Canopy Massey Ferguson 1560 w/ 1530 Front Loader

[Mustache]

@Blunderbore, essentially it's like this one, only bigger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sogd6JcMBy0

The width is equivalent to the width of the Quick Attach plate. In comparison to the video it is also more flat, so I can dig up trees with a bigger root ball radius. I took me 2 or 3 trees to learn to dig out bigger root balls, so they survive. I also learned to keep the north-south orientation of how the tree grew...No, I know the leave end of the tree has to stand up and the roots go into the ground,hahaha. I mean, to keep the branches that were growing to the North before, pointed to the same direction.

For lifting the bigger trees I use the forks and a tow strap wrapped around the trunk and then lifting and moving. Works pretty well. When planting I avoid stakes, seems to make them more sturdy in the ground.

I'll take some pictures next time I'm at it.

 

[Mustache]

Soooooo, it looks like I still have a cold start issue with the 1560. It works great all summer, but once it gets cold (around freezing and under) I have issue with the starting.
I now realized something: At those cold temperatures and if the tractor has been sitting for a week or more, when starting the engine the PTO starts to turn. The PTO switch (electronic) is turned off and I don't see a light in the dash that would suggest the PTO is engaged. Yet the shaft is turning for a few seconds at typical start up speeds.
When I realized this, I had the bushhog mounted on the back and the blades made a rumble and when I turned around I saw the bushhog running. I immediately hit the PTO switch, but it took a few more seconds for the PTO to stop. Well stopping as in loosing speed.
I am 100% certain that the switch was off (the tractor does not start with the PTO engaged) yet the PTO ran when starting.
I did do some research and read something that cold hydraulic il could be between the clutch and basically cause a friction connection in the clutch. Once the oil warms up a bit, the friction is lower and the PTO stops.
Any idea if that makes sense and what I would do about it? The hydraulic oil is only 50 hours old at best and I put in a new filter as well. I had no shavings on the hydraulic oil circuit magnet either.
For now I am planning on putting a magnetic heater on the rear axle housing, but that can't be the solution and I am not sure if that will be sufficient at minus 30 celsius.
Any ideas and suggestions welcome.
I will probably post this in some other sub-forum as well to get better results.
Thank you folks !!!

 

[Mustache]

Oh, one more thing, I was brush cutting this spring and ripped off the drain valve of the cooling system. Luckily I saw that pretty much immediately. And of course maybe two weeks after I had just changed the coolant. New valve set me back maybe $10 plus the new coolant and of course my time.

Royal pain in the *** and the location of that drain valve is definitely a big design flaw. Same thing happened to the first owner too...