Buying a new L5740 HSTC?

Bob77064 · Jul 9, 2012

TripleR said:
Well here it is, I might need to re-post in Owning/Operating.

Congratulations TripleR, that is one fine machine. Good for you, I am glad that it will make things easier for you.

OrangeToys · Jul 9, 2012

TripleR said:
Not to worry, I took it as friendly kidding around and encouraging.:thumbsup:

Glad I'm not the only one, I have kidded with my wife that our tractor is just a REALLY expensive RUV as I will leave the Rhino and Grizzly parked in weather extremes and hop in the tractor. As I get older, I have liberalized the interpretation of "extremes".:laughing:

We got just a touch of rain last night; hope you did as well.

Be safe working out in the heat.

We got nothing at the house mainly to the east and mainly to the south. There's nothing wrong with an expensive RUV.

dex3361 · Jul 9, 2012

That is a sweet looking tractor. You are going to love your seat time. Do take the time to check all the fluid levels. I would hate to to run it for to long and find one of the levels low. Have fun enjoying some of the fruits of your labor.

TripleR · Jul 9, 2012

Bob77064 said:
Congratulations TripleR, that is one fine machine. Good for you, I am glad that it will make things easier for you.

Thanks; may be too easy, my wife sure has been hanging around it a lot, even drove it out and filled it up for me.:laughing:

dex3361 said:
That is a sweet looking tractor. You are going to love your seat time. Do take the time to check all the fluid levels. I would hate to to run it for to long and find one of the levels low. Have fun enjoying some of the fruits of your labor.

Thanks for the reminder, I really need to do that today. It had about three hours on it when I bought it and the salesman and owner said they were going to check it over and even waxed it, but checking will give me a little more peace of mind. We did have to go around and put the covers of the rear remotes and click the FEL covers; kind of surprised at that.

MHarryE · Jul 9, 2012

Clarification of the problem I had. One picture shows the clearance between the double nut on the 3 point top link and the fitting. It was recommended I run the hose parallel with the cylinder so I did that. The second picture shows the hose damage but also not on the right end that the twisting action when that top link set of bolts caught the hose was so hard that it twisted the cylinder and broke the pivot eye off the end of the cylinder. The welding was excellent - the failure was not the weld but rather the rod end shaft. The L5740 top link is Cat 1 against the tractor and Cat 2 at the implement end. The new top link they built for me was Cat 2 both ends because there is plenty of room for the larger Cat 2 rod end at the tractor.

When the failure happened I had a 1200 pound round bale on a fork and was on a sidehill where the weight shifted everything right taking up all slop in that direction. I had run throught all movement prior to that time to make sure I had clearance but I didn't account for a 1500 pound bale swinging on the back and the dynamic loads it can create.

Since I got the new top link I have carried hundreds of bales with no problem. My old L3710 didn't have a hydraulic top link and it was a pain. I had to adjust the spear to the right angle so it would spear the bale right, and then I had to raise to full height to get bale clearance. Now I angle the spear to match ground variations as I am backing up, spear the bale, raise it off the ground in the front, then tilt the top link forward giving me lots of clearance at the rear of the bale without raising the CG too high. That gives me enough rear ballast so I can pick up a bale on my front pallet forks. The extra 2400 pounds smooths the ride quite a bit but then again I can't drive very fast with the reduced front and rear visibility.

TripleR · Jul 9, 2012

Thanks for the pictures and explanation MHarryE, now I know what to look for.

Buppies · Jul 9, 2012

TripleR. Make sure you check the fluid level of the front differential as on my 5240 it was one quart low after one hour of use

TripleR · Jul 10, 2012

Buppies said:
TripleR. Make sure you check the fluid level of the front differential as on my 5240 it was one quart low after one hour of use

Thanks, I will do that before using it today, I was grounded yesterday wrangling kids; not a bad way to spend the day.:thumbsup:

94BULLITT · Jul 10, 2012

TripleR said:
Well here it is, I might need to re-post in Owning/Operating.

Nice tractor. I wish i had my 4240. Does the hydraulic toplink have a holder like a regular toplink?

TripleR · Jul 10, 2012

94BULLITT said:
Nice tractor. I wish i had my 4240. Does the hydraulic toplink have a holder like a regular toplink?

I really didn't even look for one as I rarely run without something on the 3PH, but will look today and get back with you.

When are you scheduled to get yours? I sure know it's hard waiting.