What makes a good tool kit?

   / What makes a good tool kit? #1  

blurrybill

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2001
Messages
480
Location
Iowa
Tractor
JD4310 eHydro with bells and whistles
I hope I'm posting this to the correct forum... Have my sights set on a JD4310 (most likely) and plan on 430 FEL, 60 or 72MMM, boxblade of some kind, forks for the loader to move brush, eventually a tiller, and (dream) a collection system that dumps from the tractor seat.

Now, the question -- I'm reasonaby mechanical, but not trained and have essentially NO tractor experience. What do I need to perform routine maintenance/repair on the above setup? Based on mowing my 5-8 acres with the JD garden tractor, I've already figured the need for a compressor of some type. What about hand tools, jacks, Whatever??? I like the Sears collections, since the tools are lifetime guaranteed. Other suggestions? What kind of grease gun, etc., etc.?Wisdom from you experienced guys is greatly appreciated.

Bill
 
   / What makes a good tool kit? #2  
blurrybill,

Welcome to TBN!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Where does one begin? I would image that you have some of the basics already.

Let's start -

1/2, 3/8, 1/4 socket/rachet sets standard and metric(you may need to find out exactly the sizes you'll need), open end and box wrenches (or as our English/Down Under friends say, spaners), light sledges, ball peen hammers, screw drivers of varying sizes and types, adjustable wrenches, channel locks, various pliers.

A medium sized air compressor 25-30 gal tank, 3/8 and 1/2 air impact wrench with impact sockets, air nozzles to fill your tires and to blow dust and debris, extra air lines with quick disconnects for every attachment, pressure washer, a barn/shed to keep all of your stuff (I'm still working the funding and the blessing from the CFO on a bigger one for me!!!), floor jack and jack stands are nice but one must be careful to get the correct ones (wait until you get your tractor to figure out what will work best).

These are the things just off the top of my head. Guaranteed that more will be added to the list.

Terry
 
   / What makes a good tool kit?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Terry,
Thanks for the welcome and the prompt reply. My wife has already resigned herself to the need for a small outbuilding/garage for the new family member -- keep in mind, the new house will take first place in terms of financial commitment. Still, she has seen me work on the land for over a year with little equipment and is accepting of the need (not just because it's Christmas).

I hadn't thought of the power washer; really needed? I do take care of my equipment and plan on having this machine until they drag me out of the house and burn me on a brush pile someday. So, would like to get whatever is needed and that I can afford.

Now, could you or others share the "whys" of this equipment? Why the 3/8 AND 1/2" air impact wrenches?

BTW, I don't have much in the way of "heavy" tools, so how big do you go? What about a grinder and how much do you guys use one? The hammers are for pounding, right (joke)? But that means I might be bending this expensive equipment?

I have an "education" guys, but not in the area I'm most excited about right now. Thanks for even rudimentary info.

Bill
 
   / What makes a good tool kit? #4  
Bill:
The most important part of a toolset is the toolbox. Ie: a Koolatron
Easiest is to buy as needed. There are some people on this forum who keep a very extensive set of tools in a shoe box in their garage.
Egon
 
   / What makes a good tool kit? #5  
Let me get this straight we get ta pick out the tools and you get ta pay for "em. This could be lot's of fun.

Let's take off easy here. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

If your going to do the recommended service work on the tractor yourself then for starters your gonna need an oil filter wrench to fit your filters along with wrenches to remove the drain plugs and the proper sized receptacle to drain the fluids into. I'm partial to cup style wrenches for filters but strap wrenches also work good. There are other styles available too! Nuts and bolts on the tractor need to be routinely checked for tightness and a good click type torque wrench in ft/lbs can help you know exactly how much to tighten fasteners to achieve a certain specification. Anyhow its a start. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DFB

18-30366-dfbsig.gif
 
   / What makes a good tool kit?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Egon,

Koolatron? more info?
 
   / What makes a good tool kit?
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thanks, DFB.

As to torque wrenches, any need to buy the new kind I've seen or is the needle style accurate enough. I spoke to a man at a local Sears who said that the more expensive, $75-90 wrenches wore out eventually and were not guaranteed as long as the older style. Comments? BTW, how do you like your John Deere?

Bill
 
   / What makes a good tool kit? #8  
Bill:
A koolatron is a little fridge that runs on 12 volt or 110 with a converter. Its to keep the beer cool so you can have a cool one while deciding which tool you really need. Its pretty easy to get carried away with an excess of tools that act like a boat anchor in the real tool toolbox.
Egon
 
   / What makes a good tool kit?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Point taken, but that's why I posted. You have a JD; what's the minimum? By the way, when it's hot, I don't have any trouble getting the top off of one of those -- the Ph.D. was good for something!

Bill
 
   / What makes a good tool kit? #10  
That's true about Sears torque wrenches. I just broke my lifetime guaranteed one; the replacement only carries a 90 day warranty.

I am just about to the point of swearing off Craftsman tools. The lifetime guarantee was OK, even if inconvenient (40 miles round trip for me) to have to run to Sears for a replacement. What I really prefer, though, is tools that don't break, not an infinite supply of ones that do. When (notice I didn't say "if") this torque wrench breaks, I will replace it with a Snap On or SK. Sears screwdrivers are nearly worthless, but as is usually true, you get what you pay for.

Also, click-type torque wrenches need periodic calibration if you're worried about accuracy. The beam style don't, as far as I know.
 
 
 
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