NEWBIE needs some advice

   / NEWBIE needs some advice #1  

a330driver

New member
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Jun 7, 2011
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11
Just bought a 3038e JD tractor to maintain 60 acre estate...Wondering what the consensus is on how I should go for a draw bar, and 3pt hitch?
I have seen here that there are many different opinions on the quick hitch options..Just wondering which is the best set up for my new rig?

I have not purchased any attachments yet. Will procure a rotary mower, chipper, rotary tiller, spreader, sprayer, and something for snow removal?

Anything, and all ideas are welcome!..I think I have just jumped into a whole new adventure!..Just want to make it as painless as possible!

Thanks very much!
 
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   / NEWBIE needs some advice #2  
Not sure what your question is. I presume the tractor comes standard with a drawbar and certainly a 3PT hitch. If you are wondering about quick attach systems for the 3pt hitch I suggest you search "Pat's 3pt hitch" as that is a popular one. JD has a propriatary one as well.
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #3  
Just bought a 3038e JD tractor to maintain 60 acre estate...Wondering what the consensus is on how I should go for a draw bar, and 3pt hitch?
I have seen here that there are many different opinions on the quick hitch options..Just wondering which is the best set up for my new rig?

I have not purchased any attachments yet. Will procure a rotary mower, chipper, rotary tiller, spreader, sprayer, and something for snow removal?

Anything, and all ideas are welcome!..I think I have just jumped into a whole new adventure!..Just want to make it as painless as possible!

Thanks very much!

If you meant a 3pt quick hitch, then JD calls their quick hitch an iMatch. If you plan on purchaising JD attachments, they have iMatch add-on kits or you just get the iMatch bushing kit. Search for iMatch. Lots of info here.
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Sorry not privy to a lot of the tractor terms...Yes I am looking into exactly that.
A quick imatch..or another brand. Iam not totally sold, or set on just JD attachments...Thanx for the directions.
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #5  
Just bought a 3038e JD tractor to maintain 60 acre estate...Wondering what the consensus is on how I should go for a draw bar, and 3pt hitch?
I have seen here that there are many different opinions on the quick hitch options..Just wondering which is the best set up for my new rig?

I have not purchased any attachments yet. Will procure a rotary mower, chipper, rotary tiller, spreader, sprayer, and something for snow removal?

Anything, and all ideas are welcome!..I think I have just jumped into a whole new adventure!..Just want to make it as painless as possible!

Thanks very much!


I feel your pain,

you need either a front end loader or rear mounted snow blower for your snow removal or both if you have heavy snow falls.


Dont waste your money on a rotary mower, purchase a JD or other brand finish flailmower for your tractor size either a 7 footer or an 8 footer with a finish rotor as it will mow much better than any rotary brush cutter or rotary mower and the rear roller is bonus as it will automatically stripe everything you mow and there will be no scalping of the turf.

My father loved the 7 foot John Deere finish flailmower he had with his Ford Jubilee and the pasture sod was always as smooth as a carpet with no weeds as he mowed right down to the sod.
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #6  
I feel your pain,

you need either a front end loader or rear mounted snow blower for your snow removal or both if you have heavy snow falls.


Dont waste your money on a rotary mower, purchase a JD or other brand finish flailmower for your tractor size either a 7 footer or an 8 footer with a finish rotor as it will mow much better than any rotary brush cutter or rotary mower and the rear roller is bonus as it will automatically stripe everything you mow and there will be no scalping of the turf.

My father loved the 7 foot John Deere finish flailmower he had with his Ford Jubilee and the pasture sod was always as smooth as a carpet with no weeds as he mowed right down to the sod.


I looked into a 7' flail mower...they wanted nearly $8,000 for it......i think ill just get some goats to eat the grass :laughing:
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #7  
I like these; Not too many people have them, but they have some advantages, One they are cheap. Two, they do not extend you hook up position back 4 inches like the Pats or any of the Quick Hitches. So you do not have to extend you PTO shaft, which can be a problem if it is already cut.:mad: They sit on top of your lift arms so you lose a little bit of the lower arc the arms travel in. But that has never been a problem for me. Also they do not snap in automatically like the Pats, but you have to get off the tractor anyway to hook up the top link, for both these Carters and the Pats so it it a simple matter to push in the 2 pins. Of course if the Imatch "matches" all you implements you don't have to hook up any top link, as a hook takes care of that. So to sum up I can recommend them, Not saying the others are bad at all, I just like these, especially for the money:thumbsup:

Welcome to CARTER AND SON'S TOOL AND DIE

James K0UA
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #8  
I waited about a year thinking I could do without a quick hitch. MISTAKE! I looked and looked and finally convinced myself to spend the money on the I-match and have absolutely no regrets. Best purchase I ever made.

With the exception of hooking up the PTO shaft on my mower and tiller, I can change implements without leaving the seat of the tractor. Also, the time I save is amazing.

There are other quick hitches that will work but after owning one for a few months, I am sold on the I-match.
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #9  
+1 on the Carter & Sons EZ-Hitch. Makes hooking up much easier - not perfect - but a definite improvement over the "native" method and less than $100. I've found running a bungee strap between the lift arms helps keep the arm spacing stable when doing hook-ups...

Remember that the 3038e is not set up for "off seat" PTO use. You'll either need to modify the seat switch (not recommended) or put enough weight in the seat to close the switch. I just use a couple of my 14' tie down chains in an old woven poly bag to weigh down the seat enough to let the PTO run when using the chipper.

If you didn't get the 305 FEL as part of your package, you are missing a tool that we use all the time. Add a set of inexpensive (< $150) strap on forks to the bucket & you have a great way for moving brush, timber, pallets, etc. for not much money (real QA forks run close to $800). Not sure how I'd move the heavier attachments around (other than on the 3PH) without the FEL. Definately couldn't maneuver them on/off the truck or trailer without it.

If you didn't get the rear tires loaded with fluid at time of purchase, you may want to consider doing so, especially if you are going to be using the FEL

Nick
 
   / NEWBIE needs some advice #10  
Not sure what your question is. I presume the tractor comes standard with a drawbar and certainly a 3PT hitch. If you are wondering about quick attach systems for the 3pt hitch I suggest you search "Pat's 3pt hitch" as that is a popular one. JD has a propriatary one as well.

Pat's quick hitch is a good choice.
Be careful of quick hitches like the one Harbor Freight sells.

3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-1/2" Clearance

It's set up for 27-1/2" separation between the hitch pins on the implement which is the standard separation. If a particular implement isn't near this spec, then you'll have problems fitting it to that quick hitch and you have to modify the pin locations on the implement. Been there, done that.
 
 
 
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