New 4310 owner with ?

[LadyHorseFarmer]

Hi, I just received my new 4310 with the 430 loader, ballast box and Imatch QH. Really, I have not used it at all yet - 3.7 hours and it came to me with 2. I have used the FEL to move sand in my riding arena a bit and get the feel of it.

Please know that I am not mechanically inclined. I grew up a city girl but I can read and learn fairly quickly. I have had a hobby farm for 6 years and it has been a crash course in learning about everything from fencing to pole barns to pasture management.

Now back to tractors... I love the IMatch but I can't get the JD503 rotary mower I own configured for the top connection because the bolts connecting the AFrame (I guess that is what it is called) are so tight they don't budge. I have sprayed them well with WD40 but would love any suggestions you have for loosening bolts that seem to be glued in place.

I previously had an older blue tractor (without a FEL) that did not have a quick hitch, so the top of the cutter was set farther back.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Try heating the nut with a propane torch, or give it a couple of hits with a hamer to maybe break some rust or try sliding a pipe over the wrench to give some more leverage. Try em' all or in combination and I am pretty sure it will come off.

If you don't have a torch one of those water bucket heaters looped over the nut will heat things up pretty good in a few minutes.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Just be carefull with that cheater pipe!! SOMEONE I know bopped himself in fa mouf wif one a dose. I won say who...

Glad to have you around we sure like helpin each other!

 

[Chief]

WD-40 is not the best penetrant oil. I would suggest soaking good with PB Blaster, this stuff works very good. Let is set for a few hours and spray it again and let is set for a few hours. Use a 6 point socket on a breaker bar and wrench to try to break the fasteners loose. Even better if you can get access to a pneumatic impact wrench. Then try the heat with a heat gun or propane torch. Good luck and watch those knuckles! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JimmyD]

You might also try soaking the threads with a good penetrating oil and then scrubbing them clean with a wire brush. Please be careful if you use a torch after putting a solvent on the threads.

 

[LadyHorseFarmer]

Thanks, I got some help from someone stronger, my husband. I am so independent - I would like to tackle this on my own but I know when I am over my head. We were able to get the top loose - now here is the latest dilema - the top link seems to want to pop out of the iMatch while connecting to the cutter. I am ready to give the iMatch up and just connect the old fashione way. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Can someone with a 503 cutter tell me how they connect the top link so that it will not pop up when connecting via the iMatch?

Thanks so much for your assistance. I have been reading on this site for about 2 months and I also went through waiting for my machine like many others.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You might double check with your dealer if the 503 cutter is I-match compatible. The Imatch hitch was introduced in 2001 and some JD attachments built before then are not compatible with the hitch. I know some people that have had their dealer (or any good welder) modify their non-compatible attachments to work with the Imatch hitch.

If you change implements often, the Imatch is worth the effort of getting your implements compatible in my opinion.

 

[wisconsinguy]

hi

I have the Imatch also and I think if you spend a little time to get your implements set up, it will work great for you. I'm not familar with your cutter so it's hard to coment, maybe you have to adjust the top link a bit to get the hook to engage. Maybe a pic would help. Or is the spacing off with the bottom pins engaged is the top hook not fully engaged. Since you just bought a new tractor maybe your dealer would help set it up or might be a good excuse to get a new cutter that is compatible with the Imatch,

later
Phil

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I love my iMatch (except the price of the adapters... $14/each). I do know that you need to get it setup right. I would guess that the top of the iMatch is angled somehow.
I have a tiller, rotary cutter, and ballast box that all go in and out just like the marketing brochure would show. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Anyway that is what I would suggest looking at.
Give us a picture of how it is hooked up.

Shari
4310 MFWD eHydro, 430 FEL, 47 BH, LX5 cutter, 550 tiller, iMatch

 

[LadyHorseFarmer]

I was about to give up on the iMatch for the 503 cutter and just backed up to the cutter without the iMatch on. This is so much EASIER than wil the older tractor I had before. The tractor is so easy to manuever. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Nice and exactly what I had in mind when I invested in this machine.

Alas, it is still not to be. The pins don't fit on the lower arms of the tractor - too big on the cutter. Someday, I will get to mow.

I will call my dealer for assistance and I do hope there is an adapter of some sort for the 503 to work with the iMatch.

I may get the MX5 if it comes to that - this needs to be easy or I will not use it. I know this from experience - I put 10 hours on the older tractor I had in 2 years. And it ran very well.

For now, I will work on my arena footing with the FEL. This is pretty fun.