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 | MacDaddy
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 95 Western NY 
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2005-05-02 110628
It is finally here! Received the JD4310 ehydro, loader, and backhoe. This is a lot more machine than I have used in the past, so I consider myself kind of “green”. That said, I would appreciate some rookie advice. I am well aware of the safety issues, but would really appreciate some general do’s and don’ts. For example: “Don’t try to _______ with your new tractor or you’ll break it ya fool.”
Also, thanks to all of you who helped me with this decision. Your experience, and knowledge were invaluable. Hopefully as I gain more experience I can give a little back.
Someone on this board posted a great quote recently: “Good judgment comes from experience…. And experience comes from a lot of bad judgment” Please share yours with me so I wont go broke paying for repairs. All acts of stupidity and/or general lack of common sense are hereby forgiven.
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada 
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2005-05-02 110630
I guess if I had to boil it all down into one sentence it would be something like this;
Remember they call these things a COMPACT tractor for a reason.
I have seen more tractors damaged by an overly-aggressive operator than any other single reason. A backhoe or loader equipped CUT can be surpisingly easy to wreck. These things are NOT bulldozers, nor 40 ton excavators, nor monster trucks.
If you search through the archives on this board you will find several threads about B/H's snapping tractors in half, likewise with FEL's pushed beyond the limits of the tractor their bolted to, and most 3pth implents are more than capable of heaping more than their fair share of abuse on a CUT too.
Be careful, be patient, and above, be safe.
There should be a sign in the middle of every CUT's steering wheel that reads "When in doubt, DON'T !!!".
Best of luck.
....
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 | Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 955 Central Iowa 
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2005-05-03 110665
Murf sums it up pretty good with his:
"When in doubt, don't."
When using the FEL to pick up a load, take smaller bits first to see how it handles it. Meaning, on an older tractor, I grabbed a honking big load so I could take fewer trips. When the right front tire sunk in the soft soil and the left rear came off the ground a good foot or two, the pucker factor was impressive. Fortunately, I was fast on the loader lever and dumped the load.
Point: it's not hard to overload the tractor and the conditions you are operating. Just cause the tractor can, doesn't mean you should. Be mindful of the conditions. ....
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 | ncrunch32
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 762 Kingston, NY
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2005-05-03 110672
Be aware that the wires under the tractor will rip out if you are driving over brush and sticks get up under the tractor. Happened to me when brush chopping. ....
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 | Oliver
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 210 Massachusetts
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2005-05-03 110679
It's amazing how far out implements stick out. I almost took the door of the barn off with the loader as I turned too sharp, too fast. My father-in-law came within inches of taking the pant off my wife's Suburban when he didn't think about the 6' blade on the back of the tractor. Also, i put a stick through the gill guard on day one with my tractor -- I was pushing a big pile of brush and didn;t think about looses sticks. Luckily, a quick and easy fix.
More seriously, I was showing the athletic director at work how to operate the L3130 GST we have. I went through everything, I thought, and she carefully put the tractor into reverse and eased off the clutch. As she approached the end of the parking lot (with a hill behind it) she literally stood on the brakes, which did little. "Push in the clutch", I said, which she did, and came to a quick stop. The lesson that was reinforced that day is that driving a tractor is not like driving a car or anything else -- the new ones are easy to drive but still have a tremendous amount of power and momentum which can get one in a lot of trouble real quick. ....
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 | AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2005-05-03 110681
Here is my advice: It's big but for heaven sakes be gentle with it, it's easy to wreck stuff, tractor included. Happy tractoring
Cheers AB ....
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 | Ardician
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 59 Evergreen, Alabama
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2005-05-04 110703
For a tale of what not to do with your 4310, see my "Rollover Story" on the Safety discussion board. ....
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