The Official Farming Thread...

[SpaceBus]

I have some good before and after pics, but they are on another hard drive.

 

[Steve]

I find the front end gets a bit spooky with the 600 lb grapple handling round bales, so it makes sense that bucket mounted spears would be the same. I just figured the bucket weighs less than the grapple, so it wouldn't be quite as bad. I'll just have to save my dollars for a FEL quick attach set. 3pt spears would work, but I like being able to raise the bale over the fence and lower it down.

Get those rear tires filled. You won't worry about the 600 pound grapple over powering the rear. Remember though to keep your loads low as possible when moving around and don't get complacent.

Here are a few pics of my ballasted compact with a 500# grapple and some loads. I had a 5 ft cutter on the back of the tractor when I picked up that log for good measure.

 

[Steve]

Its coming straight outta the north. Looks like the worst of it is gonna miss us. All we've gotten so far is a few sprinkles.

That's great news!

 

[Mastermind]

Get those rear tires filled.

+1

 

[SpaceBus]

Get those rear tires filled. You won't worry about the 600 pound grapple over powering the rear. Remember though to keep your loads low as possible when moving around and don't get complacent.

Here are a few pics of my ballasted compact with a 500# grapple and some loads. I had a 5 ft cutter on the back of the tractor when I picked up that log for good measure.

View attachment 297877 View attachment 297878

I thought about loaded tires, but I can just attach the stump grinder and if I can't lift it then it's too heavy for my tractor. We live on rocky clay and I have enough problems making ruts and sinking as it is, but if beet juice were available locally I would consider getting my tires loaded.

 

[SpaceBus]

A better pic of the mill setup. I made a bit of dust today, but found two screws. The first screw slowed me down, but I was able to save the chain and get on with my life, before hitting the second screw almost immediately. After hitting the first one I looked really hard for a second one but couldn't find it. The Archer chain, or "Asian Chain" as my wife jokingly calls it, didn't hold up well after the second screw and several cutters came right off and the rest look like *s-word. I might replace the broken cutters and make this 60dl loop into a Granberg style chain with scoring cutters. I swapped the Tsumura and 84dl loop on and not too long later broke a loop. One of the drivers broke where I put the loop together, but now it is back together. Hopefully the rest of my "home spun" rivets hold up well enough. The Asian chain does take a lot of love to give a nice finish, it cuts like ruffles potato chips off the reel. After a few passes with my grinder and it cuts very nice, just as well as the Carlton I was using prior. When this roll is done I'll buy some of the Stihl 63PMX, but the Chinese copy will serve for now. The 16" bar makes short work of these 6-10" logs, but the 24" bar is not to bad either. 3/8lp is noticeably faster than regular 3/8.

 

[Steve]

I thought about loaded tires, but I can just attach the stump grinder and if I can't lift it then it's too heavy for my tractor. We live on rocky clay and I have enough problems making ruts and sinking as it is, but if beet juice were available locally I would consider getting my tires loaded.

Mine are filled with methanol (windshield washer fluid). That rimgaurd stuff is super expensive!

 

[Steve]

A better pic of the mill setup. I made a bit of dust today, but found two screws. The first screw slowed me down, but I was able to save the chain and get on with my life, before hitting the second screw almost immediately. After hitting the first one I looked really hard for a second one but couldn't find it. The Archer chain, or "Asian Chain" as my wife jokingly calls it, didn't hold up well after the second screw and several cutters came right off and the rest look like *s-word. I might replace the broken cutters and make this 60dl loop into a Granberg style chain with scoring cutters. I swapped the Tsumura and 84dl loop on and not too long later broke a loop. One of the drivers broke where I put the loop together, but now it is back together. Hopefully the rest of my "home spun" rivets hold up well enough. The Asian chain does take a lot of love to give a nice finish, it cuts like ruffles potato chips off the reel. After a few passes with my grinder and it cuts very nice, just as well as the Carlton I was using prior. When this roll is done I'll buy some of the Stihl 63PMX, but the Chinese copy will serve for now. The 16" bar makes short work of these 6-10" logs, but the 24" bar is not to bad either. 3/8lp is noticeably faster than regular 3/8.

That is quite the mill setup. I like it!

 

[SpaceBus]

That is quite the mill setup. I like it!

Thank you, it's a 6m Logosol F2+ and the saw is a 395xp.

 

[SpaceBus]

Mine are filled with methanol (windshield washer fluid). That rimgaurd stuff is super expensive!

Should have done a multi quote...

Did you fill them yourself? I've heard of the methanol approach, but don't know anyone first hand that has done it. Is there a specific brand or does anything work?

 

[N8TE]

Wanna see some rain. Cut hay. LOL

View attachment 297876

Send some my way...drier than toast around here

 

[Steve]

Should have done a multi quote...

Did you fill them yourself? I've heard of the methanol approach, but don't know anyone first hand that has done it. Is there a specific brand or does anything work?

I just had the dealer do it when I bought the tractor. It's quite a pain if you don't have a pump. You can gravity feed it in there but it will take several hours and try your patience.

The methanol is just added for freeze protection so any cheap washer fluid rated to -20f or so does fine in my climate.

 

[dall]

I just had the dealer do it when I bought the tractor. It's quite a pain if you don't have a pump. You can gravity feed it in there but it will take several hours and try your patience.

The methanol is just added for freeze protection so any cheap washer fluid rated to -20f or so does fine in my climate.

if tubeless you can break down one side and pour it in with tire laying on the ground

 

[Steve]

if tubeless you can break down one side and pour it in with tire laying on the ground

Did that on my lawnmowers tires but unless you have a good concrete pad to work on and an cherry picker it's impossible to lift a tractor tire after it's been filled.

 

[dall]

Did that on my lawnmowers tires but unless you have a good concrete pad to work on and an cherry picker it's impossible to lift a tractor tire after it's been filled.


View attachment 297907

my little toy

 

[Steve]

View attachment 297909my little toy

That is freakin' sweet! Did you build the loader?

 

[dall]

That is freakin' sweet! Did you build the loader?

massey 1655 i added power steering too and subframe
the loader is off a john deere subcompact 23series its a 200cx loader
i built the backhoe on it as well
its about 2200 pounds

 

[Steve]

massey 1655 i added power steering too and subframe
the loader is off a john deere subcompact 23series its a 200cx loader
i built the backhoe on it as well
its about 2200 pounds

My next question was going to be about power steering!

 

[dall]

 

[dall]

My next question was going to be about power steering!

the loader was still structually sound but cylinders and stuff was junk so i went with 2.5 inch cylinders
the backhoe will lift 500 pounds and when im lifting heavy i chain the old counterweight to the backhoe and the toy does just about everything i want