I had no doubt ETA was the way to go due to their reputation. I hope I didn't assemble anything wrong and it was simply the bushing being a bit short, although I would be sorta shocked if an 1/8th inch short on the bushing would make the sheer bolt that finicky and bend rather than break. Perhaps just an oddly strong sheerbolt? After getting home and getting things together to ship back to ETA, I noticed that orienting the top link bar correctly, oriented the ETA sticker somewhat upside down, which is now making me question which way I did have it on there... I understood the geometry and how it was supposed to go together before assembling it, but during the assembly process did I look at that sticker and put it in upside down? I really can't say at this point, but I'm sort of leaning towards possibly a combination of things... I'm just happy to have dealt with a reputable company like ETA who stands behind their products and wants their customers to have the proper tool for a job. There are hammers of many styles, having the right one for the task can make all the difference in the world...
I hope to give them much more business in the future as my projects require new tools. Next thing I'm sure I'll need and be looking to order is one of their wicked root grapples to clear a good bit of undergrowth in my hills. There are a couple other projects pending of greater priority such as a building to store all the toys in (running out of room in my barn). But I have a feeling I'll be ordering several goodies from them for the next several years for quite a few future projects.
I seem to build pretty decent tractive force with my tractor (with the loader and loaded tires I think I come in about 6000#), very little has made me spin a tire. When I do, my hydrostat generally has enough pressure built up inside that once I release the pedal to come to a stop, it still pulls for a moment. That's partly why when pulling a hard load I tend to start at an idle and only bring the throttle up as much as is needed to do the work, so if something does grab and cause pressures to increase, it can stall easier and it is not creating excess power against whatever has grabbed in the moment between when I let off the HST and it quits pulling. This is how I was taught to plow with geared tractors so if something would catch, the tractor would stall instead of mangle the plows. The same seemed to hold true with HST. Going slow also is pretty much needed for the draft control to work, which it seemed to be doing well on both passes up until the loud POP of the sheer bolt. I had been watching the 3 point and watching ahead to keeping my line, just so happened at the moment of the POP I was turning my head forward to check my line, so I didn't see it happen and reacted on the sound alone.
My parts arrive tomorrow, I can't wait!
