My new 3038E arrived today!

[eepete]

Great setup :thumbsup:. A few days ago I cut back some fields that had been left alone for about 5 years, had the same 1 to 1.5" gum tree saplings in it. Your pictures could have been my fields! Just back over it all and be amazed and happy over what you got.

When I cutting overgrown stuff the broom straw grass and other weeds have me getting off the tractor every 30 minutes or so and wiping off the front grill. I leave the tractor idling. You can watch the temperature gauge and soon get a feel for when it's time to clean the grill.

At the end of the mowing, I take a leaf blower and blow off everything while the tractor idles. Then I turn the tractor off (since it has cooled down from running hard), life the hood, and blow out the radiators (carefully, don't want to push wiring or the radiator overflow drain hose around too much).

Have fun "up there" in Person Co.

Pete

 

[nikdfish]

your set up looks good. I was wondering how you liked your chopper? how does it cut? how does it handle the five foot mower? Do you have any video of cutting the heavier stuff? I was curious on what the after cut looked like?


Great video! Great set up!:thumbsup:

Bryan,

The cutter seems to be holding it's own real well. Some of saplings swell to 3"-4" at the base & it chips them right up. No dents & nothing broken. I had put some refence marks on the slip clutch to see if it was doing its job on the tough stuff & it is. There is a dome on the underside that protects the center area of the blade & shaft assembly. Undoubtedly this is why I've never gotten hung on a stump (so far...).

When things are heavy enough to bring the RPMs down, that's an indication that I'm cutting up something pretty significant & I'll back off a bit & then ease back in so the RPM's stay up in the "PTO use" range. The 3038E has plenty of power for a 5" cutter.

I'm pretty much going slow & easy as I have no idea what might be hiding out of sight - fortunately I've only shaved one large rock so far!

I'll try to remember to get some pics of the "done" areas and maybe do a video going through a thicket or some of the dense bramble/vine areas that remain....

Nick

 

[nikdfish]

Read your manual to confirm, but you might not want to shut the engine off when cleaning the grill. Shutting down can result in the engine being a "heat sink".

I know exactly what you mean when describing that lint" build up.

Roy,

You are absolutely right, I should have left it running while cleaning off the grill, and I've now started doing that every hour or so. I haven't had any repeats of the temp lamp coming on since.

At the time I was feeling conflicted when the temp light came on because the book had said shut down immediately if it came on, but I felt I needed to have it idle a bit before doing so. I ended up travelling at idle speed for a minute or so before shutting it down & cleaning the grill.

Nick

 

[nikdfish]

... At the end of the mowing, I take a leaf blower and blow off everything while the tractor idles. Then I turn the tractor off (since it has cooled down from running hard), life the hood, and blow out the radiators (carefully, don't want to push wiring or the radiator overflow drain hose around too much).

Have fun "up there" in Person Co.

Pete

That's exactly what our procedure has been! I idle it up to my MIL's house & the wife gets the electric leaf blower out & gives it a good cleaning. It's amazing how much stuff gets layered on.

Nick

 

[Rockgod]

Nice looking rig! :thumbsup:

 

[kebo]

Bryan,

The cutter seems to be holding it's own real well. Some of saplings swell to 3"-4" at the base & it chips them right up. No dents & nothing broken. I had put some refence marks on the slip clutch to see if it was doing its job on the tough stuff & it is. There is a dome on the underside that protects the center area of the blade & shaft assembly. Undoubtedly this is why I've never gotten hung on a stump (so far...).

When things are heavy enough to bring the RPMs down, that's an indication that I'm cutting up something pretty significant & I'll back off a bit & then ease back in so the RPM's stay up in the "PTO use" range. The 3038E has plenty of power for a 5" cutter.

I'm pretty much going slow & easy as I have no idea what might be hiding out of sight - fortunately I've only shaved one large rock so far!

I'll try to remember to get some pics of the "done" areas and maybe do a video going through a thicket or some of the dense bramble/vine areas that remain....

Nick

The "dome" is what's commonly called a stumpjumper. The design helps it (mower deck) to ride up over stumps, hence the name.

As for cutting tree's (not saplings) that are 3-4" at the base, that is REALLY pushing that mower. That size tree is tough even for serious heavy duty mowers and if you keep that up, something may get bent or busted before long. Your mower is probably rated for 2" saplings btw, but the manual should tell you for sure.

Congrat's on becoming a new JD owner, it looks great! :thumbsup:

 

[nikdfish]

Kebo,

Thanks, I appreciate the advice! I am definately a noob at this & feeling my way through the learning curve.

The 3-4 inch items have been the exceptions rather than the rule. What typically had been showing above the low growth was about 2" , but they had broadened at their root, which sometimes lifted up as they went over.

I am inching along when pushing saplings & I back off if the blade starts laboring. I then only proceed at a pace that allows the RPM's to stay close to the 2500 designated for PTO work.

I know even 2" is pushing it for a standard duty cutter per the book so I'm really creeping when I encounter those.

Nick

 

[RoyJackson]

Kebo,

Thanks, I appreciate the advice! I am definately a noob at this & feeling my way through the learning curve.

The 3-4 inch items have been the exceptions rather than the rule. What typically had been showing above the low growth was about 2" , but they had broadened at their root, which sometimes lifted up as they went over.

I know even 2" is pushing it for a standard duty cutter per the book so I'm really creeping when I encounter those.

Nick

I'm actually surprised those 3-4 inch stumps didn't slip the clutch or stall the tractor. My 60" Land Pride cutter wouldn't handle anything that big without serious protest.

 

[317140]

I live in the northern part of Person Co. Those fields look just like mine. I have a 3520 with an LX5 Bushog. I am waiting for the leaves to fall so I can start cleaning up 15 acres I had clear cut 2 years ago. I will probably use the same method. I have a lot of big stumps that I have to be careful of. Thats why I thought I would wait for leaves to fall so I could see a little better. The land is rolling and I want to be very safety conscience. Nice rig and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

 

[kebo]

I live in the northern part of Person Co. Those fields look just like mine. I have a 3520 with an LX5 Bushog. I am waiting for the leaves to fall so I can start cleaning up 15 acres I had clear cut 2 years ago. I will probably use the same method. I have a lot of big stumps that I have to be careful of. Thats why I thought I would wait for leaves to fall so I could see a little better. The land is rolling and I want to be very safety conscience. Nice rig and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

Just a thought but if your clearcut looks anything like the ones we have here in SC, your tractor may not be the best tool to use to clean it up with. Cutovers are usually some pretty rugged terrain (tireruts from skidders, etc) and there is LOT'S of debris (sticks, pieces of logs, and stumps) laying around just waiting to attack your shiny green machine. I suggest going VERY slow, and if it looks like it's too much for your tractor, then just go hire a big azz dozer to clean it up. Good luck.