4020 Branson, tractor ****....waiting

leaddog · Dec 30, 2003

Don't buy the white one ,buy the RED one /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

5030 · Dec 30, 2003

leaddog:

I'd have to disagree with you on the PTO driven backhoe.

First off, the pto pump is not a pain to deal with. It's just a matter of snapping it on and off the pto stub. They come with a snap coupler, just like any pto driven implement. The other difference is the torque reaction arm that will rides against the draw bar, but that bolts to the pump body, so it's one part to attach and remove.

I agree that most CUT's in the upper range have enough internal pump capacity to run all but the biggest hoes, but you certainly don't have to your pto at rated rpm with an external pump to operate the hoe. On the contrary, the external pump will have more, appreciably more capacity in GPM than the internal hydraulic capacity of the tractor. Hence, the rpm of the PTO can be kept at much less than the rated rpm of the tractor.

Lastly, in my opinion, I'd rather have a separate hydraulic system for the hoe. I have ruptured hoses on my hoe and lost fluid rather quickly. I was not shackled with the worry of draining the tractor's hydraulic system. Besides, the hoe uses normal Hy Trans fluid, while my Kubota uses expensive UDT fluid. In addition, the tractor does not have to absorb the inherent heat of the hydraulics on the hoe. The tank on the hoe absorbs the heat.

sassafraspete · Dec 31, 2003

Franz, Leaddog gave you the correct answer....It works off the tractor hydraulics. Is it fast enough? For a person who's only backhoe before this had a wooden handle attached to it...I'd say plenty fast enough for me at least. You would have all laughed if you could have seen my first attempt at using it to dig out a stump. Could have put that on America's Funniest Home Videos. I am not good at multi-tasking...can't chew gum and walk at same time. The second and third stump (different day) went a lot smoother. So you see, I am only a beginner...however I can't wait until better (spring , summer) weather so I can do some serious digging. I am seeing all kinds of possibilities for my place. Yes, you can see the fear in my wife's face as she wonders what I am going to dig up next.

sassafraspete · Dec 31, 2003

Also, Franz.... I have taken the backhoe off the tractor now. I found that to be rather painless. Stretch the backhoe out and rest bucket on a block of wood. There are 2 pins near the front of the subframe (have to crawl under tractor to remove clips and pull out pins). Use the stabalizer arms to raise the hoe up slightly to take weight off of back hooks. Move tractor forward a few inches. Sub frame drops to ground (2 small arms near the front of the subframe drop down automatically for the frame to rest on). Unhook hydraulic lines, and cap for storage. Rehook line so drawbar will work. Drive tractor forward until subframe cleared. I did mine outside (no bldg to store in , yet)...so placed some old pcs of treated plywood under stabalizers and frame.... then greased zirks, and put a light coat of oil on any exposed hydraulic shafts and tarped it down. That was it.

pete

sassafraspete · Dec 31, 2003

One more thing.... I put my rear blade on, getting ready for any snow and ordered a set of chains for the front tires (based on comments from this forum). My dealer said I wouldn't need any chains, however he lives on flat ground. I would hate to have my tractor get away from me on my hilly driveway. My old truck did that once....it was not pretty , but I wasn't in it though. I had made it to the top of my drive and got stuck. I got out, went over to my garage door and started to go for a shovel ...when I heard a noise. Looked back and although the wheels were locked in park, the thing was starting to slide backwards. It built up speed very quickly, and was stopped by a hickory tree at the side of my drive. If not for that tree, the thing would still be sliding. Seeing how I am itching to try some snow plowing, I suspect I've jinxed the winter and we will probably have no more snow. It has been in the 50s here and raining!

Zork · Dec 31, 2003

Pete, thanks for your willingness to share and for your honesty. I'll have to test the hoe to find out. I used a yellow 3pt hoe once on a major brand and it was so slow that it was frustrating. Certainly, it was much faster than a shovel/ pick/ maddox, all of which I have had the opportunity to use. Franz

sassafraspete · Jan 1, 2004

Well, yesterday I had one of those Kodak moments. I just had to try out my rear blade on the area where I had dug 3 tree roots out of the ground this past week. I thought I would just try moving some dirt around. Well , with a couple days of rain, I guess the ground was softer than I thought. Before I knew what was happening, I burried the front of my tractor up to the front axle. Well, it occured to me that I could lift the front tires up with the loader....so I put a couple of 2 X 8 s down and then used the loader to raise the front axle out of the mud. I then grabbed some firewood and started stuffing in the hole below each of the front tires... (R4s). I was able to make some progress by getting the frame off the ground, but still was spinning. Then it occured to me that I had this differential lock pedal....so I stepped on that and VOILA. It came out like nobody's business. If I would have remembered that in the first place, I believe I would have not gotten stuck at all. What a handy feature. How stupid I felt...knowing that I shouldn't have been in there in the first place. I took a few fast laps in the back field to scrub the tires down, then came back in and got the hose out and washed all the mud off. Another lesson learned. Hey , that differential lock is great. You would have got a kick out of seeing a picture of that one... I was too upset with my stupidity ...to take one.

pete

Zork · Jan 2, 2004

Oh well, those things happen Pete. Yeah, the diff. lock is great and so is that bucket and backhoe, if its got enough power. Of course, knowing if the soil is too wet is key /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, it will make the difference between it being a pleasure or an out right chore /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif which you might kick yourself for. You may get stuck or just make a mess and have more work to do. Next time if the diff. lock wont get you out, try: uncurling your bucket so that the opening of it is on the ground (in a dumping position). Lower the arms and put some pressure on the ground. With your wheels turning, or not turning, curl your bucket so that you move backward. You should be able to move 24" at a time, enough to get you back to solid ground. Its like having your own "seat operable" winch or come-along. Don't be afraid to work but know when to stop. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Franz

sassafraspete · Jan 2, 2004

Thanks for that tip on the bucket curling...hadn't thought of using it in that way. I am only learning how valuable the front end loader is. I'll stick to solid ground for now...hopfully things will get cold again. We had rain, lightning, and thunder last night!!