Tractorpoint Search for

tractorpoint.com - The leader in Tractors from Compacts, to Utility, to Full Size Tractors! Kubota, John Deere, New Holland, Kioti, Case/IH, and Others. Keywords=Compact Tractor, Kubota Tractors, Kioti Tractors, JD, John Deere Tractors, New Holland, Case Boomer, Used Tractors, Classifieds, Dealer Directory, Tractor Pictures / Images

parts | discussion | photos | podcast | reviews | specs | dealers | classifieds | contact | faq | myProfile | home Login Now | Sign Up

Search for =

Topic

My parents are looking to buy a BX2200 primarily for finish mowing a "yard" at their farm, but also for some light loader work. They are very interested in the PTO-driven grass catcher for the BX2200. Anybody out there have any first-hand experience with this system? How well does it work? Any drawbacks? Do you definitely need front weights if the loader is off the tractor? I ask that last one because the collection system weight is listed at 220 pounds and on a level yard I'm not convinced that front weights are necessary, but I would like to hear from actual users.

BX2200 Grass Collection System
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 2 Post by JeffM

Denny, you might want to see if you can find a Bush-Hog dealer and look at the 48" Squealer model SQ480. It's a real nice "light-duty" model, which is rated to cut 1" saplings with no problem, although they do make a lot of noise. It should match up real well with your B2410. It has an oval blade pan (stump-jumper) and is shear-pin protected with no option for a slip clutch. I bought a 60" SQ600 for $850 including an optional slip clutch last month. I think this was a very good price, but I expect that the SQ480 could be had for somewhat less because of no slip clutch and smaller size. Bush Hog also makes a 42" model.

bush hog brush hog rotary mower
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 12 Post by JeffM

Larry, I don't remember how the model 70 loader on your 790 mounts to the tractor, but I believe it uses the same quik-tach method employed on the 420-430-460 loaders. If this is the case and you are describing the 4 bolts that connect the rear loader mount to the tractor, then you should definitely torque these bolts down to their specification as soon as possible. Call your local JD dealer's service department to find the torque spec. My dealer warned me to keep an eye on those bolts when the tractor was new and make sure they are kept tight.

Question on FEL on JD790
John Deere Tractors
Replies 3 Post by JeffM

TomG, I don't buy the theory that a manufacturer needs to protect the dealers on service and warranty work in the manner of New Holland. Service work should be able to stand on its own as a profitable business. Otherwise it is being subsidized by sales. If a dealer runs a service business properly (that is, exceptional customer service at a fair return) then customer loyalty will follow, leading to future sales. Sales is not as hard to do as exceptional customer service. So my theory is that exceptional customer service (hard work) will be rewarded by sales. The NH theory seems to be whoever gets the sale (easy part) then has to do the service. I don't see the incentive here for exceptional customer service. And if the service business can't stand on its own because it is not compensated justly for warranty work by the manufacturer, then the manufacturer is just shifting the burden to the consumer again, either by poor warranty service or by higher selling prices to subsidize the warranty work.

NH Warranty Work
New Holland Tractors
Replies 11 Post by JeffM

Here is a question related to blade sharpening. Took my new finish mower out this weekend for the first time - cuts great! But sure enough, after an hour and a half of mowing I caught an embedded rock that grew this past winter, as they tend to do with our deep frost. The rock didn't really nick the blade; rather it "rolled" the last 1/4 inch or so of the 2 cutting edges up about 1/4 inch. In general, my thought on this type of damage is to peen this back into shape on an anvil before touching up on the grinder. Sound logical? Is it a good idea? I'm sure this is not the last rock I'll find this summer, no matter how carefully I search them out.

Field mower help
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 12 Post by JeffM

Rob, I agree with Halsey. I have the ATI removable toothbar for my 61" bucket, which I bought from my JD dealer for about $400 installed (I may have paid a little high from what I hear). The toothbar is spec'ed by the inside width of your bucket. I'm pretty sure that Leonard Scheafer, Art White, Steve Carver, and some of the other dealers who frequent this board will sell you the toothbar via mail also. SSB tractor (see link below) will also sell you the toothbar. Attachment requires that you drill one hole on each side of your bucket for the mounting bolts. Of course, if you buy it from a local dealer, you can get them to install it for you, assuming you can live without your tractor for a day. :>)

790 Bucket Toothbar
Operating and Attachments
Replies 6 Post by JeffM

Roger, thanks for the vote of confidence in my "not-so-humble" opinions! I was concerned that I had overstepped my bounds with those three sweeping generalizations, but that was honestly the way I had assessed the compact marketplace. Thanks for backing me up because I respect your opinions a great deal.

NH v Kubota
New Holland Tractors
Replies 23 Post by JeffM

The front axle fix went into production over a year ago on the 4300 and 4400 tractors because my 4400 was manufactured in March, 2000 and has the new axle. By the way, this front axle setup performs extremely well. Obviously when Deere engineers had to fix the previous one they weren't going to cut any corners second time around. The front tires turn very tight with no scuffing in 2WD and barely perceptible in 4WD on sand even at full lock, better than any 4WD I've seen before. The loosening wheel bolts on the left side seems to be a widely varying situation according to reports on this board: some tractors it happens repeatedly, some only until tightened once or twice, and on some (like mine) it never happens even once.

Problems with Deere 039s redesigned MFWD axle
John Deere Tractors
Replies 7 Post by JeffM

I took the day off yesterday to get some "seat time" on my tractor and generally to play. Adjusted the movable latch plates forward about 1/16 inch and then there was no problem raising the hoe high enough to engage the L-pins. And to put TomG at ease - you're right, the system won't go into relief simply by moving the rockshaft arms (which are the 3-point lift arms) to their full upper limit. The system was going into relief because the backhoe was lifted up against its stops and the rockshaft was not yet at its upper limit. Which makes sense now. My problem was not that the rockshaft couldn't lift high enough, it was that the mounting adjustment on the hoe was not allowing it to go high enough. Mounting and removing the hoe is now less than a five minute job each way - even going slow. Reminds me of one of my uncle's favorite sayings: "By the time I finish this job, I'll know how to do it!"

JD 48 Backhoe Complaint
John Deere Tractors
Replies 20 Post by JeffM

Keith, I went through the same scenario last year when I bought my 4400. Reality was that the pure economic justification was difficult, if not impossible, no matter how creative I was. But I went ahead and got the backhoe with the tractor because 1) it was about $1000 less to get it as a package at the same time, 2) it got covered under the financing, and 3) I knew that I would probably not spring for it in the future because of the big price tag. Now that I have the backhoe bought and paid for, I'm glad I did it. The convenience factor is huge for me because I spend a fair amount of time digging out rocks, stmps, and boulders that would not get done otherwise. I was able to put an "emergency" drainage trench in last fall in an hour when I needed it, rather that wait for a week to hire it out. I use the hoe far more than I ever imagined and for jobs I didn't imagine. I also think that between a backhoe and a loader with toothbar, it is perfectly reasonable to do the jobs you describe with the time limitations (or lack thereof) you describe. Not the fastest way to excavate a pond, but given time you can do it. I also consider it to be great therapy.

Backhoe Capabilities
Loaders Back Hoes
Replies 11 Post by JeffM

Thought I'd share a situation I ran into with a stuck latch on a 430 loader on my 4400; this would also apply to 420 or 460 loaders. Like usual, the solution was simple, but it took me 20 minutes of head-scratching and wrong turns before I figured it out. I had removed and attached my loader last year easy as could be, but this spring when I went to remove the loader after moving snow all winter, the latching mechanism was frozen up. Couldn't budge it a bit. In fact, I could push on the latch rod hard enough to start bending it, but nothing. So I made sure the "safety latch" was off the latch plate and I took WD-40 to the pivot points for the latch plate. Nothing. Then I stuck a flat pry bar between the latch plate and the weight bracket and pulled. Slight budge, but basically still nothing. Serious head scratching now, trying to figure out how I could have abused the loader assembly this winter to the point that the latch wouldn't move with a pry bar. Finally, I checked the bolt and locking nut at the bottom of the latch rod. The nut was tightened so hard that the mechanism couldn't pivot at all. Backed the nut off half a turn and voila!, the latch works perfectly! I figure someone at the dealership must have tightened it up last fall when I had the tractor in the shop for some warranty work and I had asked them to torque down all the loader mounting bolts and the wheel bolts. Just goes to show that you have to be careful what you ask for sometimes.

Stuck latch on 430 loader
John Deere Tractors
Replies 2 Post by JeffM

Dane, not a bad idea, but it would take me forever to drill the heads of the bolts with a small enough bit. Maybe if I had a machine shop? Anyhow, the bolts on my 4400 have never loosened, unless it was something the dealer caught last summer when I had it in for some warranty service. I've used it mostly for loader work this past year, but only have about 50 hours on it. I still check the bolts regularly, but so far, so good.

4300 wheel bolt problems
John Deere Tractors
Replies 72 Post by JeffM

Murf and Dave, I haven't been able to track down a poly pto mixer so far, only steel ones. I would be more interested in a poly unit also.

PTO Cement Mixers
Operating and Attachments
Replies 5 Post by JeffM

Hey Cutter, welcome back! I agree with Murf on the gasoline, but as you burn it in your car or whatever, do yourself a favor and try to have at least 50% new gas in the tank so that you don't trade problems on your boat for a different vehicle.

gasoline
Parts and Repair
Replies 7 Post by JeffM

Vincent, your belly mower and backhoe subframe incompatibility is very common. I'm not badmouthing other brands here, but one of the reasons I bought a JD4400 was that the 48 backhoe was compatible with the belly mower. The Deere 4000 series were the only new tractors I could find in which the frame-mounted hoe was compatible with a belly mower. A potential buyer should be aware of this if it is an important consideration for them.

Mid vs Rear Mower
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 13 Post by JeffM

Peter, the parking brake on my 4400 holds pretty good pointing forward down a slope - about the same as my 5000 lb truck. I wouldn't trust it alone on a steeper incline, though. I don't know how well it holds pointing backwards or if it even makes a difference. Mine was adjusted some too.

First weekend on my new 4300
John Deere Tractors
Replies 10 Post by JeffM

Thanks, Tony and Don. Tony, when I get my BB I will have to take some photos and post them. My dealer welded up the JD quick tach in a completely different manner than yours, but I suspect one way is no better than the other. I also have the smaller 52" wide unit for my 4400 as compared to the real "brute" you have on your 4700. Oh, and the dealer painted my BB green after all the welding. I see yours is black. I guess nobody likes yellow.

Brush Brute photo
Operating and Attachments
Replies 7 Post by JeffM

The type with 4" x 6" rectangular spacing is what we called "American Wire" fencing 30 years ago in the NY Champlain Valley. Like "Page Wire" it was named after the manufacturer. We would sandwich the fencing between two 2x6s bolted together with a short chain loop running top to bottom, and then draw on the chain loop with a tractor or a come-along to stretch the fence during installation.

Woven wire field fence construction
Garden and Landscape
Replies 23 Post by JeffM

Mark, your quote on a 4400HST with 430 loader for $21,400 sounds a little high to me compared to prices in my area, but it depends on how many extras are on the machine. I figure a good, yet fair, price in my area for a 4400HST with R4s, 430 loader, 60"HD bucket, DSCV, and not much else to be about $19,500 - $20,500. If you add folding ROPS, turf tires, mid PTO, 3rd SCV, and power beyond, then add about $1000. Maybe it's just that JDs (and compacts in general) are priced more competitively in northeast NY, but I think these prices generally are in line with some other areas of the country.

John Deere Price
John Deere Tractors
Replies 12 Post by JeffM

Your post helped me, Turfman. Now I have the itch even stonger to buy the Freedom Hitch. Don't worry, Mr. Joachim, my money wil find its way to you one of these days.

Quick Hitches
Operating and Attachments
Replies 19 Post by JeffM