First 1/2day of work with the new Ls4041.Lots of questions.

[b73]

This is my first tractor and first time ever using one.Finished up the stumps I started on delivery day.Did some box blade work.Box blade on the driveway.Knocked down and dug up a few more trees.Only stopped because shes low on fuel and I haven't picked any up yet.First question is looking at the holes and size of stumps could I be working the new tractor to hard?I did chop the last bit of the larger stump with an axe to get it up but it lifted the back wheels many times and would go on to one front wheel a few times before I could let the loader down.Next question is when using the box I lowered it to the ground then lifted it about 1/4" is this correct? Also I've been keeping the rpm's around 1500 or so because its new then I read in the book to start the tractor at half throttle.Should i just run it like I stole it or keep a low rpm for a while? Oh yeah so far I love it(7hrs)and the extras you get as opposed to the 3038 I think are a big plus so far.But what do i know I've never used a tractor before.

 

[ENC]

If you are working or lugging the tractor give it more throttle. Doing what you describe I would be at about 2200 rpms. Stumps are hard jobs to tackle. On the safety side of things you definetly need more ballast weight. If you are lifting the tires up you can create a very dangerous situation very quick.

 

[b73]

I put the box on today and that was way better than the cutter for ballast.My tires are not filled but I will fill them or have the dealer do it at 50 hr service.I want to build a 55 gallon drum ballast like one I've seen on here.The tires had to much air as well and letting some out seamed to help a little.The manual,as far as I've read,doesn't say anything about keeping rpm's down for break in so maybe I'll just let her rip next time.Hopefully tomorrow!!!

 

[GManBart]

Be very, very, very (did I say very?) careful pushing trees over with a tractor. If it's bigger than 8-10" at the base, it's probably not worth messing with.

If you plan to do much digging, a tooth bar for the bucket makes a massive improvement in what you can get done. The teeth can also be used to carefully pry things up, or to tie off when lifting things that aren't super heavy.

 

[k0ua]

Hopefully you were frightened when the azz end of the tractor came off of the ground from lack of ballast on the 3pt. You should be, because it is dangerous. Remember the front axle is on a pivot bolt, there is no suspension when the rears com up the tractor is free to flop one way or the other, and if you are on an angle it can turn you over quick. You will get to have a nice look at the lower half of your tractor. NOT good.

Adding ballast and loaded tires will make the tractors traction like a whole different tractor, much safer and much more push/shove/grunt. Of course with greatly increased traction now comes the possibility of tearing up the FEL, you have to use common sense. I know you want to get right in there and start using the machine, but going slow and learning as you go has some merit. Always think what will happen when you hook on to something, for instance if you hook a stump on the left front your right rear tire may raise in a heartbeat so keep you hand on the joystick and make small smooth movements.

I can certainly remember some mistakes I made through the years, and really just got lucky. I have never turned one over, but sure came close several times It looks like you have mostly flat ground, and that is a BIG plus. Good luck and happy tractoring:thumbsup:

 

[motownbrowne]

If you lifted the back end "many times" you should slow down a bit. That's a dangerous move, and should be avoided. Get the tires loaded and add ballast before proceeding carefully.

Regarding the break in period. My Kubota manual advises avoiding the same rpm for great lengths of time. Currently (still in break in period myself) I'll run a while at say 2000 rpm, then bump to 2100, then down to 1900. Also, I'm avoiding short durations of operation and avoiding idling for more than a minute or so.

In short, I turn it on when I am going to use it for at least an hour. I warm it up around 1400, I use it well, not too hard, then cool down for a few minutes at 1400 before shut down.

Good luck, be safe. Tractors are an inherently dangerous tool, most especially at the hands of new users.

 

[b73]

Thanks for the good info. Wouldn't have thought of not staying at same rpm for long. This thing will toss the wheels up in a hurry and I didn't realize the front axle was on a pivot but I never let it go very high.the few times I pushed a little and it was just right to put it up on 1 front wheel was definatly an eye opening,cheek clinching experiance. I started looking at the spades to clamp on fel or a stump bucket for all the trees I want to remove. Not sure if there worth it or not?

 

[vtsnowedin]

What K0ua said and then some. Wheels off the ground is for cowboys with paid up ***** care. As soon as a wheel lifts, let off and try a different way. Get your rears loaded now, not fifty hours and a trip to the ER later.

 

[Red Horse]

Big 10-4 on getting your ballast NOW. Ballast the tires and build yourself a decent concrete weight block-plenty of good suggestions for doing that in these threads. Oh yeah-no one has mentioned seat belt use-buckle up! You have ROP but it only good if you are belted in.

Last point, remember center of gravity goes up dramatically as you raise bucket-in particular with a load in it. Amazes me the yahoos you see running around looking UNDER the bucket for "better visibility".

Take your time and get to know your machines capabilities:thumbsup:

 

[TSO]

This is my first tractor and first time ever using one.Finished up the stumps I started on delivery day.Did some box blade work.Box blade on the driveway.Knocked down and dug up a few more trees.Only stopped because shes low on fuel and I haven't picked any up yet.First question is looking at the holes and size of stumps could I be working the new tractor to hard?I did chop the last bit of the larger stump with an axe to get it up but it lifted the back wheels many times and would go on to one front wheel a few times before I could let the loader down.Next question is when using the box I lowered it to the ground then lifted it about 1/4" is this correct? Also I've been keeping the rpm's around 1500 or so because its new then I read in the book to start the tractor at half throttle.Should i just run it like I stole it or keep a low rpm for a while? Oh yeah so far I love it(7hrs)and the extras you get as opposed to the 3038 I think are a big plus so far.But what do i know I've never used a tractor before.
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366875"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366877"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366882"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366879"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366880"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366881"/>

Nice tractor and good pics. I lifted the tires up plenty of times when I had the R4041 & 4047. Like others have said, just be careful and throw some ballast on the rear.