SDT
Veteran Member
I worked the snot out of my 2635 the last 2 days. The owners manual says to operate at full load for the first 50 hours or so, so I used it to bush hog some heavy grass that had not been mowed yet this year. I used a Woods BB840X 7' cutter set as low to the ground as possible without leaving tracks from the skid rails, and at times I was using everything that the engine had.
I ran in low range, 4th gear, 1800 RPM (540 PTO), which is about as fast as the cutter would cut and clear well. On VERY rare occassions, e.g., very heavy grass and steep uphill, I did need to gear down to 3rd, once even to 2nd, but I believe that this was because the mower was not clearing. In the lighter stuff, I tried high range, 1st gear but the mower was showing signs of excessive ground speed and the range shifting when transitioning between light to heavy cover and back again negated any time savings.
No problems with the tractor so far, and fuel usage was better than expected. The brakes are touchy and take some getting used to for one accostomed to my 533 (2007 version of the 135), which has drum brakes.
Throttle response is VERY slow. Pushing on the foot throttle produces a delayed response and little sound change, unlike my 533, which responds immediately. One cannot hear the turbo. The foot throttle is a very poor design. It is simply a bent 3/8" rod with no pedal, and the design is such that it is difficult to achieve anything more than all or nothing. I will probably modify it when time permits.
I gave the dealer specific instructions to set the turn lock set screws to allow absolute maximum turning angle without tire interference with the loader brackets but they did not do so. Personal expermentation has allowed 6 more turns (of the steering stop screws) lock so far withour any issues (this is a huge improvement) and I expect that there are 2 or three more turns available even at max axle oscillation.
The tractor as manufactured has neither step nor fender handle on the right side, both of which are VERY much needed. No doubt the omission is due to tort attorneys who would quickly sue if someone tripped on the foot throttle, brake pedals or loader loader valve assembly. I had the dealer install a fender handle on the right side (same as factory installed left side handle), which is a major improvement but have not yet figured how to cost effectively add a right side step. It is a very big step to mount the tractor from the right side. I liked the right side fender handle so much that I bought two additional handles and added them to my 533 (L & R), which had no fender handles but is considerably lower to the ground than is the 2635. I now like the 533 much better.
I bought the 2635 knowing that it is an old tech basic machine without all of the modern bells and whistles. This is excactly what I was searching for when I was shopping. It is not a Kubota but it is considerably less expensive (and considerably heavier) than a Kubota of similar HP. I'm sure that it will pull a Kubota of similar HP into the next county without working up a sweat.
So far, so good.
SDT
I ran in low range, 4th gear, 1800 RPM (540 PTO), which is about as fast as the cutter would cut and clear well. On VERY rare occassions, e.g., very heavy grass and steep uphill, I did need to gear down to 3rd, once even to 2nd, but I believe that this was because the mower was not clearing. In the lighter stuff, I tried high range, 1st gear but the mower was showing signs of excessive ground speed and the range shifting when transitioning between light to heavy cover and back again negated any time savings.
No problems with the tractor so far, and fuel usage was better than expected. The brakes are touchy and take some getting used to for one accostomed to my 533 (2007 version of the 135), which has drum brakes.
Throttle response is VERY slow. Pushing on the foot throttle produces a delayed response and little sound change, unlike my 533, which responds immediately. One cannot hear the turbo. The foot throttle is a very poor design. It is simply a bent 3/8" rod with no pedal, and the design is such that it is difficult to achieve anything more than all or nothing. I will probably modify it when time permits.
I gave the dealer specific instructions to set the turn lock set screws to allow absolute maximum turning angle without tire interference with the loader brackets but they did not do so. Personal expermentation has allowed 6 more turns (of the steering stop screws) lock so far withour any issues (this is a huge improvement) and I expect that there are 2 or three more turns available even at max axle oscillation.
The tractor as manufactured has neither step nor fender handle on the right side, both of which are VERY much needed. No doubt the omission is due to tort attorneys who would quickly sue if someone tripped on the foot throttle, brake pedals or loader loader valve assembly. I had the dealer install a fender handle on the right side (same as factory installed left side handle), which is a major improvement but have not yet figured how to cost effectively add a right side step. It is a very big step to mount the tractor from the right side. I liked the right side fender handle so much that I bought two additional handles and added them to my 533 (L & R), which had no fender handles but is considerably lower to the ground than is the 2635. I now like the 533 much better.
I bought the 2635 knowing that it is an old tech basic machine without all of the modern bells and whistles. This is excactly what I was searching for when I was shopping. It is not a Kubota but it is considerably less expensive (and considerably heavier) than a Kubota of similar HP. I'm sure that it will pull a Kubota of similar HP into the next county without working up a sweat.
So far, so good.
SDT
