How do I know a tractor's limits?

[atcNick]

I'm considering buying a used kioti ck30.

How do you guys know the limits of what your tractor can do without damaging it? I.e.: brush hogging small trees that are too thick, or lifting too much with fel... Etc

 

[Turbys_1700]

The tractor will have the hydraulic pressure set at the factory that should not overload your front axle. Temp gauge will tell you if you are working the tractor too hard.

 

[jeff9366]

The (optimistic) sapling cutting ability of Rotary Cutters is specified by the manufacturers, who are also happy to sell you repair parts.

It the spec says a R/C can cut 2" saplings, restrain yourself and only cut 1-1/2" saplings.

Buy enough tractor. Buy a heavy enough Rotary Cutter for your needs.

 

[bcp]

Two way to go:
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Figure out your needs.

Buy equipment 50% more capable.

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Find the limits of your equipment.

Don't work that hard.
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People who work at their equipment limits have breakdowns and accidents.

Bruce

 

[newbury]

Ease into it until you break something inexpensive, like shear pins, chains, or blow a seal on a cylinder.

Try not to damage the PTO or the pump. If the pump squeals, back off.

 

[Piston]

The (optimistic) sapling cutting ability of Rotary Cutters is specified by the manufacturers, who are also happy to sell you repair parts.

It the spec says a R/C can cut 2" saplings, restrain yourself and only cut 1-1/2" saplings.

Buy enough tractor. Buy a heavy enough Rotary Cutter for your needs.

Completely depends on brand. For instance, Brown Manufacturing rotary cutters (they're lightest duty 5' model) states a cut capacity of 2". This is highly underrated and will easily cut considerably larger day after day.

Recommend a slip clutch for the rotary mower (properly adjusted) and you won't have to worry about too much. (Unless you go with light duty equipment).

 

[SteveM70]

The only way to know the true limits is to bypass them but you should know when your getting close.

Shear pins shearing, engine bogging down, tires lifting off the ground, bending things, etc. are all warning signs but the #1 way of knowing your at the limit should be that little voice inside your head saying, don't do it!

 

[bdog]

As far as a FEL goes if you try to pick up something to heavy the hydraulics will bypass and it won't lift it. No harm done. Be careful lifting things not centered on the lower you can tweak the arms if lifting heavy on a corner.

With mowing most if not all shredders have a rated cutting size and have shear pins or slip clutches to protect them.

 

[Creamer]

The tractor will tell you most of the time. The one thing that I see a lot of guys do is try to carry too much in the loader which can be hard on the front end when you hit ruts, holes, etc. While the loader may lift it you don't want to use it as a dump truck.

Otherwise challenge your tractor. You can kill the engine without hurting it. You can lift the the front or rear tires off the ground and set them back down - no big deal. You can get it stuck - its OK. It is a machine though - don't jerk it around operate it smoothly and test it slowly getting a feel for it. A little very short term overstrain won't hurt it a bit.

 

[BHD]

you go until you break or bend or wreck some thing and then you know you went to far,

and after time even if your careful some thing will break or bend, had my disk hitch break in to the other day coming up the road, one would think John Deere could build some thing that would last longer than 50 years, it has only broke into in a few places over the years, and really has not been abused, just used, many many acres,

 

[newbury]

The only way to know the true limits is to bypass them but you should know when your getting close.

Shear pins shearing, engine bogging down, tires lifting off the ground, bending things, etc. are all warning signs but the #1 way of knowing your at the limit should be that little voice inside your head saying, don't do it!

Or when other parts of your body warn of danger.
The one "danger" area is determining the maximum slope you can traverse before the tractor lifts a tire and tips over.
Happened to me the first time I used my B7610 offsite.
Had a bucket full of sand carrying from truck to destination. Maneuvering around on a side slope the right front wheel dropped into a slight covered hole. Left rear lifted up. First indication of danger was my sphincter muscles immediately (about 1 nanosecond) clamping down as the angle of the seat startd to change. I dropped the bucket and hiked out to the left.

Rolling or flipping a tractor is generally considered a bad thing.