newb with a brand new D series

[kdennan]

Hey there,
I just got a new toolcat last weekend and have put it right to work.
I have a loaner SB 200 blower (72") and it seems to work great. I am waiting for bobcat to send the dealer my High flow model. I was going to post in the current thread of snowblower use, but thought I better start a new one to introduce myself.
I manage 400 acres in the mountains of southern Vermont. I have a 60hp Kubota tractor (07' M6040) an a 95' Kubota KX-41, mini-excavator. I also just got an 08' F-350 (diesel) with a Fisher Extreme-V plow and a Fisher Pro-Caster sander for the driveway. I know of a few Landscapers that have the toolcat and I also found this forum when I was researching before making the deal. This forum made a big positive impact on my decision to buy the Toolcat, so thank you!
We looked into side-by-sides like the Kubota RTV as a machine that I could use to move material for trail construction, etc. But they all seem like hopped up golf carts compared to the Toolcat. I want to get rid of the bushhog behind the tractor so I can regain movement of my neck, so the mower in front makes perfect sense. The payload is a big plus because I need to be able to transport gravel from my boneyard up to a mile to wet trail sections that require building up.
For now, winter is here and the weather has been crazy around here. Lots of ice.
I am curious about the snowblower. I have never owned one other than my little two-smoke deck blower so I am going to ask some silly questions. Is it okay if some gravel or inch-minus crushed stone is tossed thru that thing?

Next: When I am traveling in high range, is it normal for the machine to slow quite a bit on hills? Were talking a dirt road so no more than 8% grade on these two spots. I don't know if this is the way it is or if I should be dropping down to low range. I don't want to do any damage to the drive belt.

Third: From time to time there is a squealing noise that comes from the steering column. I can make it stop by turning the wheel more, but it is annoying.

Thanks
Kris

 

[Rip]

Welcome to the forum Kris !!

"Some" gravel (1" minus) is can be passed through the blower without harm (to the machine at least, perhaps not to whatever it may hit). If you routinely have to opperate the blower on unpaved surfaces you may want to replace the sharp scraper edge with a round bar as I have done. I am not up to speed on posting pics to the site, but will email some to you if you PM me.

If you have not already. plan on 500 plus lbs of ballast in the rear for best traction when running that 900 lbs blower.

As the the uphill speed question, remember that on a hydrostatic machine the pedal on the floor is not a "gas pedal". It is a speed pedal and there is a direct trade-off of flow (speed) and torque (pressure) as it is pressed. So for hills, you need a bit more torque than on the flat and thus need to back off to where you have a viable compromise in terms of flow & pressure. The throttle should be at max.

The new D series has the "power management" function that may alter the more mechanical relationship of traditional hydrostatic transmissions. Keep in mind that the top speed of the TC is about double a SS with similar HP & weight, so it is not surprising that it is not able to maintain such a fast clip up steep hills or with heavy loads.

 

[jabbahop]

I am glad to have another Vermonter in the toolcat club.

 

[dsb5610]

Kris,

I pick up gravel with my blower periodically. Only damage I've noticed is missing paint in the chute area.

My Toolcat definitely slows down going up grades in rabbit mode.

I don't think the squeling noise you are hearing is normal. I recommend you let the dealer know even if it is intermittent in case something goes wrong down the road.

dsb

 

[kdennan]

Thanks for the feedback.
I'll inquire with my dealer about the round cutting bar for the blower.
I did tell him about the squealing in the steering an he said that he'll look into it. I noticed it on a demo I tried over in NH a few weeks back.
I really like this machine. I have the driveway looking like some mt. pass in the alps with the banks all perfectly cut. I have too much time on my hands
"Let's save Vermont, one Toolcat at a time!"

 

[Rip]

Kris, Did not recognize you from this post. I fabricated the round-bar myself, although with a few pics any welding shop could do the same in less than an hour.

Just came in from clearing a bunch of drifts in my road here in Colorado with the same QA blower on my PowerTrac. Worked like a champ, except it is open cab and the wind has not completely died down yet so I was like Frosty the Snowman after an hour of that "fun". This is on a 15GPM @ 3000 psi machine.

Rip