Stupid New Owner Tricks or What Not to Do with Your New Tractor

[Buggs67]

+2 on the "downhill in 2wd". the (rear) tires started skidding, brakes were useless and I was headed for a tree and the shed. I kicked it into 4wd, CRUNCHing noises and back in control.

Raising the FEL too high and not keeping the bucked level. Fortunately the dirt and small rocks landed on the engine cover. Same with lifting an 8' round log. Fortunately I saw the problem and dumped enough to keep it from coming over the hood at me.

And I've backed into a few things when the BH was on and forgot how much the stick protrudes. No serious damage. Thinking of installing rear view mirrors.

And, FEL = Ballast.

And, what PSI do most run in R4s? I've been going with Mfg Recommendation but seems like less air would equal better footprint and traction.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have the bad habit of grounding the implement and loader on level ground, rather than setting the parking brake. With an HST that's especially inadvisable, as I have hit the pedal on more than one occasion while getting off.

 

[hillwood]

Buried mine in the woods cutting trails.
Backing up with brusher and didn't see the front tires sinking.. Too late.. Tried to move forward but went down instead.
We had to cut small logs and work them under the tires to get out..

 

[Buggs67]

Buried mine in the woods cutting trails.
..

Got mine stuck in the mud building a dyke to raise the water in my natural pond. The more I tried to back up the stucker I got. Fortunately I could get forward and went through the overflow, into the woods a ways and turn around. I threw some branches into the ruts and powered through in forward.

 

[s219]

Fortunately, I have learned a great deal from the folks on TBN and have avoided some common mistakes that wouldn't have been obvious to me. But I remember nearly tearing down a newly built lean-to with the ROPS on my first tractor (thereafter, I hung fluorescent tape from the rafters as a "hey dummy, watch out" reminder).

We all know about balance issues being sideways on a hill, which can lead to tipping, but I discovered that soft ground and ruts can have the same effect even on flat ground or gentle slopes. Got that pucker feeling on flat ground when a wheel dipped into a muddy rut but thankfully didn't tip.

Several times I have had logs tip backwards out of the front loader when I raise it to dump. The most recent time it happened, it busted a headlamp, so that was $94 plus shipping. Maybe that will teach me.

I've scraped more things than I can remember with my front loader while turning. Worst was the door opening of my barn, which required repair of the latch and some paint. Those front loaders sure stick out a lot.

Another mistake was going several years before building a true ballast box. I did a lot of lifting with a box blade for ballast, but also lifted a lot of heavy loads with no ballast at all, and I am sure I put more wear and tear on my front axles and tires than necessary. Now I have a ballast box and it's the default implement on the 3-point when I'm not using something else. Really makes a big difference. Should have done that from day one.

 

[3gunr]

Was mowing around the house with the 3 pt finish mower. when i went past my 500 gal propane tank the rear mower wheel caught the copper line and ripped it off ,I was smoking my pipe at the time and i threw it as fAR AS I COULD JUMPED OFF the tractor and shut off the tank. Quit smoking shortly after.

 

[metalbender]

Too close to a low barn door putting in firewood, slowly of course. Heard a crunch and pop, 'bout crapped myself waiting for the windshield on the 1742 to go white. Fortunately, just moved the light, which broke the windshield washer nozzle. glad to fork out $40 for a new one, cheap lesson.

 

[rkidd]

Fortunately, I have learned a great deal from the folks on TBN and have avoided some common mistakes that wouldn't have been obvious to me. But I remember nearly tearing down a newly built lean-to with the ROPS on my first tractor (thereafter, I hung fluorescent tape from the rafters as a "hey dummy, watch out" reminder).

We all know about balance issues being sideways on a hill, which can lead to tipping, but I discovered that soft ground and ruts can have the same effect even on flat ground or gentle slopes. Got that pucker feeling on flat ground when a wheel dipped into a muddy rut but thankfully didn't tip.

Several times I have had logs tip backwards out of the front loader when I raise it to dump. The most recent time it happened, it busted a headlamp, so that was $94 plus shipping. Maybe that will teach me.

I've scraped more things than I can remember with my front loader while turning. Worst was the door opening of my barn, which required repair of the latch and some paint. Those front loaders sure stick out a lot.

Another mistake was going several years before building a true ballast box. I did a lot of lifting with a box blade for ballast, but also lifted a lot of heavy loads with no ballast at all, and I am sure I put more wear and tear on my front axles and tires than necessary. Now I have a ballast box and it's the default implement on the 3-point when I'm not using something else. Really makes a big difference. Should have done that from day one.

I sure agree with all of your ballast box points. I built my own ballast box also, and use it the same way you do. Works great.

 

[Doofy]

I sure agree with all of your ballast box points. I built my own ballast box also, and use it the same way you do. Works great.

I leave the backhoe on most of the time. If it gets taken off, the 6' box scraper goes on. I will consider 3ph ballast box if I ever feel the need for more weight. I will be taking it easy until I get a better feel for the capabilities of the tractor.

 

[Fastball]

My neighbor just got his first tractor - a 25hp-ish Kioti - and was doing some adjustment on it and on his new rotary cutter. He had his toolbox, along with a nice impact socket set, pliers, hammer, etc in his bucket. After sone tweaking and tinkering, he pronounced the job was done...and went off to start cutting his back field. Well, adter about 5-odd minutes, I hear a godawful bang and clatter like terminal meta death. Turns out he had left his tools in the bucket and had inadvertently dumped it....and ran over his toolbox and socket set with the mower. Ouch.

 

[4570Man]

My neighbor just got his first tractor - a 25hp-ish Kioti - and was doing some adjustment on it and on his new rotary cutter. He had his toolbox, along with a nice impact socket set, pliers, hammer, etc in his bucket. After sone tweaking and tinkering, he pronounced the job was done...and went off to start cutting his back field. Well, adter about 5-odd minutes, I hear a godawful bang and clatter like terminal meta death. Turns out he had left his tools in the bucket and had inadvertently dumped it....and ran over his toolbox and socket set with the mower. Ouch.

A good reason to never put anything of value in the front bucket. I’ve made the same rule for my dump truck. After dropping logs on a a gas can twice and a skid steer window frame which was already busted I decided no saws ever in the dump truck bed. I know my memory sucks so I do my best to avoid leaving things in harms way to begin with.

 

[Doofy]

My neighbor just got his first tractor - a 25hp-ish Kioti - and was doing some adjustment on it and on his new rotary cutter. He had his toolbox, along with a nice impact socket set, pliers, hammer, etc in his bucket. After sone tweaking and tinkering, he pronounced the job was done...and went off to start cutting his back field. Well, adter about 5-odd minutes, I hear a godawful bang and clatter like terminal meta death. Turns out he had left his tools in the bucket and had inadvertently dumped it....and ran over his toolbox and socket set with the mower. Ouch.

If you live, you learn. Hopefully.

 

[Buggs67]

I leave the backhoe on most of the time. If it gets taken off, the 6' box scraper goes on. I will consider 3ph ballast box if I ever feel the need for more weight. I will be taking it easy until I get a better feel for the capabilities of the tractor.

The BH makes a god ballast but it sticks out real far and at 1,200 lbs it's overkill. A BB is good but mine only weighs 515 lbs and I should have 650-800 lbs of ballast. I made mine out of a 55 gal plastic barrel and rocks, scrap iron and concrete = 645 lbs. And I can add weight just by adding rocks (it's only 3/5ths full)
.

 

[Doofy]

The BH makes a god ballast but it sticks out real far and at 1,200 lbs it's overkill. A BB is good but mine only weighs 515 lbs and I should have 650-800 lbs of ballast. I made mine out of a 55 gal plastic barrel and rocks, scrap iron and concrete = 645 lbs. And I can add weight just by adding rocks (it's only 3/5ths full)
.

My box scraper weighs in at 600 pounds and will hang out the back almost as far as the backhoe. This could be a problem in close quarters and a compact ballast box would make more sense.

 

[LD48750]

What some of you call "stupid new owner tricks" I call "Education".
Learning the limits of your new tool.

My Mother told me you can never get too much education so I welcome the opportunity to learn.

 

[BIKER BOB]

It happens, I was unloading my tractor from my trailer heading down a slight grade, forgot to chock wheels and when I got near the rear of the trailer with the weight of the tractor it lifted the rear of the truck just enough for it to start "rolling" down hill. ( hitting the brakes on tractor doesn't affect the truck at all! ). Was able to resolve issue and clean my underware, so all turned out ok. Did learn a good lesson though!

 

[fried1765]

The BH makes a god ballast but it sticks out real far and at 1,200 lbs it's overkill. A BB is good but mine only weighs 515 lbs and I should have 650-800 lbs of ballast. I made mine out of a 55 gal plastic barrel and rocks, scrap iron and concrete = 645 lbs. And I can add weight just by adding rocks (it's only 3/5ths full)
.

"overkill" ????
Not for me.
My BH weighs 2500 lbs. and my front tires will squish out with a full loader bucket.

 

[Buggs67]

"overkill" ????

My tractor is only 2300 lbs and my FEL only lifts 800 lb(I think)

 

[Threepoint]

Two tips from experience:

1. When backing up with a full, rolled-back bucket of stone or dirt, take your hand off the FEL lever! Amazing how the motion of looking back over your shoulder can make that FEL just keep on going up on its own! :laughing:

2. If you have a door of a cab tractor open to check on something, best to close it before trying to pull into a garage bay. You'll only fail to do this once. Fortunately in my case, I merely separated the two-piece hinges and was able to pop them back into place with no damage. :guilty:

 

[Doofy]

Now, That is some sage and sound advice. Thanks