Tractor for the 100-acre woods (and more)
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Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Basically, what I gather from the "TBN Great Debate" threads is that if treated properly HSTs will last a long time. I also gather that if treated properly gears will last a long time )</font>
How long is long? The gear tranny in my 46 ford 2N is 58 years old.. and basicalle is just a casting, gears, bearings, and 1 front input seal.. and oil.. unfiltered oil at that.. shared by the diffy and hyd pump...
It is durable by design and due in part to its simplicity. An HST tranny is full of seals.. etc. In 50 years are any of those seals going to leak? How hard will the repair be? How costly? The seal on my gear tranny is 3 bucks, and I can split the tractor and replace it fromthe outside and slap it back together in less than 2 hours.. all in my barn, and using no more tools than some jacks, socket sept, and a happer and screwdriver. My guess is the directions for repairing an HST tranny might be a bit more difficult, and more expensive.
I think it will just be a matter of time-testing to see if HST trannies have the extreme longevity of a basic no-frills gear tranny.
No doubt the HST offers lots of nicer features and flexibility.. that may be at the expense of lifespan, and repair costs.. etc.
Not knocking the HST tranny.. just 'waiting' to see if they end up deing as durable as the gear tranny. After all.. there are many trannies from tractors from the 30's chugging right along with no problems...
Soundguy
How long is long? The gear tranny in my 46 ford 2N is 58 years old.. and basicalle is just a casting, gears, bearings, and 1 front input seal.. and oil.. unfiltered oil at that.. shared by the diffy and hyd pump...
It is durable by design and due in part to its simplicity. An HST tranny is full of seals.. etc. In 50 years are any of those seals going to leak? How hard will the repair be? How costly? The seal on my gear tranny is 3 bucks, and I can split the tractor and replace it fromthe outside and slap it back together in less than 2 hours.. all in my barn, and using no more tools than some jacks, socket sept, and a happer and screwdriver. My guess is the directions for repairing an HST tranny might be a bit more difficult, and more expensive.
I think it will just be a matter of time-testing to see if HST trannies have the extreme longevity of a basic no-frills gear tranny.
No doubt the HST offers lots of nicer features and flexibility.. that may be at the expense of lifespan, and repair costs.. etc.
Not knocking the HST tranny.. just 'waiting' to see if they end up deing as durable as the gear tranny. After all.. there are many trannies from tractors from the 30's chugging right along with no problems...
Soundguy
I only have one thing to say about using a gear. A lot of people don't understand the use of a tractor gear/clutch. Many will have the tractor in too high a gear and use the clutch, slipping it in and out to slow, and that is deadly for the clutch. If you decide on a gear with shuttle shift, put it in the proper gear and don't be playing that clutch, or it'll wear out quickly. If you need to go slower, ease off the gas without pushing in the clutch. Change gears if you can't get slow enough. HST eliminates the problem, but it shouldn't be one as long as you do it properly. John
L
LarryRB
Guest
you have some PM's that you aren't picking up on.. E-mail me direct at glad495@cox.net
A lot of us get in or throrugh the Killingly area frequently. In fact Junkman and I went through yesterday on the way to Chepachet.
A lot of us get in or throrugh the Killingly area frequently. In fact Junkman and I went through yesterday on the way to Chepachet.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
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- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A lot of people don't understand the use of a tractor gear/clutch. Many will have the tractor in too high a gear and use the clutch, slipping it in and out to slow, and that is deadly for the clutch )</font>
See.. that is one downside to higher technology. Under the guise of 'ergonomics' and expanded features.. we are essentially teaching tractor users.. in effect ( no offense here ) to be dumber.. or perhaps better said.. less trained.
From the 60's and back, tractors were pretty much all gear.. with very limited exception... People that used a tractor HAD to learn how to use it CORRECTLY.
Now we have velcro, and kids don't know how to tie shoe laces.. and graphical user ingerfaces on computers ( GUI ).. like windows.. sure.. it is easier.. but people really don't know much about computers anymore. I remember the old days of the CLI .. command line interface. I enjoyed working on the bare iron of a machine. I remember using the project computers that you individually programmed with dip switches to key the data in... card wallopers and all.
I learned electronics.. I know why and how the bus archetecture on a computer works.. interrupt status, direct memory access.. etc. Most 'so called' computer techs today can't touch that. A friend that lives down the road.. his daughter just graduated from a tech school A+ certified on networks. Yet all she knows is what is in the manual, and how to swap a pc card.. etc, etc. Very few are learning the underlying electronics and technology that supports all of this wonderfully 'easy' to use technology.
The OS does everything for you now.. plug and play.. no user controlls.. etc.
In the old days you configured everything yourself.. you knew where 'x' was, and what 'y' did.. not guessing where the OS assigned something, and guessing what resources were used where..
I guess I'm just tired of people getting dumbed down by high technology.... it is becoming prevalent... very aking to a 'replace rather than repair mentality.. or inother words.. the 'disposable' culture..
Soundguy
See.. that is one downside to higher technology. Under the guise of 'ergonomics' and expanded features.. we are essentially teaching tractor users.. in effect ( no offense here ) to be dumber.. or perhaps better said.. less trained.
From the 60's and back, tractors were pretty much all gear.. with very limited exception... People that used a tractor HAD to learn how to use it CORRECTLY.
Now we have velcro, and kids don't know how to tie shoe laces.. and graphical user ingerfaces on computers ( GUI ).. like windows.. sure.. it is easier.. but people really don't know much about computers anymore. I remember the old days of the CLI .. command line interface. I enjoyed working on the bare iron of a machine. I remember using the project computers that you individually programmed with dip switches to key the data in... card wallopers and all.
I learned electronics.. I know why and how the bus archetecture on a computer works.. interrupt status, direct memory access.. etc. Most 'so called' computer techs today can't touch that. A friend that lives down the road.. his daughter just graduated from a tech school A+ certified on networks. Yet all she knows is what is in the manual, and how to swap a pc card.. etc, etc. Very few are learning the underlying electronics and technology that supports all of this wonderfully 'easy' to use technology.
The OS does everything for you now.. plug and play.. no user controlls.. etc.
In the old days you configured everything yourself.. you knew where 'x' was, and what 'y' did.. not guessing where the OS assigned something, and guessing what resources were used where..
I guess I'm just tired of people getting dumbed down by high technology.... it is becoming prevalent... very aking to a 'replace rather than repair mentality.. or inother words.. the 'disposable' culture..
Soundguy
ernemats
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,062
- Location
- Bolivar, pa.
- Tractor
- power trac 422, and agco-allis 5660, ,1845 power trac Greenworks CRT 426
Check out the power trac line of tractors, they are a very solid different type of tractor that articulates, they have many front end quick attach impliments and they would be more stable on slopes and you can manuver them through the woods easier than a conventional tractor. Their web site is www.power-trac.com . They have tractors from 18 to 60 hp.
hazmat
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2002
- Messages
- 4,051
- Location
- West Newbury, MA & Harrison, ME
- Tractor
- Kubota L5460HSTC
<font color="blue"> I've got the chaps and they already have a nick or two that says they're worth it </font>
Your chaps need to be replaced if you've nicked them with the saw. The safety mechanism is the kevlar or other fibers bind up the chain & keep it from de-limbing you. If you've broken the fibers, they won't bind up as well.
Regarding the tractor size. For 100 acres I'd recommend a 4wd Utility tractor 60-70HP.
You can (usually) do a small job with a big tractor, but it can be tough to do a large job with a small tractor.
I've got a TC18 which is the right size for light duty work around my 4 acres. It is undersized for mowing the 10 acres at my parent's farm. It takes ALL DAY to get the job done.
Also, at 1,600 # it is far too light for any kind of excavation. Don't get me wrong, it does tons of work, It is a good lawn mower, carrier of loose materials, and snow remover. I cut my own wood as well, I wouldn't dream of skidding logs on a hill with it. I do use it to move cut & split wood with the FEL and carryall.
Regarding the logging - you may want to consider a Grapple attachment for your FEL - it will make brush management much easier. The larger CUTs and the UTs are available with skid steer quick attachment plates for easy changover from bucket to grapple.
Take the time to visit the TBNers in your area. You can see everything from Junkman's Kubota BX sub-compact (and legendary garage) to AndyMA's TN Utility tractor and everything in between.
Your chaps need to be replaced if you've nicked them with the saw. The safety mechanism is the kevlar or other fibers bind up the chain & keep it from de-limbing you. If you've broken the fibers, they won't bind up as well.
Regarding the tractor size. For 100 acres I'd recommend a 4wd Utility tractor 60-70HP.
You can (usually) do a small job with a big tractor, but it can be tough to do a large job with a small tractor.
I've got a TC18 which is the right size for light duty work around my 4 acres. It is undersized for mowing the 10 acres at my parent's farm. It takes ALL DAY to get the job done.
Also, at 1,600 # it is far too light for any kind of excavation. Don't get me wrong, it does tons of work, It is a good lawn mower, carrier of loose materials, and snow remover. I cut my own wood as well, I wouldn't dream of skidding logs on a hill with it. I do use it to move cut & split wood with the FEL and carryall.
Regarding the logging - you may want to consider a Grapple attachment for your FEL - it will make brush management much easier. The larger CUTs and the UTs are available with skid steer quick attachment plates for easy changover from bucket to grapple.
Take the time to visit the TBNers in your area. You can see everything from Junkman's Kubota BX sub-compact (and legendary garage) to AndyMA's TN Utility tractor and everything in between.
SPIKER
Elite Member
Soundguy:
you're not saying anything NEW to anyone who has been inside a store when the Computerized Cash regesters were down... the NEW kids can't even figure simple change! not to mention you can't find one that will COUNT it back to you correctly! I almost laugh every fill up I tell the GF's 16 yr old girls to figure the mileage per gallon of gass, and watch their eyes GLAZE over ROFLMAO /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Mark M
you're not saying anything NEW to anyone who has been inside a store when the Computerized Cash regesters were down... the NEW kids can't even figure simple change! not to mention you can't find one that will COUNT it back to you correctly! I almost laugh every fill up I tell the GF's 16 yr old girls to figure the mileage per gallon of gass, and watch their eyes GLAZE over ROFLMAO /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Mark M
Egon
Epic Contributor
Dogon those kids today are DUMB , probably don't got no respect for the older generation either.
Seems to me someone said something like that more than a few hundred years ago.
And yep;sure would'nt minde going back to the good oll key punch. Shuckins; might take all day for just one post. But drawing them tar flow charts sure would be fun!
Most fun of all was slipping a cascading do loop into someones else bundle of cards.
Egon
Seems to me someone said something like that more than a few hundred years ago.
And yep;sure would'nt minde going back to the good oll key punch. Shuckins; might take all day for just one post. But drawing them tar flow charts sure would be fun!
Most fun of all was slipping a cascading do loop into someones else bundle of cards.
Egon
Varmintmist
Platinum Member
It aint just the kids. I went to get some stuff at the store, I went to this store because they had a MAC reader at the counter and I didnt have cash and I didnt want to stop at the local machine and pay the extra 2 bucks.
The MAC readers were down. Ok, I go out and pay the 2 bucks at the ATM and get the cash. Go back in and since the checker had already rung my stuff up there was no puter for her to do the math. I did it in my head and looked at her and said "eight dollars and sixty four cents" about three times, receiving a blank stare each time until the manager came over and saved her.
She was no kid. I'd say at least 50-55. My kids at 8,6 and 3 are learning to make change NOW.
The MAC readers were down. Ok, I go out and pay the 2 bucks at the ATM and get the cash. Go back in and since the checker had already rung my stuff up there was no puter for her to do the math. I did it in my head and looked at her and said "eight dollars and sixty four cents" about three times, receiving a blank stare each time until the manager came over and saved her.
She was no kid. I'd say at least 50-55. My kids at 8,6 and 3 are learning to make change NOW.