Stupid New Owner Tricks or What Not to Do with Your New Tractor

[4570Man]

My neighbor just got his first tractor - a 25hp-ish Kioti - and was doing some adjustment on it and on his new rotary cutter. He had his toolbox, along with a nice impact socket set, pliers, hammer, etc in his bucket. After sone tweaking and tinkering, he pronounced the job was done...and went off to start cutting his back field. Well, adter about 5-odd minutes, I hear a godawful bang and clatter like terminal meta death. Turns out he had left his tools in the bucket and had inadvertently dumped it....and ran over his toolbox and socket set with the mower. Ouch.

A good reason to never put anything of value in the front bucket. I’ve made the same rule for my dump truck. After dropping logs on a a gas can twice and a skid steer window frame which was already busted I decided no saws ever in the dump truck bed. I know my memory sucks so I do my best to avoid leaving things in harms way to begin with.

 

[Doofy]

My neighbor just got his first tractor - a 25hp-ish Kioti - and was doing some adjustment on it and on his new rotary cutter. He had his toolbox, along with a nice impact socket set, pliers, hammer, etc in his bucket. After sone tweaking and tinkering, he pronounced the job was done...and went off to start cutting his back field. Well, adter about 5-odd minutes, I hear a godawful bang and clatter like terminal meta death. Turns out he had left his tools in the bucket and had inadvertently dumped it....and ran over his toolbox and socket set with the mower. Ouch.

If you live, you learn. Hopefully.

 

[Buggs67]

I leave the backhoe on most of the time. If it gets taken off, the 6' box scraper goes on. I will consider 3ph ballast box if I ever feel the need for more weight. I will be taking it easy until I get a better feel for the capabilities of the tractor.

The BH makes a god ballast but it sticks out real far and at 1,200 lbs it's overkill. A BB is good but mine only weighs 515 lbs and I should have 650-800 lbs of ballast. I made mine out of a 55 gal plastic barrel and rocks, scrap iron and concrete = 645 lbs. And I can add weight just by adding rocks (it's only 3/5ths full)
.

 

[Doofy]

The BH makes a god ballast but it sticks out real far and at 1,200 lbs it's overkill. A BB is good but mine only weighs 515 lbs and I should have 650-800 lbs of ballast. I made mine out of a 55 gal plastic barrel and rocks, scrap iron and concrete = 645 lbs. And I can add weight just by adding rocks (it's only 3/5ths full)
.

My box scraper weighs in at 600 pounds and will hang out the back almost as far as the backhoe. This could be a problem in close quarters and a compact ballast box would make more sense.

 

[LD48750]

What some of you call "stupid new owner tricks" I call "Education".
Learning the limits of your new tool.

My Mother told me you can never get too much education so I welcome the opportunity to learn.

 

[BIKER BOB]

It happens, I was unloading my tractor from my trailer heading down a slight grade, forgot to chock wheels and when I got near the rear of the trailer with the weight of the tractor it lifted the rear of the truck just enough for it to start "rolling" down hill. ( hitting the brakes on tractor doesn't affect the truck at all! ). Was able to resolve issue and clean my underware, so all turned out ok. Did learn a good lesson though!

 

[fried1765]

The BH makes a god ballast but it sticks out real far and at 1,200 lbs it's overkill. A BB is good but mine only weighs 515 lbs and I should have 650-800 lbs of ballast. I made mine out of a 55 gal plastic barrel and rocks, scrap iron and concrete = 645 lbs. And I can add weight just by adding rocks (it's only 3/5ths full)
.

"overkill" ????
Not for me.
My BH weighs 2500 lbs. and my front tires will squish out with a full loader bucket.

 

[Buggs67]

"overkill" ????

My tractor is only 2300 lbs and my FEL only lifts 800 lb(I think)

 

[Threepoint]

Two tips from experience:

1. When backing up with a full, rolled-back bucket of stone or dirt, take your hand off the FEL lever! Amazing how the motion of looking back over your shoulder can make that FEL just keep on going up on its own! :laughing:

2. If you have a door of a cab tractor open to check on something, best to close it before trying to pull into a garage bay. You'll only fail to do this once. Fortunately in my case, I merely separated the two-piece hinges and was able to pop them back into place with no damage. :guilty:

 

[Doofy]

Now, That is some sage and sound advice. Thanks