L4310 Enhancements

[MChalkley]

Gordon & Wen - (See - I covered my bases this time!) It's unfortunate that such precautions are necessary, but it seems they are. As I've said before, I've got mixed feelings as to whether all the modifications make my tractor more or less likely to get stolen, but I'm not taking any chances. I know one thing - it sure draws a crowd already, just because of the tires, I think. When everything else is done, it'll be ten times worse, I expect. I've got mixed feelings about that, too. It increases the exposure to the number of folks who might want to steal it, but it also means that more folks would recognize it as being mine. Ya pays yer money an ya takes yer chances, I guess...

As for chaining the trailer down, in really worrisome situations, I've thought about looping the chain through each wheel and locking it at each wheel. Then, they'd need to replace all the wheels, or cut all six locks or the chain in six places. But I need to find a discount source of good quality keyed-alike locks for that approach. Anybody have any ideas? Has anybody seen any of those locking chocks that clamp between two tires? That would be the best solution, I think. Probably too expensive, though.

Mark

 

[Bird]

Yep, Mark, that dress material is about like traveling./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif When I briefly checked the cigarette light, I just happened to hit exactly the right spot with the probe to get 12.6 volts so thought it checked out right, but this morning did some more checking and found that most places were zero to 5 volts; need to replace the receptacle because of corrosion (my fault for spraying water on it when I was washing the tractor in the past). I didn't really want to tear the dash and instrument panel apart, but I've wondered just how bad a job it would be (not too bad), and of course, that's what I had to do to get the old one out./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I have to go to town later today anyway to return a couple of grandkids to their rightful owners, so I'll pick one up.

And I learned that parts are no longer available for my 5 year old "made in Mexico" Miller welder, so I've also got to find a hi/lo range selector switch that'll work even if it doesn't fit the existing hole in the case.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Loop a chain or cable through a 2 3/8 pipe 8.5 feet long between the tandem trailer tires. Makes a wonderful brake if someone accidentally tries to drive off with it when it gets under the rear tires. Guess wheel locks are just as effective, but cost more.

I put heavy duty tie downs in my barn to chain implements, 3 wheelers, etc.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I want to see a picture of this 4310. Sounds like some one has lots of time on their hands.

 

[MChalkley]

Actually, if I had some more time on my hands, I'd work on it more than one day a week, and it wouldn't be taking 3 months to get it done.

I'm putting a temperature gauge in the console, as I said before, with a rotary switch to select one of several temperature sensors. One will go on the pipe that goes from the HST to the oil cooler. Another will measure the water temperature, and I was undecided what to do with the third one. So, today I decided I would try to put it on the dipstick, which is where it's designed to fit in the first place. You just epoxy it to the dipstick, but you also have to drill a hole in the rubber plug for the wires to go through. Anyway, I called my dealer today because I didn't want to screw up my only dipstick and I wish I could've taped the conversation. It went pretty much word for word like this: "How much would a new dipstick cost?" "Not much. Why, did you lose yours?" "Um, no." "So, why do you need another one? Are you... <silence> No, never mind, don't tell me. I don't even want to know." As I've said before, the man's not dumb... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Just put the tractor in the garage, which has a monitored alarm on it so the police can be notified while you're away, or get insurance.

In the garage...GOOD, they can't see it

In the garage...BAD, if they do get in no garage door's going to stop them from taking it out!

I still like my tractor-that-lives-outdoors idea, that being about a yard of concrete you drive over with a protected lock and bracket welded on the tractor bottom somewhere.

Oops in Wens case make that 2 yards!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Oh and Mark, you mentioned the pallet forks, do yours attach on the bottom of the bucket or just the top? Mine just hang from the top, great for pallets, worthless for carrying and dumping logs exactly where you want them, I'm going to have to make a set of chains or something to hold the bottoms against the bucket edge so they don't just swing down without "dumping" when I want them to. (run a chain or strap up the backside of the bucket. They hang about 6 inches below the bucket.

 

[MChalkley]

Del - Nope, my pallet forks just hang, but I've used a ratchet binder strap to hold them in place and it worked fine.

Mark

 

[MChalkley]

Latest update: The overhead console is complete and installed. The crank-prevent security switch is functioning, as well as the HST temperature gauge, motion beepers (manually activated by an On/Off/On toggle switch), hour meter and accessory outlet. Still to be done are front and rear lights (though the switches are installed), coolant and oil temp sensors, and the hidden start-prevent switch that activates the fuel stop solenoid.

The importance of the security switches has been emphasized to me by a rash of tractor thefts around here lately. I've heard or read of 5 in the last few weeks.

In the couple hours I've used it since the HST temperature sensor has been installed, HST temps have ranged (after thoroughly warming up) from 155 to 170 degrees. Not quite as high as I expected, but I haven't worked it very hard yet, either.

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark sounds like your good to go with all the improvements and safeguards. On another subject could you tell what the maint. intervals you use on the air filters, oil filter, and oil change. Just curious
Thanks

 

[gordon]

Mark after you install the lights what is there left to do to it?
I can relate to the tractor thefts one of the first things I'm going to do is put a no start on my new tractor. Don't have to worry to much about my current tractor I know that I could leave the key in it and no one would touch it./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
My list of add ons is just starting be glad yours is almost complete. I know that I've gotten alot of ideas off this on going thread. Thanks for the info shared!!
Gordon