New to the group, brush hog questions...

[YMandM]

Hey guys, very interesting reads on some of the projects and things I致e e read/seen. I have a small landscaping company that I use as a side job to help cover the costs of my kids sports and have been using a friends 1991 Case 1130 for some of the larger projects Ive been working on. I found a 2013 Branson 2400 at what used to be big reds and purchased it to start taking on more projects in my area that are on properties that are 1-5 acres, small shredding, pulling small amounts of timber and some box blade work... I was sceptical at first to go to a compact because the footprint seemed so much smaller then the case but seems like the power number are about the same so hoping its ｴ up to the task. I know weight is key, 2400 is about 200 lbs lighter. Couple questions;
- I want to convert the bucket to a quick attach so I can make a boom and a few implements for it, I found a bolt up kit on eBay that says it fits the SL100 I have the SL00, will it fit? I can遞 post links being new on the forum so here is the item number 332792692776

- Brush hog - can I use a 5 foot and not be under powered? Are the countryline units that are squared off on the back ok, is there any advantage to the units that are for tighter clearance that are round in the back?

- Box Blade, ok to use 5 foot, power requirements enough?

 

[Roadworthy]

You can use a five foot brush hog and you will not be under powered. You may be a bit light on tractor weight but not on power. As far as a boom attachment goes, I have seen such a thing ready made for the three point at the rear. They're fairly inexpensive. I can't help you with the quick attach issue.

 

[K5lwq]

Welcome to TBN!

I converted my Kioti loader from pin to Quick attach. Travis at Everything Attachments can help help you get the correct one. That is where I bought mine and it fit perfectly. Took all of 15 minutes to install.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well the ebay item description does say it fits. And Ebay does have a return/refund policy if the item doesn't meet the description. I'm a bit surprised that the pin pattern is the same between the Branson and the Kioti, but there it is. It does weigh 94 pounds, and will put the total distance from the weight you are lifting to the pivot pins a few inches further out, which combined will reduce your lifting ability a little.

Not trying to talk you out of getting it. I would also get an SSQA adapter if I had a pin on FEL. Love my SSQA FEL. Are you going to modify your dirt bucket with an SSQA bracket as well, or are you planning on unpinning and swapping between your new adapter and your old dirt bucket when you need to move dirt?

On a 5 foot mower with 20 pto hp, that is a lot of mower for your hp. If the grass is very thick and very tall, you will have to creep along to mow it. Is your 2400 gear, or hydro (2400H). You will lose 2hp with the 2400H over the 2400 gear tractor, but it will be easier to creep in the hydro than the gear. I'm running a 6 foot on 32 pto hp, and when it gets really thick and tall, I do have to slow down through it. Normally if the grass is hood height or lower, it's not a problem. Thin grass or brush is also not a problem, as the mower can keep up with it.

Which tires do you have on your 2400? For a 5' box blade, you may have problems with getting enough traction to pull a full box of material. If you're pulling a full box, with scarifiers down, low range and front end engaged, you could start spinning tires. You could always dump part of the box and come back for it in a second pass I guess.

I would add a recommendation of getting SSQA fork attachment as well. Those are just plain handy to have, and you'll be surprised how often you use them. I'm curious as to what you'll be using a boom pole on a FEL for? You know by the time you add the length of the boom pole, you won't have much lifting capacity left at the end of that pole, right?

Good luck in your new small business. I love the free enterprise system. Look into a small insurance policy, just to cover damages in case you back into someone's house or airconditioner or something. A small policy isn't real expensive, and can save your hiney even if you chunk a rock through a picture window.

Welcome to TBN.

Just checked EA's website, they show a WR Long SSQA adapter for $887

W.R. Long Pin on Tractor Loader Bucket to Universal Quick Attach Converter, Adapter | Free Ground Shipping for 1,000 miles!!

 

[ericm979]

Rounded or angled back rotary cutters give you some more clearance in turns and lets you mow closer to obstacles. If you're always working in wide open spaces there's no advantage but when you are working around trees and fences it helps a lot. The cheap TSC implements are pretty flimsy. If you're in an area that Agri-Supply serves you can get a Kodiak which is better constructed, US made, and about the same price (when I last looked which was a couple years ago).

 

[YMandM]

Welcome to TBN!

I converted my Kioti loader from pin to Quick attach. Travis at Everything Attachments can help help you get the correct one. That is where I bought mine and it fit perfectly. Took all of 15 minutes to install.

Any chance they worked with you on the shipping since we are just outside the "free zone".?

 

[YMandM]

Well the ebay item description does say it fits. And Ebay does have a return/refund policy if the item doesn't meet the description. I'm a bit surprised that the pin pattern is the same between the Branson and the Kioti, but there it is. It does weigh 94 pounds, and will put the total distance from the weight you are lifting to the pivot pins a few inches further out, which combined will reduce your lifting ability a little.
Not trying to talk you out of getting it. I would also [/url]

We have been mowing for about 3 years... I use Hustler zero turns for our mowers and toro 30" push mowers for the small areas, I surprise myself sometimes on how much $ we have invested in our equipment, but it has helped pay for my son to play select baseball which has now led to him playing college baseball. His younger brother is now 16 and will hopefully start running it all next year on his own with my oversight. We also provide jobs for several of the other high school players in the summer that he plays with. Its nice to have kids that know how to work and I think it will benefit them later in life compared to all the guys play video games all day long... Part of the reason I swapped to the new tractor was the caseIH was a bit to handle and I want them to be able to safely run a tractor without me eventually.

Most of the grass I get into is fairly small stalk and some small saplings, but also very dry here in North Texas... The 2400 is the gear tractor with industrial tires, being on peoples land I didnt want turf because of traction but was worried ag would be to aggressive if Im running mulch and supplies in peoples yards.. I used the clamp on version of forks for a long time but they were really hard on the bucket and on the caseIH started to bend the lip of the bucket... I was hoping with the quick attach I could do just what you said and make a set to take on and off... boom wise I have one persons property that i progressively work on cleaning that is 13 acres and when i drop trees and such I end up dragging alot of it up to a deck where I cut and split it. Most stiff is 6-12 inches wide and the weight isnt super heavy so I end up dragging 15-20 feet sections. I thought a boom style set up might be easier and faster to hook up and go...I also want to get a larger volume generic trash bucket...

 

[YMandM]

Tarter Round Black 5 ft. Rotary Cutter Series 2, RBRCMB52 at Tractor Supply Co.

I was looking at this unit, TSC but by Tarter, supposed to be better then the countyline stuff has stump jumper on it and heavier gearbox...? They also have the Tarter box blade, looks to be decent, I think the old 6 foot I used was a king kutter..

 

[YMandM]

Thank for all the input.....here is the unit I bought...any thoughts on other things to prep for with it?

24hp 213 Branson 24 MFWD Garden Tractor with Loader

 

[K5lwq]

Any chance they worked with you on the shipping since we are just outside the "free zone".?

They did not charge shipping and it was delivered to my door.

However, I ordered new bucket, forks and grapple at the same time that shipped separate to my business. I did not ask for free shipping and was willing to pay for it if needed.

EA is a very good company to do business with in my opinion.

Nice tractor and I hope it serves you well!