Compact Tractor Guide

[Annihilator26]

I finally got my beautiful, new, blue tractor , but I would say that I am extremely underwhelmed by the operator's manual that came with it . Is there a good guide somewhere for someone who is new to tractors? I am thinking something along the lines of a book or website with a chapter on "Using your Front End Loader", a section on hooking up 3-pt implements, some practical advice on running a rotary cutter for the fist time, etc...

This forum is incredible when someone has a detailed question, but a single guide would probably be much more useful for a lot of people. I tried a quick search, and while my googlefu is usually very good I couldn't come up with any good unified guides either in print or online. I know that most people probably learn their tractor skills on the job, or from their parents, but I am sure I am not the only person to just venture out, and buy 6 acres and an LS.

If there is a good resource out there please point me to it, otherwise I will put it together as I learn.

 

[smstonypoint]

Tractor and Skid Steer Attachment Videos and All about Buying, Maintaining and Using Tractors - Ask Tractor Mike have videos that may be useful.

Steve

 

[ericm979]

I don't know about the LS manual but the Branson one actually had some useful operating information disguised as ignorable safety instructions, largely in pictures. It took me a couple times of reading through the manual before I noticed. No one writes text any more, among other reasons because it has to be translated.

 

[TheMan419]

Ask Tractor Mike is awesome. Has taught me many of the basics.

 

[Annihilator26]

I appreciate the recommendations from Steve and ericm. The videos from Tractor Mike are helpful, but I would really prefer something written instead of a long series of videos. I also looked at the Branson manual. I admit that it was better than the ones from LS and Kubota that I looked at first, but I would still prefer something a little more in depth.

In addition to a general tractor guide, a collection of model specific info would also be really helpful. I didn't find any grease fittings on my tractor other than the ones on the loader when I took my first walk around, and after checking my owners manual I now know that I should also put grease in fittings at "Front axel holder, 3-point linkage, etc". How much? "Proper amount". I know I will just add a little grease every few hours of use, but it would be really nice to get a diagram of all of grease fittings to make sure I am not missing any. The New Holland Boomer tractors are basically the same as mine, and the manuals are much better, so maybe I should just get a copy of one of those and work from that.

 

[ericm979]

The manual for my first tractor, a '90s Kubota B7100, was pretty good.

I'd forgotten about Tractor Mike. I watched a bunch of his videos when I was tractor shopping a year ago. I too would rather read but most people find videos easier to make than writing.

I pump the grease gun until something comes out somewhere. I'm still finding grease fittings on my Branson.

 

[edgarrian]

check underneath ur tractor as well. U probably have some zerks for pedals and brake. As for operation of the fel. If you going into a pile of dirt there is no need to spine the tires and digging holes hoping to fill ur bucket. Two things happen. One is u don't get the bucket full and the other is when you come back to the pile its rough as ****. Ease into the pile and then lift up on the bucket and curl just a bit then uncurl a bit and curl again. Keep repeating until ur bucket is full. Shouldnt take much when doing it this way. This will keep you from spinning ur tires and digging holes. Also avoid heavy corner lifts or you can spring the loader. I typically don't try to fill the bucket. Tractors aren't loaders. 2/3rds full bucket is plenty.

 

[CMV]

... Also avoid heavy corner lifts or you can spring the loader....

Can you (or someone) elaborate. I don't know what a 'corner lift' is (nor what would be a normal vs a heavy one). Don't know what 'springing a loader' means either.

I like your method of getting a full scoop without just trying to push into the pile with brute force and tear up the ground for your next trip. Coming from an 80HP backhoe that carried a yard at a time, getting used to same tractor as OP is very much different. I will say 2/3 full bucket on my machine.....may as well use a shovel and wheelbarrow Already feels like I'm moving a tablespoon at a time compared to what the old backhoe could move.

I agree that the LS manual is vague at best in some areas.

 

[Reb954]

Reason it out.

"Heavy corner lifts" means picking most of the weight on the corner of the bucket instead of centering your load.

"Spring the loader" means twisting the loader frame work.

 

[rt014]

As a first time tractor owner for a little over a year, I’ve relied on this site, the manual and YouTube videos. I bet there are books out there, but haven’t searched yet. I feel pretty competent after a year. Only thing f’ing with me right now are my tire chains

 

[Phillip w]

Well, I've been around tractors all my life, learned alot from the generation ahead of me. However, using a little common sense as you go, you just have to jump in and get your feet wet. With a loader, you may want to put some counter weight (s) on the back of the tractor to counter balance the load in the bucket. Travel with you bucket low to help prevent upsetting the tractor.( A loaded bucket traveling high makes the tractor vulnerable to upset). You kind of got to take it easy with the little tractors, they are not near as rugged as the old tractors from the 50's 60's and 70's. People disagree with me, but the old tractors took a whole lot more than these new ones. If you try to use these new tractors like the old ones, your going to break something or tear something up. As for a brush hog, set it up so when it is down it is pretty level. Start your pto with the tractor at about 1000 rpms. Then gradually put the throttle to it until you are at about 2200-2500 rpms. If you want to take out wild rose bushes or sprouts, raise your brush hog and slowly back onto them. Gradually lower you brush hog and grind them up. This makes it easier on.the brush hog and reduces the chance of damaging the underneath of the tractor because you ran over some sprouts. Hope this helps.

 

[DieselBound]

I'd put my Kubota B7800 up against most anything as an example of something that is nearly indestructible. I've done stuff with this tractor that I doubt other tractors would have survived (because I haven't really broken anything on it I'd say that it hasn't been "abused"- if I did the same with other tractors it would most definitely be abuse. But, in general, I do believe that the newest stuff is not as robust: I have no plans on subjecting my NX5510 to some of the stuff I've done with that B7800!