790 implement options

[txloops]

I have just purchased a used 790 4wd with a Model 70 FEL and JD 242 finish mower. I have a 5 acre horse property in S. Texas that is split 3 acres pasture, 2 acres wooded cedars, oaks, and overgrown brush.

So far, i know that i need a shredder and a post hole digger. I want to gather and remove the rocks from the pasture as well as smoothe out some of the ruts caused by water run-off. Do i need a landscape rake, a box blade, or a back blade?

Also, any comments on installing the bolt-on digging teeth on the cutting edge of the FEL bucket? I am curious if anyone has used these with success?

Thanks!

 

[RoyJackson]

Definitely get the bolt on toothbar. That's a major aid when you're breaking up piles of dirt or back dragging debris. The loaders work pretty good (without a toothbar) if you're working in loose material like mulch or freshly piled dirt. Your tires will just spin if you're trying to break out dried clumpy stuff.

You can use a 60" cutter (shredder..since when did people start calling a rotary cutter a "shredder"?) with no problems. You'll have to adjust your speed and gearing for the thickness of the brush. If the stuff is tall, and you're not familar with the property, going slow is wise anyway.

I use a rear blade, but you've got to take fairly small bites, otherwise you'll set there spinning.

Never used a box blade or rake. Not much need for a box blade where I'm at, but I will need to rent a rake to clean up an area I keep cleared (heavy brush) to get rid of the smaller sticks and stones that are all about. I was watching a landscaper rake a new home lot. It did a nice job.

 

[txloops]

thanks! i am leaning toward the landscape rake for starters....i have lots of rocks and other stuff on the top that will be much easier to remove if I can collect it into piles.

I am going to order that tooth blade for the bucket.....sounds like it will make things much more productive. Nothing is loose when talking about south texas soil. Its 80 percent rock and 20 percent other!

 

[Bellville]

Congratulations on your 790 purchase, it is a great tractor! I have a 5 foot shredder with mine, (LX5) and it works well, like Roy said adjust your speed to work well with how tall the grass is.

On the rut issue, I have a 5 foot box blade and it works well, I like it because when you dig with it, you hold dirt in the box and can drop it off in low spots where it is needed. For final grading (smoothing) I have a harrow rake. I don't think the harrow would work very well for rocks though, the landscapte rake would be the way to go there.

Best of luck with you new tractor.

 

[Michigan_Mike]

I use a 6' Landpride rotary cutter on my 790, and it works great. Only had one problem, and that was when the cutter hit the top of a ground hog den, and one of the blades jammed. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Had to stop, and break it loose with a 2x4.