What have you done to your Branson today?

[CEN3035]

Replaced the original tie rods with the upgrade kit due to a busted right side tie rod.

Replaced the front mask (grill) assembly with headlights including new camlocks.

Replaced the non-existent hood side panels. Had to modify a set from a 3820 as the 3520痴 are no longer available. Had to remove the lower attachment pins then touch-up the paint with Rustoleum Cherry Red spray paint then modified the tractor lower brackets to accept the bottoms of the side panels. Placed some ｾ ID hose over the tractor brackets to keep from scratching the panels.

Replaced a busted left tail light assembly.

Replaced the non-functioning temperature sensor.

Replaced the radiator over-fill container.

Modified and painted the front grill guard with Rustoleum Charcoal, they now have a Slate which is a better match.

Added a shield over the guard to better protect the headlights and grill.

Used a CV Boot from a Razor RZR XP to replace the FEL Joystick boot.

 

[K5lwq]

Replaced the original tie rods with the upgrade kit due to a busted right side tie rod.

Replaced the front mask (grill) assembly with headlights including new camlocks.

Replaced the non-existent hood side panels. Had to modify a set from a 3820 as the 3520ç—´ are no longer available. Had to remove the lower attachment pins then touch-up the paint with Rustoleum Cherry Red spray paint then modified the tractor lower brackets to accept the bottoms of the side panels. Placed some ï½¾ ID hose over the tractor brackets to keep from scratching the panels.

Replaced a busted left tail light assembly.

Replaced the non-functioning temperature sensor.

Replaced the radiator over-fill container.

Modified and painted the front grill guard with Rustoleum Charcoal, they now have a Slate which is a better match.

Added a shield over the guard to better protect the headlights and grill.

Used a CV Boot from a Razor RZR XP to replace the FEL Joystick boot.
View attachment 671514View attachment 671515View attachment 671516

Very nice! Looks great!

 

[Asparky]

Hey cougsfan
Did you ever get an answer to your overfilling the hydraulics?
I ran into a problem with loss of power after digging a large hole with my 4020R.
Hydraulics work but no drive train power.
Still trying to figure out whats wrong.
Found a hole in my backhoe hose that goes to the top of the backhoe boom cylinder.
So I know I lost Hyd fluid just didn't know how much.
Put a couple gallons in and probably overfilled it.
Hard to read the sight glass, couldn't tell if full or empty.. bad deal!
So wondered if you ever got an answer on running it to full if it would do damage?
Not to do any work but just to test it out and or get on the trailer...
Getting to old for this. Hope I didn't ruin a pump or clutch as hardly no driving power to the wheels.
took the fuel filter out today and its a very dark orange color and was a little gritty.
Will take 5 days to get another one so I guess I'll try and clean this one up and see if it helps...
Let me know if you got an answer on overfilling damage or if you'd have the same symptoms as low fill?
Thanks
Asparky (Ron)

 

[Cougsfan]

I answered this question on your other thread. I don't know if running it overfull for a long time will damage anything (running drastically under-full most certainly will though). I didn't run mine or use it very much until I rectified the problem. Lou runs his 80hp over-full all the time with no problem. But I know from experience that you can't run a 4720 over-full. I am not sure what happens inside the transmission case when it is over-full, I just know things don't work. I think your hydraulic system is the same as mine.

I have found the Branson being fairly forgiving for things getting messed up like this. I poked a hole in my oil pan once and lost all my engine oil. The idiot light came on right away, but being somewhat of an idiot myself at times, I couldn't figure out what that stupid light meant. So I did run for a couple minutes with no oil. I fixed the hole in the pan, and have put several hundred hours on it since then, and it seems to be fine. I have also plugged the radiator with chaff and overheated it enough to boil all the water out of the radiator a couple times. Again, I noticed it fairly soon and stopped. After 750 hrs the tractor still shows no signs of my repeated abuse (except where I dropped a tree branch on the hood).

 

[LindenBruce]

Hello All,

Well, after using my new unit for about 20, hours I still had not gotten comfortable with the location of the step on the backhoe. I feel like I was struggling to find the step when climbing down. So.... I did something about it.

Using a 1.5"x.187"x9" tube, I welded a cap on one end. I then transferred the step bolt mounting pattern to each end of the tube. On the capped end I drilled two 7/16" holes completely through the tube. On the open end, I drilled two 7/16" holes through the outer face of the tube. I then bolted my step onto the tube and then bolted the tube to the backhoe at the original step mounting location. This effectively moved the step 5" forward and 1.5" outward.

Now I feel much more comfortable stepping up onto and back off from the backhoe. I did this on both sides, just in case you were wondering. Enjoy. B.

 

[LindenBruce]

Hello All,

Well, just as with the step on my backhoe, I was having an issue with mounting and dis-mounting the tractor. The fuel tank is right behind the step on the left, and the right side is a little cluttered with controls. With my big old clawed hoppers on, I just could not get a comfortable purchase on the left step. So here is what I did to make it a little more secure.

Using a 2"x.187"x11" tube I capped both ends. Then I transferred the step bolt mounting pattern to the tube and drilled three through holes. Using new 8mmx1.25x70mm flanged bolts, I bolted the step back on sandwiching the tube between the tractor and the step. This pushed the step out 2". Now I feel like I have plenty of boot on the step and it is a much more secure feeling. I did this on both sides, even though I don't plan to use the right side. I was afraid the tractor would lean to the left with the extra weight of the spacer tube on that side (add sarcasm LOL). B.

 

[ptsg]

Nice job on the steps!

I'm been meaning to make a plate to go behind the step, so the step doesn't poke the tank when I'm getting in and out of the tractor.

Anyways, I've using the tractor and backhoe to move some dirt. Basically scrapping the top of the ground with the backhoe into a pile, then load it with the loader on the tractor and move it to another place.

 

[Aquamoose]

Since the right side is difficult to enter from, I removed the right step and fabricated a 1.25 gal mix gas can holder to go where the existing step was and installed a tool box with dual bottle holders for water & bar chain oil.

 

[LindenBruce]

Thanks PTSG. Yeah, on the left step there is nothing protecting the tank. But, where else do you mount it? On the back is a real pain for filling. Aquamoose do you have a link to a thread on that mod? Could always use more beer, um.... Water holders. B.

 

[Aquamoose]

I thought I had more pics but I’ll take more. For now, here’s the image of the painted bracket.