Which hand tools to keep on tractor?

[Bacon]

Let me start by saying this is a great forum用acket with information妖ry humor and some real wisdom (and enough craziness to make it interesting). Here is my situation:

I am in the process of acquiring both a bit of property (31 acres) and a MX5100 DT w/ FEL to keep it in line. Very excited. Usual attachments: rotary cutter, rear blade, box blade, PHD.

Not having any experience with this sort of thing, I want to know which hand tools I should purchase for on the spot adjustments and repairs i.e. hammer (type? Weight?), wrenches? Crowbars? Cyanide capsules, etc. etc.

I am trying to avoid my usual M.O. when starting a project of running to the hardware store every two hours to pick up something I forgot and/or don稚 need!

Thanks-
-J.

 

[howierd3866]

hello the tool box on most tractors will not hold enought....but here some... duck tape or electrical tape....pryers..screwdrivers...good wire cutters...extra bolts alittle long than normal that way they can be a use a number of places on mower or tractor...clip for pins...hammer...baling wire...washers nuts....and so on...Howard

 

[Bacon]

Thanks. I should have thought of duct tape! As far as the onboard toolbox goes, I have seen a couple of threads on how to mount an extra toolbox, and will have to look into that. As long as it only involves punching a couple holes in box and frame/fender I should be fine--welding on a right side mounted frame is a bit beyond my abilities---I have also seen people mention that they keep pruning shears and saws handy just in case they spot something worth trimming while on another task.

 

[dangerdoc]

Let me start by saying this is a great forum用acket with information妖ry humor and some real wisdom (and enough craziness to make it interesting). Here is my situation:

I am in the process of acquiring both a bit of property (31 acres) and a MX5100 DT w/ FEL to keep it in line. Very excited. Usual attachments: rotary cutter, rear blade, box blade, PHD.

Not having any experience with this sort of thing, I want to know which hand tools I should purchase for on the spot adjustments and repairs i.e. hammer (type? Weight?), wrenches? Crowbars? Cyanide capsules, etc. etc.

I am trying to avoid my usual M.O. when starting a project of running to the hardware store every two hours to pick up something I forgot and/or don稚 need!

Thanks-
-J.

I don't keep tools to repair the tractor in the tractor. I've never found that I had the right tool anyway and I usually pull a truck up with all of my tools handy. Frankly, I've never worked on the Kubota out in the field, different story with my older tractors.

I find a 3 pound hammer very handy for making fine adjustments when connecting to impliments. I have a crowbar behind the seat, mostly for prying up rocks as I come across them. I keep a limb pruner there too to nip branches that get in the way of mowing. A can of bug spray in case you have to get off the tractor in the weeds. A couple of extra pins and clips.

 

[CurlyDave]

A can of bug spray in case you have to get off the tractor in the weeds.

Around our parts, that can of bug spray is going to be used on hornets, bees and and what are sometimes called "meat bees", which are actually wasps.

Run over a nest and you need instant knock-down protection. Guys have have tractor accidents while being attacked by a swarm of stinging insects...

 

[have_blue]

Not having any experience with this sort of thing, I want to know which hand tools I should purchase for on the spot adjustments and repairs i.e. hammer (type? Weight?), wrenches? Crowbars? Cyanide capsules, etc. etc.-J.

Don't know about your toolbox, but mine will only hold 3-4 small tools. I like to keep Vice grips, regular and phillips screwdrivers, diagonal pliers, ball peen hammer, wad of bailing wire, lynch pins, hair pins, and with 31 acres, I recommend a small roll of toilet paper.

 

[Egon]

Much more than some pliers and an adjustable spanner is probably overkill. Most repairs will require an assortment of tools that are very difficult to carry in a tractor toolbox.

The plastic bag of paper may be the most important!

 

[Soundguy]

Here's my personal list:

grease gun in bracket on fender., small pry bar.. screwdriver, reg/philips.. or nut driver with adapter and heads. wire cutter, small roll of bailing wire, small roll of insulated wire/gator clip test wire. electrical tape, adjustable wrench, gas pliers. fire extinguisher, 1st aid kit.

soundguy

 

[Bacon]

Well, I suppose if I keep a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, AND toilet paper with me I should be covered for all sorts of accidents!

---Also, can I just say: "meat bees"...that conjures an image in my head that I think will never go away. If they ever come after me while I am on the tractor I suppose the toilet paper will come in handy for dealing with the aftermath.

 

[Soundguy]

I believe those are called 'brown alerts!'

soundguy

 

[radman1]

Vise grips, pliers, couple of screwdrivers, cresent wrench, few extra wrenches (left over wrenches without a home), hitch/3rd link pin, a few clip pins. Pliers will double as an emergency wire cutter. Cresent wrench is emergency hammmer! I prefer a piece of wire over duct tape. Usually whatever needs to be tied up/repaired needs more strength than duct tape. Vise grip and cresent wrench can double as wrenches when needed.

 

[CurlyDave]

AND toilet paper with me

I am always amazed by guys who use toilet paper in the woods.

Toilet paper is very flimsy because indoors you flush it and it has to break up when flushed.

Outdoors you are just going to throw it away -- I keep a roll of the softest paper towels I can find. Just as soft, but much stronger, which prevents the dreaded "finger poke-thru".

 

[N80]

Paper towels are like sand paper on my delicate behind!

As far as tools: Large adjustable wrench, large channel lock, vice grip, several screw drivers, large zip ties and various pins and clips for implements and 3 pt hitch, an extra pair of gloves, sun screen, wd-40, bug spray.

 

[Soundguy]

Dave.. i hear ya.

I used an old coathanger to make a paper towell roll holder on my tractor.. and yes sir.. a good paper towell is much better than good toilet paper..

Come to think of it.. I also keep a roll of cuct tape and a few extra lynch pins on the tractor.. however the pins are on a piece of wire tied somewher eont he 3pt rocker as 'extras'.

soundguy

 

[N80]

You guys must have stainless steel hineys.

 

[Egon]

If available some nice moss works well.

As for tools carried a lot may depend on far away from home base you are. On just a few acres it's not really worth carrying anything as you be back at the shop in a few minutes and then you'll have a proper assortment of tools to choose from.

When I'm out play farming it's 40 Kilometers from home so I keep a toolbox in the trailer. Even with the 68 acres it's not far to the trailer. Besides the Kubota B7100 does not have a large tool box area.

 

[have_blue]

You guys must have stainless steel hineys.

Yea, the tougher guys can substitute poison ivy for the paper, and carry thumb tacks in case their socks keep falling down.

 

[Soundguy]

You guys must have stainless steel hineys.

Years of working in a factory that thought an old packing crate was a good lunch table, and bought the cheapest recycled newspritn style TP in existence has let to a.. uh.. tough tucus?

soundguy

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have a pair of linesman pliers and a extremely heavy crescent wrench on my TN. These two tools will do almost all of my repairs in the field on equipment. The crescent wrench is heavy enough the back doubles as a light duty hammer.

On my 1920 I have two 8" crescent wrenches and for light hammering I just use one of the heavy drawpins.

If I had more storage room I would have a lot more tools but since these tractors only provide tool boxes big enough for a couple draw pins it forces me to compromise. My travel tool box that I take to the field when I am baling is loaded though with almost every hand tool I can think of. Of course it weighs around 120 pounds

 

[blagg]

Extra pins, big hammer(for adjustments to implements ) big crescent wrench, and some really big wire or zip ties which can get you out of a pickle, they can hold thing up, away, together, down and many more. I like the toilet paper idea but I'm usually close to home, so not needed yet