Tractorpoint Login

print < Tractorpoint Login

Search for =

Topic

See if there is a glow plug relay that is keeping voltage on the glow plugs after the tractor has started. The relay would provide voltage to heat the glow plugs and then automatically cut off when the engine starts.

Tractor Burning Out Glow Plugs
Kubota Tractors
Replies 12 Post by Richard Harburn

Here are some additional thoughts on the diesel fuel thread. "Gelled fuel" refers to wax particles in the fuel - at least in moderately cold climates. These will immediately clog the fuel filter and there is nothing you can do except warming the fuel (move the vehicle inside if possible). Changing filters will let the motor run - for a very short time - until the new filter clogs. Years ago, Volkswagen recommended mixing regular gasoline with the diesel in cold conditions. I believe that this makes the cylinders run "dry" so I have always used fuel conditioner in my trucks and tractors. One winter I pulled into a service station with the truck engine starving for fuel and added some kerosene to the tank. The motor smoothed out immediately (the return lines circulate a lot of fuel) as the kerosene "loosened up" the diesel fuel and it could get thru the filter. About ether - it will absolutely damage an engine with glow plugs. I've heard about people using it but they disconnected the glow plug relay before turning the engine over. If the ether hits the hot glow plug when the piston is coming up, it is like a bomb going off in the cylinder and can bend connecting rods and do major damage. One last thing - buy fuel where the truckers buy it. That means that the fuel turns over frequently and has not been sitting in a small tank for a long time. Also - never assume that the fuel is adjusted for winter conditions. That depends on what the distributor has and is why I have always used conditioner. This all pertains to the mountains of Western North Carolina where it can get very cold but nothing like Canada or the nouthern U.S.

Care and Feeding
Tractor Projects
Replies 22 Post by Richard Harburn

Thanks for your message. My situation was related to the complex throttle and governor linkage that is used with the Kohler engine. It is very difficult to adjust if you want that extra few rpm's. I can can get 3500 rpm with no trouble but an extra 200 to 300 rpm's really makes a difference when trenching. I have been using 10-30W oil since the machine was new.

Steiner and Ventrac Articulated 4WD Tractors
Articulated Tractors
Replies 44 Post by Richard Harburn

Walter - I'd suggest that you locate and talk to someone who knows a little bit about stump grinders (someone that actually operates one) and the type of end result that you want. When you get away from the conventional wheel with teeth in pockets and the up/down motion with side-to-side sweep you may be in for an adventure you didn't expect. Also, don't listen to advice that tells you these machines are slow. Try a 44hp or larger machine towed behind a farm tractor. One person drives the tractor and one operates the grinder. You will be AMAZED at how efficient that operation is. Just go 12" or so down and later you can easily blade the debris back into the hole. No fill dirt, no backhoe, no ruts - just a good, clean job. Good luck with your project. (Try to make a deal with a local "tree man" at a unit price per stump. I've worked for people at a unit price and can make good money that way.)

Stump grinder
Operating and Attachments
Replies 10 Post by Richard Harburn

One additional comment. I don't know what your valves look like but I frequently rebuild a bank of 5 spool valves with spacer blocks between the valve bodies and an inlet and outlet section. There are three threaded rods (used as tie rods) that pass end to end thru the entire assembly and have a lock washer and nut on each end. Because of the O rings and mylar spacers that my assembly uses, I have to be very careful to torque the whole assembly to specifications. Even bought another torque wrench because I didn't have one that would work for inch pounds of torque. Just something for you to consider.

Backhoe spool valves stuck leaking - HELP
Loaders Back Hoes
Replies 16 Post by Richard Harburn

Check out metcosupply.com for kits and metalwebnews.com for a description of building a digger.

METKIT BACKHOE GIVE ME INSIGHT
Loaders Back Hoes
Replies 6 Post by Richard Harburn

Locate the Micro-Mower web site by using a search engine. They make articulated arm mowers suitable for compact tractors. They use a flail mower head and I believe they may have some other options for cutting heads. Good luck.

hedge Trimmer
Website Operations Howto
Replies 5 Post by Richard Harburn

This discussion of hyd. filters always fascinates me. Especially when people complain about OEM prices and try to save a few bucks by using aftermarket filters. I have several Kohler engines and always use Kohler oil filters. Why do I spend the extra money? Because I don't know that the other brands have the same relief pressure as the Kohler filters. Also, an extra 3 or 5 dollars is not important when compated to a $1500 gas Kohler engine. When hydro filters are involved this concern for a few dollars is even stranger. If your system needs a 10 micron filter, how do you know that the replacement isn't a 25 micron filter? Consider the cost of the hydro system and all of the parts involved. It seems to me that the assurance of the proper filter is the best peace of mind that you can have. This is one of the reasons I have mostly lost interest in the CTB. Seems like the advice is often in the "buyer beware" category.

Hyd filter
Parts and Repair
Replies 9 Post by Richard Harburn

One question - why 4" wide for a sprinkler line? Check out Kwik Trench and EZ-Trench (use a search engine and look for "earth saws" and/or trenchers). Some use a wheel with carbide teeth and some have a flat blade with teeth welded on to give a particular edging cut or vertical cut. These are not typical chain type trenchers but are portable machines. A depth of 12" is about the limit for these small machines.

trenching sprinkler lines
Operating and Attachments
Replies 12 Post by Richard Harburn

Here's another idea. I already had a 3pt. hitch subsoiler (ripper) so I took out the steel shank, bolted on a bumper hitch attachment I had (takes a square tube - the kind used in a receiver) and used a straight insert with a hitch ball attached to it. Of course, I already had these parts on hand so all I did was drill and tap a couple of holes. If you weld, you could get some scrap steel and make something similar for a few dollars. The big advantage over the draw bar method is the 3pt hitch will elevate the trailer tongue and I can move two or three trailers around without ever cranking or folding the trailer tongue jack.

Trailer Moving
Tractor Projects
Replies 10 Post by Richard Harburn

I have two tractors with hydraulic lift on the front (Kubota B8200 and Steiner 430 Max) and both use the same float procedure. Push the lever forward until you feel a little down pressure, the down pressure will increase and then you will be at a detent point. A quick push past the detent puts it into float. After getting a feel for this, you can go right into float (while moving or stationary) without raising the front end from down pressure. With a front mounted bucket, you have to be careful that the leading edge of the bucket is not tipped down so it doesn't dig into the ground but rides along the surface.

Engaging the quot Float quot Position
Loaders Back Hoes
Replies 16 Post by Richard Harburn

You are essentially correct with a few minor points. There are two kinds of hydroseeding machines - paddle agitation and jet agitation. The paddle units can break up solid bales easier and will tolerate high percentages of wood fiber with little trouble. They tend to be more expensive as they are steel construction and can have expensive maintenance requirements as they age. Jet agitation units require a larger percentage of paper vs. wood fiber and you need to be more careful about breaking up the bales. Larger units typically have bale grinders (900 gal. and larger) so they load bales rapidly. A new mulch, called Jet Spray, is a pourable mulch and loads as fast as you can dump the bags in. Also, EasyLawn jet agitated units will mix a geobinder, Airtrol Gypsum, with no problems. I don't know if other jet units tolerate the gypsum but EasyLawn has a proprietary pump design that seems to be superior.
The hydro mulch serves several purposes. Large trucks that spray big areas tend to use it as a coloring agent so they can do an even application. They will then blow straw or hay over the seeded areas. This mainly serves to cool the soil so fescues, which are cool weather grasses, will germinate in hot weather and also provides some frost protection in the early spring. Often the straw/hay will blow or wash away if it is not sprayed with a light slurry of hydro mulch (no seed) and a tacking agent to bind it together. If the hydromulch is not followed with straw/hay, it is applied at the recommended rate per acre. Fibers and tackifiers are also added, at times, to better stick the mulch/seed mixture to the soil. EasyLawn sells soluble lime and fertilizer which is immediately available to the new grass. The water used in the mix is not sufficient for germination. Any hydroseeded areas must receive rainfall/watering adequate for germination. Also, new grass must also get enough water to keep it from dying. This is up to the customer. Often, annual rye or brown millet is used (at a specific rate per tank) as a nurse crop. Several mowings will make the nurse crop disappear after it has served its purpose. This is a basic overview of hydroseeding and each geographic area has its specific requirements as to the best grasses to seed with.

hydro seeding
Garden and Landscape
Replies 9 Post by Richard Harburn

I have had a similar thing happen. Nothing happens at the front end loader or 3pt hitch. Tractor otherwise seems fine. Suction strainer also looked clean and normal. Replaced the suction strainer and everything went back to normal. I have seen suction strainers that looked like new and still would not allow enough fluid to pass. If your pump is not hissing or making unusual noises, it may not be the strainer - just thought I'd pass along my experiences.

hydraulic problem
Kubota Tractors
Replies 2 Post by Richard Harburn

If the address in my first post doesn't work, try this one.

http://www.netset.com/~rlp/mower.htm

Looking for a small Flail Mower
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 6 Post by Richard Harburn

Just a quick thought from someone who has done tree work as a profession - topping, take downs, power line clearing, clear cutting, etc. Trees, in general, are fairly predictable but always unforgiving. Much of the time, you are working by intuition and previous experience and you can never see inside a piece of wood. If a person is working by guesswork or long range advice from people who may or may not be professionals there can very well be a disappointing end to a seemingly simple project. I'm not throwing off on anyone - just ask a tree man, logger or other professional in a related field and they will tell you that there is always an element of danger and the unknown that can come to you fast and at the most unexpected moments. You may get a lifetime of mistakes or only one. When in doubt, it is sometimes best to round up a professional - even if you are going to do the work yourself and only pay for the advice. Work safe - wear your saw chaps (I've seen them save a life), eye protection, etc. Good luck in the woods.

Pulling down trees
Tractor Projects
Replies 21 Post by Richard Harburn

Did you just buy the plans or did you get a kit from Metco Supply? How long to build? Does it seem to put a lot of pressure on the 3pt hitch? I'm asking because I have seen the castings on other tractors crack - but not due to a back hoe attachment. The pictures on their web site look good and the price is certainly right - compared to units at the Kubota dealer. These units also look similar to the units available from Northern Equipment (N. Hydraulics). Any advice and hints would be appreciated. Thanks.

CadPlans
Loaders Back Hoes
Replies 5 Post by Richard Harburn

I have had this problem with my Steiner. Even though I always put the spool valve into "float" position when letting the implement down, there is sometimes a problem inserting the male end of the quick connect into the female side. You are right in saying that they can not be forced together. The problem is not on the tractor side but rather with the implement. The hoses in the attachment are charged with hyd. fluid and this is just like a solid rod - it cannot be compressed and the fluid is keeping the quick connect from going together. Wrap a rag around the male end of the hose and push against something solid. The end will retract and release a small amount of hyd. fluid and the pressure in the line. You only need to do this to one of the ends. The couplings will then snap together easily. At least this is how I solve the problem on my machine.

Problem Connecting Hydraulic Hoses
Loaders Back Hoes
Replies 17 Post by Richard Harburn

Here's my $0.02 about chipers. My opinion is that a Vermeer 620 (used) or the new equivalent is the way to go. The tiny chipper/shredders are only good for garden and yard waste. The big machines can chip large material but usually wood in the 5-6" range is saved for firewood. About hyd. feed: it controls the load on the cutting disc or drum and makes more efficient use of limited HP. Be very careful of used machines unless you know the history and are a good mechanic. The large V-8 powered drum chippers are not, in my opinion, for anyone other than a professional. Read the accident reports about deaths and you will see what I mean. When I sold my tree business, one of the new partners clipped off 4 fingers in a drum chipper while working on it. Look for a large throat so you can feed material without having to saw it up too much. Also, if you can touch the throat by reaching across the feed table, look for another machine. You will be surprised by the amount of work that can be done with a 20hp machine. It is also easy to tow between a small 4wd tractor. Good luck and wear your ear plugs and eye protection.

PTO woodchippers again
Operating and Attachments
Replies 43 Post by Richard Harburn

Just a quick note from a person who used to do power line clearing, right of way clearing and topping by climbing and by bucket truck. ALWAYS, ALWAYS,USE YOUR HEAD AND APPLY COMMON SENSE AND USE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Many people don't realize that when you leave the house, you might not come back. Many accidents are sudden and catastrophic. A piece of equipment has no heart and does not care if you get killed or just a good scare. Sometimes you get a lifetime of second chances and sometimes only one bad accident that takes or ruins your life. Install a roll bar and wear the seat belt. Don't think you are skillful enough to always finesse your way out of trouble. We all have those days when our presence of mind is not what it should be. I have a friend who did tree work for years and still got 40 stitches in his knee from a saw cut. That was just a peck on the leg compared to what sometimes happens. Why? Because he was working around the house and didn't bother to put on his saw chaps. It can and will happen and we just have to be ready and protected.

seat belt or not
Tractor Projects
Replies 12 Post by Richard Harburn

I know that a Steiner is a different kind of tractor but have you considered one? Probably a lot more money but you won't see a better finish cut than with their front mounted mowing deck which as a full width rear roller to groom the grass after the cut. Also, with dual wheels and the articulating frame you will have no problems on slopes or hills. Check out steinerturf.com if you are not familiar with them. I use a 430 Max for mowing, trenching, etc. and they are impressive machines.

Kubota BX2200 vs B7500 recomendations
Kubota Tractors
Replies 13 Post by Richard Harburn