New LS R4041EZ on the way- question

[DwightD123]

Well I have been reading posts here for weeks soaking up knowledge and BS from all of you. After weeks of comparison shopping and hints to the wife about how much work I could get done, I committed and bought a new LS R4041EZ and it should be arriving this weekend. I haven't slept much since I bought it and as the arrival approaches I am having less luck with my sleep schedule. This is the most excited I have been since my first car and my first girlfriend. Hopefully this tractor will last longer than both.
I cleaned out the pole barn, had a long talk with my '49 Cub and made a space for the new girl. So now come the questions, experiences and mistakes (hopefully not too many).
I have 2 questions right now I would appreciate some help with. I have very little experience with these new fangled things as you can tell by the year of my current tractor. The PTO in particular is one are where I need some explanation. It says it is Full Independent or Manual. I have read the article Power Take Off School and it makes sense but what is the real world application for when I would choose one over the other?
Secondly does anyone have experience with the EZ Shift? What do I need to be aware of when using these different modes of PTO with the EZ Shift?
Thanks in advance and looking forward to getting to know you guys.
Dwight
-Mt Vernon IL

 

[boomer632]

Dwight

I have the same tractor you will be getting soon. Ill start with the PTO. I have a 6 foot finish mower on the back of mine and run the PTO in the "independent" mode. With it there I can back up change direction feather the clutch to start and stop all while the pto is still turning the mower. If it were in "manual".. the PTO would stop every time you pushed the clutch in. As far as the EZ shift.. Its OK I guess. I dont use the push button too often. 95% of the time.. I use the transmission just like a regular standard. The clutch does have a different feel to it which you will have to get used to. If you dont mind me asking how much did you pay for the tractor out the door.. tax included? I paid $20.000.00 for mine delivered with loader.

 

[DwightD123]

Boomer,
Sounds like we got real close to the same deal.. I am at $19,600 but am tax exempt. So it sounds like your dealer gave you a better deal but Uncle Sam kicked it up a bit.
Kinda bummed to hear the EZ shift isn't as useful as I thought it might be. Why do you think you don't use it very much? Oh and by the way I test drove a G3038 and I know what you mean about the clutch...it's different.

Thanks for the independent/manual explanation. I just needed an example to put it all in perspective.

 

[boomer632]

I just seem to prefer clutching rather than messing with the push button. I guess if I told myself to use it I would get use to it. Oh and a little tip.. its not mentioned anywhere in the manual, but if you look up under the clutch area you will find a hook that you use to keep the pedal depressed. Useful when you have to start and shut down the engine while not on the tractor. Nice little anti theft device too. Let me know if your brake light comes on when you use the brakes. There has been some discussion of whether that is normal or not.

 

[DwightD123]

Good Info Boomer- Thanks
I will let you know on the brake light. I am supposed to get it Thursday or Friday and will use the heck out of it...Of course it will rain just to mess with my patience- cause thats how it works.
I am second guessing the Ag Tire decision but too late now. I have some pretty good hills and a swampy bottom (at the farm too) so I went with those to hopefully avoid getting stuck.
The clutch hook as a theft deterrent- so in other words hook the latch and hope that they don't figure out it has a latch which would mean it would not move ...just be in gear. Every step helps!

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

... Oh and a little tip.. its not mentioned anywhere in the manual, but if you look up under the clutch area you will find a hook that you use to keep the pedal depressed. Useful when you have to start and shut down the engine while not on the tractor. Nice little anti theft device too. ...

Not too sure how good of an anti-theft device my little clutch hook is as it releases when I push down the pedal with my foot. BUT, I was told by my dealer that I should use it when letting the tractor sit for a any significant length of time to prevent the clutch from rusting to the flywheel (or whatever). He said that they had actually had it happen to a guy and had to bring his LS into the shop to fix it. Guess it is more of a problem in moist climates like SE Texas. Anyway, I decided to use it every time I stow it just in case.

 

[DwightD123]

More good info...THanks Little Blue. This has me thinking...I wonder what other Anti-Theft rigs people have come up with. I will see if there is a thread and if not I will start one.

 

[Short Game]

Yeah, great to be reminded of the clutch lock. I wish I was thinking of it while I've been doing so much work on my new 4010, making the mods for all my old gizmos. The idea of it ever sitting around long enough for the clutch to rust is very strange indeed.

 

[DwightD123]

Well I worked her hard. I am happy with it. It does seem to be persnickity on 2nd Gear...doesn't like to go in but every tractor has it's quirks. Oh and Boomer yes, the Parking Brake light does go on when I push down the brakes.
All in all I got a lot of work done and that's why I got it. I am getting used to it and I expect we will get to know each other pretty well.
Does anyone else have that issue with 2nd gear?

 

[Short Game]

No problem hitting second gear, but finding the ranges is tricky. Gotta kinda feel 'em in. Sometimes I have to let the clutch up while in a gear to get it to fall into the range I'm trying for.