Must have tools/equipment for a new tractor owner

[CharlieG]

Wow, great suggestions and advice.

MBTRAC, thanks for reminding me regarding the safety requirements. As it happens, I already have some hearing loss, so good hearing protection is a must. Being able to see is pretty important too, so I will also be investing in some quality safety glasses.

/pine, you are right about the #2 tool. I've learned so much from reading various posts on this forum (and watching YouTube videos..believe it or not), the collective knowledge available here is unbelievable.

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. Some I had thought about, many never even considered (my knuckles will greatly appreciate the glove idea).

Charlie

 

[CharlieG]

Weld on hooks for the loader bucket to help pick up stuff with the loader, ( help keep things close to the bucket & secure ) injoy your new tractor and be safe ..

The dealer is putting a couple on my bucket prior to delivery.

 

[yelbike]

I agree with all the previous advice, especially the safety gear and safety attitude. These small tractors seem so easy to operate but yet can be so dangerous. They don't get safer as time passes because of the operator gets complacent. Be careful and mindful.

Nice safety rent!?!

Also spend $70-90 and pick up quick hitch from harbour freight. Don't hesitate, just do it. That way you won't know the frustration and time consuming task of picking up or changing of implements. No need for long pry bars or squished fingers.
Just my opinion, but i would not be without my quick hitch.

 

[Jchonline]

I put together a list from the content in these posts for my new purchase, thought I would share in case it is of benefit. This is just what I have “so far.”

1. Extra pins
2. Small crow bar
3. Rubber mallet
4. Diesel air compressor
5. Spare filters
6. Funnel for diesel
7. Shop manual for tractor
8. Grease gun
9. Grease rags
10. Torque wrench
11. Cross drawbar
12. Tractor hooks
13. Choker chains
14. Plumbers strap wrench for hydrostatic filter
15. Diesel storage tank and pump
16. Nitrile gloves
17. Hand cleaner
18. Crescent wrenches
19. 3 lb shorty sledge hammer
20. Oil pan
21. Fluids oil, hydro, coolant
22. Battery terminal cleaner
23. Drifts and punch set
24. Penetrating oil
25. Good jacks stands
26. Jack
27. Extra hose clamps

 

[sandyc]

Extra grease zeros and wrenches to change them out

 

[Tractor Seabee]

All very good ideas. What you get is dependent on your mechanical skills. It seems to be assumed tractor owners all are great mechanics, especially with the CUTS and SCUTS more an more former city folk now being rural dwellers are buying them. I know some who send every thing out to the dealer or other shop as they are mechanically inept and will admit it. Even routine maintenance. Dealers will tell you their shops are a great profit center.

A good start is a mechanics tool kit in both SAE and metric and lube equipment. Then add to it as things crop up. I see no problem buying tools like HF for those once in awhile tasks for the owner. I even bought a 3/4 drive socket set when I had to replace a set of brush cutter blades. I carry a 30" HF pry bar on my tractor. Use it often.

Happy tractoring and repairing, Ron

 

[newbury]

Extra grease zeros and wrenches to change them out

Did you mean zerks?

To jchonline's list I'd add a couple of sizes of rope. I buy 1/4" by the spool.

 

[ericm979]

What is a "diesel air compressor"?

 

[repete]

I saw someone suggested hooks on the loader. I suggest you beef up the top edge of the loader first then add a hook at each corner and one in the center (Thus the need to reinforce the top edge.) When you lift heavy objects or pull with the loader, which you will do, be sure to balance the load to both arms and avoid lifting off a corner of the bucket.

Another thing you REALLY need is common sense and taking time to think about what you are intending to do. Look at what can go wrong with your idea and kill you. I once extricated a guy from between the arms of his backhoe. Seems he wanted to look for a problem with the thing so he fastened a rope to the boom control lever. You can pull a rope but you can't push it. You die a death by suffocation when the boom traps you...

THINK, then act.

 

[PILOON]

LOL----Special adjusting tool (hammer)

Bailing wire* and vice grips are still a must.

No matter how many tools you carry you'll still be missing the one U need.

Once I lost a turnbuckle barrel on a 3 point lower arm. The only thing that saved me was the wire and a few chain links. Got me back home.
Then I've also lost pins that link the lower 3 point to the lift arm, again wire save my hide. (Those pins now have been replaced by bolts and lock nuts as the hair pins that held the factory pins in often fall out)

*actually prefer HD copper or aluminum as it shapes easily and does not rust.
My favorite is 3/16 aluminum wire that power company trucks use to attach power lines to the insulators on the poles.