I'm going Bobcat..

[k0ua]

I had knocked the big chunks off already. It was difficult to tell I'd been through. Compared to the big tractors that were out prepping fields, I left about 1/100th the mud.
So far, we're having a pretty wet spring.
I've always dried my motorcycles off with a run up and down the road. It's more fun than the leaf blower.
It was actually the first time I'd had the CT225 in 3rd gear.

How did it do in Hi range?.. do you have mostly flat or hilly ground. I can run in Hi range with my Kioti, but some of the hills here are just so steep, it is not a good idea.

 

[MoPops]

How did it do in Hi range?.. do you have mostly flat or hilly ground. I can run in Hi range with my Kioti, but some of the hills here are just so steep, it is not a good idea.

I went about a half mile down and back. It's flat as a pancake right there, on smooth asphalt. Went pretty well. No issues at all.
I did take it out of 4WD. I thinks that was the first time I'd been out.

 

[k0ua]

I went about a half mile down and back. It's flat as a pancake right there, on smooth asphalt. Went pretty well. No issues at all.
I did take it out of 4WD. I thinks that was the first time I'd been out.

yeah, it should do good with 1/2 mile of flat ground. I have never seen that much flat road around here. I have a 20 foot section of driveway here I can setup my implements on, and that is it for flat ground. What few cows people have around here, all their legs on one side are shorter than the other side, so they can still graze around these hills.. OK, I made that up, but it is pretty darn hilly around here.

 

[SSdoxie]

Yeah, How did it do on the road? Were you able to get up to full speed?. I haven't tried mine on the road in High yet because I can only go about 1/8 mile either direction before it is down hill, pretty steep. I know I could get to the bottom pretty fast just not sure how long it would take to get back in mid or low range.

 

[MoPops]

Yeah, How did it do on the road? Were you able to get up to full speed?. I haven't tried mine on the road in High yet because I can only go about 1/8 mile either direction before it is down hill, pretty steep. I know I could get to the bottom pretty fast just not sure how long it would take to get back in mid or low range.

I'm still such a rookie with this tractor. I have a hard time even realizing my throttle isn't my right foot! I ran it up to about 2000 rpm and away it went. Really, no issues at all with engine strain. It was very flat though.
My property is in northern Missouri, near the salt river. There aren't many straight sections of road, but a few flat areas.

 

[tman1020]

congrats on the new tractor! i bought one form the same folks in january for the same price. i just broke 30 hours to day and still can't believe how nice this tractor is. i think it was a great value and see same tractors used listed for about the same price in my area. it has been a pleasure to use, i just picked up a 5 foot king cutter tiller today and wow its amazing how fast i tilled the garden. it was done so fast and i wanted to keep tilling so i tilled up about 1/4 acre weed patch out back to put in a alf alfa patch and it just did a great job effortlessly. I'm taking it to clear out a wood lot tomorrow with my 6 inch pto chipper and forks should be a good workout for it. i hope that we continue to have great results but so far so good! i also went with the industrial tires (my first experience with them ags in the past) and am pleased with them, how about you. keep posting up dates and ill try to do the same.

 

[arnoldziffel]

congrats on the new tractor! i bought one form the same folks in january for the same price. i just broke 30 hours to day and still can't believe how nice this tractor is. i think it was a great value and see same tractors used listed for about the same price in my area. it has been a pleasure to use, i just picked up a 5 foot king cutter tiller today and wow its amazing how fast i tilled the garden. it was done so fast and i wanted to keep tilling so i tilled up about 1/4 acre weed patch out back to put in a alf alfa patch and it just did a great job effortlessly. I'm taking it to clear out a wood lot tomorrow with my 6 inch pto chipper and forks should be a good workout for it. i hope that we continue to have great results but so far so good! i also went with the industrial tires (my first experience with them ags in the past) and am pleased with them, how about you. keep posting up dates and ill try to do the same.

I envy the fact you were able to work your garden.

We're still waiting for the snow to melt and things to dry out. (Probably another two weeks.)

 

[lilranch2001]

The last of my snow mountains just melted Friday
Ground is still very saturated.
Not sure what part of Indiana Tman is located but NE Indiana is just beginning to see spring

 

[MoPops]

congrats on the new tractor! i bought one form the same folks in january for the same price. i just broke 30 hours to day and still can't believe how nice this tractor is. i think it was a great value and see same tractors used listed for about the same price in my area. it has been a pleasure to use, i just picked up a 5 foot king cutter tiller today and wow its amazing how fast i tilled the garden. it was done so fast and i wanted to keep tilling so i tilled up about 1/4 acre weed patch out back to put in a alf alfa patch and it just did a great job effortlessly. I'm taking it to clear out a wood lot tomorrow with my 6 inch pto chipper and forks should be a good workout for it. i hope that we continue to have great results but so far so good! i also went with the industrial tires (my first experience with them ags in the past) and am pleased with them, how about you. keep posting up dates and ill try to do the same.

Tman,
Glad you are still liking your ct. I was on mine for about a hour yesterday. Dragging cut tree trunks into a back corner of our property. I am also impressed with this little tractor. I've had unbelievably bad luck with implements. I uncreated a rear ballast box yesterday, that supposedly had a 800# capacity. Turns out it's a 330# box. Not enough to do anything. I went to pick up a box blade in Woodstock IL. Turns out there are 2 Woodstock ILs. I went to the wrong one. I'm driving to Wisconsin to pick one up. The brush cutter I bought has too short of a pto shaft.
Just hurdles to overcome. I think I'll go new on the box blade. Still looking for rear ballast box.
Other than that, haha, I really like the tractor. Getting a lot done in feathering the field edges for wildlife habitat. And I've cleaned up a huge junkyard that we could see from the house.
I'll keep posting as I make progress. I just tried to save a few $$. The deal on the tractor, was a good one!!

 

[k0ua]

Mo Pops, you might want to check out some of the internet providers for a PTO shaft.. One or the other of these might work for you.

Brush Cutter PTO Shaft

Brush Cutter PTO Shaft

 

[tman1020]

Wow you have had some bum luck. I live in Northwest Indiana this is the first real nice weather we've had that it's been dry enough. Did you consider building a ballast box not very much to them. You could just screw some plywood together put in a couple of spots for some three-point pens and fill the thing with mixed concrete when it hardens take the plywood off and Waaloa beautiful ballast. There's a lot on here about guys that have done it They even put PVC pipes down inside the Concrete for toolholders. In the meantime you could install the box blade just get a really heavy one mine weighs about 600 pounds seems to make a fine counterweight but haven't moved anything superheavy yet should be able to test that out today I'll repost As far as the three point implements I have a rule if it has a gearbox on it I always buy new plus the resale value on three point implements seems very good as long as you take care of the stuff. Pretty soon all the farm supply stores like TSC and big r should be running some sales soon I just got a great deal on a brand-new tiller I bought from a local big r store. Hope your luck changes soon.

 

[k0ua]

MoPops this is the starting point for building your ballast box, (if you choose to go that way).

CountyLine® Cross Drawbar, Category 1, 3/4 in. dia. - Tractor Supply Co.

This gives you your pins, and a place to bolt angle iron to so you can build your toplink connection by drilling a hole in the two pieces of angle iron bolted to this drawbar. All you need is a container for the concrete. (build out of wood or use a barrel) and finish any way you want.. total spent about $100 and a little time.

 

[MoPops]

Mo Pops, you might want to check out some of the internet providers for a PTO shaft.. One or the other of these might work for you.

Brush Cutter PTO Shaft

Brush Cutter PTO Shaft

Nice, thanks! I talked to the guy I got the brush cutter from, yesterday. He's got some other shafts there. I'm going to go by Thursday, and see if I can't find one a few (6) inches longer..
When it says it's measured "cross to cross", what exactly are they referring to?

Thanks

 

[arnoldziffel]

Hey MoPops,

I sent you a private message regarding a ballast box lead.

Good luck.

 

[MoPops]

MoPops this is the starting point for building your ballast box, (if you choose to go that way). CountyLine® Cross Drawbar, Category 1, 3/4 in. dia. - Tractor Supply Co. This gives you your pins, and a place to bolt angle iron to so you can build your toplink connection by drilling a hole in the two pieces of angle iron bolted to this drawbar. All you need is a container for the concrete. (build out of wood or use a barrel) and finish any way you want.. total spent about $100 and a little time.

I might end up building one. Or, just getting enough weight on a box blade that I'm covered.
Too much wasted time on it already.
The sun is shining, I'm going to go fire up the Bobcat, and the chain saw.
Thanks all, for the info.

 

[DK35vince]

When it says it's measured "cross to cross", what exactly are they referring to?

Means center of U joint to center of U joint

 

[k0ua]

MoPops, when you get back in, you might tell me how long of a PTO shaft you need measured cross to cross fully collapsed. I have one I would let go very cheap if it would fit your rig. It is in good shape, and has a good shield. It is of course 1 3/8 spline on one end and 1 3/8 smooth on the other with hole for the shear pin. So it fits a rotary cutter.

 

[MoPops]

MoPops, when you get back in, you might tell me how long of a PTO shaft you need measured cross to cross fully collapsed. I have one I would let go very cheap if it would fit your rig. It is in good shape, and has a good shield. It is of course 1 3/8 spline on one end and 1 3/8 smooth on the other with hole for the shear pin. So it fits a rotary cutter.

Center of U joint to center of U joint is 30".
I would guess I need 34-36?

 

[MoPops]

Center of U joint to center of U joint is 30". I would guess I need 34-36?

Also, there's a upper (larger) plug and a smaller (lower) plug. I'm assuming for adding gear oil.
I can't feel any oil from upper plug, and when I remove lower plug, nothing drains out. My guess is "you fill from the upper plug until it drains out the lower plug???" Just a guess. Got to get gear oil for it, before I use it.

 

[k0ua]

Also, there's a upper (larger) plug and a smaller (lower) plug. I'm assuming for adding gear oil.
I can't feel any oil from upper plug, and when I remove lower plug, nothing drains out. My guess is "you fill from the upper plug until it drains out the lower plug???" Just a guess. Got to get gear oil for it, before I use it.

You have got that figured out correctly.. Add 80W90 for starters.. then check levels. Sometimes the lower seal is no good on them, and it leaks out quickly. So check again after use for a few hours after it cools.

If it wont hold the 80W90, or similiar. then what guys do is either replace the seal, or some pack it with corn head grease. Which is like halfway between a standard NLGI 2 grease and 80W90