Must have tools/equipment for a new tractor owner

[CharlieG]

Hello all. I've been reading the Tractor by Net forums for some time and in the past month my wife and I sold our place 'in town' and bought a home in the country. Today we purchased a L3200 HST, 4WD and FEL along with a LandPride RCR1860 cutter. It's due to be delivered on Wednesday (10/31). Happy Halloween:devil:

I bought a 5 Gal fuel can for diesel, I know I need some chains and a grease gun. Can anyone suggest any other must haves for a new tractor owner? My son gave me a Tractor Supply gift card for my birthday and I'm sure I could use it to build up my equipment/tool inventory.

All advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[mpham]

A good set of screw drivers are always handy. A set of hand wrenches will be handy also. I use a big bar the most though..helps aline attachments to the three point and other pry jobs.

 

[whistlepig]

Some extra lynch pins and hairpin clips are good to have around. You will like the RCR1860. I've had mine for four years now.

 

[CharlieG]

I've been looking at drawbars as I have a number of trees down that I will need to skid out of the woods. There are a number on ebay that look pretty good. Any opinion on what would work well for that?

 

[whistlepig]

Doesn't the L3200 come with a drawbar?

 

[/pine]

Hello all. I've been reading the Tractor by Net forums for some time and in the past month my wife and I sold our place 'in town' and bought a home in the country. Today we purchased a L3200 HST, 4WD and FEL along with a LandPride RCR1860 cutter. It's due to be delivered on Wednesday (10/31). Happy Halloween:devil:

I bought a 5 Gal fuel can for diesel, I know I need some chains and a grease gun. Can anyone suggest any other must haves for a new tractor owner? My son gave me a Tractor Supply gift card for my birthday and I'm sure I could use it to build up my equipment/tool inventory.

All advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Charlie

IMO... you already (obviously) have the # 2 most useful tool for just about any tractor owner (old or new)...and that is a computer etc. with Internet access which allows you to access TBN and other informative sites that can save you an untold amount of time and frustration resolving just about any issue you will encounter as a tractor owner/operator....
...YOU are the # 1 most useful tool...starting by reading the user/maintenance manual and following the information provided by the manufacturer...(i.e., "when all else fails RTFM" )
#3...(IMO) along with all the other worthy suggestions already mentioned....get yourself a pair of high quality gloves that fit well enough to allow you to do all the necessary duties you will encounter....they won't completely prevent pinches, cuts and abrasions but they will help lessen the them...

good luck and enjoy your new labor/time saving machine...:thumbsup:

 

[94BULLITT]

Your dealer probably has drawbar cheaper than tsc. A boxblade is a handy piece of equipment. I also really like my pallet forks for the fel, I stack everything on skids. I keep lynch pins in all of my equipment plus some extra. A few different lenghth and extra toplink pins are good to have. Lowes has some 5/16 Grade 70 chain for $40. A clevis is nice to have for the drawbar. For tools and just working on your own stuff I would get a 150-200 piece craftsman tool set and a few hammers. You may want to get a quick hitch for the 3PH. A rear work light and some lights on the rops because the loader can make the headlights useless are also nice to have.

 

[MBTRAC]

Firstly the personal protection "must haves" : some Hearing & Eye protection (i.e ear defenders & safety glasses) & riggers leather gloves (for hitching implements, saves most pinched fingers/hands & grease/dirt over hands) _ the operator prerequisite of a steering wheel spinner (your tractor may already have one fitted: makes tractor operating a whole lot easier).

And for basic maintenance, my "must haves" are:
- A small reasonable capacity workshop compressor (packaged deal with air blow gun, tyre inflator/pressure gauge/coiled hose): using air to blow clean tractors/implements at the end of use is a lot quicker & less corrosive than consistently washing with water + you'll need to regularly blow clean the radiator fins & air filter ( a compressor is also great for cleaning other farm gear like chain saws)
- A spare air filter or two, some oil & the correct coolant to top up the tractor
- A funnel for diesel refueling use only

And if you plan on doing your own servicing & maybe some repairs:
- a workshop manual for your tractor
- When buying the compressor get a package deal that includes a cheap set of air tools: prevous suggestion + say a 3/8 rattle gun, air ratchet wrench & impact sockets (makes for an easy blade change on a mower)
- Oil/fuel/hydraulic filters & change out quantities of oils/fluids/coolant
- Funnel ( for oil changes ), strap oil wrench & maybe a waste oil pan (though you can make these)
- Quality set of 1/2" sockets, or combination set of 1/2", 3/8", 1/4" sockets (apart from repairs, nuts/bolts regularly need checking on tractors)
- Not specifically for the tractor, more for around the farm: a low priced (max $150 ) comprehensive box store "tool box kit" with a selection of mechanics tools (open/ring spanners, wrenches, pliers, hammers..etc.) if you don't already own. Why low priced ? Because in the main for one new tractor you shoudn't need a lot of tools initially, but around the farm it's handy & will pay for itself in time saving if you're "isolated" to have on hand & if they're low priced you won't be reluctant to use on any task ( nor loose too much sleep using, misplacing, abusing or breaking.......)

 

[hosspuller]

Grease gun...

 

[DT86]

Pretty much agree with what everyone else has said but I'll add one thing to the list... Grease rags, keep one or two in your tool box on the tractor and a bunch in the garage.