New JD4520 cab is destroyed

[dcyrilc]

Hey Pete,

Saw one of your posts tonight and was just wondering how the tractor's doing since you got it back? Everything working like it should?

 

[eepete]

In general, everything is working good. Doing lots of mowing with it, got to try out the new landplane on the driveway :thumbsup:.

I am having a problem with the enhanced (auto style?) cruise control. If I used the fixed-speed cruise control, it can keep the speed to within .2 to .3 MPH going up and down hills under various loads. If I used the "Max speed" feature, the speed varies by over 1 MPH. Loadmatch is off. I'm going to do a repeatable test on this and have already talked to the dealer about it. Unless someone has a "Here's what it is" reply, I'll wait until I do a repeatable test with some hard data and then start a new thread on it.

Without a loader on it, the 4520 needs front weights when pulling the MX6 mower. I had six 70# and four 43# weights. Got into a new area mowing the other day, and had some front end slide so I ordered two more 70# weights, we'll see how it goes on that area. The new and modified weight bracket (there's a thread on that too) is doing great. At 65 hours, it's about time for my 1st oil change.

It's been a little warm down here in NC so the cab is a huge win. It's odd to think "Hey, it's 2:00 PM and really hot, so this is a good time to mow". I think the temperature gauge runs a bit hotter since I added the horn, and the horn is right in front of the radiators so I'm thinking of moving it down just above the battery and see if that helps.

This fall, I'll do another 30 x 40 Morton Country Craft building where the collapsed one was. Hopefully you caught the thread on the 30 x 40 building I finish up a few months ago, it's been great.

I'm getting further along in the solar project, will put a thread on that when it's more or less done.

So life goes on, things more or less work, tweaks and adjustments all the time. Doesn't get much better than that. Long Pete Post again, but that's better than "Fine. Yes." to answer your questions.

Pete

 

[dcyrilc]

In general, everything is working good. Doing lots of mowing with it, got to try out the new landplane on the driveway :thumbsup:.

I am having a problem with the enhanced (auto style?) cruise control. If I used the fixed-speed cruise control, it can keep the speed to within .2 to .3 MPH going up and down hills under various loads. If I used the "Max speed" feature, the speed varies by over 1 MPH. Loadmatch is off. I'm going to do a repeatable test on this and have already talked to the dealer about it. Unless someone has a "Here's what it is" reply, I'll wait until I do a repeatable test with some hard data and then start a new thread on it.

Without a loader on it, the 4520 needs front weights when pulling the MX6 mower. I had six 70# and four 43# weights. Got into a new area mowing the other day, and had some front end slide so I ordered two more 70# weights, we'll see how it goes on that area. The new and modified weight bracket (there's a thread on that too) is doing great. At 65 hours, it's about time for my 1st oil change.

It's been a little warm down here in NC so the cab is a huge win. It's odd to think "Hey, it's 2:00 PM and really hot, so this is a good time to mow". I think the temperature gauge runs a bit hotter since I added the horn, and the horn is right in front of the radiators so I'm thinking of moving it down just above the battery and see if that helps.

This fall, I'll do another 30 x 40 Morton Country Craft building where the collapsed one was. Hopefully you caught the thread on the 30 x 40 building I finish up a few months ago, it's been great.

I'm getting further along in the solar project, will put a thread on that when it's more or less done.

So life goes on, things more or less work, tweaks and adjustments all the time. Doesn't get much better than that. Long Pete Post again, but that's better than "Fine. Yes." to answer your questions.

Pete

Glad to hear that the repairs came out well and are passing the test of time.:thumbsup:

 

[jenkinsph]

Hey Pete,

When your front end was sliding was this on a side slope?

FWIW, if you are on a side slope and the front slides towards the downhill side the ground might be too slick, if the front end swings uphill on a sideslope you need more weight. If your front end is sliding with the mower down and the tail wheel on the ground you need to change directions, go up and down the hill. Another thing to consider is the rear of the mower deck extends about 9 feet past the rear tractor axle, thats is alot of leverage. If the deck hangs up it can slide your front end a little. I would rather have the front slide in this case rather than put so much strain on the hitch components.

Just a few things to consider as you already have 168 more lbs on your tractor than I have.

 

[eepete]

The front end swung uphill when I was on a slope (about 10 degrees, my threshold for "it's getting a little slope-y here). I was turning up into the hill because it was getting a little too tippy and I knew from previous mows that in about 15 feet there was a big dip/change in slope. So changing the two 43# for two 70# will give me an extra 54 pounds, not a lot of change more like a fine tune.

As for the 168 more #s I have, there is also the fact that the weight is 4" more "out in front" due to the weight bracket. If you look at the recommended ballasting on the MX6, it's an extra 140#s when you add an iMatch. The Imatch moves everything back by 4" and adds some weight of it's own. But the increase in weight requirement is almost twice the weight of the Imatch so there must be some effect of "how far back" (or the leverage) of the implement going on. So I wonder if there is an equivalent effect when the weights in the front move forward 4". Just more things for me to worry about :laughing:.

The hay here has been cut, so today's plan is to sickle bar around the hay fields to keep them from slowing closing in over time.

Pete

 

[jenkinsph]

Pete,
Well you know the mathematical equations as I do, guess someone could find the center point of an MX6 by balancing it on a piece of pipe (for front to back) and noting the distance from the rear. Simple forces and reactions about a fixed point, so yes having the front weights extended forwards helps and having the IMatch extend rearward hurts. I use the IMatch with mine also though.