Been without a tractor for too long!

[Lefty7]

Hello all. I've been reading some threads here, (and need to do much more of that), but this seemed like the place to ask specific questions, and get the benefit of the opinions and knowledge of experienced others.

I have nearly all of our 60-some acres in hay. I have a good working arrangement with another farmer nearby, and he does the hay with his equipment. I do the hay selection and seeding. Been doing supplemental frost seedings with an old Dodge W100 4X4 pickup, with chains on and an electric broadcaster mounted on the open tailgate. Nothing like that sinking feeling you get when you're out in the middle of a large field, and hit a thawed wet spot. I've never gotten stuck out there, but I've put up some serious rooster-tails fighting my way back to solid ground.

Our small orchard continues to grow larger, and we put in a respectable-sized garden, and need to step up in our mechanization. The old Troy Bilt tiller is fine, between rows, AFTER you've got things planted. Also do rock moving, and tree cutting and firewood processing.

So, for these reasons and others, I decided on a compact 4X4 tractor with loader and power tiller, for starters, and am here doing research and asking questions. And maybe, every once in a while, I might be able to help somebody else with some info.

First off, I need to read through more threads, as some of my questions may have been asked and answered already.

Nice forum; happy to be here. Hope to talk to ya.

Lefty7

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[Hollow]

Welcome!!! You'll find lots of opinions here!

 

[MasseyWV]

Welcome!

 

[creekbend]

Welcome aboard. :tractor:

 

[RoyJackson]

Welcome to TBN!!!

 

[TripleR]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[Lefty7]

Thanks, administrator Muhammad, Hollow, MasseyVW, creekbend, RoyJackson, and TripleR for the nice welcome. Happy to be here.

I need to ask one of those 'dumb' new-member questions. How do you make the "QUOTE" feature work? I've tried it a few times, but obviously I'm not doing the procedure correctly. Could I get a quickie tutorial? (Apologies if this is available elsewhere; I didn't find it.)

 

[radioman]

what brands are you looking at? prices online is a bit higher at times as a general rule of thumb for buyers. I would just go to a few dealers and look around and kick some tires just like a car. I wouldnt commit buying same day, just get info and brouchures so you can meddle over what you want.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks, administrator Muhammad, Hollow, MasseyVW, creekbend, RoyJackson, and TripleR for the nice welcome. Happy to be here.

I need to ask one of those 'dumb' new-member questions. How do you make the "QUOTE" feature work? I've tried it a few times, but obviously I'm not doing the procedure correctly. Could I get a quickie tutorial? (Apologies if this is available elsewhere; I didn't find it.)

When you find a post you want to quote, look for a "Quote" button just below the lower right hand corner of the post.
Click that and you'll see the post between QUOTE and UNQUOTE commands. Each of these commands will be between brackets (this "[" and this "]" without the quotation marks).
The end of a quoted post will always be "[/quote]" (again, no quotation marks).
Add your comment/reply after that end of quote.

Any questions?

 

[TripleR]

To reply to multiple posts, click on the icon to the right of "quote" on each to which you wish to reply, it will turn red then go to the bottom left and hit "post reply".

 

[RoyJackson]

To reply to multiple posts, click on the icon to the right of "quote" on each to which you wish to reply, it will turn red then go to the bottom left and hit "post reply".

WOWY!!!

I learned something today! Thanks, TripleR!!!

 

[Lefty7]

To reply to multiple posts, click on the icon to the right of "quote" on each to which you wish to reply, it will turn red then go to the bottom left and hit "post reply".

OK, thanks. I'm trying it.

We'll see. Hope not, but I haven't hit Submit yet. Appreciate the help.

Hello, radioman; nice to hear from you. It's interesting that your advice is exactly what my brother-in-law told me last year. He's got some years on me and a lot of tractor seat time. Also has a neat small stable of vintage stuff, both restored (by him) and original examples. And like many I'm meeting here, I respect his opinion - and, knowing what he uses his main go-to tractor for, I'm loosely patterning my choice from his, with respect to general size and horsepower at the PTO: 30 or so.

So last spring and summer I did my tire kicking and brochure collecting, and now I'm at the meddling stage. So far, I've looked at Masseys, Ford, New Holland/Case and Kubota. Several times, I've hired a friend/neighbor to come on the property with his older 'bota and work with me, and I was impressed with what it could do.

One mistake I'm trying not to make is to get something too big for my purposes, while still having the power I'll need. Also need it small enough to fit in places I'll want it to go. Right now, I'm taking a close look at the Kubotas, and especially like the 3940L. Another consideration is that I have an established dealer not too far away - and where I live, ain't nothin' real close.

I'm really impressed with the help I've already gotten. After reading what I could find here on the subject, I started a thread in the Kubota forum asking for help with regard to best tire selection for my uses, (traditional ag vs. industrial tread), and the good folks who responded have already cleared that up for me and laid that question to rest. I'll need the aggies.

So I'm still kicking it around. I have the time - while I count my pennies.

OK guys. I'm crossing my fingers and hitting Submit Reply. Hope it looks right.

 

[Lefty7]

Well, one quote worked, and one didn't. Not sure what I did wrong, but at least I'm batting 500.

 

[RoyJackson]

Well, one quote worked, and one didn't. Not sure what I did wrong, but at least I'm batting 500.

You're missing a bracket on the second quote (should have been a "]" after 2704948):

Like so:

Any questions?

It's easy to cut off a bracket when copying text.

 

[Lefty7]

It's easy to cut off a bracket

You know it, friend. It can also be quite painful.

Hey, thanks, Roy. I think I got it. I am in your debt.

I was befuddled by your brilliance, (so you can keep the pasture pie!)

 

[TripleR]

WOWY!!!

I learned something today! Thanks, TripleR!!!

Another member explained it to me as I was at a loss on how it was done. I wish there was more standardization among websites/forums, TBN has one of the better ones.

 

[chesaw]

Welcome, Great people and a wealth of info.
Wayne:licking:

 

[Lefty7]

Great people and a wealth of info.

HI chesaw. I would agree with you on both counts. Nice to hear from you, and thanks for the welcome!

Lefty7

 

[Lefty7]

Welcome aboard. :tractor:

It's true: I have been without a tractor too long, but the long wait will be coming to an end soon. I've only been here with you on TBN for a couple of months, but in that time, members have helped me learn and make decisions about tires, valving, and rototillers, among other things.

My Kubota L3940 w/HST, FEL and BH92 backhoe is ordered and being built to my spec. I went with R1 tires. I decided to wait on additional (3rd function and remote) valves, and will add them if and when they are needed. I selected a gear drive, reverse-tine-rotation heavy-duty tiller, branded "Phoenix" and made by Italian mfr. Sicma. (Tiller was purchased separately - not from dealer.)

The tractor should be in hand early April, that is, sometime next week. I will post some pics in the Kubota forum for anyone interested. Can't wait. :licking:

Thanks, gents, for all the good help. Best regards to you all. ~Lefty7