Took the plunge 5035 HST

[Blamo]

Got her on Friday and have been putting her to work. A couple of guys gave me a quote of 6k and 8k to clear about 2 1/2 acres of red pine, price does not include stumping. Just for giggles, I cut a 12" pine about 4 feet from the ground, choked a chain around the top part, and the 5035 popped it out of the ground like it wasn't even there. So, I figure I'll save some money for implements and cut it myself.
So far, I am pleased with the performance. A few things I don't like are the engine assist, no clutch, and no floor throttle. If your scooping up something that requires more power, the engine throttles up on it's own. I usually like to feather the power myself. Most times this is a good feature, but if your testing out a load, say an old stump that you think might be easy to push over, and it turns out to be solid, the engine ramps up on it's own and could get you into trouble if your not quick. The clutch, that's just my preference. In order to change ranges, you sometimes have to tweak the tractor with the forward and reverse pedal (thanks Flatpik6) until you can hit the sweet spot to shift. This is also needed to switch back and forth into 4 wheel drive. A clutch would eliminate this.
All in all, this tractor kicks @&$ and my complaints are minor. I wanted to give an objective opinion to let you know what I think, instead of just giving an outstanding review just because this is the tractor I bought. Let's see how she holds up.

 

[rsewill]

Congrats! Don't forget to post photos.

And just like that there are photos.

 

[creekbend]

Congratulations. :thumbsup:

 

[Bob77064]

Congrats, fine tractor.

 

[kootch88]

Got her on Friday and have been putting her to work. A couple of guys gave me a quote of 6k and 8k to clear about 2 1/2 acres of red pine, price does not include stumping. Just for giggles, I cut a 12" pine about 4 feet from the ground, choked a chain around the top part, and the 5035 popped it out of the ground like it wasn't even there. So, I figure I'll save some money for implements and cut it myself.
So far, I am pleased with the performance. A few things I don't like are the engine assist, no clutch, and no floor throttle. If your scooping up something that requires more power, the engine throttles up on it's own. I usually like to feather the power myself. Most times this is a good feature, but if your testing out a load, say an old stump that you think might be easy to push over, and it turns out to be solid, the engine ramps up on it's own and could get you into trouble if your not quick. The clutch, that's just my preference. In order to change ranges, you sometimes have to tweak the tractor with the forward and reverse pedal (thanks Flatpik6) until you can hit the sweet spot to shift. This is also needed to switch back and forth into 4 wheel drive. A clutch would eliminate this.
All in all, this tractor kicks @&$ and my complaints are minor. I wanted to give an objective opinion to let you know what I think, instead of just giving an outstanding review just because this is the tractor I bought. Let's see how she holds up.

I added hooks to my bucket, one on each side and one in the middle and they really help in ripping trees out. I've been busy doing some of that myself, although given the tractor size, my ripping size is much more limited. By the way, though I don't need a tractor that size, I am terribly envious!!

 

[Blamo]

Yeah...I need to get some hooks welded on, but I probably wont use the hooks for skidding or pulling stumps. All sorts of warnings in my FEL manual about pulling with the bucket. I'd hate to blow the hydraulics when I can just turn around and use the draw bar or skid plate.

 

[JerryK]

One good thing about yanking with the drawbar.. is that you tend to keep all four tires pointing down... We just had another fatality up here in Michigan with a guy pulling trees with a old Ford 8n... Probably hitched up high and going too fast, but haven't heard for sure ...

 

[flatpik6]

Congrats Blamo! Have you filled the tires yet? If not, are you planning to?

 

[JerryK]

I made a one ton ballast for the 3pt for when I run it without the ho on. Sit's the rear end down real good. The hoe weights about 1600 pounds, but some of that is hanging farther back. But if you made a 1600 pound ballast box that would probably be all you need back there. Need something, filled tires and/or ballast to use the full capacity of your FEL safely. And, it takes a big load off your front axle/front gear train.

 

[Blamo]

Congrats Blamo! Have you filled the tires yet? If not, are you planning to?

Yup, the dealer threw that in. I figure with the tires, HST tranny, and FEL, this thing is pushing close to 8k #'s. Fenders start to rumble in high range. No biggie, I bought it for power, not to groom a race track. How you liking yours Flatpik? Any projects with that grapple yet? The 48" grapple from Wildkat should be showing up on Wednesday and I have plans.