Tractor Problems

[KansasJim]

Hello All!!!!

KansasJim is not from Kansas - he just moved here.

KansasJim just bought a used NH1715 (1997) with FEL and finishing mower - and that would be KJ's first tractor.

First Problem: I can't get my wife off the stupid thing so I can look at it. But, that's not something for here. I suspect she'll get bored soon, or hit something as she spends all her time looking backwards watching the 'pretty paterns' she's making in the lawn.

Other problem: No manuals came with the tractor - the dealer thought he had them, but didn't, and promised to order them. Eventually I'll get them. Until then - short of calling him every 5 minutes - I'm on my own. That, and I'm a little hesitant to call him, as he seemed surprised that I was worried about greasing it, draining the fuel water trap - that kind of thing. Now, I take that as a good sign as far as the robustness of the tractor...but I'd still like it to last for a good long time.

Everything seems to work fine with two exceptions.

FEL - hoses are crossed somewhere. The bucket tilt is backwards. As long as I'm the only one using the equipment and I don't use any other, no problem - but I'd still like to get it right. Do you have to bleed those lines like breaklines on a car if you swap/disconnet them - or will that work itself out with some exercise?

Mower - I 'think' it's a NH 930B (right hand discharge). At least that's what I can make of it as it zooms by. Anyway - it sounds like we're crushing rocks - so I suspect something isn't lubed correctly (guess one) or the blades are hitting something they're not supposed to. For the gear box: regular old gear oil? Seems like that would be OK, but thought I'd check. Maybe it's just a noisy SOB? Don't know. Hasn't exploded yet, so I have that going for me.

Any feedback appreciated.

P.S. - having a tractor is the coolest thing in the world! I hope to get to use it soon...

[North Dakota]

You can disconnect the FEL lines. The lines should have a quick coupler hook-up that would be located near the lever control. They connect just like an air hose quick connector. Usually a ring you pull backward and the hose will pop out. I'd take all the pressuer off the line by letting the bucket down with the engine off and then disconnect. It can be hard to reconnect if the hose is under pressure.


As for the mower the hitting rocks does not sound normal unless you are mowing a gavelk road.

[Soundguy]

Yes.. swap the lines then work them lock to lock a few times and they will bleed on their own.

Yep.. gear oil ok for the gearbox.. I like 85/140

DO check bearings and bushings and blade contact...

soundguy

[KansasJim]

Originally Posted by North Dakota

You can disconnect the FEL lines. The lines should have a quick coupler hook-up that would be located near the lever control. They connect just like an air hose quick connector.

That actually dawned on me as I was writing that - but of course worried that there's some special connection where you can't just swap them out. That would be silly - but I wouldn't be shocked. I'll straighten that right out and that's a heck of a lot easier than what I thought I was going to have to do. Cleaner, too.

Originally Posted by Soundguy

DO check bearings and bushings and blade contact...

It just sounds like h*ll. We only used it a little (ha, we - that would be 'the wife'), and I was confident that we could have dumped it back on the dealer's lot if it died the first run out - as we asked them to make sure it was ready to go on delivery. I'll pull it apart tonight and see what we get.

Thanks to both of you for the advice. If I can find my camera (it's in a packing box - of course), I'll see if I can't get a picture of the wife on the 'blue blur' as she goes by.

[namvet69]

How do you get your wife to mow? I wish mine would do that. She will if it's a cub 782...... Anyway, I'm not familiar with that mower but do check the gearbox and oil and if the blades are belt driven, check the spindles.

NV

[billbill1]

Jim, welcome to TNB, is there dried material under the deck that might be causing the noise? It will usually break loose and fall out, is it that kind of noise or grinding like bearings? They are noisier than a riding lown mower, at least mine is.

[jinman]

I would check the mower spindles for wear as Namvet69 suggested. I just reach up under the deck and try to wiggle the blades up and down. If the spindles are gone, the blades will flop. I think some people never grease the zerks on spindles. Actually, on some spindles, there are zerks above and below the deck, but I'm just not sure on your mower model.

[KansasJim]

Alas - I went home fired-up to tackle the tractor...and my 'to do' list did not match the official 'to do' list. I ended up pulling wire from a fence instead.

I will have a good look at everything soon - I'll be gone for a couple of days and want to make sure it's OK if she gets the urge to use it.

How do I get my wife to mow? Three things: First, it's new and fun and it's a tractor. I suspect the shine will wear off. Second, she found out she could lose 2lbs of bodyweight pushing the little mower around (it's all water, of course - but, whatever). How that relates to driving a tractor around...????

Third, and this is the big one: I convinced her it was state law that she mow the lawn. We looked for houses all through the area, and I SWEAR I never saw a guy mowing the lawn. It was always the women. Everywhere. Ok, she doesn't believe that one - but it's still pretty good.

I'll let y'all know how it comes out.

[pitt_md]

Originally Posted by namvet69

How do you get your wife to mow? I wish mine would do that. She will if it's a cub 782...... Anyway, I'm not familiar with that mower but do check the gearbox and oil and if the blades are belt driven, check the spindles.

NV

There is no way on earth I would trust my wife to run the Kubota. It can do to much damage faster than than you can say OHSH!T. I know some women can probably use it better/safer than me but my wife is blonde and is not one of them.

[KansasJim]

Originally Posted by pitt_md

There is no way on earth I would trust my wife to run the Kubota. It can do to much damage faster than than you can say OHSH!T. I know some women can probably use it better/safer than me but my wife is blonde and is not one of them.

Mine is also blonde - but she does OK. She drives a horse trailer better than I do. Although, I did have her going with the 'state law' thing for a while.


Otherwise, I swapped the hoses on the FEL and it sorted right out.

I checked the mower - spindles looked like they needed grease, gearbox 'might' have been low on oil, blades clear and don't wobble. I fired it up again, and while it's a little better, it's just a noisy beast I guess.

I tried to grease everything that I could - but I failed on two counts: the zerks on the FEL that stare you right in the face as you're driving. Looks like they haven't been taking grease earlier, either. It's ALMOST like they are a different size than all the rest? My plan of attack on that is to replace them.

Other than that, a successful day hauling stuff to the dumpster.