Compact Tractors are Designed All Wrong

[MossRoad]

I haven’t read the whole thread and only the first post. The 3 point hitch doesn’t suck that bad.

Yes it does. :laughing: I had one on my IH2500b. Hooking up a brush hog, box blade, etc... add in some uneven ground.... I hated that thing. Now, with my quick attach, I can unlock, drop an implement, pick up and implement, lock it, in 15 seconds and never get out of the seat. If its a powered implement, I have to get out and attach two hydraulic hoses. That's it. I'll never, ever, own a 3pt hitch again. Just no need unless I had to plow a large field, as is the case for most homeowners.

 

[4570Man]

Tractor loaders are definitely on the wrong end? What is your reasoning for that? I can not imagine wanting it on the back even if I had a swivel seat.

Ken

The straight axel should be under the loader. Much stronger that way. The non pivoting axel should be under the loader. Much more stable that way. The engine should be at the opposite end as the loader. It would serve as ballast and not block your vision that way. Really you couldn’t do much worse. Look at a machine that’s designed better such as a skid steer, wheel loader, or forklift.

 

[4570Man]

Yes it does. :laughing: I had one on my IH2500b. Hooking up a brush hog, box blade, etc... add in some uneven ground.... I hated that thing. Now, with my quick attach, I can unlock, drop an implement, pick up and implement, lock it, in 15 seconds and never get out of the seat. If its a powered implement, I have to get out and attach two hydraulic hoses. That's it. I'll never, ever, own a 3pt hitch again. Just no need unless I had to plow a large field, as is the case for most homeowners.

Some are better than others. The ones with pinned sway bars and telescoping end links are pretty easy to hook up. The ones with turn buckles and fixed position ends suck pretty bad to hook up. And you could get a quick hitch if you’re still not satisfied. Regardless of how bad it does or doesn’t suck I’d hate to give up that pool of implements. And SSQA isn’t a good replacement either. It’s not made to take much abuse while being pulled. That puts nearly all the force on the small pins at the bottom.

 

[MossRoad]

The straight axel should be under the loader. Much stronger that way. The non pivoting axel should be under the loader. Much more stable that way. The engine should be at the opposite end as the loader. It would serve as ballast and not block your vision that way. Really you couldn稚 do much worse. Look at a machine that痴 designed better such as a skid steer, wheel loader, or forklift.

If you'd read the thread you'd know you're preaching to the choir. Except you should get rid of the different sized wheels front and back, make them all the same size. Make the machine capable of going the same speeds forward and reverse, full time 4wd and articulated....

 

[SpringHollow]

It is not the loader that is on the wrong end, it is everything else! I thought you wanted the loader facing backwards. FYI, on my tractor much of that is resolved.

Ken

 

[1stDeuce]

The blue tractor in MossRoad's post above is a Ford New Holland 9030 "Bi-Directional" tractor. Pretty sweet setup, but it appears New Holland ended production of Bi-Di's around 2015.

I found a youtube vid of one being used for snow removal. 3pt Snow blower right below the operator, and a drag blade on the other end make fast work of things! Man, what a sweet setup!

Even without the Bi-Di capability, I still think that most CUT's would be better off with similar sized tires all around, even if the rears were slightly smaller. The trouble is that larger tires on the front limit turning radius unless you do an articulated design. Articulated designs are a bit more expensive, and take some getting used to, but Power Trac operators seem to get the hang of it quickly and it is more maneuverable in tight quarters once you learn to run it.

Perhaps someone will come out with something one of these days that's a little less traditional, but if they do, it'll probably end up a niche product, kinda like the Power Trac.

 

[MossRoad]

I love my little PT425!!! :laughing:

 

[Creamer]

The blue tractor in MossRoad's post above is a Ford New Holland 9030 "Bi-Directional" tractor. Pretty sweet setup, but it appears New Holland ended production of Bi-Di's around 2015.

I found a youtube vid of one being used for snow removal. 3pt Snow blower right below the operator, and a drag blade on the other end make fast work of things! Man, what a sweet setup!

Even without the Bi-Di capability, I still think that most CUT's would be better off with similar sized tires all around, even if the rears were slightly smaller. The trouble is that larger tires on the front limit turning radius unless you do an articulated design. Articulated designs are a bit more expensive, and take some getting used to, but Power Trac operators seem to get the hang of it quickly and it is more maneuverable in tight quarters once you learn to run it.

Perhaps someone will come out with something one of these days that's a little less traditional, but if they do, it'll probably end up a niche product, kinda like the Power Trac.

When you talk about snowblowing this guy is having fun.
versatile performance - YouTube

Also the little trap on his blower is pretty neat.

 

[RalphVa]

There IS an articulated tractor for sale here. Cannot recall the name of them without looking them up. One of the dealerships here in Charlottesville had them on sale.

Ralph

 

[MossRoad]

When you talk about snowblowing this guy is having fun.
versatile performance - YouTube

Also the little trap on his blower is pretty neat.

Watch towards the end of the video, how he spins/slides the tractor around while articulating. I do that with mine. You can get pretty good at it to where you can turn the machine around in it's own length.

 

[/pine]

Watch towards the end of the video, how he spins/slides the tractor around while articulating. I do that with mine. You can get pretty good at it to where you can turn the machine around in it's own length.

Yeah...but can you park it like Elwood?
The Blues Brothers - How to park like Elwood - YouTube

 

[MossRoad]

Advance to 2:30 in this video....

 

[Creamer]

Advance to 2:30 in this video....

Does Provonost build the blower with the backdrag flap on it? That would be handy. It is amazing the control he has in tight spaces.

 

[SpringHollow]

The backdrag feature is very neat.

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

That, and the super adjustable chute is great. I'd bet with a blower and tractor like that, one could make some serious money doing drives in subdivisions on heavy snow days.

 

[SpringHollow]

I was surprised at how often they were blowing the snow right where they still had to clear. But maybe ahead of that was the only spot they could go or maybe with the power they have, it is easier just to leave the shoot there and blow it again.

 

[MossRoad]

I was looking at it, and it seemed there was no place off to the side to blow it. So they blew it down in front of it, which compresses it. Then he's use the back drag, turn the chute backwards and as he back-dragged, it put it right back down into the blower's path. He kept dragging back until he got past the house, then turned up the chute and blew it into the yard. Quite interesting. I've watched it over and over the past couple years. I keep wanting to justify a blower for myself, but we just don't have frequent enough deep snow to justify the cost. My power-angle plow was $450. :thumbsup:

 

[Creamer]

I was looking at it, and it seemed there was no place off to the side to blow it. So they blew it down in front of it, which compresses it. Then he's use the back drag, turn the chute backwards and as he back-dragged, it put it right back down into the blower's path. He kept dragging back until he got past the house, then turned up the chute and blew it into the yard. Quite interesting. I've watched it over and over the past couple years. I keep wanting to justify a blower for myself, but we just don't have frequent enough deep snow to justify the cost. My power-angle plow was $450. :thumbsup:

And you live over int he lake effect area versus where I live. I passed on an older Bermac snowblower this year - 8' in good shape (has had very little use not crashes but the paint was bad) for $1295. I couldn't justify it with how little snow we get. I have plowed twice so far this year and I didn't even get my 150 out - the 1710 handled it easily.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Or ...... have “very well behaved” snow that does not fall on your roads??

 

[MossRoad]

And you live over int he lake effect area versus where I live. I passed on an older Bermac snowblower this year - 8' in good shape (has had very little use not crashes but the paint was bad) for $1295. I couldn't justify it with how little snow we get. I have plowed twice so far this year and I didn't even get my 150 out - the 1710 handled it easily.

We don't get that much snow anymore. Seems to go west of us in LaPorte County now. We had 15" on the ground the other day and the weather people said that's the most on the ground since 2011. Yet, we are currently 36.5" over for the year what we normally have by this time in February, and I've only plowed my driveway three times this year.