JD5103 & 6' Rotary Cutter

[ShookFarm]

Well, after a 30 minute soaking rain this afternoon (which we needed desperately), we hopped on and rode around for 3.5 hours idling periodically to help give the engine the varied RPM's for the break-in period. Never a whimper, never a snort, growl or shimmy. The King Kutter did the job (we just ran out of daylight). We never even sheared the pin! I'm shocked!

I don't see a need for weights right now. Brush guard, I'll investigate. We only had a couple of occasions where the front wheels lifted a little and that was when my son eased off the clutch a little too fast. He had a blast! Of course, Grandma was nervous about him going today.

I don't think my 5103 needs anything other than possibly widening the front end out a little and maybe reverse the rear tires to set them out a little too.
This Deere is awesome! Though I'd probably say that about anything right now. I don't even mind shifting the transmission!

Long live the Deere!

 

[rockyridgefarm]

YEah, I have my wheels set wide, and I filled the tires with antifreeze solution (which I get for free) I have also used washer fluid. I know calcium is the old standby, but I am sure that I would end up with a rusted heap if I did it! Filling the tires will improve stability on those hills.

 

[unreconstructed]

I have a 512 on my 5203 and was under the impression that it was the only loader compatible with 03 series. However, I think I read a post the other day that claims the next loader up, I don't remember the number, was a quick attach and fit the 03 series. Maybe someone can clear that up.

 

[HillbillyFarmer]

We purchased my wife's family farm from her grandmother in February. I also just purchased a JD5103 from my local John Deere dealer last week and I am having it delivered tomorrow (Friday, August 11, 2006). This will be used to "hog" 27 acres of pasture and food plots for deer and turkey that will be created at a later date (I've gotta find a disk and meet with the Conservation Forester!)

After finding the web site just this week, I've been reading posts everyhwere. I am so excited to find all kinds of answers to things that puzzled me. But, I have more questions. My questions evolve around the fact that I am really new to tractor ownership. I've driven small tractors on an uncle's farm when I was younger and the last tractor I drove was an International 1066 at another uncle's farm.

Our farm is 103 acres with about 27 acres of pasture bordered by a creek. After reading the manual, I see that I need to run about 2400 RPM's on the motor to keep a 540 RPM operating speed on the PTO. It appears I should be mowing in A range any one of the gears (1, 2 or 3). Is that correct?

The Nebraska Tractor Test document lists horsepower ratings and fuel consumption which leaves me a little confused. How do they get such low horsepower output with engine RPM still so high?

The rotary cutter is a 6' King Kutter, however, it only has a 40HP gearbox. How can I keep from overpowering the gearbox and how can I conserve fuel? If the engine is runing at 2400 RPM's to keep the PTO up to speed, I really can't back off too much on the throttle without reducing the PTO speed.

Help me understand the proper operation here. I don't want to damage anything and I want to be safe. For S/N's below 1798, I see that the PTO horsepower was 38 (per the owner's manual), but now it's 42. I based my cutter purchase off the 38 number I had found on the internet so I thought I'd be safe. I may have a little more power than I need, but isn't it better to be overpowered than under?

38 or 42hp, no problem with the cutter. Just stay near the proper RPMs.
Go slow, speed kills on a tractor. It will take time to get comfortable. Don't expect to be an expert operator in the first 10 hours.
Keep your seatbelt on. Your roll bar will protect you.
My mantra when mowing hillsides and tricky situations: "It aint worth dying over."