If I were a tractor engineer......I would...

[newbury]

It's a tractor!
A wheeled engine to pull stuff.
All of these things can be added.
I don't need a 1 liter cup holder, someone else does.
I don't need a large toolbox with me, someone else does.
I want a laptop holder so I can access the web, I can add it.
I want holsters for my chain saws, I can add them.
What I'd like to see the mfg add is some appropriately placed bars with holes so we could mount all of our "needed" things. Instead of drilling into the ROPS or ductaping to the hood.

 

[Max2310]

My dealer adds extra-equipment which becomes standard when you get a tractor from im:
1- Rear work light (1),
2- Bucket hooks (both, front and back),
3- Skid plate "to protect" the hydro filter,
4- Block heater,

What's missing?

1- Front work lights (head lights are poor), Added (2)!
2- Small toolbox and/or a place to put a chain at least,
3- A horn!!!
4- A chainsaw holder,
5- A step to easily jump from the loader position to the back-hoe position without stepping off the tractor

...and this, and that, but I also appreciate it the way it is...

Max

 

[Lyrch75]

I second (forth or is it fifth now) a real toolbox. One big enough to hold at minimum enough wrenches to do a basic fluid check/top off, and a grease gun.

Chain holder would be nice. I have lost, read buried, a few in my day due to throwing them in the bucket and forgetting that I did.

Glove box or something along those lines would also be nice. Wallet, watch, cell phone, and knife all need a place to go when on the tractor as I am tired of having to do a prison pat down on myself when ever I get on and off of the tractor to make certain I haven't lost one of them, again.

Filters that can be changed without requiring a power washing afterwards due to dumping fluids onto the frame, axle, or hoses.

Sticker with what fluids are needed for what and the capacities.

Dipsticks that you can reach without being a contortionist when the tractor has its FEL on and an implement on the back.

Accurate gauges for fluid temps and guidelines for when you are getting into "WHoa" range.

Manuals with at least as many pages telling you how to work on your tractor as there are pages of warnings.

A bottle holder that will securely hold a 1 liter water bottle.

 

[Travelover]

It's a tractor!
.......<snip>.......What I'd like to see the mfg add is some appropriately placed bars with holes so we could mount all of our "needed" things. Instead of drilling into the ROPS or ductaping to the hood.

Excellent suggestion.

 

[Sockwell]

Why shouldn't a tilt meter be standard safety equipment? Also, a rear screen (removable) on the ROPS for when using a rotary cutter.

 

[LBrown59]

Add:
Horn & lights.

 

[warhammer]

A much BIGGER toolbox
Rack for the shotgun

If I were a tractor engineer I would add the following features to each tractor built:

1. A good cell phone holder
2. A decent cup holder
3. A place to put a log chain
4. A place to hang a fire extinguisher (like a plastic bracket on the ROPS)
5. A tool box ON EVERY MODEL (******)
6. A place to place extra lynch pins (little holes on the back of the tractor)
7. A place to put my ear protection
8. A modular receiver to hold tools (such as that found on ATV's)
9. A place to hold my sunglasses (or regular glasses)

I have added most of the above....but I think some of these tractor companies could take a clue from the ATV and auto markets. People will PAY for and / or chose another model vehicle based on "cupholder" type accessories.

Others???

 

[jas67]

how about a reverse PTO ?

That would be SO NICE to unstuck the post hole digger.

 

[studor]

Aim to make everything as "maintenance friendly" as possible -- for example make it so the FEL is not in the way of filters, hoods, dipsticks, etc. Make it so that zerks can be reached by a normal person, not some circus contortionist! Make it so that a tool box is for drinks and lunch, not repair parts and tools to fix things Make it so belts can be replaced without dis- assembling half the tractor. Re-engineer peoples time so they can work in daylight. Make the Pto speed completely variable as well as reversible. Take the horn off as a standard feature (I don't use my tractor to drive the family to market ) Design a system that allows people to mount the stuff on a tractor that they will never really need but feel is essential to carry around with them Weatherproof everything so when I snow blow I don't have to do anything after but shut it down! JMHO

 

[kenstrac]

1 PA rims
2 PS cylinders mounted in back of axle
3 Fuel tank mounted in front HD like JD had(no more busted radiators)
4 2 stage clutch ( instead of electric operated PTO)
5 Ground PTO
6 3PT with down pressure
7 All gauges W/idiot lights hooked up to alarm (to alert you of a problem when you are operating backhoe or wood splitter and can't see the dash)
8 Adjustable bottom link with crank handle(instead of turnbuckle type)
9 Move operator station ahead cut fenders back on rear to give more room when hooking up implements.
10 Mount HYD pump off of crankshaft with test ports and filter remove all the garbage that hangs under tractor.

 

[SPYDERLK]

1 PA rims
2 PS cylinders mounted in back of axle
3 Fuel tank mounted in front HD like JD had(no more busted radiators)
4 2 stage clutch ( instead of electric operated PTO)
5 Ground PTO
6 3PT with down pressure
7 All gauges W/idiot lights hooked up to alarm (to alert you of a problem when you are operating backhoe or wood splitter and can't see the dash)
8 Adjustable bottom link with crank handle(instead of turnbuckle type)
9 Move operator station ahead cut fenders back on rear to give more room when hooking up implements.
10 Mount HYD pump off of crankshaft with test ports and filter remove all the garbage that hangs under tractor.

Brilliant!
What is "ground pto"?
larry

 

[kenstrac]

Brilliant!
What is "ground pto"?
larry

Ground PTO is 1 revolution of wheel=1 revolution of PTO in this mode the pto will turn in reverse if the tractor is in reverse gear.
I sucked up a 100 hp tractor chain in my rototiller once and got it out running in ground PTO in reverse,otherwise I would still be pulling it out.

 

[SideHillBill]

IMHO hanging heavy equipment on the FEL or 3PH arms is foolishness. Tractors should be designed with a standardized integral frame mounting to accept Hoes, snowplows etc. If you want frame mount now, you pay a fortune for it and it's usually good for only a limited tractor type and a limited equipment type also.

 

[Redbug]

Offer a skid plate/belly pan option. And it would pay for itself in time...

 

[Opti-Mist]

"Ground PTO" = "Ground Drive PTO" As described above.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

About the tool box issue, this just occurred to me...why not use one of the storage/seat accessories found on atv's?

Limitations or adjustments required might include:

• It would only work for non-cabs,
• you'd have to remove the seat on the unit so that your seat can get in closer,
• you might have to make a bracket of some sort to fit the storage unit on your fenders

Anyway, just thinking out loud.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I only have a few hundred hours on "modern" tractors, and both have been smaller Kubotas so these needs are mostly addressed to them. I would like to see position control on all smaller tractors say from B size up. My new B is very sensitive to adjust upwards, and it makes it difficult to use the box blade, etc. I also would like to see usuable steering brakes. I use my tractor in the woods, and in snow a lot and find I have to be a bit of a contortionist to use the ones on the same side as the hydro pedal. I would also use / provide a way of better keeping the lower lift arms spread while backing in to attach an implement. I use a slotted stick, but there has to be a better way to install implements alone. The pinned check arms / chains on some tractors look good. I second the larger tool box, and if you work alone in the woods, a cell phone holder is not a bad plan............. though I get no reception at most spots on my land so it makes little difference. Tractors are tractors, and don't need to be made into SUV's, but they certainly should be functional at all the tasks they are expected to perform, and have some provision for the things normally needed to perform those tasks. It would take just a bit of creative engineering, and add little to the cost to use extrusions, or modified shapes in places that would make carrying those things with us a lot more handy.

 

[LoneCowboy]

the fire extinguisher I agree with.

The rest, well, I think most of it is minor. (BTW, it's not like you can hear the cell phone ring anyway, just use a bluetooth)

1. Better seats. esp for big guys. Suspension seats that work great for 160lb people don't work so well for us ummm, bigger folks.
2. Better way to either screen the radiator or get bigger holes so stuff actually flows thru it instead of getting stuck. Because what we're using now isn't working. Does the design team actually go out in the field? I spend at least 1/2hour per week washing out the radiator. it's a tractor, it works in dusty, dry conditions, design for it.
3. NO PLASTIC. It's a tractor, it works hard in bad conditions, weight is a plus in tractors, plastic fenders are a joke. steel!
4. stop using Chinese steel. It would be nice if some parts actually held up to the design specs. I can have most of these parts made at the local welding shop out of real steel for less than you are overcharging me for another crappy pot metal part.
5. Tractor model numbers that make sense. Even the salesmen don't understand half the time. We could always use names you know, it works well for the auto companies. There are a lot more words than 4 digit numbers. You could even combine them for a whole new effect. (sarcasm intended)
6. In addition to someone's earlier mention about filters that can be accessed. Fluid fill areas should be accessible. Whoever thinks it's a good idea to fill a tractor from the seat and pour into the hood, should be forced to actually do it. In wet or snowy conditions with muddy boots.
7. JD needs a new bucket designer. Seriously, that FEL bucket has been a joke for 30+ years and it's still a joke. It can't be that hard to make a bucket that actually works, all the other companies do it.
8. Any engineer that thinks they need a proprietary system for using quick attach on the FEL should be fired. On the spot. Defeats the entire point of universal quick attach.
9. Great joints that can be reached and are easily accessable. My NH tractors FEL's all the joints are inside and face out, so you just walk down the line, no moving this way and that to contort into it. isn't that much easier than one on the bottom, the next underneath, the next you have to uncurl the bucket entirely, etc. And stop putting great joints that face directly down into the dirt. They get ground off. It's a tractor, it works hard, it works in bad conditions......(have I mentioned this before? I really think sometimes it gets forgotten).

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Ground PTO is 1 revolution of wheel=1 revolution of PTO in this mode the pto will turn in reverse if the tractor is in reverse gear.
I sucked up a 100 hp tractor chain in my rototiller once and got it out running in ground PTO in reverse,otherwise I would still be pulling it out.

There's probably more'n just one brand that produced tractors with ground speed PTO, but the only one I'm familiar with is Massey Ferguson. Theirs's didn't turn 1 revolution (on th epto stub) for every revolution of the rear wheel. It was something like 1rpm per every 19" of ground travel. (Roughly 9 rpm per revolution of a typical 13.6 X 28 rear tire/wheel) The concept was developed to power pto driven manure spreaders. It never really caught on like Massey engineers thought it would.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

the fire extinguisher I agree with.

The rest, well, I think most of it is minor. (BTW, it's not like you can hear the cell phone ring anyway, just use a bluetooth)

1. Better seats. esp for big guys. Suspension seats that work great for 160lb people don't work so well for us ummm, bigger folks.
2. Better way to either screen the radiator or get bigger holes so stuff actually flows thru it instead of getting stuck. Because what we're using now isn't working. Does the design team actually go out in the field? I spend at least 1/2hour per week washing out the radiator. it's a tractor, it works in dusty, dry conditions, design for it.
3. NO PLASTIC. It's a tractor, it works hard in bad conditions, weight is a plus in tractors, plastic fenders are a joke. steel!
4. stop using Chinese steel. It would be nice if some parts actually held up to the design specs. I can have most of these parts made at the local welding shop out of real steel for less than you are overcharging me for another crappy pot metal part.
5. Tractor model numbers that make sense. Even the salesmen don't understand half the time. We could always use names you know, it works well for the auto companies. There are a lot more words than 4 digit numbers. You could even combine them for a whole new effect. (sarcasm intended)
6. In addition to someone's earlier mention about filters that can be accessed. Fluid fill areas should be accessible. Whoever thinks it's a good idea to fill a tractor from the seat and pour into the hood, should be forced to actually do it. In wet or snowy conditions with muddy boots.
7. JD needs a new bucket designer. Seriously, that FEL bucket has been a joke for 30+ years and it's still a joke. It can't be that hard to make a bucket that actually works, all the other companies do it.
8. Any engineer that thinks they need a proprietary system for using quick attach on the FEL should be fired. On the spot. Defeats the entire point of universal quick attach.
9. Great joints that can be reached and are easily accessable. My NH tractors FEL's all the joints are inside and face out, so you just walk down the line, no moving this way and that to contort into it. isn't that much easier than one on the bottom, the next underneath, the next you have to uncurl the bucket entirely, etc. And stop putting great joints that face directly down into the dirt. They get ground off. It's a tractor, it works hard, it works in bad conditions......(have I mentioned this before? I really think sometimes it gets forgotten).

I've been known to claim I spend time on a tractor to ESCAPE cell phones ringing.....