The Tractor Thread

[Jake Smith]

I'll toss the mechanic a homeowner's tip that might not be worth the paper it's written on:

As I've bought attachments over the years, I've read that those lift arm pins I see in your pic (and that I have on nearly all my stuff) can snap off with heavy attachments when you hit something and there's sudden stress. The preferred type are the U bracket type where the pin goes through two holes and the arms pull straight forward in the center, like this:

But you can't be choosy when you buy used.

I got to worrying about it when I bought the box blade because of its mass and having it occasionally snag and suddenly stop on a heavy root. It occurred to me that the greatest risk is when the lift arms wander to the outside of the pins (like the left one in your pic), where the lift arm gets leverage and might snap the pin. So I got some 3/4" PVC pipe and cut some shims, like this:

You slide on the lift arm, then the shim, then put in the pin. This keeps the lift arm snug against the frame (and the base of the pin) so if you get a sudden *jerk* on the attachment, you're pulling straight forward on meat of the pin at the base where it's attached, rather than the arm wandering to the outside of the pin and possibly snapping it off.

I have no idea if that makes a difference or not, but it makes homeowner sense to me. I cut sets for the different length pins I have on my attachments. But it is the box blade that concerns me the most.

I think that's a great "idea", John, making spacers for the pins, but I've just replaced them when it happens, thus far. I need to take a few minutes to make some myself too. "Thanks" It's always good to be creative about things and make them better. Makes me think about when I was changing out the truck engine last month, and I decided to do away with all the smog shit they put on my truck; made it run 10 times better. No "regrets", on that one and over the years I've found lots of poor designs on things, where they did it, for it to break and they would make more money when you had to buy the parts again. Follow the money.

 

[John Brunner]

I wear the seat belt on both my tractor and my zero turn, but that's mainly because I'm more comfortable when securely held in the seat. My property's pretty flat, so I only use the roll bar when pulling something heavy with a chain or carrying a heavy log/tree in the front end loader (because it's difficult to figure out exactly where the center of gravity is.) The front wheelbase ain't real wide on these things.

 

[Jake Smith]

I wear the seat belt on both my tractor and my zero turn, but that's mainly because I'm more comfortable when securely held in the seat. My property's pretty flat, so I only use the roll bar when pulling something heavy with a chain or carrying a heavy log/tree in the front end loader (because it's difficult to figure out exactly where the center of gravity is.) The front wheelbase ain't real wide on these things.

Zero turns are fast, so I believe that's a great idea for them. We bought one several years ago, 26 hp "I think it was", we brought home and Marie took it out for cutting grass because at that time I was down in my back and the grass was really high. Anyway when she came back she was dustied from head to toe, looked like Red Skelton when he played the, "hobo". I couldn't believe the way she got dusted out. We took it back and told something wrong with this mower; it blasted dust all over you while using it. He said maybe blades are upside down or something; what do y'all want to do. We said just give us our money back and they did. I never even got to ride the thing.

 

[John Brunner]

Zero turns are fast, so I believe that's a great idea for them. We bought one several years ago, 26 hp "I think it was", we brought home and Marie took it out for cutting grass because at that time I was down in my back and the grass was really high. Anyway when she came back she was dustied from head to toe, looked like Red Skelton when he played the, "hobo". I couldn't believe the way she got dusted out. We took it back and told something wrong with this mower; it blasted dust all over you while using it. He said maybe blades are upside down or something; what do y'all want to do. We said just give us our money back and they did. I never even got to ride the thing.

I cut my acreage with a belly mower attachment for the past 15 years. I finally got a zero turn. The job goes so much faster (saves over 2 hours) and the cut is so much better.

Belly mower attachments go for $2k-$3k, which would be better put towards a zero turn. And the 5' belly mower attachment I have is a pain in the butt to put on/take off. I have to pull the tractor beside it, turn the wheels a certain way for clearance, drag it under the tractor like some stubborn dog on a leash (the thing is heavy), then hook up the mounting brackets & shimmy underneath to install the mid-pto shaft. The 6' belly mower is designed for you to drive over. I had no idea. I curse the Kubota sales guy every time I struggle with it.

The specs on my Bobcat ZT say it can go 11MPH. It is fast...and it still cuts well at that speed. I gotta strap my butt to the seat.

 

[John Brunner]

I think that's a great "idea", John, making spacers for the pins, but I've just replaced them when it happens, thus far. <snip>

Are you saying you've snapped some of the pins off? I've yet to do that. Maybe that's because my hydrostatic transmission ain't got the torque of your manual.

I keep spare pins of different lengths around, but that's mostly for when I buy an used attachment that does not already have them installed. And living in the sticks, I always keep spare parts around...just in case. There are no "nearby" stores.

 

[Don Alaska]

I have coveted a trail mower for years, as it could get into places that the tractor won't or cant easily go like along the lakeshore or near obstacles. Of course a zero-turn could get near obstacles, but I am afraid to take anything heavy near the water. I have a DR trimmer that will do it, but it is so much work that my old body can't do it. Grandsons, or even sons, could do it but they aren't often around when there is work to be done. My wife does most of the mowing on her lawn tractor, but there are places she can't go either.

 

[John Brunner]

I have coveted a trail mower for years, as it could get into places that the tractor won't or cant easily go like along the lakeshore or near obstacles. Of course a zero-turn could get near obstacles, but I am afraid to take anything heavy near the water. I have a DR trimmer that will do it, but it is so much work that my old body can't do it. Grandsons, or even sons, could do it but they aren't often around when there is work to be done. My wife does most of the mowing on her lawn tractor, but there are places she can't go either.

Yeh, bodies of water are always in low points of the landscape, especially ponds. Mowing near them is the stuff of viral YouTube videos. Heck, I've seen vids of people who can't seem to mow around their pools without pulling a Ted Kennedy.

I think I've seen offset flail mowers for such applications, but even those really change your center of gravity. I'd want a heavier outrigger on the other side to offset the weight + the incline.

 

[Jake Smith]

I cut my acreage with a belly mower attachment for the past 15 years. I finally got a zero turn. The job goes so much faster (saves over 2 hours) and the cut is so much better.

Belly mower attachments go for $2k-$3k, which would be better put towards a zero turn. And the 5' belly mower attachment I have is a pain in the butt to put on/take off. I have to pull the tractor beside it, turn the wheels a certain way for clearance, drag it under the tractor like some stubborn dog on a leash (the thing is heavy), then hook up the mounting brackets & shimmy underneath to install the mid-pto shaft. The 6' belly mower is designed for you to drive over. I had no idea. I curse the Kubota sales guy every time I struggle with it.

The specs on my Bobcat ZT say it can go 11MPH. It is fast...and it still cuts well at that speed. I gotta strap my butt to the seat.

I "bet", John, no way I would cut on that without being strapped to it either. Be careful always, think "safety", first, it's my new motto; Sometimes you can't see ahead, like when I was pulling a tree from Heleen damage, and another tree was in the way, so I stopped put brakes on tractor then got off; went around to other side touched tree and it knocked me in top head across trail to other side; completely down; when I tried to get up, the blood was spewing out my head, and "freaked" me out, the blood sound like water out a faucet. Caught me off guard for sure. Hate remembering that one.

 

[Jake Smith]

Are you saying you've snapped some of the pins off? I've yet to do that. Maybe that's because my hydrostatic transmission ain't got the torque of your manual.

I keep spare pins of different lengths around, but that's mostly for when I buy an used attachment that does not already have them installed. And living in the sticks, I always keep spare parts around...just in case. There are no "nearby" stores.

Yes, the smaller clip mainly that snaps back over the pin; a few times, the pins themselves; not so much.

 

[John Brunner]

@Jake Smith

It's crazy how heavy strong trees can be sprung like a mouse trap, ready for something to move the latch the last half inch. There have been a few ice storms that brought down evergreens along our right-of-way, all stacked on top of each other. You gotta be careful with the chain saw and not start in the middle where you might relives tons of stress.

Regarding those clips...I was gonna post a pic of the pin assortment I got at Tractor Supply. I bought a cheap divided carry box (like a tackle box) at Harbor Freight to organize them in. I don't break them, but they do get lost in the grass sometimes.

 

[Jake Smith]

@Jake Smith

It's crazy how heavy strong trees can be sprung like a mouse trap, ready for something to move the latch the last half inch. There have been a few ice storms that brought down evergreens along our right-of-way, all stacked on top of each other. You gotta be careful with the chain saw and not start in the middle where you might relives tons of stress.

Regarding those clips...I was gonna post a pic of the pin assortment I got at Tractor Supply. I bought a cheap divided carry box (like a tackle box) at Harbor Freight to organize them in. I don't break them, but they do get lost in the grass sometimes.

I will never forget the way that tree spun, and a 4 or 5 inch round broken limb, hitting me in the head. If I would have stayed on the left side, which I got off of, and touched the tree, I would not have been hurt. Who knew. Yeah post those clip assortments, and price. Like to see them.

 

[John Brunner]

I will never forget the way that tree spun, and a 4 or 5 inch round broken limb, hitting me in the head. If I would have stayed on the left side, which I got off of, and touched the tree, I would not have been hurt. Who knew. Yeah post those clip assortments, and price. Like to see them.

I think I got these @ $25:

7 sizes, 130 pieces.

I also carry one of these Harbor Freight magnetic ash trays with me:

I got tired of looking for lost pins when I change attachments...especially the tiny ones on the turnbuckles for the lower 3 pt hitch arms.

 

[Don Alaska]

I have a pin assortment but it is in my garage except for a few that I keep in the tool box on the tractor. @Jake Smith I would recommend putting a winch on the tractor. I have found that to be one of my most useful tractor "tools". It can get into places that the tractor cannot. Sometimes you have to tie the tractor to a tree or something to keep it from being pulled by the winch. As @John Brunner said, be very careful cutting trees under tension. You found out the hard way. I have even had trees jump off the ground when cut.

 

[John Brunner]

I have a pin assortment but it is in my garage except for a few that I keep in the tool box on the tractor. @Jake Smith I would recommend putting a winch on the tractor. I have found that to be one of my most useful tractor "tools". It can get into places that the tractor cannot. Sometimes you have to tie the tractor to a tree or something to keep it from being pulled by the winch. As @John Brunner said, be very careful cutting trees under tension. You found out the hard way. I have even had trees jump off the ground when cut.

Yeh, I carry a few pins, some Harbor Freight tools (needle nose pliers, a wrench to adjust the top link on the 3 pt hitch, stuff like that.) I know you've talked about your winch before, and I've been tempted when HF runs a sale, but I've yet to be in a spot where I wish I had one.

 

[Jake Smith]

I think I got these @ $25:

7 sizes, 130 pieces.

I also carry one of these Harbor Freight magnetic ash trays with me:

I got tired of looking for lost pins when I change attachments...especially the tiny ones on the turnbuckles for the lower 3 pt hitch arms.

That looks like a good purchase, John, thanks for posting it, will check on them.

 

[Jake Smith]

I have a pin assortment but it is in my garage except for a few that I keep in the tool box on the tractor. @Jake Smith I would recommend putting a winch on the tractor. I have found that to be one of my most useful tractor "tools". It can get into places that the tractor cannot. Sometimes you have to tie the tractor to a tree or something to keep it from being pulled by the winch. As @John Brunner said, be very careful cutting trees under tension. You found out the hard way. I have even had trees jump off the ground when cut.

I could see where a winch would come in handy in tight spots, Don, "smart". I did find out the hard way that you cannot be too careful, when dealing with a tree; even though I've cut hundreds, it is always "dangerous". That day the big tree I was pulling was in some kind of a bind, looking totally "limp"; when I barely touched it, to move it knocked almost out. I won't ever be, not cautious, again; I bet you that.

 

[Don Alaska]

Yeh, I carry a few pins, some Harbor Freight tools (needle nose pliers, a wrench to adjust the top link on the 3 pt hitch, stuff like that.) I know you've talked about your winch before, and I've been tempted when HF runs a sale, but I've yet to be in a spot where I wish I had one.

Like the tractor itself, I think you would be amazed at how much you use it if you had one. I carry more tools than that, but not a whole lot. I also carry zip ties, and various ropes and stuff. I carry lopping shears. I noticed you have a chainsaw holster. I have wanted one for a long time, but haven't made one yet, and I have supplemental lights that I use in the winter.

 

[John Brunner]

Like the tractor itself, I think you would be amazed at how much you use it if you had one. I carry more tools than that, but not a whole lot. I also carry zip ties, and various ropes and stuff. I carry lopping shears. I noticed you have a chainsaw holster. I have wanted one for a long time, but haven't made one yet, and I have supplemental lights that I use in the winter.

Amazon carries a hoop that mounts on the rollover bar that you slide a 5 gallon bucket in, but I have to drop the ROP to get my tractor in my garage, so I'd have to unmount the hoop every time I put the tractor away.

Now that I look at it, I could probably make something out of a U bracket and plumber's strap that would do the same thing.

I got a cheap rubber-ish oil drain pan from Harbor Freight that wedges on the floorboard between the firewall and the shroud under the seat. I carry chains, quick-connect chain hooks & other attachments, gloves, bucket hooks, and stuff like that in it.



It ain't pretty, but it stays put and gets the job done.

Amazon carries the chain saw holster for $70. You might not be able to get it delivered there, but it could give you design ideas Link

 

[Don Alaska]

Amazon carries a hoop that mounts on the rollover bar that you slide a 5 gallon bucket in, but I have to drop the ROP to get my tractor in my garage, so I'd have to unmount the hoop every time I put the tractor away.

Now that I look at it, I could probably make something out of a U bracket and plumber's strap that would do the same thing.

I got a cheap rubber-ish oil drain pan from Harbor Freight that wedges on the floorboard between the firewall and the shroud under the seat. I carry chains, quick-connect chain hooks & other attachments, gloves, bucket hooks, and stuff like that in it.

View attachment 527

It ain't pretty, but it stays put and gets the job done.

Amazon carries the chain saw holster for $70. You might not be able to get it delivered there, but it could give you design ideas Link

That looks like a handy thing for the tractor. My ROPS doesn't drop, and I can JUST get it into the garage. I can get it into my tractor shed, but that isn't heated.

 

[John Brunner]

That looks like a handy thing for the tractor. My ROPS doesn't drop, and I can JUST get it into the garage. I can get it into my tractor shed, but that isn't heated.

Since I got the Zero Turn, some type of bucket rig has become more tempting. It would protrude too much to be practical when mowing around the tree line and low branches (I had to modify the cup/bottle holder because of this.) But since my tractor is no longer my mower, a bucket rack could be of use. Heck, just a hook for the handle would work. Then I could take it off if I needed to go into a tight space.