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Tractor won't start. It's Challenger MT265 which is a twin of the MF 1533. Tractor has just under 400 hours. I have eliminated the battery and neutral switch. There must be some wiring issue or my wiring harness is bad. I was able to crank and start the tractor by jumping the starter by apply...

Hi, I have an Agco challenger MT265B aka MF 1533. I haven't use the tractor for a while. Just notice that the HST petal won't return to neutral position. I can't shift into gear unless I try to find just the right spot on the petal. Looked under the tractor but can't really tell if I lost a...

The hydraulic hoses on the ML30 loader are 3/8" W/ 1 Female JIC Fitting and 1 Male Boss O-Ring Fitting. These can be ordered online for a tiny fraction the cost from the dealer ($12 vs $85). Hopefully this info will help others. Tom

Hello, I have a 2005 MT265B with ML30 loader. I recently replaced a leaky hose on the loader cost about $100 from the dealer. Now, 4 other hoses starts to leak and the rest have cracks and looks like they will develop a leak pretty soon. So, I need to replace a dozen or so hoses. Looking...

My well is 485' deep. Produce 12gpm. The pump is set at 275'. Water level is at 134'. A few days ago, I found out my well/pump wasn't working. Just a trickle of water at times. I measured the flow and it's at about 1/2 gal per minute for a about 15 mins then goes to nothing. The water was...

I have a small dozer (4 cylinder diesel engine) that has been in the repair shop and storage for the past 2 years. It has about 2 hours since the last oil change about 2 years ago. The oil looks good and it runs fine. Should I change the oil and filter before I start using it for a dirt...

I just got a toothbar for my loader bucket. Looking at how it was attached to the loader bucket's cutting edge and bolt to the sidewall. I'm thinking of building a fork attachment for moving brushes. Instead of the typical clamp-on fork design, I'm wondering if I can get something like the...

How do you deal with bug bites living in the country? Is this something you have to live with? During the summer months, every time we visit, we always come back with bug bites all over our arms, legs, neck and all exposed parts of the body. We didn't notice any mosquito or anything obvious...

with a tractor of course... I got acres of poison oak. What are the best methods removing poison oak? What implements? Can I mow with the bush hog? Some are the size of small trees and some wrap around big tree that I don't want to destroy. Any sugguestion is greatly appreciated. Thanks in...

What are the pros and cons of Dry Van (retired semi trailer) made of aluminum with fiberglass roof vs. steel shipping container? The dry vans are available locally and a little cheaper than the steel shipping container. Steel shipping container looks solid. The dry van looks a little flimsy...

I want to change the hydraulic fluid and filters. I contacted a local dealer but they still trying to find out what filter do I need. Anyone here own the same tractor 2005 MF1533 or Challenger MT265B with hydro drive. I want to find out what type and how many hydraulic filters and part number...

I'm interested to hear other self-employed TBN members how they plan to survive this tough enonomy. I know this is a bit personal but the state of the economy is now the talk of the town. For the past 20+ years I've been self-employed. There were good times and not so good times. It's...

I need a second opinion on what's the best way to treat my well water. Water sample results: FE 18 PH 7.0 Hardness 6 TDS 140 MN 0 Not sure what these numbers really mean. I have no clue how bad it is... One big problem is the high iron content. How do I tell it's soluble or insoluble...

I got the equivalent of a 1533 (challenger MB265B). Never had a problem before. I parked the tractor for about a week. Now suddenly the 3 Point hitch will not raise. The front loader and all other hydraulic functions worked fine including the top and tilt. Any suggestion on where to look for...

I got a Bush hog 2101 post hole digger. The manual calls for a Shear pin .375" x 2.5" Bush hog part # 83379. I called all the nearby dealers but none have any in stock. It must be special order and it could take 2 weeks. I really need to use the PHD this weekend. Is there an equivalent or...

What to look for when buying a used propane tank? or Should I? None of the local propane company willing to sell a tank. They only rent and it can only be filled by them at whatever price they like to charge. Is a propane tank made in 1991 too old? Does propane tank need any certification...

Hmm, I got to pay attention next time. Is there some sort the safety switch on the seat?

I got a challenger 265B with about 130 hours. It seems to start and run just fine with no sign of any problem. Occasionally, the engine would just shutdown. I can immediately restart and it will continue to running again. It usually happens when I stop for a couple of minutes. It's...

Anyone here happen to know the correct oil/fuel/transmission filter part numbers for a MF 1533? I got a Challenger MT265B with hydro transmission that suppose to be the same machine as the 1533. I called 2 nearest dealers but no luck (CAT dealers only deal with commercial accounts). I was...

I just bought a 2005 Challenger MT265B with hydro transmission. From reading the forum here, I understand it's identical to as the MF 1533. Since I bought it from an auction, my tractor didn't come with a manual. There are a few levers and buttons on the tractor that I have no idea what they...

I also just bought a 2005 MT265B from an auction. Does anyone have a diagram or a page from the operator's manual indicating what are the functions for each control? There are a few levers and buttons I have no idea what it does. Thanks in advance for your help. Edit: I contacted Agco and...

I just got a Bush Hog 2101 post hole digger and 60" rotory cutter that I thought was a good deal. According to the owner, he bought it new 4 years ago and have never used. However, they were stored outside under a tree half-burried with dirt and leaves for the past 4 years. The label stickers...

What implements is best to maintain the gutter of a long driveway that hugs along a fairly steep hillside? It's a little tough to do it with the box blade tilting to one side. I'm hoping there a specific implement for this task. I have almost a mile of driveway that needs to clear the...

I just got a used Mahindra 4110 with the standard loader. Previous owner didn't get the Skid Steer compatible option. I really need a pair of pallet fork to help with my home construction. Am I limited to the clamp-on type forks? Are there any other options? How difficult is it to convert...

Hi All, I'm looking to buy a new Jinma 354LE for road maintenance and messing around. While shopping for the best deal on the Jinma, a friend's dad offer to sell me his slightly used Mahindra 4110. Size wise, both tractor is about the same. Cost is exactly the same (about $12,000). The...

Can someone help explain what this mean? TRANSMISSION Number of Speeds 12 forward, 12 reverse Forward-Reverse Synchro-Shuttle with partial synchromesh I know it's a 12-speed gear transmission with a shuttle so you get the same number of forward and reverse gears. How is this different...

Is there an easier way or tricks to remove the keyway that got stuck in the shaft? I need to replace the drive spocket and bearing of my trencher. The gear puller by itself didn't do the job. I finally have to split the spocket with a grinder to loosen it then pull it off. However, the keyway...

Both gasoline and diesel... Anyone know the differences? Which Gasoline is better for small engine? I mean will stay fresh longer for occasional use gas powered tools.:confused: The gas station here is about to swith over from winter to summer fuel. I don't if I should fill my tanks now or...

Anyone know the difference between the older burgundy color T330 and the current red T330? Any mechanical or feature differences other than the paint colar? Thanks.

How much do these models weight? The specs on TYM website indicates both models weight 1962 lbs and 750kg. The conversion don't seem right. What do they really weight? Is that weight including the FEL? Thanks.

I have a 2004 nortrac dozer. It will steer to the right but not to the left. When I press on the left steering pedal, it stops the dozer just like applying the brake. I read the manual and followed all the adjustment procedures. So far, no luck in getting the left steering to work. The dozer...

what are the concerns of buying a demo/old stock tractor that has been sitting in the dealer's lot for over a year? It has 11 hours on the tractor. The rubber hoses show sign of cracks. The plastic parts look a little faded from the sun's UV light. This is something has been...

I went to a TYM dealer to look at a T273. There was only 1 on the lot. I noticed the sticker on the frame said "Made in China". I thought this is a Korean made tractor? I asked the salesman, he said they were assemble in China with Korean made parts. That why they can sell it cheap. Is...

It seems many compact tractor brands are starting to advertise great deals. Price cuts...rebates...0% financing...ect. Is this an indication of a slow year due to the economy or this is the usual spring time thing??? Newer used tractors seem to cost more than new ones from the dealer when...

TYM T223 & t273 tractors are sale right now. Great warranty and financing terms. I'm not sure it's really a great deal or not. What are the equivalent models from Kubota and John Deere? I see them advertise for about $11k and $12k for tractor and loader respectively. For about the same $$$, what...

What's the difference between Category I and Category II 3pt hitch? Will the implements inter-changable between tractors with Category I and Category II 3pt hitch? Thanks.

I have a hard time finding a local plumber to do the work at my location. I'm going to do it myself during this long new year weekend. I've always live in So. Cal and know nothing about cold weather plumbing or what needs to be done specific for cold weather. The objective is to prevent...

I'm about to run approx. 2000' of 2" schedule 40 PVC pipe from my water tank to the home site. Water tank is located about 100' above the home site for gravity feed. Is there any special connection/design I have to consider and be aware of? or it's just as simple as trench and bury the pipe...

This is a plumbing question.... I plan to install a water storage tank about 25' above the well and run 2" water pipe down to the home site. Do I need to run 2 separate water pipes? 2" connect to the bottom of the tank and a separate 1" line to the well pump for filling the tank from the top...

Anyone familiar with or have a Tankless Water Heater with Hydro-generated Ignition? It sounds perfect for my off-grid location. How reliable is it? A google search found 1 guy complaint about it take 10-15 minutes to start and doesn't work if it's windy outside. Minutes??? that's a lot of...

I never had any major construction work done in the past and a newbie in dealing with contractors. I read many horror stories of homeowner got burned or scammed by unethical contractors. So, here's my question... What's a typical payment schedule for building a barn or home? I'm...

Any problem using air hose and quick connect/disconnect for propane? I plan to use it for connecting a portable grill. I know they made one specifically for propane used in RVs but cost over 10x as much. What's the real difference? Air hose and fittings are cheap and available everywhere.

We plan to build a couple of camping cabins for family and friends when they come visit our land. DW came up with the idea when she saw these cabins on a KOA camp ground. I have built several storage shed but for the cabin, I want the interior to be a little nicer. What type of siding material...

I'm planning to get a pneumatic framing nailer. I will be using mainly 8d & 16d nails for framing and sheeting. What brand/type is the most commonly used by pros? I got an bostich from 20 years ago and found that I couldn't find nail for it. What's the difference between full-round head...

Which machine is more effective to dig and bury 1600' of 2" pvc water line 18" deep? My soil is very soft and easy to dig. My grading contractor said he can do it faster with his backhoe and a 12" bucket. However, he doesn't want to give me a fixed price bid or a ballpark figure. His rate...

Last year, I built a new road around the hill to provide a better entrance to my property. It was looking nice (see pic). The rain this year had caused a lot of erosion. I want to plant something on the hillside to keep erosion to a minimum. The soil is mostly DG and sandy. Any sugguestions?

A friend working at an computing facility told me I could have a couple of 18KVA UPS that they need to get rid of. Each weights 1300 lbs. Input 208/240VAC. Output: 240/208/120VAC. Obviously, I have no plan to use them as UPS for computers. Any possibility I can use them in an off-grid home...

I got a question for my fellow TBN'ers. I'm selling a trailer to someone from out-of-state. He will come to get the trailer and pay me with a cashier's check. He got a loan from his bank and the bank gave him a cashier's check for the full amount. He gave me a phone number to call to verify...

Progressive Farmer pick: No. 1, Barren County, Kentucky No. 2, Warren County, Pennsylvania No. 3, Randolph County, Illinois I'm surprise to see that there still a place in California in the top 10. Any TBN'er from these places? What do you think is the best rural place to live?

My ezgo golf cart has been proven very useful. During the wet season, I need a little more traction for riding on my not so perfect dirt road. I think a set of off-road tires might do it. I have the standard turf tire on the cart right now. What kind of tires do you have on your golf...

I plan to let my neighbor use the new road I just build going through my property. The neighbor wants to use it not because they don't have access to their property. It's because my road is a brand new, better road and a short-cut. I will continue to maintain this road because I have a...

I was at my property over the weekend and everything was frozen solid. I need some sugguestions on how to setup a reliable water system for hooking up to my 5th wheel. I know Eddie Walker is building an RV park. So, I'm sure he has a solution for this.

I finally got the foundation done for a 36' x 48' western style barn. I hired a GC to finish the rest keeping the barn door to myself as a project. I'm looking for sugguestions and comments on how to build the best operating barn door. I got a 10' opening on the plan. My initial thought is a...

Anyone know a simple and inexpensive way to divide the output voltage by 2? I want to charge a 6v battery. My battery charger is 12v only. I don't want to connect 2 6v batteries in series each time I want to charge them because each have different state-of-charge. Any ideas? Thanks.

You probably read my thread about "contractor disappeared". It's amazing what you can find out with just a phone call.... Anyway, I called the "only" sand/gravel/concrete company in the area. I ask to speak to the manager to inquire about cost of concrete, sand, gravel and etc because I'm...

My foundation contractor disappeared for a couple weeks. He finally return my calls and now he wants more $$$ to continue the work.:mad: :mad: He gave me a written bid for the foundation work and I agreed to the bid without any negotiation on the price. So far, he had spent 1 day on the job...

I used to have a cheap 18" craftman. It works ok when it's brand new. Then it get harder and harder to start. The chain got dull quickly and not enough power. I got frustrated everytime trying to use it. Then I got a better chain saw Stihl 361. It starts and cuts easily. It slices through...

What's the best way to keep mice/rodents out of my trailer? We left the trailer there, came back 2 weeks later and found mouse droppings all over. Foam insulations and clothing got chew up. They must be having a big party there... Any good tips to keep them out?

Anyone know what diesel engine is in a 2002 Mulle 2510 4x4? Kawasaki is not known for making diesel engines. I wonder what's under the hood of the diesel Mule? Anyone own one and would like to share your experience in term of reliability and maintenance issues? How do you like it? Thanks...

I need to get one to dig about 100 holes. What's the best 3PT PHD for decomposed granite? My soil is very soft on the top 12". After that, it's all DG material. Some areas are soft like compacted coarse sand while other areas are as hard as rock. Any particular brand or special type of...

I hope someone here understand how it works and can explain it in simple terms. The $2000 tax credit is good only for 2006 and 2007. How do I make sure I qualify for both years? I'm thinking of installing a small system this year and expand it next year. Is this a one time deal or can be...

I need get to get a 5000gal storage tank for a gravity feed water system. What type of tank should I get? Plastic or steel or ???? For plastic tanks, I can get 2 2500gal tanks cheaper than 1 5000gal tank. I wonder why? It probably takes more material and labor to make 2 2500gal tanks than 1...

I just had a well drilled with a disappointing 2gpm yield. The well was drilled near the top of a ridge about 100' above the homesite. The idea was to place a storage tank there. Pump water out of the well into the storage tank and gravity feed to the home site. This will give me about 45psi...

I just got a letter from the county's Fire Safe Council (a non-profit org.) said that they will paid to do the survey and hire a contractor to clear brushes 300 feet wide to create a fire break along the road that's on my property. It's a little over 1/2 mile long on my property which...

After waiting for nearly 6 months, I just got the phone call from my well driller that he's going to move his drilling rig to my property tomorrow and start drilling my well next week. Yahooooooo!!! I never had a well drilled in the past. Any advice? The more I research and try to learn how...

I plan to buy a 20' cargo container from someone's backyard. I need to figure out a way to load it on my flat bed trailer. Anyone done this before? Any sugguestions? I've seen the pro's do it with a tilt bed and pull it up with a winch but I don't have that kind of setup. My initial thought...

I'm wondering how much time we spent on the tractor vs. time browing and posting on TBN? Looking at the number of posts of some members...WOW! I bet it's a lot more hours than their tractor. That's just posting alone! I ask because that's almost the 1st thing I do when I get up in the...

Being a new chinese tractor owner, this may be a real dumb question. What does the decompression lever do? In what situation would one use it? I pulled the lever and the engine shuts down.

My well driller selected the absolute most inconvinient spot to drill my well. About 1500' away from my building pad. No power or anything nearby. He will drill anywhere I want but I'm not going to argue with him. So, my next project is to run 2" PVC water line from the well/storage tank to...

I bought a heavy duty trailer that's a little too long (24 feet). I want to cut 4 feet off. It this a crazy idea? or is it doable? What's the easiest way to do this? I'm thinking of making 2 cuts. Keeping the rear 18" so I can re-use the ramp attachment, tie down rings and other stuff. I...

Until I get my well drilled, I need to haul and store water. I'm thinking of getting these fruit juice container as water storage tank. They hold 275gal. The cage is designed to be pickup with a fork lift and looks pretty sturdy. The guy who sells these containers said it use to hold bulk...

Finally! we broke ground for the new barn. It's a 36' x 48' western style barn with a loft. We got the grading done, septic system installed, sewer line in for a bathroom and just finished digging the footing. The next trip will be rough plumbing and concrete slab. Here's a few pics:

Is there any potential problem/disadvantage installing the septic tank too low and too far away from the house and have long sewer pipes? Other than cost a little more of course... I'm getting a septic system install and I want it about 9' lower than it normally should so the tank will be...

I need to hauler a 6500lbs mini dozer from the dealer to my property (a 300 miles trip) to save on the delivery cost. A free trailer if I do this instead of having it delivered... I only need to do this "once". I don't want to rent one because I need the trailer occasionally to haul bulky...

This is a very newbie question.... Can someone help me understand the differences? I guess the 6-way is probably better but what can't you do with the 4-way and how much of an inconvenience is it? Is the 4-way blade obsolete? I noticed the newer model dozers all have 6-way blade. The purpose...

I didn't see a tool section on TBN so I hope to get the answer here... What's the differences between C2, C3 and C6 carbide saw blades? I think it's something to do with hardness but which one is harder? Is harder the better? Any pro's and con's? Thanks for you help.

Since it's hot right now, I thought it's a good time to get cooling advice. I'm in the process of designing our rural home. We will be off-grid so we don't plan to have traditional compressor based air conditioning system. Prefer something not require any electricity at all. During the...

Anyone know a practical method to determine true south without hiring a surveyor? I tried using a compass to find magnetic south then compensate for my latitude but having a hard time getting consistent readings. Each time I tried, I got a slightly different reading. May be I need a better...

I'm a newbie in tractors and heavy equipments. I'm planning on getting a used dozer to cut new roads and maintain existing roads on my 120ac property. There's another 2.5 miles of private road leading to the property which needs maintanance every year after the rain season. The local rental...

Here's a picture looking out from my newly graded building site... it will be a big windows here.

We are thinking of getting a RV as a temporary living quarter while building at our mountain property. Parts of the road leading to the property is very narrow with a few very sharp turns. I'm talking about a huge rock sticking out on the right side and a cliff going down a couple hundred feet...

Here's another question I would appreciate your expertise. Given the chance of finding water is equal... would it be better to locate the well near the house at a lower elevation and pump water up to a tank 100' uphill (about 600' away) or drill the well near the tank? I have spoken to two...

I went to the local Kubota dealer today and test drive several models and really like the Kubota tractors. I sat down with the sales guy got this recommendation and price quote. L3130 HST 4WD R4 tires $18140 LA 723 Loader $ 3543 LA...

I bought a Craftsman 42cc 18" chain saw and try use it to cut the branches off some fell trees last weekend. It was a frustrating experience. I spent more time trying to fix and adjust the saw than doing any real work. This thing is brand new. It's going back to Sears. I hope I can get my...

I'm sure many of us are in the same boat. ...live in the city with rural property hundreds of miles away. We try to go over there every opportunity we got but never often enough. Still many years away from being able to live there fulltime. Meanwhile, we try to build and get a head start in...

We have zero experience on using a water well or ever live in a place with your own water well. We are about to have one drill in our rural property that we plan to move there and live full-time. So, here the situation and questions. The property is 120 acres on the side of a mountain...

I found a used 2001 Kubota B7500 HSD with 302 FEL and the seller is asking $7,700. Is this a reasonable deal? What are the specs on this tractor and how much different than the current B7510? In california, Do tractors have title like cars? What document do I need from the seller? Will this...

L3400 with LA463 Loader or L3130 with LA513 Loader? They are about the same price with either package. The L3400 has 35hp compre to 32hp on the L3130? What do I miss with the L3400? Thanks for you help.

I know this question have been asked many times by others. Sorry for asking again. I have 120 acres. My primary use will be to maintain about 1 mile of driveway and may be another mile of neglected public road. Rough mowing of grass and brushes once a year at the begining of summer for fire...

Hello All, This probably a real dumb question. So don't laugh too loud... Can someone explain the various types of transmission and how it works? Hydrostatic, shifting gizmos like Shuttle and etc. or it's just as simple as a car transmission; auto vs. manual? or something in between...