New tractor owner- do' and dont's?
- Thread starter Wile E Kioti
- Start date
- Views: 13150
kebo
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2006
- Messages
- 2,930
- Location
- Lexington, SC
- Tractor
- 2001 John Deere 790 4x4, bar tires
Congrat's on the new tractor!! Looks great, know you are a proud owner too. Lots of excellent advice given here, not much for me to add but I will say there are lots of good threads in the Customization and Do It Yourself forums here on TBN that have lots of neat ideas on ways to customize your tractor.
Some advice that I can offer that I didn't see was to make sure that when you are operating it, there are no pet's, kids, etc around you. And wear hearing and eye protection such as when bushhogging, etc, and keep your cell phone in your pocket if you will be operating in an area that no one can see you.
Good luck with it!!
sailorman
Platinum Member
About adults, children and small pets : Tell everyone to approach you and tractor from front so you can more easily see them coming . Check under rotary cutter for pets before engaging . When finished using tractor, lower all implements to ground and release hydraulic pressure . This prevents the accidental lowering of stuff by people sitting on tractor for fun and operating levers .
kneedeep
Veteran Member
One "don't" I did not see is... Don't teach your wife how to operate your tractor - she won't want to give it back.
I missed that one :number1:
RSKY
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2003
- Messages
- 2,478
- Tractor
- Kioti CK20S
Great looking tractor! You will have fun and get lots of work done with it.
Just keep in mind that the loader and implements swing further than the turn radius. You can hit buildings, vehicles, and trees very easily until you get used to it. And don't be embarrassed when you goof up. I have operated tractors for more than forty years but I still drove my CK20 thru a fence the first week I had it.
The most useful item I have added to my CK20 has been the hooks on the bucket. Just be sure to always center the load, don't put a chain on one hook and try to lift anything. Second most useful is a carrier for a log chain. Mine is made of 4" sewer pipe with a clean out fitting on top. Then used 35 pound wire ties to mount it to the loader.
I have to agree with the guy who made the comment about not teaching your wife to operate it. My wife loves using my little tractor and she is getting better at it all the time.
Have fun and BE SAFE.
Just keep in mind that the loader and implements swing further than the turn radius. You can hit buildings, vehicles, and trees very easily until you get used to it. And don't be embarrassed when you goof up. I have operated tractors for more than forty years but I still drove my CK20 thru a fence the first week I had it.
The most useful item I have added to my CK20 has been the hooks on the bucket. Just be sure to always center the load, don't put a chain on one hook and try to lift anything. Second most useful is a carrier for a log chain. Mine is made of 4" sewer pipe with a clean out fitting on top. Then used 35 pound wire ties to mount it to the loader.
I have to agree with the guy who made the comment about not teaching your wife to operate it. My wife loves using my little tractor and she is getting better at it all the time.
Have fun and BE SAFE.
IXLR8
Veteran Member
Corollary to this... when you go out of town, take the keys with you. My wife grew up with tractors so she already knew how to run one. I had to go out of town for business and when I got back a hillside had been dug up and railroad ties put down for steps.One "don't" I did not see is... Don't teach your wife how to operate your tractor - she won't want to give it back.
PS- Just when you think you have greased all the fittings you could possibly grease.. you will find 3 more. I have had my CK30 for 5 years... I am still finding grease fittings I didn't know were there.
riptides
Super Member
One "don't" I did not see is... Don't teach your wife how to operate your tractor - she won't want to give it back.
Congrats on the new toy! :thumbsup:
Hmmm.......
If you want a bigger tractor, teach the wife to drive the one you have.
Arc weld
Veteran Member
If you are going along and bouncing or the implement is bouncing, you're going too fast.
Cordfed
Member
Great pointers.
For the sake of dialogue here is some more, just to keep folks thinking:
-Buy a couple yellow diesel cans and only put diesel in them. Ever. If you don't have an empty red gas can sitting around buy one at the same time and keep it near the yellow ones so you are never ever tempted to put the wrong fuel in a can and hence make a mistake later.
-look online for a Baldwin or other filter distributor- look for deals on your filters before you need them to save some cash. Also always gave a fuel filter, and pre filter if the machine has one.
-always park it out of the rain so it will last.
-let it warm up before revving the throttle up to go to work and always back the throttle off before shutting off the engine- you don't want the turbo to keep spinniong once it is off, you can burn them out without oil pressure goin to them, depending on the machine of course.
-if you have people inexperienced with PTO's and other equipment hazards show them what happens when a rag or stick is tossed in a spinning PtO.
- always put down the implements so little kids and fools don't get crushed when they are playing on it when you aren't looking.
-always check your engine oil and keep all the grease zerks wet but don't go too crazy otherwise grease gets all over the shop.
-buy off road diesel, save a little money!
-Never walk under a raised load, meaning the bucket or backhoe.
-be smooth with the controls and not jerky, slow your joysticks before you change direction or stop.
-if loading the machine on a trailer NEVER let anyone stand next to the trailer as you drive up or off it in case you slide off the side. I've seen it happen
-save your old engine oil and build a drip oil heater in your shop.
-wash it often, helps you check for cracks in metal if you are workig it real hard, it looks better, and it let's people know you care about it.
For the sake of dialogue here is some more, just to keep folks thinking:
-Buy a couple yellow diesel cans and only put diesel in them. Ever. If you don't have an empty red gas can sitting around buy one at the same time and keep it near the yellow ones so you are never ever tempted to put the wrong fuel in a can and hence make a mistake later.
-look online for a Baldwin or other filter distributor- look for deals on your filters before you need them to save some cash. Also always gave a fuel filter, and pre filter if the machine has one.
-always park it out of the rain so it will last.
-let it warm up before revving the throttle up to go to work and always back the throttle off before shutting off the engine- you don't want the turbo to keep spinniong once it is off, you can burn them out without oil pressure goin to them, depending on the machine of course.
-if you have people inexperienced with PTO's and other equipment hazards show them what happens when a rag or stick is tossed in a spinning PtO.
- always put down the implements so little kids and fools don't get crushed when they are playing on it when you aren't looking.
-always check your engine oil and keep all the grease zerks wet but don't go too crazy otherwise grease gets all over the shop.
-buy off road diesel, save a little money!
-Never walk under a raised load, meaning the bucket or backhoe.
-be smooth with the controls and not jerky, slow your joysticks before you change direction or stop.
-if loading the machine on a trailer NEVER let anyone stand next to the trailer as you drive up or off it in case you slide off the side. I've seen it happen
-save your old engine oil and build a drip oil heater in your shop.
-wash it often, helps you check for cracks in metal if you are workig it real hard, it looks better, and it let's people know you care about it.