Does your wife drive the new tractor?

jwstewar · Mar 19, 2004

My wife drives/operates our NH. She sometimes forgets what everything does and we'll have to go through a learning curve every now and then. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif She doesn't use any attachments on the 3PH, hasn't done anything with the FEL other than carry something. She will usually just mow with the MMM or take the kids for a ride - not at the same time. If I'm not home and she wants to mow she'll mow with the FEL on, but if I'm home she'll make me take it off. Maybe once the barn is done I'll leave the loader off, but for now I always have to put it back on to get it out of the rain as well.

Wannafish · Mar 19, 2004

My lovely wife is not mechanically inclined and was intimidated by our new J.D. 4010 - not all that big as far as CUT's go, but she didn't want me to get anything larger because she wanted to mow the lawn with it.

She now mows our lawns - about 5 acres in all - and moves dirt, firewood, bales of straw, etc with the FEL. Whatever she needs she will do if I'm busy.

With a little (alot of) coaxing, I even taught her to drive the big old J.D. 4020 while baling hay so I could stack it on the wagon! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Good Luck, Have Fun, and remember...If the women don't find you handsome...they should at least find you handy!

rockyridgefarm · Mar 19, 2004

Um - well, I have to sneak the key to get seat time, and even then she might sneak up on me...

PineRidge · Mar 19, 2004

My wife did get on my last tractor way back when we were clearing our lot to build. Unfortunately the tractor threw a belt when she was on it. When she brought it back to me it was snorting large clouds of steam through the radiator overflow. She wanted to know if a pegged temperature gage and all that steam was normal operation???? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

No she hasn't been on my new TC-40D, I'm hiding the keys from her........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ledgemere Farm · Mar 19, 2004

I just got my new tractor and my wife asked to drive it. I had just finshed a stone wall and she hopped on, forgot to put it in reverse and piled into it. I guess I should have been more thorough in my explanation of the shifting pattern... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

JerryT · Mar 19, 2004

My wife drove my HST JD 4400 about 50 ft. Stopped, got off, and swore she would never do that again! Where are the springs, shock absorbers, air conditioning, and radio. Its so noisy I couldn't even use my cell phone. That was 3 years ago and she hasn't touched it since.

JDgreen227 · Mar 19, 2004

( I just got my new tractor and my wife asked to drive it. I had just finshed a stone wall and she hopped on, forgot to put it in reverse and piled into it. I guess I should have been more thorough in my explanation of the shifting pattern... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

For those who feel gear drive is better than HST, read this and take heed.

Junkman · Mar 19, 2004

( I am of no help for I don't have one. Wife that is. )

I have one that you can have for free.... good cook, loves to nag! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BubbaJr · Mar 19, 2004

My wife won't have anything to do with the tractor. I tried to get her to learn the basic controls so that she could get me out of a bad situation in an emergency (like pinned under the FEL or some other nasty). She said "I'll just go call someone to help you". I asked who that would be, but she didn't have an answer. So if I get in deep doo doo, I know I am on my own, which is why I try to always carry my cell phone when I'm on the tractor.

Now my daughter is totally different. She climbed on, got basic instructions, took off and drove around with a grin from ear to ear. She lives 4 hours away, but if she lived closer I'm afraid I wouldn't get any seat time. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

boustany · Mar 19, 2004

Problem solved here /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Actually, my wife was dying to use my 3010, but, well, to say she is not mechanically inclined is an understatement. I would let her use it, but only under close supervision. I was worried she would kill herself and/or the kids, especially using the FEL or hoe to move rocks.

I figured a BX2200, which has a much lower center of gravity would be safer. So I traded up from my Deere 345 lawn tractor to the BX2200 with an FEL. The BX will take all my 3010 attachments except my backhoe and front blower, so, besides cutting the grass (which I'll do) she will be able to use it for her gardening and landscaping projects.

Plus, its got an HST. I had to replace 2 clutches in her cars before I gave up on the idea she'd ever learn how to use a standard shift transmission.

I have no doubt she'll rack up the hours. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif