New tractor...what MUST have tools for maintenance?

[Egon]

Maybe just a few more simple items.

Rags, Pail for oil changes, funnel and some rubber gloves for the greasy chores.

Egon

 

[PineRidge]

A lot of folks here think Harbor Freight is a great place to buy tools, but I disagree. You just bought a top of the line tractor, and now you're going to buy Chinese crap to take care of it? I've always thought Craftsman's instant replacement of any broken hand tool was worth the extra you have to spend. They can make that offer, because their hand tools don't break. I have had a couple replaced and my core set of tools I got when I was 16 years old -- over 30 years ago.

While I don't advocate purchasing all your tools from Harbor Freight does it make sense to purchase a USA made tool with a price-tag of $$$$$ for something that might be used once or twice a year? Harbor Freight does meet a demand of sorts.

 

[anojones]

A 16" channel lock or heavy duty filter wrench (looks like a big round plier) to get the hydraulic filter canister open when the time comes. This is a wrench I paid $45 at Sears and could have paid less than half or that at Harbor Freight (and it was the Channel Lock brand at HF)- wish I bought it there. There are good deals at HF for tools you won't use often.

 

[RobJ]

Hand cleaner....lots of hand cleaner.

And maybe a lightweight coverall to keep your clothes sort of clean.

 

[Soundguy]

A lot of folks here think Harbor Freight is a great place to buy tools, but I disagree. You just bought a top of the line tractor, and now you're going to buy Chinese crap .

What if ya got a chinese tractor? Where does that bend the equation.

Besides. There are many tools that may be a 'use once' situation. For instance.. lets look at a tie rod seperator. Naspa lists one for 19$.. craftsman and snap on are closer to 29$.. harbor freight? 3.99$

I bought 2 from harbor freight figuring I would break one. That was 7 years ago.. still got both.. and they look identical to the 19$ Napa one..

Havn't broke any wrenches, sockets, or mauls... I've had a 4' pipe and all my weight on a 1/2" breaker bar, and fully expected it to break.. never did.. though i did upgrade to a 3/4" set a while back.

On that note.. for the price of a set of 3/4" mack sockets with breaker bar and ratchet the poster canl purchases just about every chinese tool that has been mention here.


I've got a good small sae and metric craftsman set of tools. 3/8 ratchet, and wrenches.. etc. .. and that's ok for homeowner stuff... however.. for the 1-2 times I need a 1.5" socket and a 3/4" BB.. I like the chinese 29$ set.. vs the mac 300$ set.. know what I mean?

My NH tractor has never had an alergic reaction to a chinese tool touching it's blue paint...

Soundguy

 

[RobJ]

Another good thing about the cheap HF stuff is you can buy 2 of each. Many have weekend places like I do. Impossible to haul the tools back and forth. So a $25 7" angle grinder at both places works fine. I may only need it a couple times a year. A $20 sazlall, $49 14" chop saw. Even the $80 AC. I still like my snap-on hand tools from when I was a mechanic back in the late 70's-80's. But for remote tool set 3-4-5 the others work out well.

 

[GeneD14]

One of the joys of buying new equipment is that part of the hardware is metric and part is SAE on the same tractor! So you need 2 sets of wrenches, sockets, etc...

I wish that it was one or the other.

For tools that I use frequently in my garage I buy Craftsman or similar quality. To keep in the car trunk to use once every 10 years or so HF is fine.

 

[Soundguy]

Speaking of remote areas. Nobody wants to leave expensive tools 'out' on their 'other' property. By purchasing HF tools, you can leave a good complete tool set out there for about 100$, and not cry too much if it walks off.

Soundguy

Another good thing about the cheap HF stuff is you can buy 2 of each. Many have weekend places like I do. Impossible to haul the tools back and forth. So a $25 7" angle grinder at both places works fine. I may only need it a couple times a year. A $20 sazlall, $49 14" chop saw. Even the $80 AC. I still like my snap-on hand tools from when I was a mechanic back in the late 70's-80's. But for remote tool set 3-4-5 the others work out well.

 

[firemanpat2910]

My tools that I use every day for work are mostly Snap On. But I just bought a 39.99 21 piece 3/4 drive socket set at one of those traveling tool sales. 1" to 2" sockets. They are by no means Snap On quality, but they will do the job. As to the orriginal poster, I would highly recomend an air grease gun but it is not a neccesity. I think some things that your typical tool box might not have would be:
1. liquid/air pressure gauge
2. tire valve core tool
3. adapter for putting liquid in tires
4. LARGE strap wrench
5. Cheap ball pean hammer
6. Cresent wrenches, (I hate them but tractors love them)
7.cotter pins,hair pins, clevis pins,ect
8.OFF,sunblock,bandaides
9. 2 towels (the dirty dirty one and the "clean" dirty one)
10. Saftey glasses, earplugs, and gloves
and the most important tool is that little voice that you can just hear over the roar of that big powerfull tractor... When it asks you "are you sure you want to do that?" pause for just a second and be sure you are safe.

HAPPY TRACTORING

 

[Doc_Bob]

This web site is becoming an addiction, sorta like coffee first thing in the morning kind of thing.

Shssssh! Keep it quiet. If the authorities find out how addicting this site is, they will either tax it or outlaw it!
Bob