OPERATIONAL TIPS FOR NEWBIES

[Altex]

Frosty2,

Forgot to tell ya, ROPS is Roll Over Protective Structure (roll bar). All new tractor have it. Alot of the old ones don't.

 

[Frosty2]

Thanks for the answer.A little debate will not scare me off.Matter of fact debate is healthy and as long as it's fair might even enlighten my thinking...

 

[lcrans]

Another semi-noobie needs some hints: I've not used a box blade before, but I'm thinking about renting one to recondition our access road, about a mile of badly potholed gravel and hardpack, with some large puddle areas that need refilling. The driveway video on Wilsonoutdoors.com looks like a freeway compared to our road! I notice in that video the scarifier blades aren't touching/working at all, just the back blades. For my situation, in order to cut out the potholes, I assume I'll need to use the scarifier? And if so, should I make multiple passes taking it down a little at a time, or go for a deeper cut? The tractor is a JD790, if that affects the process. Thanks for any hints.....

 

[/pine]

the teeth should be adjustable...and tipping the bb forward using the toplink will lower the front of the bb also lowering the scarifier teeth....it will also cause the front blade to dig in...
Tilting the bb back will obviously do the oppposite but will also make it easier to smooth out the final topping...

since you've not used a bb don't expect "perfect" finishses right off...there is nothing wrong with a little bit of shovel and rake work to clean up edges etc...

in my little experience the weight of the bb has a lot to do with how effective it is....I have found that going very slow and allowing the blade to dig in to get started rather than a faster motion that tends to cause it to skip up over larger stones etc and lose its bite...

good luck, have fun...(it's a little more work than you would think)

 

[Soundguy]

Another semi-noobie needs some hints: I've not used a box blade before, but I'm thinking about renting one to recondition our access road, about a mile of badly potholed gravel and hardpack, with some large puddle areas that need refilling. The driveway video on Wilsonoutdoors.com looks like a freeway compared to our road! I notice in that video the scarifier blades aren't touching/working at all, just the back blades. For my situation, in order to cut out the potholes, I assume I'll need to use the scarifier? And if so, should I make multiple passes taking it down a little at a time, or go for a deeper cut? The tractor is a JD790, if that affects the process. Thanks for any hints.....

If you have a road to maintain.. I'd buy the BB vs renting it.

soundguy

 

[tommcintire]

Something I learned from my now long departed grandfather (he was a operating engineer (cherrypickers were his specialty)). If I don't see you, acknowledge you, and indicate you should come to me while I am running equipment, I do not know you are there...

A simple concept lost on some, but very valuable when it comes to telling others what to expect when around you when working with equipment.

 

[/pine]

If I don't see you, acknowledge you, and indicate you should come to me while I am running equipment, I do not know you are there...

that's great advice and it applies to small equipment as well as larger machinery...

a lot of fingers have been lost to table saw operators that were distracted by unknowing, unexpected spectators (helpers)...

 

[Knight]

Don't check hydraulic hoses for leaks by feeling with your hand.
Use a piece of wood, something other than your hands. Hydraulic lines under pressure will cause an injection wound.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Something I learned from my now long departed grandfather (he was a operating engineer (cherrypickers were his specialty)). If I don't see you, acknowledge you, and indicate you should come to me while I am running equipment, I do not know you are there...

A simple concept lost on some, but very valuable when it comes to telling others what to expect when around you when working with equipment.

Amen. Especially the part about "A simple concept lost on some".

Part of my "job description" with the general contractor I've worked for during the past 40 years is PART-TIME SUBSTITUTE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR. Or unwritten words to that effect. When I go on a job and there's new people I'm not familiar with who'll be working around me, I ALWAYS give 'em a little pep talk before I fire up the equipment I'll be running. ALWAYS.

3 years ago, I was sent out to a job to fill in for an excavator operator who had to go home because of a sick child. There was this one guy that IMMEDIATELY stuck out in my mind as a potential danger. I made certain he understood to stay out of the way and to keep making eye contact with me. PAY ATTENTION.

We were digging a footer for a new building. About 4' deep, 24" wide, and 400' long. Wide open hogging dirt..... This new guy is "crumbing" the bottom of the ditch. He's staying back 10' or more all the time. About 1/2-way through the dig, I hit "something solid". (Ended up being an old abandon sewer encased in concrete....wasn't supposed to be there.) The forman on the job said bust it out.... OK.... I raised the bucket about 5' or 6' above the old pipe and paused. I was going to drop the bucket on the old clay pipe bust 'er out! Just a second to look things over....hand on the lever......And just as I was starting to drop the boom, this guy jumps forward to have a little look-see himself. He stepped right UNDER the bucket. Lucky for him and me both, I saw him start to step up and I let off the lever. Bucket stopped INCHES from an unsuspecting head. Would have AT LEAST killed him.....

I hit the kill switch, unloaded, and had a long talk with the FORMAN, who then had a talk with the guy in the ditch. He didn't see what all the excitement was about.

 

[Johndeere3720]

l always wear seatbelt and the ROPS have never been lowered. I turn on the 4 ways when im on the driveway/road and always drive strait up and down inclines. I keep the loader as low as I can since I am usually hauling something. To keep my implements alive, I leave them raised when I park the tractor since my dad isnt used to having implements on the tractor. I greese every point I know of on the tractor and skidsteer every once in a while when im boored. I even drain the water from the skidsteer then pump the fuel into the machine 322 times (My arm hurts after that) and walk compleatly around the machine before starting it. I love to fuel the equippment up before opperation for more seat time and know my surroundings when on a job. ECT! I even watch safety videos on the computer and ask ALL questions on this forum!