Tractor was delivered day before last. Unfortunately weve had pretty crappy weather here in OH the last few days so i only have a little over an hour on it, mostly unloading the attachments. So far I am blown away at just how well put together this thing is. Compared to the lower model Kiotis and older Kubota's Ive owned the fit, finish, and craftsmanship in this is amazing. The transmission is absolutely amazing and Im in love with it already.
I did notice that it is very very light in the rear end and the hydraulics are incredibly strong on the loader. I did not order it with rear weights or filled tires because i have 50 or more Honey Locust trees to take out still and their thorns reek havoc on tires. Ive had more flats on my ATV, Mower, and Skid Steer in the last 3 years than Ive had in my entire life. I was nervous about fluid filling the tires or using rear weights with the thorn problems. Once i get the rest of these taken out Ill consider having them filled. Until then i have an 800+ lb box blade, and i built a rear
ballast block that will weigh in over 1000lbs out of concrete from an old 3 pt trailer mover attachment i had laying around that i rarely used. I did put a couple extensions on it so it will have (2) 2" receiver hitches coming out the back. Its approximately 2'x2'x'2 solid concrete and steel.
I had to go get my old landscape rake to get the box blade off the truck with the forks because it was tipping without rear ballast. Also had issues lifting the tiller I bought from TSP off my trailer even with the rear rake on although that was partly because of the hill i was on and the angle.
Speaking of the County Line Tiller from TSP. Im loading it back up to return it today. #1 i read and watched a lot of information about it before i bought it. I had a 10% off coupon so brought the price down a good deal. They were supposedly built in America by Tarter Co. As i was unstrapping it i saw a made in china sticker on the gear drive cover. Kept looking and the gearbox is also made in china. Found the Tarter tag and guess what... "Proudly made in the USA".. Right... Proudly assembled in the USA at best since all the working pieces are made in China. I know most things made in the USA are assembled with parts from China but thats not the point. #2 when i was assembling it the 3 pt lift arms didn't align quite right so and the steel plate for the PTO cover doesn't fit at all... It was the only part that wasn't bolted on the machine from the crate. it was simply laying on top of it in the parking lot... so i assume it was supposed to be for a smaller tiller and they just stuck it on there.. When i finished assembling I connected it to my 3 pt hitch and there is not way i can adjust the draft stabilizers (check chains are what im used to calling them) to get it straight... it is either cockeyed left or right because the lift arms were bent or not machined right... #3 Took the fill plug out of the gearbox and it was so rusted it had pits in the plug. looked down in the gearbox with a flashlight and it looks like it must have gotten water in there because everything was covered in rust... Needless to say it's going back today to TSP for a refund. The store manager was extremely appolagetic which i appreciate. Doesnt make up for the 5 hours i spent picking it up, unloading, uncrating, assembling, nor the 2 hours its going to take to reload it on my trailer, drive it up, return it and come home.. But at least they arent going to fuss about the return.. Found an 8' disc local here going to try it and see if that will get me by. We have several acres of land weve cleared and need to disc for pasture seed anyhow and Ill see if it will do a good enough job on the wifes garden to get us by.
