Need tips for new tractors

[JayinNH]

Any little tricks for maximizing the performance of a new tractor that the dealership doesn't include or tell you about.I have heard about filling the tires. It what areas does that help. Some of the land that I own is swampy. Is that a wise move to fill the tires? Is there anything to do to maximize the performance of the engine that is inexpensive? Any little tips would be great.

 

[Boondox]

Experience in the driver's seat

Pete in Northern Vermont

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[rmacan]

JayinNH,
I'd read the section here on tractor safety and do everything slow to start with. You can get in a lot of trouble quicker than you can bat an eye if you are not very careful. I'm not trying to scare you, just relating my experience from reading this board. I'm a new tractor owner too, and I think the people here have saved me from making some of the more common mistakes that can turn out to be fatal. Performance is not usually much of an issue unless you are an order of magnitude off in what you ask a given machine to do.

 

[JayinNH]

Thanks for the advice. This site is a great reference for someone who doesn't have much experience with tractors. This will be my first farm/commercial tractor and I intend to take it slow.I appreciate all the good tips, thanks.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi Jay,

I second Pete's observation.

It's a little presumptuous of me to speak up on this topic, since I am completely new to tractors myself, ...but I've been studying hard at TBN University for the last year-and-a-half or so. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Based on what I think I've learned here, I'd bet that the single thing that would most improve your tractor's performance would be to train the operator to a high level-of-competence.

By comparison, any "hot-rodding" tips would be wasted effort, ...if you can't get the most out of what you've got, how will getting "more" help?
/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Using the rig will let you know about any areas which could stand a little improvement, THEN you can decide what to put (more of)your time and
money into.

Good luck, and happy tractorin'!

/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Larry

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Larry,

Does this mean I can no longer blame lousy work on my lousy Kubota, NH, JD?

You're saying there could be another possibliity?

Lousy me?

DRAT! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

del/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[john_bud]

Jay,

I am a relative newbie in the tractor seat, but the best performance upgrade goes between the ears of the operator! Here are some web locations to visit to learn more about safe operations. There's a reason farming is one of the most dangerous occupations, it's the equipment.

Read, learn, interact, but above all else think! Oops, sorry, dern soap box jumped under my feet /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

http:// [url]http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/menus/toptrac.html [/url]
http:// [url]http://www.equiptrain.com/tlbbook.htm [/url]

Have some fun and don't get hurt!
John Bud

 

[art]

Jay, Kubota has a little book on tractor safety that is available for free. To be able to tell someone all there is to know about tractor operation on your parcel can only be done by visiting it. The operator is the main key as to what can be done with a piece of equipment. I've found watched machinery being run a lot of different ways and with varied results. On the calcium in the swamp, if there is a bottom to it the extra weight will get you there faster if there isn't it will still get you there faster. For the swamp the wider the tire the better to float across with less ground disturbance if you don't want ruts to go across the next time.

 

[AndyR]

Jay: Take your time and get to know your vehicle is one of the better safety items. As for extras and swamp stuff, I'd get a good set of chains . Also, be careful of those soft spots - you can drop a tire in a squishy real easy... You may also want to practice scoop-walking; put your bucket face down and raise the front end a little, put ractor into reverse (SLOWLY) and rotate the bucket at the same time. This gets your front end out of the muck and snow in a straight line (front wheels slightly elevated so no steering).

Now putting on my NH Conservation Commissioner hat - whaddya doin in a swamp with a machine /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif (get your permits - trust me - its much cheaper that way)/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

Andy in NH

 

[JayinNH]

Andy,
I see what you mean by chains. You doctored your baby up nice.I know a somewhat cheap investment like chains will pay for itself right away for me. The snow is melting and the soup season has started. Thanks for the advice. Do you know of a reasonable place to purchase chains?