Tractorpoint Login

print < Tractorpoint Login

Search for =

Topic

I read something in the newspaper the other day that said in 1900 there were all kinds of dire predictions that we would run out of oil, food etc. So what happened? People live better than they ever have (at least in the US) and generally enjoy longer, healthier lives. Even the poorest people in the US enjoy comforts that royalty could only dream about 200 years ago.

We keep finding more oil because the technology keeps getting better. Also, as the price increases, oil that may have been costly to extract becomes economically feasible.

OPEC and other rational oil producers are smart enough to realize there is a balancing act with price. If they set it too high, their will be incentives to develop alternative sources. There is enough shale in the mid west to run our cars for hundreds of years. The problem is that to convert shale to oil would end up costing about $3 a gallon.

I don't think there is much to worry about although disruptions from current supplies could cause hardships in the short run - that is unti the switch is made to an alternative - shale oil, soy diesel, etc.

Oil Reserves
Just For Fun Off Topic
Replies 25 Post by Mr Ed

Mark:

They came loos and fell off the tire on one side, the other side I gues I had tight enough as it did not come off but it took several adjustments. The bungee cords sound like a good idea.

Tire Chains for 4100 Turf tires
Parts and Repair
Replies 4 Post by Mr Ed

Mark:

I also grew up in that world and to a certain extent it still exits where I live in Virgina. When I was growing up in the 70s, almost every boy had a 22 and most had a shotgun as well. We all belonged to the gun club and boy scouts. We all learned to shoot and learned firearm safety from NRA certified instructors and/or Marines (typically Gunnys) who would volunteer their time. I can remember one of the highlights of going to scout camp was archery and shooting.

Our parents thought nothing of giving us access to our guns. I often came home from school in the fall while in high school and would go out for a walk in the woods to see if we could bag some birds such as pheasant, quail or woodcock. No matter how angry we sometimes would get at someone, nobody would ever think of using a gun on another person.

Fortunately here in Virginia, many people still hunt and you are not viewed as some type of lunatic by having a gun.

I would say to those people that have posted here their observation of people using fireams in a manner they think is inappropriate to check their local laws. Here where I live in Virginia, you only need to be 50 feet from a home to discharge a firearm. While I would consider taking a shot at something from within 50 feet at my own home, I would never do this at someone else's house without their permission and first determining that it was safe to do so. If you are seeing behavior that breaks the law, you should call the police. If you do not want people to hunt or shoot on your property, you should post it.

God guns guts and America
Everything and Anything
Replies 14 Post by Mr Ed

I just did my leaves taking a different approach this year. I have a JD4100 that has the mulching attachment for the 60 inch deck. I put a lawn sweeper behind the tractor. This set up made quick work of my leaves and gave my lawn a final cutting. I have some big trees such as Sycamores that drop some big leaves. For heavy concentrations, I went over the leaves first with the mower off and pickec up a lot with the lawn sweep. I then went over it with the mower on. It chopped up what was left and the lawn sweep picked up most of it.

My lawn looks great. I am very pleased with the results.

Mulching instead of raking
Garden and Landscape
Replies 17 Post by Mr Ed

In Japan, farms have always tended to be far smaller than in the US. As a result, the Japanese developed expertise in building small compact tractors. When demand began to grow in the US for these smaller tractors, Kubota was in a good position to capitalize on the market. They also helped create price competition as Kubota offered a viable alternative to Deere. deere finally caught on and now imports Japanese made compact tractors. I own one of them - a 4100.

I seriously considered a BX from Kubota. Its a good machine at a great price. However for what I wanted to do, the 4100 was better suited to my needs. I felt it fit between the BX2200 and next step up in the Kubota line - both in price and size.

In my opinion, JD only has itself to blame for not being #1 in this segment in terms of sales. Kubota did to them what the Japanes auto makers did to the big three.

No matter what you think, we are all better for it long term. The competition has resulted in better products and prices. I agree that JD sales people need to sharpen their sales skills. Most of the dealers around here are a bunch of good old boys who are pretty arrogant. I finally found one in another state that was pretty good. Sales tactics were not great but the price was. All of the Kubota dealers I visited were much better.

If you think JD dealers are bad now, just think how bad they would be if competitors like Kubota had not entered the market.

Kubota Number 1 in Compact Tractor SALES
Kubota Tractors
Replies 87 Post by Mr Ed

I installed the JD mulching kit on my 60" MM mower for my 4100 back in the spring. It works well, chopping the grass up. The kit comes with three new blades that have a different shape as well as as a chute blocker and other pieces that fit inder the mower. In addition there are some pieces that are added under the deck. Hardware is included as you have to drill some holes through the deck to mount some of the new pieces. The whole kit cost about $200 from the local JD dealer and was easy to put on.

Of course the mulcher workes best when the grass is not too long, thick or wet. However, I found this past season that it chops up the grass nice and keeps piles and layers from forming as with the standard blade.

Mulching
John Deere Tractors
Replies 6 Post by Mr Ed

I have a KK Bush hog and it has worked fine. It was much cheaper than the JD and the JD dealer could not explain to me what the differences were.

I know they are built in Alabama but if I recall correctly, I think the transmission on my bush hog said "Made in China".

King Kutter Mowers and Tillers
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 8 Post by Mr Ed

I am not sure if diesel engines have the same characteristics as gas. I once had a 3 cylinder Yamaha motorcycle. The advantage of the 3 vs 2 and 4s was that it had almost the same HP as a four but was able to spool up more quickly like a twin, giving the torque characteristics of those engines. I would assume the same would apply to diesels but, again, I am not expert on diesel engines.

I do know the Yamaha triple ran a bit rougher than a four. In my opinion, engine smoothness is not as musch an issue on a tractor given how it is used.

4 cyl vs 3 cyl diesel
Kubota Tractors
Replies 22 Post by Mr Ed

I have 11 acres and a 4100 with a 60" belly mower, loader, 10" wide field drag, turf tires and a post hole digger. About 9 acres are horse pasture and 2 are lawn and my driveway is a half mile long asphalt. I mow, plow, dig post holes and drag the fields with the 4100. No problem. This machine has handled it all.

I was concerned when buying that the 4100 would not be powerful enough to pull the drag, but it does with no problem. I got the 4100 over a 4200 or 4300 due to weight when mowing. The heavier machines, even with turf tires can dig in and also cause a strain if you are crossing a septic field.

4100 4110 4010 vs B7500
John Deere Tractors
Replies 14 Post by Mr Ed

I guess I see it different. Sure we have problems but the US is still the best place to live and work and I think this will continue into the foreseeable future. Our colleges and universities, although a bit obsessed with political correctness are the envy of the world. Our economic system still is the best environment to foster the start up of new companies and innovation.

I don't see any end in the near future to people wanting to come here. Yes, China, Russia and other countries may produce more Math graduates and scientists but the limiting factor in those countries is the economic and political systems. The lack of free speech, protections for private and intellectual property, checks and balances on the government will be the limiting factor, over time to development in these countries. This ill not change in these countries any time soon and even if it did, the culture of these countries could still be a limiting factor.

If you looked at the history of our country, many of the same arguments you are making have been made before. Certainly the outlook for the US was much bleaker in 1862, 1932, 1942 and to a certain extent the late 70s. I remember reading in the late 60s how Russia would surpass the US in GDP by the late 70s. It was all based on extrapolation from the previous 15 years. What a fairy tale that is.

I remember the boasts of the Japanese in the 80s how America's time had past and that the 20th century was the US century but that the 21st century would be the Japanese century. Not likely.

No, I will have to disagree. In spite of the problems we might have and the threat of terrorism, the outlook for the United States has never been better. We will solve whatever problems we face. The thing that people always underestimate about the US and the thing I feel is our greatest asset is the ability to adapt, re-invent ourselves and move forward. While other nations will certainly improve their position in the world, which I view as good, 50 years from now, I believe the US will still be the leader of the free world and the country that most people look to and aspire to live in.

origin o4100
John Deere Tractors
Replies 33 Post by Mr Ed

One thing you did not mention is if you will be mowing the 5.5 acres and if you will be crossing a septic field. If so, you should check that the 4200 is not too heavy as to damage your septic field. I was told by my John Deere dealer as well as my septic ssyetem guy that you should keep the upper limit for repeated crossing of the septic field to about 2000 pounds.

I have a 4100 and its a great tractor. I maintain about 9 acres of pasture and two acres of lawn with it as well as plowing a half mile paved road in winter. None of the tasks I have given it have presented a problem.

4100 vs 4200
John Deere Tractors
Replies 8 Post by Mr Ed