What have you done to your Branson today?

[Hombre]

I also made a counter weight for my 4020 but it ain't near as "fancy" as Sidecarist did. Wish I had thought of the PVC pipe for tool storage, that's a great idea. I had a big piece of sonna tube from when I built my barn so used that as a form. The tube dia is 24inch and I cut it 32inches high. Bought a drawbar for 40 bucks and a couple 14inch long eyebolts, drilled a couple 3/4 inch holes in a steel plate, bolted two 14 inch long eyebolts to the plate and set those in the tube held up by a 2X2 when I poured the cement. These are for the top link to pin to. I set the drawbar through the tube at 10inc height (wish I had made it 12) and bolted three 8inch bolts through the draw bar holes inside the tube just because. 16 60lb bags of quickcrete filled it right to the top of the 32inch tube. Rough estimate for weight is: 16 60 lb bags = 8cu ft. Eight cu ft at 146lbs per cu ft = 1186lbs plus the draw bar and other pieces I used (should) make it right at 1200lbs. Cost was right at 100 bucks. Gave it a week to "cure".

 

[LincTex]

Why does everyone think the entire barrel must be filled with concrete? That's a waste of money! Fill that sucker completely full of rocks (or gravel, or old tire weights, or ANYTHING) first, The weight is the same & allows you to use far, far less concrete.

 

[Hombre]

Why does everyone think the entire barrel must be filled with concrete? That's a waste of money! Fill that sucker completely full of rocks (or gravel, or old tire weights, or ANYTHING) first, The weight is the same & allows you to use far, far less concrete.

A guy could do that if using a barrel. The sonna tube I used as a form has no bottom to it to hold those items. I would never use old tire weights as those things are worth at least a buck a pound and I use them to cast bullets. Besides bags of quickcrete are cheap. 2.47 for a 60lb bag around here (my cost was about 40 bucks) and probably takes up less room for the same weight of rock and if you want to make the counter weight as small as possible in size it does the job well. A friend of mine found some old bridge weights made from iron with rebar "handles" that are about 200lbs each. Hung two of them across the three point of his 30hp Kubota on an old weight lifting bar and he was good to go. Lots of ways to skin that cat.

 

[ericm979]

50 hour service completed today on the 3725h. The fuel filter was gray and the bowl had sediment in it. The oil and hydraulic filters were tight but came loose with a good filter wrench that connects to a ratchet handle. With the smaller tires it's too low for 5 gallon buckets so I had to buy a giant 14 gallon drain pan. I even waxed the hood to keep chipper debris from sticking to it as much.

 

[LincTex]

The fuel filter was gray and the bowl had sediment in it.

Gray fuel filters indicate the presence of algae in your fuel.

Bio Kleen Diesel Fuel Biocide | Power Service
Recognizing diesel fuel algae
Mythbusters - The Truth about Fuel "Algae" | Fuel Filtration Systems - Fuel Transfer Systems - Day Tanks - Fuel Additives - Fuel Sampling & Testing
How do I remove algae from my diesel fuel tank? - Fuel System - Let's Truck

it's too low for 5 gallon buckets so I had to buy a giant 14 gallon drain pan.

You can build some very simple ramps from 2 x 12's cut to lengths.
Each layer adds 1-1/2"

 

[coherent]

Brand new Branson owner and I'm also new to owning a tractor. It wasn't that hard but after removing the brush hog and installing the box blade for the very first time (with a minimal amount of cussing thrown in) I realized very quickly that a quick hitch would sure make life simpler. Went and bought the HF version. I have a CNC plasma machine, so can cut and weld an adapter if needed, but I think these 3 pt quick connect setups are the way to go!

 

[LincTex]

for the very first time (with a minimal amount of cussing thrown in) I realized very quickly that a quick hitch would sure make life simpler. Went and bought the HF version.

Really?

My factory Branson 3 -pt hitch is so easy to use, it really is almost like a quick hitch.

Have you figured out all of it's features? Maybe you missed something...

 

[coherent]

Really?
My factory Branson 3 -pt hitch is so easy to use, it really is almost like a quick hitch.
Have you figured out all of it's features? Maybe you missed something...

I'm not saying it's that hard, but the quick hitch takes about 15 seconds if it's an implement that doesn't use the PTO. The top is no big deal on the standard 3 pt. Your 35 series must be different or have some other features and telescopic stabilizers/links (or I may be missing something) but on the 2400h the lift arm links and stabilizers are basic and are on the inside so to remove the lift pin connections I need to loosen the stabilizer nut... back out/loosen the stabilizer... remove the pin... then remove the lift bar... then the other side... then reverse the process and use a wrench to re-snug the stabilizer nuts. With the quick hitch, the stabilizers stay adjusted and snug, and no pins to pull and so on. The only reason to get off the tractor is to connect or unconnect the PTO or adjust the top link for something like the box blade angle. I'm not lazy, but after I reached 60, my preference is to do things the easiest way possible if I can.

 

[dancath]

You must have better luck with your imps. than me. I have 5 of them and not a one lets me drive up lift and connect. I have to use a chain or other things to connect the top link.Much easier to use the factory adjs (3 of them)

It sits in my garage unused.

 

[ericm979]

My 3725 has sliding stabilizers and extendable lower links. If it didn't I'd put a quick hitch on too. They make it much easier and quicker. The top and tilt cylinders also speed up the process but not as much.