New 4710 questions - sorta long.

[timb]

Brain-picking time.

Now that I've been able to run the 4710 a few hours (not nearly enough!) and look things over closely - I've got a couple of minor questions. Compared to the old tractors I'm used to this thing works great but I never had another 'new' tractor to compare it to. I've noticed a few things that I'm not sure are issues at all - just want to get confirmation or feedback from other owners.

1 - I noticed that I wasn't able to pick up the MX6 at idle - it shifted position a bit but certainly was in no hurry to come up (but I didn't wait very long). Just a slight blip of the foot throttle and it jumps right up. Normal? (Rate of drop is set for a nice controlled drop with the MX6).

2 - I do see leak down on the 460 - while cutting I set the one bucket edge so it was eyeball aligned with the hood guard and I could keep an eye on it. Somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes later I noticed that it had dropped enough that I could see the difference and had to tweak the stick to bring it back. Not exactly a scientific test but there is definitely slow settling. I know there will be leak down - does this sound like about a normal rate or a little fast?

3 - At idle and with the bucket flat I can barely get the front end to rise (less than an inch?) with the boom cylinders. Bucket edge down and more RPMS and it seemed to pick up the front end a few more inches and very quickly - then stop abrubtly. I think I'm running into geometry limits, not power but I need to check this out more carefully next time. Comments?

4 - Tilt Steering. Mine still moves OK but seems a little sticky. I know this area has been problematic for other owners. Any advice on best lube (plastic compatible) to spritz in there? I'm thinking a silicon spray that would dry and not be a dirt magnet.

5 - I did notice a minor (and faint) gear-type whine from the rear when I was in B range, and 3rd or 4th gear (no real load). Normal for this tranny/diff or?

6 - Brakes work well - but do give a bit of a 'grounch' when used firmly and moving at more than a granny pace - especially in reverse. Normal? Will it change over time as things settle in?

7 - Really dumb question. How full do you guys fill the tank? I topped it up pretty close to the filler neck but not quite there and the gauge still read about 1/8 down from full. I wasn't sure how prone it would be to splash/heat expansion weeping if I filled it any higher.

8 (and last for now!) - OK - so far I love it but I got "the look" from the CFO when I got it out just to look, poke and take pictures on Sunday. Seems there was an opinion that there were more important 'to-do's' waiting. I need the best line to respond - something on the line of "I need to make sure I've gone over everthing with 30 days" or something. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DK_Farms]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Brain-picking time.

1 - I noticed that I wasn't able to pick up the MX6 at idle - it shifted position a bit but certainly was in no hurry to come up (but I didn't wait very long). Just a slight blip of the foot throttle and it jumps right up. Normal? (Rate of drop is set for a nice controlled drop with the MX6). <font color="red"> My 4610/MX6 does the same thing.</font>

2 - I do see leak down on the 460 - while cutting I set the one bucket edge so it was eyeball aligned with the hood guard and I could keep an eye on it. Somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes later I noticed that it had dropped enough that I could see the difference and had to tweak the stick to bring it back. Not exactly a scientific test but there is definitely slow settling. I know there will be leak down - does this sound like about a normal rate or a little fast? <font color="red"> I cut for 3 hours at a time and I notice a very slight drop but I attribute that to the hard bouncing of the loader because I cut very rough ground.</font>

3 - At idle and with the bucket flat I can barely get the front end to rise (less than an inch?) with the boom cylinders. Bucket edge down and more RPMS and it seemed to pick up the front end a few more inches and very quickly - then stop abrubtly. I think I'm running into geometry limits, not power but I need to check this out more carefully next time. Comments? <font color="red"> If your talking about lifting the front wheels off the ground, I have to have the rpm's turned up to do that as well.</font>

4 - Tilt Steering. Mine still moves OK but seems a little sticky. I know this area has been problematic for other owners. Any advice on best lube (plastic compatible) to spritz in there? I'm thinking a silicon spray that would dry and not be a dirt magnet. <font color="red"> Mine broke and I had it repaired under warranty. I spray mine with WD-40.</font>

5 - I did notice a minor (and faint) gear-type whine from the rear when I was in B range, and 3rd or 4th gear (no real load). Normal for this tranny/diff or? <font color="red"> I have an e-hydro and it makes different noises at different times depending on gear/speed/load/time of day/moon phase/etc. I learned as a kid on the farm that over time you will be able to discern what is a "good" noise and what is a "bad" noise.</font>

6 - Brakes work well - but do give a bit of a 'grounch' when used firmly and moving at more than a granny pace - especially in reverse. Normal? Will it change over time as things settle in? <font color="red"> My 4610 brakes do the same thing. The "grounch" is an undocumented feature that JD has built in to the tractor for no extra charge. That sound lets you know that you are trying to drive off with the parking brake still set. (Not that I have ever done that!!)</font>

7 - Really dumb question. How full do you guys fill the tank? I topped it up pretty close to the filler neck but not quite there and the gauge still read about 1/8 down from full. I wasn't sure how prone it would be to splash/heat expansion weeping if I filled it any higher. <font color="red"> My fuel gauge reads the same way and this is even after the sender was replaced under warranty. Before I had the fuel sender replaced, I could fill it up and it would only show half a tank. From a linearity standpoint, the gauge is still very inaccurate. From experience, I have been able to estimate fuel consumption/refill requirement by time rather than relying on the gauge. With the cap on snug, and filled to the brim, I have never seen any fuel splash or seep.</font>

8 (and last for now!) - OK - so far I love it but I got "the look" from the CFO when I got it out just to look, poke and take pictures on Sunday. Seems there was an opinion that there were more important 'to-do's' waiting. I need the best line to respond - something on the line of "I need to make sure I've gone over everthing with 30 days" or something. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )</font> <font color="red"> Sorry, bud. You're on your own with THIS one. </font>

 

[timb]

Re #3 - yep, I worded that badly but I was talking about picking up the front wheels.

So it sounds as if except for *maybe* loader leak down things are normal enough.

Can leak down only be fairly assessed with the engine running and rpms up? I was never sure if 'power off' was a fair test or not. There are published JD leak down specs and if I could just park it, measure the bucket height/angle and come back 3 hours later to re-measure it would be a piece of cake to accurately measure the movement over time. All I noticed was it definitely seemed to drop - but how much was difficult to say accurately. It was enought that I felt I had to bump the DSCV a smidge to bring it back.

 

[green4710]

Timb,

All the things you mentioned regarding your 4710, mine does the exact thing. It needs a few rpms to pick up heavy stuff on the 3 point, a few rpms to lift the front wheels off, although i f you wait a bit, mine will pick the wheels off to get the loader off at idle. Mines a hydro, so not sure about the gear noise though. Overall, sounds like yours is fine....good luck with it. These things are great.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

She wants you to get your own tractor and quit messin with hers!

 

[timb]

heh heh. She hasn't even been on it yet. I have to convince her I like it, but it's tricky to drive. Since she's uncomfortable with manual tranny's anyway - I get away with it for now.

The real problem started because I took a break from the home repairs and had the 4710 out cruising and playing while she was using the walk-behind to cut the yard, the 318 being ill right now.

I got 'the look' but when I actually told her to "hurry up, you're in my way"... well... for some reason that didn't go over all that well. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Hey - it's a self-propelled mower, what's the problem! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[BillyP]

Tim, I was out bush hogging yesterday and thought about some of your questions.

I have a JD 616 rotary cutter and at idle (1,000 RPMs) it takes 6 seconds for it to raise all the way.

My fuel gauge has never been right and it's been changed twice and the sending unit once. Right now, when it's completely full, it reads about 7/8. When the tank isn't full, the needle bounces around.

I don't have the loader on so I didn't check that.

I had a problem with the tilt sticking but they sprayed it with something and it's OK now. I never use tilt anyway.

I have the 4610 eHydro.

 

[Tractors4u]

Re: #3

Yes it is a limits of geometry thing. The booms are limited in their downward travel. If you want to lift the wheels off of the ground, roll the bucket.

 

[green4710]

My 460 FEL on my 4710 will lift the wheels off the ground without rolling the bucket. I have the bucket level and it takes a few seconds at idle, but it will lift them about 3 inches off the ground.

 

[Tractors4u]

I guess I wasn't completely clear. Lifting with the boom wil get your wheels off the ground, but how much depends on the model. It is usually only 2 to 3 inches, sometimes less, sometimes more but not often. To get them higher off the ground roll the bucket.