What have you done to your Branson today?

[ptsg]

I have a ditch bank flail mower coming this week and decided I wanted to add float to my rear remotes so the head can follow the contour of the ground.

When I ordered my 4815C, they said float option was not available for rear remotes on the 15 series. So I added two, 2 way solenoid valves to tie the ports together on each spool.

Turned out nice and works well! Now all I will have to do is flip a switch and the cylinder will float.

Very nice and clever K5!

They to make Float valves like this but all I've seen are manually controlled. Your system is much nicer to have, specially with a cab. It's just flick of a switch. Cool!

In the link you provided it reads: "A plough lifts the soil by the cutting action of the share. However, this leaves a smooth, compacted bed (hidden under the loosened layer of soil), the negative effects of which are worsened with further ploughing. Even greater soil compaction is caused when ploughing in furrows. By contrast, the spading machine detaches rather than slices (note the bed in the picture alongside), leaving a porous, permeable bed that allows the soil to breathe and absorb water."

Interesting machine and they all have their ups and downs.

I like the general idea for sure. With the continuing movement towards no-till and low-till where feasible, it's nice to see machine's which operate on different principles.

I'm not saying this is the right or wrong way to do it. Considering the implements I had available, it was the only thing that I knew it would work. From now on, I can use a tiller that will leave a nicer finish.

Let's face it, the link I provided is from a company that makes these Spading machines so the description is a bit stretched as they need to sell their machines.

 

[desertdog71]

I'm sure I'll get 20 comments about doing it wrong but I had the tractor out at the land doing to brush cutting. The growth is ridiculous this past month, I'll be cutting once a month at this rate. Anyways, enjoy.

 

[ptsg]

I'm sure I'll get 20 comments about doing it wrong but I had the tractor out at the land doing to brush cutting. The growth is ridiculous this past month, I'll be cutting once a month at this rate. Anyways, enjoy.

I can't see anything wrong. I would just lower the mower all the way to the ground and maybe go a bit slower depending on how the tractor reacts.

Also, we all started from scratch and had to learn as the need raises.

 

[desertdog71]

Yeah it can probably go down a little further, the land it rough and pitchy so I kind of had it high. I'll figure it out with time I'm sure. **** it took me 20 mins to hook the PTO shaft up because I didn't realize I needed to push the release button on it to get it to seat properly. Live and learn.

 

[houska]

Well, yesterday I accidentally turned my 4225h into a crop sprayer.

The 70 hours on the meter are the total tractor experience I have, so everything is a learning moment.
I'm cutting trails through the woods, and pleasantly surprised how the tractor's backhoe just pushes over small trees I would previously have had to chainsaw out.

All of a sudden, I notice I am spraying trees away on the right with a powerful, 15' stream of liquid. That rotates as I drive. Turns out one of those small trees I've tipped over must have fought back, and I've clipped off the tip of my right rear tire valve stem. I limp back about 600' to a vaguely vehicle-friendly forest road, continuing my spraying. How to stop the tire liquid from coming out? I've since learned (from this site) that a 1/4" pin could probably have plugged the valve hole, but didn't think of that and wasn't terribly keen to look up close, since I don't know how toxic the liquid is. Eventually, I settle on stopping the tractor with the valve at the top of the tire, and elevating on backhoe stabilizers and loader to get the tires off the ground. By then, I've lost enough liquid that this stops the stream.

My dealer's great, and looking at photos of the damage we figure out that I've fortunately damaged only the part of the valve stem that can actually be replaced from the outside. So rather than breaking down the wheel (which I wouldn't do myself, so I'd have to pay for a mobile service call), we'll try me replacing that half of the stem, filling up with air, and then dealer will check my repair and re-fill the tire when I get scheduled service done mid-summer.

On the plus side, maybe I'll have defoliated that side of the new trail I'm making with tire liquid and so won't need to brush hog it ? One can always hope.

 

[K5lwq]

Finally got the new flail mower put together and tried it out today. Overall pretty happy with it痴 performance. My first time running a flail as Dad always thought they would not handle the work we always did on the farm. I think he would have been surprised. :laughing:

The pictures below show how tall the area I tested in was. The result was after only 1 pass.

BTW, my float system worked well with this mower. :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

Looks like it did a fine job.
I haven't even started my Branson for over a week,
been doing hay with the bigger tractors.

 

[Branson Bob]

Nice attachment and it looks like it did a good job. Did you have an option between the Hammer or the Y-shaped flails and which did you get?

Thanks.

 

[K5lwq]

Thanks guys I look forward to spending more time with it tomorrow.

Bob, I did not ask if I could get knifes. It has hammers which is what I wanted. I debated back and forth with myself on this or a 6' BushHog brand shredder. This won because I have never owned a flail before and the versatility of offset and tilt. Should make mowing the bar ditch much easier.

One thing that I noticed is grass wrapped around the roller end and I could see it cutting the bearing seals. I am thinking of a way to add a scraper of sorts to keep the grass cut out.

 

[K5lwq]

Apparently egrets are curious birds. They left the cows to follow the Branson and the flail mower. They only made a couple of laps then decided that big red cow won't stop moving. :laughing: