Tractor maintenance & operation

sros990 · Dec 26, 2004

I’ll be buying my first tractor this spring (probably a JD 990) and would like to know :

1.What kind of maintenance do tractor owners perform on their own?

2. What tools should I get ?

3.How do you learn to operate the tractor?—Just read the manual & practice?

4. Can you recommend good publications on operating and maintaining tractors?

Thanks,

Steve

JimR · Dec 26, 2004

( I’ll be buying my first tractor this spring (probably a JD 990) and would like to know :

1.What kind of maintenance do tractor owners perform on their own?

2. What tools should I get ?

3.How do you learn to operate the tractor?—Just read the manual & practice?

4. Can you recommend good publications on operating and maintaining tractors?

Thanks,

Steve
)

(1) I do all my own repair work.
(2) I use my automotive tools for repair work.
(3) Practice, practice, practice and find the limits of your machine.
(4) This website is full of knowledge. A factory owners manual and repair manual for whatever tractor you buy will be of great value to you.

Bird · Dec 26, 2004

Steve, first thing I'd recommend is to click here and buy Muhammad's book and read it. Then when you get a tractor, start slow and easy and be very careful, and come back to this forum with any questions and you've got people all of the world who will try to help you and answer any questions.

RoyJackson · Dec 26, 2004

( I’ll be buying my first tractor this spring (probably a JD 990) and would like to know :

1.What kind of maintenance do tractor owners perform on their own?

2. What tools should I get ?

3.How do you learn to operate the tractor?—Just read the manual & practice?

4. Can you recommend good publications on operating and maintaining tractors? )

1) Personally, I'd limit my maintenance to oil/filter changes and other fluids, light bulbs and other, relatively minor tasks. I did fill the tires on my first tractor, however. the 790 came w/ filled tires, and I suggest you let you dealer do that task. Fortunately, I've not had any need to do repairs yet, but I do have the workshop manual on CD-ROM, just in case.

2) Set of sockets (12 point and selected 6 points). I use a 3/8ths and 1/2" sets. The 1/2" is used more then the 3/8th's, but I had those before I bought the tractor. That 990 is Japanese, so all the fasteners I've had to work on have been metric. You won't find many English measurement fasteners on that tractor.
You'll need a Torque Wrench with a high enough capacity to torque the wheel bolts. I don't know what that is on the 990, but 150 to 200 foot-pounds (or the equivalent in Newton-Meters) ought to suffice.
Then, standard flat blade and cross tip (Philip's, Reed and Prince) screwdrivers.
I'm sure you'll buy a filter wrench soon, but I wouldn't buy it before you get your tractor. Same refers to most other specialized tools. That 990 is going to be in warranty for a few years. You really cannot do much other then routine (by the manual) maintenance until it goes out of warranty. That will give you a couple years to figure out what you need.

3) Just like getting to Carnegie Hall: Practice, practice, practice!
Just go slow, at first and keep going slow when ever you feel uncomfortable with a job. Most importantly, use COMMON SENSE!!!

4) The manual that comes with the tractor is pretty good, but don't be surprised in you find a couple errors in it. As far as maintenance, I'd suggest you buy the hard copy ($$$!) or CD-ROM from Deere.

dicker · Dec 26, 2004

Hi Just completed the 450 hr service on my 4310. Changed all the filters and hydraulic oil and basically checked over the entire tractor. It took about three hours. It just takes normal automotive tools and a very warm garage.
About the learning how to use the tractor, I agree with the other posts. It takes time. Good luck

texastomtom · Dec 26, 2004

I agree with the advice already stated here.

But I would add one ( i think important ) thing.

After reading your manuals etc, I would get a buddy that knows something about tractors, plan a bar-b-que get together and spend some time just talking about using it, let him show you some tips and tricks. Most importantly some of the DONT's. You can learn a lot in this manner. Hopefully your dealer delivered and showed you some things if your a first timer - but they usually dont spend all that much time.
It's always fun sharing the fun with a friend, opening up everything - talking about what does what etc...
Best done when new,clean, shiney....
Just a thought !

If the Bar-B-Que involves beer ( would it really be a BBQ without beer ?) then you should do the tractor driving before. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Always safety first /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

thebigc · Dec 26, 2004

(
If the Bar-B-Que involves beer ( would it really be a BBQ without beer ?) then you should do the tractor driving before. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Always safety first /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
)

Good advice!

If you check eBay periodically, you should be able to pick up a JD repair manual at a good price. I got my 4100 manual for $25.00 with shipping. Probably $40.00+ from JD.

Donny

RalphVa · Dec 27, 2004

You can learn a lot by reading through the various forums here.

You'll be astonished at some of the high torque requirements on some attachments. The hitch pins, for instance, are torqued at 433 ft lbs on my LX4 cutter. I had to move mine and didn't have the right size socket nor even a 3/4" drive.

The bolt holding the flop blades on the cutter are also torqued at 435 ft lbs. The manual clearly says they're 1 1/2" nuts. However, it didn't tell what size the nuts are on the hitch pins. They're a real mystery. They're just bigger than 1 1/4" (which is what the TSC ones are), probably 32 mm. No such sockets available anywhere around here. I bought a 1 5/16" (33.3 mm) and a 3/4" drive handle. Attached a long crowbar to the drive handle with 2 screw clamps and loosened the hitch pins. Had to find a round bar to go through the hitch pin holes to hold them in place. Moved the hitch pins to their lower holes and used the modified driver to tighten them. The JD dealer service guy just said to tighten them the best I could. Same thing was said by the guys here on TractorByNet. Not critical to torque them just so. Think it's the same with the bolts on the flop blades.

Most of the other bolts can be torqued with a 1/2" drive torque wrench that goes up to 200 ft lb. A torque wrench for 3/4" drive sockets is $500-900. Not worth it unless you torquing air craft lug bolts on a regular basis.

Otherwise, get yourself a good set of metric DEEP sockets, preferably 6 point ones. Don't buy cheap stuff.

I gotta buy myself a 3 or 4' long piece of pipe that'll fit over that 3/4" drive. It'll be stronger than that crowbar with 2 screw clamps.

Ralph

Mith · Dec 28, 2004

"I gotta buy myself a 3 or 4' long piece of pipe that'll fit over that 3/4" drive. It'll be stronger than that crowbar with 2 screw clamps."
scaffolding pole has worked out for me - you can usually find a bit lying about
mith