New equipment woes

[DUMBDOG]

It depends upon the year and condition of the mulch. We have left it on for two years, but it starts to get pretty ratty by the end of the year and does not hold down the weeds as well. It also depends upon crop rotation. We do not use pesticides or fertilizer, so crop rotation is a must and you do not always have enough rows in the right place, even if it is a 40 acre garden. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[HRS]

Yes, Jerry, I have been a little mad about this. However, I nearly have all the problems fixed and I do get some satisfaction from fixing things myself. So, I will not complain too much. As long as the guys are willing to answer my questions when I call, I'll be nice.

 

[HRS]

Dave, the brand is NH. Both the rotary cutter and the tiller are a nice blue match for the tractor, just something I wanted to do. These guys won my business because they didn't argue with me when I said I wanted NH equipment. Another guy I really liked strongly suggested Bushhog, another very good brand, but it was not what I was looking for at this time.

I don't blame the dealer for the zerk on the cutter. I think them come installed from the factor. This was a very minor fix, just irritating.

The tiller problem was the dealer's goof. I saw several NH tillers on his lot in the crates. The arms that allow for the top hitch point had to be installed at the dealership. One of his boys just put a spacer in the wrong place. He had two very young guys out helping us, so I suppose they were the ones who put it together. They will learn.

 

[HRS]

Roy, I think it fell on my wallet. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[HRS]

jinman, one of these days I'm actually going to get a digital camera. I still hold to the 35mm, but I am tempted to go modern. The "spacer" was truely a spacer. By this I mean that without it, the top hitch point would not work at all. It was just placed in the wrong spot. I figure the guys placed it on the top hitch point, because in that position, the hitch bolt and linch pin could quickly be slid through and connected, thus holding the top pretty secure while they alligned and fastened the bolts on the bottom of the arms. However, they forgot to reposition before securing the top bolts. Kind of sounds like something I would have done. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I should have caught this at the dealer. I picked up the equipent and the dealer hooked the tiller in this very spot and used his fork lift to carry it to the trailer. I was actually the one who placed the hook. But did I catch it then. No, I waited until I got it home to discover it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Good luck with your tiller. I will try mine out this coming week.

 

[HRS]

Concerning that barrier fabric, make sure you have some good way to secure it to the ground.

jinman, I think your fear of the newspaper thing is well founded.

For the first time this year, I covered every inch of the garden I have in my backyard with this black fabric. I found some by Preene sold at Sams. Each roll was 4 feet wide and 250 feet long. It took three of them to cover everything, so that will give you an idea of its size. I already have my garden bedded, weeper hose layed in each 20 ft bed, and covered. I've been working on this in spare moments for several weeks. With this fabric, came these little wires that you drive into the ground to secure it. What a joke! The wind undressed my garden a couple of times before I could properly secure it. I ripped up a few 2x4's into strips. these I dropped into the row centers, pounded in small wooden stakes and secured these wooden runners to stakes with a screw. We have had at least two hard windstorms since, and everything has held this time. It was a lot of work, but I am determined to walk through my garden without tripping over weeds this summer. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DUMBDOG]

The mulch layer was one of the items that I purchased that we had to put together where the manual was lacking in instructions. It has taken two years, but finally figured it out at the end of last season where you can drive the tractor and when you are done, now you do not have to go back and check the sides to make sure that they are covered with dirt to hold down the sides. It also lays drip line under the mulch at the same time.

 

[HRS]

Well, I think that I've got all the bugs worked out of everything. I've checked it out each night this week, and I will put it all to work this weekend and first of next. Can't wait! Also, I should have been more deligent about checking over the trailer before I used it. I took a tire iron to the wheels last night and what happened sent cold chills down my spine. They were far from being tight. I mean some were down right loose. I made one easy revolution on just about every one, more on others. And this was just to take the slack out before I really got down on them. But they should not fall off now.

 

[daTeacha]

Depending on the ink used in your local paper, you may be introducing some heavy metals into your diet if you use newspaper as a mulch. Some worry about that, some don't.

With the wood chips, plan to let them compost into mulch and humus for a year or two or they will alter your soil pH. Of course, depending on your soil, you might want that.

 

[JonL]

This brings up a good point. I always go through my new equipment when it comes home - tractors, trucks and motorcycles. That includes all fluids, nuts and bolts, and cosmetics. Perfect example - my wife and I purchased a TC-23 with FEL and 60 mmm. I went through it before we did anything. After I mowed, I noticed a large bolt on the mower deck. One of the bolts that hold the gear box to the frame had come loose. Out they all came and then they were lock-tited back on. I can't expect the dealer to catch all assembly problems. With reasonable attention and maintenance, many problems and surprises can be avoided. I guess I am lucky. I enjoy wrenching my equipment.