Tractor - L3410 GST 4WD is fairly robust (the battery lasted 5 years;
tires have same pressure as when new - no air ever added),
and it has not been coddled except for more frequent lube/oil
service than indicated in the maintenance manual.
Routine service is not hard (why the fuss about 50 hour oil
changes?), but the oil filter is inconveniently placed.
The learning curve for FEL removal/attachment is steep (first time
one feels like an idiot, but by the 3rd it's a piece of cake). It
sure helps, whether FEL or brush cutter, to have the implement
on level ground (or in my case, dollies in my garage, after having
to deal with the tasks in a field for the first 2 years of
ownership).
There is not such thing as "too many implements" (post
hole digger, subsoiler/middle buster, toothbar, etc).
Extra lighting (in my case ROPS and fender mounted, aimed
forward and aft, respectively) is useful, as are a cup holder
and spinner on the steering wheel.
Wear the seatbelt
(I've come close to rolling a few times, and, yes, I keep the
implements low when I'm working on a slope, and I've a tilt
meter).
Some stuff will break - I've had 4 things that my
dealer's mechanic (I just took it into the shop for the second
time, at 500 hours) says are common. First, it leaked just a tad
around the the sight glass for the hydraulic fluid (had the glass
and seal replaced); second, the adjustment on joy stick for the
LA 482 loader needs to be fixed with Lock-Tite, or your FEL
raise/lower function will deteriorate; third, the sensor on the air
intake can fail, and cause the warning light to glow even after
you've changed the air filters (which I do every 100 hours) - I
replaced the sensor; fourth, the grease zerks tend to gum up,
and I have changed out about 1/2 so far.
A pressure washer cleans a tractor just fine.
First thing to check if the tractor is running a tad hot is the screen
in front of the radiator.
If you think you might get stuck in the mud or whatever, keep the
FEL on.
Have a good day - I'm going for another few hours of seat
time.
tires have same pressure as when new - no air ever added),
and it has not been coddled except for more frequent lube/oil
service than indicated in the maintenance manual.
Routine service is not hard (why the fuss about 50 hour oil
changes?), but the oil filter is inconveniently placed.
The learning curve for FEL removal/attachment is steep (first time
one feels like an idiot, but by the 3rd it's a piece of cake). It
sure helps, whether FEL or brush cutter, to have the implement
on level ground (or in my case, dollies in my garage, after having
to deal with the tasks in a field for the first 2 years of
ownership).
There is not such thing as "too many implements" (post
hole digger, subsoiler/middle buster, toothbar, etc).
Extra lighting (in my case ROPS and fender mounted, aimed
forward and aft, respectively) is useful, as are a cup holder
and spinner on the steering wheel.
Wear the seatbelt
(I've come close to rolling a few times, and, yes, I keep the
implements low when I'm working on a slope, and I've a tilt
meter).
Some stuff will break - I've had 4 things that my
dealer's mechanic (I just took it into the shop for the second
time, at 500 hours) says are common. First, it leaked just a tad
around the the sight glass for the hydraulic fluid (had the glass
and seal replaced); second, the adjustment on joy stick for the
LA 482 loader needs to be fixed with Lock-Tite, or your FEL
raise/lower function will deteriorate; third, the sensor on the air
intake can fail, and cause the warning light to glow even after
you've changed the air filters (which I do every 100 hours) - I
replaced the sensor; fourth, the grease zerks tend to gum up,
and I have changed out about 1/2 so far.
A pressure washer cleans a tractor just fine.
First thing to check if the tractor is running a tad hot is the screen
in front of the radiator.
If you think you might get stuck in the mud or whatever, keep the
FEL on.
Have a good day - I'm going for another few hours of seat
time.