able to do in the last 3.5 years, and over 700 hours on the meter!

Truly a Blessing to be able to do so much myself!

 

[FriendwithTractor]

I messed up today, I did not double check if my SSQA was secure by giving it a little shake close to the ground, and while using the grapple the thing flopped right off. The worse part is the missus hooked them up, so she was feeling down about that, but I always check because on occasion I've missed the hole myself. So it is not her fault, the operator must always double check the system- I was sure to emphasis that to her.

When it stops raining I'll give it a look over and see it's fixable at home, and I'll just need parts. The grapple sits on the trailer tonight and I am frustrated and laughing at myself.

I absolutely prefer the JDQA, but that is neither here nor there.

View attachment 4036119

Tell her not to feel too bad. Same thing happened to me a while back. While I was lucky enough to not have the bungee action happen to the hoses on the grapple, it did loosen the U-bolt holding the 3d function outlets on the tractor side. Make sure those are on tight when you go to re-attach or else you'll end up heaving your guts out trying to force the hose back on...ask me how I know.

Also, you might have better luck replacing the hoses at a hydraulic hose place rather than running to the dealer, food for thought.