Post by: Rob on April 21, 2022, 03:48:46 PM
Moving to Sandpoint has been a Doctoral course in snow management! We got over 6 feet this season and I had to rely on the kindness of neighbors a couple times to keep my 250 yards of sloped gravel driveway clear.
Given I have many other side projects, a tractor seemed like the best option. This is my first tractor so I bugged a buddy of mine for a crash course in all things tractor. Here is what I ended up with:
LS MT235HE
-Hydrostatic transmission
-35 HP
-66 inch bucket with 1600lbs of lift
I also got a box blade, and added a third function, mid PTO and dual remotes in the rear (they are on order). I had beet juice added to the tires which adds 950 lbs of ballast.
In the next month or so I will get a post hole digger, set of forks and a set of chains.
For this season I am going to get by without a snow blade but I will add one next year.
A snowblower and grapple are both on my wish list but finances will make that a 2+ year goal.
I do really want a good wood chipper so I may look into that this year or next.
Anyway, very happy with it - I have already worked on the driveway and smoothed it out. Next up is prep for the fence
Post by: Rob on April 21, 2022, 03:49:26 PM
Post by: Mark Brenckle on April 21, 2022, 04:08:11 PM
edit to add, my neighbor flips me a bunch of crap about my blue tractor, but I just couldn't justify the extra $9k for the green paint job!
Post by: KFhunter on April 21, 2022, 04:12:04 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 21, 2022, 04:14:04 PM
Post by: b23 on April 21, 2022, 04:57:59 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on April 21, 2022, 05:09:05 PM
Post by: Special T on April 21, 2022, 05:26:54 PM
Post by: Rob on April 21, 2022, 07:32:11 PM
KF: definitely getting chains!
Mark: really glad to hear yours is working well. I really could not find any consistent bad reviews, but a whole bunch of good ones. The feature to price ratio made sense to me.
B23/ridgerat: probably 2 seasons out for the blower but i set up the tractor for a front mount blower (this is why I added the mid-pto and third function). I currently have a quad with a blade and the berm was the main downfall for me. I bought a walk behind blower in Jan (and of course we never had more than an inch at a time after i got it!!). So i can use that to clean up some of it. Most of the time we were getting 3 to 5 inches at a time so easy enough if you keep up with it. One day we got 10 to 12 followed by rain. That was a massive mess.
The tractor is a 4x4
T: i was toying with attaching a couple 2"x10"x8' boards to my (soon to have) fork skid plate and making a temporary plow to last a season or two until I get the blower
Post by: Ridgeratt on April 21, 2022, 08:04:07 PM
I was told that I needed chains for my tractor with the R4 ag tires. I bought a set for the front tires it was not as bad of a dent in my wallet. I used them the first year and haven't put them on since.
Post by: Rob on April 21, 2022, 08:33:57 PM
Post by: KFhunter on April 21, 2022, 08:49:13 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 21, 2022, 09:18:09 PM
I like doing the driveway grading with a six way rear back blade, I have a box blade that came with the tractor but never use it.
If your hydraulic fill plug is the kind that just pushes into the hole I recommend getting a spare one. I’ve had them come out after prolonged use in the summer heat, and it never happens when the dealership is open.
I haven’t looked at the new tractors, but the older Ford/New Hollands have some of the hyd hoses routed over knife edge corners. If so get some hose wraps ( the spiral type ones) from a hydraulic shop.
Periodically give your tractor a good walk around looking for lose fasteners, tractors vibrate/ have different forces at play that loosen stuff up.
Have fun with it, I don’t even own a wheel barrel anymore.🤣
Post by: Skyvalhunter on April 22, 2022, 05:09:58 AM
Post by: headshot5 on April 22, 2022, 06:29:11 AM
Edited... Never mind I see you have got it covered with beet juice. Sounds like you are all set!!! Have fun and be safe.
Post by: Jingles on April 22, 2022, 07:37:12 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on April 22, 2022, 08:11:42 AM
Easier and more comfortable than rocker pedals. Includes cruise control.
That could be a learning curve. snuggling up to a project and accidently stepping on the wrong peddle.
Post by: Rob on April 22, 2022, 09:28:52 AM
DUAL PEDAL, 3 RANGE HST
Easier and more comfortable than rocker pedals. Includes cruise control.
That could be a learning curve. snuggling up to a project and accidently stepping on the wrong peddle.
Yeah - having two pedals is a bit odd. But on the other hand this is my first tractor so I am learning this way so hopefully I don't back over a cliff or ram something by accident!
Regarding the cab. We get considerable snow here as well and I thought about it, but was not a deal breaker for me. I may regret that. not sure they make a cab for this model but I have seen aftermarket cabs. Could not be any worse than the ATV I was operating this last winter I guess!
Post by: Gobble Doc on April 22, 2022, 09:44:32 AM
Post by: KFhunter on April 22, 2022, 09:49:47 AM
DUAL PEDAL, 3 RANGE HST
Easier and more comfortable than rocker pedals. Includes cruise control.
That could be a learning curve. snuggling up to a project and accidently stepping on the wrong peddle.
Yeah - having two pedals is a bit odd. But on the other hand this is my first tractor so I am learning this way so hopefully I don't back over a cliff or ram something by accident!
Regarding the cab. We get considerable snow here as well and I thought about it, but was not a deal breaker for me. I may regret that. not sure they make a cab for this model but I have seen aftermarket cabs. Could not be any worse than the ATV I was operating this last winter I guess!
Stick a canopy on the rops and call it good
Post by: Special T on April 22, 2022, 09:51:36 AM
My father had a fiberglass one on his mini John Deere but these seem pretty reasonably priced. Worked ok for rain with no wind, but really helped keep the sun off you.
Post by: Rob on April 22, 2022, 10:40:33 AM
Is one pedal for forward and one for reverse? Or is one front-back and one is the brake?
Right side has a fwd and rev pedal. Left side has right and left brake pedals that can be linked
Post by: Broomd on April 22, 2022, 12:30:22 PM
If it isn't already, I would recommend getting the rear tires loaded with ballast. It will lower you center of gravity making the tractor less tippy on a sidehill. Plus give you better traction. The manufacturer should have a chart for how much to use.I went with windshield washer fluid (-20) in my Case 50hp rears...fraction of the price of beet juice which is outrageously expensive anymore.
Edited... Never mind I see you have got it covered with beet juice. Sounds like you are all set!!! Have fun and be safe.
Post by: b23 on April 22, 2022, 01:05:29 PM
Post by: KFhunter on April 22, 2022, 01:11:55 PM
Post by: KFhunter on April 22, 2022, 01:17:34 PM
Post by: Special T on April 22, 2022, 01:32:53 PM
Post by: wolfbait on April 30, 2022, 08:56:34 AM
Regarding snow, I thought about getting a snow blower years ago, but went with a frontend loader blade instead, reason being I can use the blade for so many other chores, snow blower not so much. :twocents:
This is the best blade made, hell for stout, and being a six way there isn't much you can't do.
http://www.borgford.com/BODOZER/blades/
Post by: KFhunter on April 30, 2022, 09:10:50 AM
Use a blade on the back, a 6 way BISON that's super heavy duty. I can spin it around to drag or push.
You need a flexible neck for back blade work :chuckle:
I've had a stiff neck many a time from hours of looking back, not just snowplow but dirt plows mostly. My next tractor is gonna have a heated and air conditioning and a giant mirror for looking backwards!