Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
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First report at 15 hours. I mentioned some of these things in the "Buying/Pricing" forum, but they more properly belong here.
Tractor was delivered late Thursday and used for ~1 hour to confirm everything was working. Friday, switched from rotary cutter to box blade, experimented with different settings for the scarifier teeth. Florida soil is very sandy, no problem pulling 4' box blade with teeth all the way down, until encountering a substantial root, when things come to a halt. I suspect that even a bigger compact tractor would have difficulty. Found that best position for flattening the surface and dragging out the wild grape vines was up one step on the teeth. About 3 hours of playing.
Saturday was the first big day. My subcontractor brought in his big Cat loader with brush rake and started moving some previous piles of brush to burn piles, shaking off dirt. We set up 5 big piles. First, I used box blade to clear a spot. As he moved big stuff, I dragged the small stuff with the box blade, gettting a first cut at the grading in the process. I started learning how to use the thing. When the box blade got hung up, I could back off and use the loader bucket to break up the mess, then get back to work with the box blade.
I also tended several of the burn piles - one started to spread, so I knocked down some brush and dumped some dirt on it - a "wild fire" of about 30' spread was out in about 2 minutes. Oh - before someone asks - we had a Div. of Forestry ranger inspect the property and advise us on burning, obtained a "landowner number" and got a permit before burning. Now, all we have to do is call in and advise them on the mornings we will be burning. If conditions are bad, they will advise us each day. Also, my son-in-law is a volunteer fireman and has lots of brush fire experience.
About 11 hours straight. Here's what I've learned. A tooth bar on the bucket is absolutely needed for my conditions. The 4' box blade, 4' rotary cutter (Rhino SE4) and 12 LA loader with 48" HD bucket are well matched to the TC18. Changing the 3PH attachments is a pain in the butt, but with my son-in-law there to help, not so bad that I'm going to look at any quick hitch stuff right now. I will be ordering the new ATI loader quick attach setup very quickly. I need a loader brush rake, but everything available is too heavy, even for a larger compact tractor. We've already started designing a light weight brush rake and will start building it in the next couple of days. If it doesn't fold up on itself the first time we use it /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I'll post some pictures. The ATI setup will make it easier to switch. I'm also going to build one of the root scoop thingies I've seen on some of the forums.
Problems - the power steering is not working when I turn left. Dealer will be called tomoroow. There were two hydraulic leaks where the lines hook up to the joy stick - I tightened those - dealer should have caught that on prep, but since the plastic cover has to be removed, I can sorta forgive it. I got the Industrial tires, and that may have been a mistake - I can spin the wheels pretty easy in the Florida sand. I never got stuck, but I did learn how to use the differential lock very quickly. The delivery guy said the tires are filled (with water - we don't have to worry about freezing), but if they are, it would be impossible to use if they weren't.
I'm going to have to buy a 3PH landscape rake to finish up the clearing - gathering all the sticks and twigs, etc., without pulling as much dirt along as the box blade.
All in all, I'm very pleased. It's hard for a city guy who has never even been within 100' of a tractor before to make the right choice. My thanks to all of the folks here who have been so helpful. Sure, more tractor would be nice, but this one will do what I ask of it, especially once I learn the limitations and how to cope with them.
Sorry, no more pictures, yet. I remembered my camera, but we worked so hard I never got it out of the truck. The land clearing contractor is on the clock, and I didn't want to waste money taking pictures...but, here's one that shows what we are up against (this was after some initial clearing of the vines).
And another that shows a burn pile before it dried out.
It's a jungle out there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Tractor was delivered late Thursday and used for ~1 hour to confirm everything was working. Friday, switched from rotary cutter to box blade, experimented with different settings for the scarifier teeth. Florida soil is very sandy, no problem pulling 4' box blade with teeth all the way down, until encountering a substantial root, when things come to a halt. I suspect that even a bigger compact tractor would have difficulty. Found that best position for flattening the surface and dragging out the wild grape vines was up one step on the teeth. About 3 hours of playing.
Saturday was the first big day. My subcontractor brought in his big Cat loader with brush rake and started moving some previous piles of brush to burn piles, shaking off dirt. We set up 5 big piles. First, I used box blade to clear a spot. As he moved big stuff, I dragged the small stuff with the box blade, gettting a first cut at the grading in the process. I started learning how to use the thing. When the box blade got hung up, I could back off and use the loader bucket to break up the mess, then get back to work with the box blade.
I also tended several of the burn piles - one started to spread, so I knocked down some brush and dumped some dirt on it - a "wild fire" of about 30' spread was out in about 2 minutes. Oh - before someone asks - we had a Div. of Forestry ranger inspect the property and advise us on burning, obtained a "landowner number" and got a permit before burning. Now, all we have to do is call in and advise them on the mornings we will be burning. If conditions are bad, they will advise us each day. Also, my son-in-law is a volunteer fireman and has lots of brush fire experience.
About 11 hours straight. Here's what I've learned. A tooth bar on the bucket is absolutely needed for my conditions. The 4' box blade, 4' rotary cutter (Rhino SE4) and 12 LA loader with 48" HD bucket are well matched to the TC18. Changing the 3PH attachments is a pain in the butt, but with my son-in-law there to help, not so bad that I'm going to look at any quick hitch stuff right now. I will be ordering the new ATI loader quick attach setup very quickly. I need a loader brush rake, but everything available is too heavy, even for a larger compact tractor. We've already started designing a light weight brush rake and will start building it in the next couple of days. If it doesn't fold up on itself the first time we use it /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I'll post some pictures. The ATI setup will make it easier to switch. I'm also going to build one of the root scoop thingies I've seen on some of the forums.
Problems - the power steering is not working when I turn left. Dealer will be called tomoroow. There were two hydraulic leaks where the lines hook up to the joy stick - I tightened those - dealer should have caught that on prep, but since the plastic cover has to be removed, I can sorta forgive it. I got the Industrial tires, and that may have been a mistake - I can spin the wheels pretty easy in the Florida sand. I never got stuck, but I did learn how to use the differential lock very quickly. The delivery guy said the tires are filled (with water - we don't have to worry about freezing), but if they are, it would be impossible to use if they weren't.
I'm going to have to buy a 3PH landscape rake to finish up the clearing - gathering all the sticks and twigs, etc., without pulling as much dirt along as the box blade.
All in all, I'm very pleased. It's hard for a city guy who has never even been within 100' of a tractor before to make the right choice. My thanks to all of the folks here who have been so helpful. Sure, more tractor would be nice, but this one will do what I ask of it, especially once I learn the limitations and how to cope with them.
Sorry, no more pictures, yet. I remembered my camera, but we worked so hard I never got it out of the truck. The land clearing contractor is on the clock, and I didn't want to waste money taking pictures...but, here's one that shows what we are up against (this was after some initial clearing of the vines).
And another that shows a burn pile before it dried out.
It's a jungle out there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
