New L4760 first impressions

[fishpick]

I believe the Grands have a grid heater rather than gliw plugs actually. Think hairdryer element inside the intake...

@Fallon - I'm going to blame my phone for how it formats text on the screen for COMPLETELY missing your comment's point...

I thought you were talking about the block heater... and hence my response about the block heater.. Which is a most certainly a plug in the block

As to your ACTUAL comment about the Grand L's and glow plugs - I have not a clue the tractor is so new to me... I just know the manual talks about the "glow plug" symbol on the panel... EXCEPT - to your point - the low resolution digital symbol looks less like a glow plug coil and more like a grid heater...

I dunno - and sorry for seeming like I was a rude pr!ck... clearly sometimes I no read so well, I guess

 

[fishpick]

Yesterday we were expecting a "big snow storm" so I started the morning by plugging in the block heater... which I then unplugged around 2 as the storm was "ending" and we had around 4"... Definitely not enough to blow.
This morning I got up and the lake effect snow machine had apparently been left running all night and we had almost 9" of fluffy white on the ground. This caused 2 things to happen:

1. Made me mad I had not gotten the remote WiFI switch set up finished to turn on the block heater in the barn from the house
2. Made me realize how happy I was to have a tractor with a cab

I headed out and had to WAIT for the tractor to idle up to operating temps and for the cab to get warm... almost 8 minutes! Then I cleared the driveway with ease. More observations with the new machine (which now has about 5 hours on it total):

• This tractor is rated at 47HP, my old one was rated at 45HP - this tractor feels like it's a HECK of a lot more robust in the HP department than the old one... It never seems to bog in any way. In M + rabbit gear - I can back up so fast the snow volume is more than the 75" blower can throw (i.e. its spilling around the sides and is a mountain being pushed in front of it) and the tractor NEVER acts like there's anything going on back there...
• I have said it before - and I'll say it again - the turning radius on this thing is absurd - it makes the tractor behave like it's 1/2 the size. I love it.
• It's fast. M + rabbit - blowing in reverse - done in like 45 minutes - with a job that used to take nearly an hour and a half... I can't imagine how much faster when I finally get the front mounted blower!!!

I will also admit my first major error with the tractor... I blew the 1/2 mile drive and the loop in front of the house and the walkway from the loop to the house... and it wasn't until I was done and parking the tractor back in the barn that I realized the error I had made... Having never had a cab before - it's easy how the novice could make this mistake... I didn't bring a coffee with me to sip on from the comfort of the heated cab while doing the work
My cup holder went unused!

 

[majorwager]

Fishpick,
Will you be selling the existing snowblower when the new model is delivered?

Curious, where did fishpick nickname originate?

And actually, you did NOT make a mistake, Blowing snow in reverse requires concentration, you must be aware of both tractor ends simultaneously. Coffee, a distraction, would have likely gone to waste. Background music another story.

 

[fishpick]

Fishpick,
Will you be selling the existing snowblower when the new model is delivered?

Curious, where did fishpick nickname originate?

The rear blower is technically "not mine" now - as it was part of the trade to the dealer with the TC45DA... but - since Kubota can't make me my blower yet - I have this "on loan" from the dealer until mine is "made"...

username origin... years ago while scuba diving with friends in Cozumel I fell asleep in a hammock and started dreaming... In my dream these other divers that we had seen on the reef all week with the stupid little acrylic sticks that had been picking and poking at the reef with them were in the dream... and in the dream all these little rods, or "picks" started falling out of their vests underwaters and destroying the reef... so - I yelled "FISHPICK!" as I awoke from the dream and flailed about in the hammock and fell out... because in the dream I yelled that and tried to catch them falling...

The nickname stuck... not that exciting, really

 

[mljenkins]

I will also admit my first major error with the tractor... I blew the 1/2 mile drive and the loop in front of the house and the walkway from the loop to the house... and it wasn't until I was done and parking the tractor back in the barn that I realized the error I had made... Having never had a cab before - it's easy how the novice could make this mistake... I didn't bring a coffee with me to sip on from the comfort of the heated cab while doing the work
My cup holder went unused!

If you find a cup that sits in that ridiculously large cup holder let me know, hah! Too bad they didn’t include a coffee/tea maker in the cab huh? I’ve am recovering from the flu this week so I haven’t gotten to be outside, and we haven’t had the snow to justify ignoring orders to rest.

In lieu of your remote switch, just get a horse or two and clean their stalls or feed them while the tractor warms up. That’s my solution

On a serious note, does the block heater help that much? I figured you’d have to let the hydro fluid warm up anyway before using.

Matt

 

[Fallon]

If you find a cup that sits in that ridiculously large cup holder let me know, hah! Too bad they didn’t include a coffee/tea maker in the cab huh? I’ve am recovering from the flu this week so I haven’t gotten to be outside, and we haven’t had the snow to justify ignoring orders to rest.

In lieu of your remote switch, just get a horse or two and clean their stalls or feed them while the tractor warms up. That’s my solution

On a serious note, does the block heater help that much? I figured you’d have to let the hydro fluid warm up anyway before using.

Matt

I've only used my block heater a few times on my L4060. The longest start has been maybe over 15 seconds in some cold weather. Is under 7 seconds in warm weather. It was maybe 10 seconds when I used my block heater in the last snow. So it does start a little faster at least but not by an order of magnitude.

 

[hawkeye08]

The cab doesn't add that much up high. I'm guessing 300lbs, probably a fair bit less vs ROPS.

My L4060 set to a 72" track is way more stable than my L3200 with a 60" track. Think my L4060 can go even wider, but haven't cared to look as 72" fits my needs & impliments well.

Already have 72" track, If I start doing more with tractor (with all this retirement talk, I am thinking of my options)

 

[fishpick]

...
In lieu of your remote switch, just get a horse or two and clean their stalls or feed them while the tractor warms up. That’s my solution

On a serious note, does the block heater help that much? I figured you’d have to let the hydro fluid warm up anyway before using.

We had hogs - I'm OK not having them and "waiting" for things to get ready No need for horses, goats, donkeys, mules or sheep to occupy my time while the tractor is getting ready

100% - the block heater makes a difference... I don't think - as @Fallon pointed out - in terms of "starting" but it matters in terms of "time to warm".

Here's my whopping 2 data points on this - same temp (about 22F).

Block heater plugged in for 2 hours - glow plug light on the dash is on for 2-3 seconds and as soon as the tractor starts (easy crank) the temp gauge needle shows at the "C" on the temp arc. It's above "C" in about 2 minutes of idle and starting to blow warm air in the cab.

Bloch heater NOT plugged in - glow plug light on the dash was on for maybe 6-7 seconds, tractor starts (easy crank), the temp gauge needle is at the bottom of the gauge. Took over 8 minutes of idle before the needle was at "C" - then things were the same from there on out.

So - if these Tier 4 engines are not supposed to idle for extended times because that makes more DPF schmutz... by my logic - using the block heater to shorten the time required for the tractor to "idle" AND (more importantly) get me some warm air in the cab faster - the block heater is a winner for cold weather.

I don't really worry about the "start it cold and bad things happen" - it's 2018 - things are not like they were when that mattered in 1935... I just like that it's warmer in the cab sooner using the block heater!

 

[majorwager]

Fishpick,
Know kubota blower on order. But for giggles, take a look a REIST Industries Snow Thrower. Single stage requires less HP. No spill over. My two stage allows material to spill past the sides when auger/fan are full, more snow to blow on next pass. A thrower keeps all snow in front of blower till chute empties. They have a video, worth a look? And a single unit can be either hydraulically or shaft PTO powered, versatile unit. Also adapter plate avail. For BOTH FEL quick mount OR 3 point mount. Canadian made, US dollar discount. These units run well at 400-500 PTO rpm, can run engine slightly slower, better fuel economy. My kubota has same engine as yours, less the DPF. I have never been happy with fuel economy at PTO speed. Will yours run from mid pto? That requires 2000 rpm gearbox, not sure if they offer that option and negates option for any desired rear use.

 

[mopardude318]

Have rear remotes? If so how bad do they leak down? Hope your are a lot better than mine. Been fighting to get the dealer ton them. My replacements are worst than the first ones so far.

On mine, yes, I have 3 remotes with top N tilt. The rear leaks down in a few hours. It may be the GearMore cylinders. I will see what happens when the FitRight cylinders come in.

What really irks me is the whole rear of the tractor leaks, all where the remotes are, and where the lift arms are all down to the draw bar...I don't really know how to fix that, it drives me crazy when I see my new tractor covered in hydraulic fluid and accumulated dirt. Something is for sure seeping...