Okay John, this one's for you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It's also long. Sorry about that.
I started the other thread because I figured the frustration of not getting either the delivery or the phone call was sufficiently different, mostly dealing with aggravation at the situation rather than the tractor itself.
Anyways, the tractor did arrive today, all set for work, about 1/2 hour after the promised delivery time. Unfortunately, while the guy was running through all the delivery inspection, explanation, etc., my wife arrived home earlier than usual. The truck and trailer were backed into the driveway, blocking her entrance from a 60 mph road near a blind corner. We unloaded the tractor and went up the road to turn around in the loop drive of a house I'm trying to sell while my wife drove up the street to turn herself around and come back. For those who are wondering, an F250 2wd does not haul a tandem trailer up a drive with too much gravel just added to it very well. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif It also tends to make a serious mess of the driveway. It took about 15 minutes of back and fill, go a bit, get stopped, back and fill, etc. before we got up beyond the deep gravel and were able to turn the rig around.
Then we had to come up the driveway he should have come up in the first place, turn around, and load the Kubota. About this time the driver discovered someone had the wrong hitch ball on the truck and decided to switch to the right one. We were entertained with stories about this and that, finally got the paperwork signed, and the guy was on his way home. I figured I needed to repair the driveway with all the ruts and bumps in it before my renters tried to drive in.
By 8:00, the driveway was more or less fixed. I have learned that a full 60" bucket of limestone on the DX 29 with no rear weight is more stable than half a 42" bucket with rear ballast on Kubota. I also learned that the new tractor will just barely pull itself up my working driveway in road range and 2wd. Perhaps it's because I'm not used to the hydro, but it seemed it would either spin the tires or stall out. I'm hoping it's due to my ineptness, but at this point I would suggest that anyone looking at the mid size DX or TC series should get the larger engine, either the 33 or 34, instead of the 29 or 31.
It rolls into my garage easily with the ROPS down, but if I'm wearing a "tuk" or any headgear other than a baseball cap, my head will rub the door. With the ROPS up it makes it under my shop door with about and inch and a half to spare. It just fits between the racks of firewood in my woodshed. The Kubota went in there easily, but the entrance is around a corner and next to a large tree, making it a little close, especially with the extra length of the arch arm loader on the Case. The ROPS is out of the question in the woodshed, as expected, and my head easily clears the ceiling, again as expected. If I'm not careful when getting on or off, however, it will hurt. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
With all that, I didn't get to take any pics, but I should have a chance tomorrow. I'll post them on the Case forum so if anyone wants to see the ag tires on this machine, the grapple plumbing, and so on, we'll be raising the post count over there.
Here at last, here at last, the DX29 is here at last! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Oh yeah, I have another free hat coming next time I'm over near the dealership.
