To fill or not to fill...also, spacers

[GrizBota]

The Ltd Edition is a bit less expensive. I was initially looking btw MX5400, L4701 now replaced by L4802. So started chatting w folks in here and at dealers regarding L4802.

Grand L4760 was out of my price range w implements.

L4802 was my initial interest though I noticed smaller Grands had higher lift capacity.

A friend w a much larger property has an MX & loves it though he also has several other massive working farm tractors (400 cattle & 464 acres) that’s big for where I live … might be nothing other places.

The MX was then at the top of
my price range (higher lift cap than the L4802)

Eventually, I found the Grand series (by accident) looking at LA 805 & LA 1055 loaders.

Went down the Grand rabbit hole. Long story shortened - the L4060 w needed implements & cab comes in below my price pt. The Grand 3560 (28 PTO) even lower though I’ve got 12 acres I need to hit a few times w a bush hog & it gets 4.5 less at PTO than the L4060 (32.5 PTO) …

Initially, I wasn’t considering a cab bc I thought they’d add 9-11k to the cost. Turns out it’s actually closer to 5-7k to the cost on smaller tractors.

My buddy has done bush hogging for me
last couple years w a Kubota L3430 (27 PTO) and often struggles w some
of the hills when grass is tall. I’m on 18 acres w some hills, flat pasture.

Use cases for tractor: Invasive Russian Olive removal w grapple & FEL w Piranha blade on FEL, removal of several large fallen black walnut trees, plus limbs down after storms, grading 400 yrd gravel driveway, leveling several smaller 1 acre fields w some dips & ruts, snow removal, 4 - 6 1/2 acre to 3/4 acre food plots, building out larger garden for
my wife approx 1/3 acre … I’m sure there is other stuff.

Sounds like you’ve got the right machine picked out. The MX or L4702/4802 would have done the trick too. As you know, the Grand is, well grand. My L is a Grand L3830 HST with about 30 Hp to the PTO. If I had to do it over I’d have gone up a size or two to get more ponies at the PTO. The 5’ brush hog bogs down pretty bad in the wire grass in the swampy part of the pasture, or just early season long grass. So I end up cutting it high and hitting it again. You’ll be glad to have the additional PTO Hp.

So on that Limited Edition model, is a bit less like $2k or like $5k? If you recall.

 

[Dusty71]

Sounds like you’ve got the right machine picked out. The MX or L4702/4802 would have done the trick too. As you know, the Grand is, well grand. My L is a Grand L3830 HST with about 30 Hp to the PTO. If I had to do it over I’d have gone up a size or two to get more ponies at the PTO. The 5’ brush hog bogs down pretty bad in the wire grass in the swampy part of the pasture, or just early season long grass. So I end up cutting it high and hitting it again. You’ll be glad to have the additional PTO Hp.

So on that Limited Edition model, is a bit less like $2k or like $5k? If you recall.

Griz,

My wife has been giving me grief about all the research I’ve been doing on this. She’s usually spot on but since this is all new to me … figure measure a few times & cut once.

I don’t recall exactly how much less the Limited Edition was … your guesstimate sounds close though. I was thinking you’re certainly in the neighborhood. I just don’t remember exactly.

I tell you this … the folks at Messicks (just under 2 hrs from me) are super helpful, knowledgeable & patient with their responses to my myriad newbie questions. This young guy Brady has just been outstanding.

 

[GrizBota]

Griz,

My wife has been giving me grief about all the research I’ve been doing on this. She’s usually spot on but since this is all new to me … figure measure a few times & cut once.

I don’t recall exactly how much less the Limited Edition was … your guesstimate sounds close though. I was thinking you’re certainly in the neighborhood. I just don’t remember exactly.

I tell you this … the folks at Messicks (just under 2 hrs from me) are super helpful, knowledgeable & patient with their responses to my myriad newbie questions. This young guy Brady has just been outstanding.

Well a new tractor is a bit spendy. Good to research and get what you need the first time. I’ve seen a number of threads on here where folks under shoot and end up with another, larger, tractor in a couple years from buying the first.

My wife saw me looking at the Grand L, Grand L LE and MX glossies the other night. She didn’t say anything. She knows I’m too tight to upgrade to new. Or am I?? In reality I have what I need 95% of the time. But that last 5% takes 3 times as long. Maybe “just” add turbo on the L I have, add 10 or 15 PTO Hp and it’s all good.

I’m on the wrong side of the county for being able to go to Messick’s, but I’ve watched a bunch of Neil’s YouTube videos. Good information. I’ve even talked to the parts department at couple times. Didn’t start helpful, but we got there.

One thing about the cab, if you plan on working near trees (such as brush hogging around them) you’ll need to limb up your trees pretty high or stay further away. I’d like a cab too, but with all the work I do around trees, I think it’d limit my mobility and I’d be concerned with breaking some of that beautiful glass.

 

[Dusty71]

Well a new tractor is a bit spendy. Good to research and get what you need the first time. I’ve seen a number of threads on here where folks under shoot and end up with another, larger, tractor in a couple years from buying the first.

My wife saw me looking at the Grand L, Grand L LE and MX glossies the other night. She didn’t say anything. She knows I’m too tight to upgrade to new. Or am I?? In reality I have what I need 95% of the time. But that last 5% takes 3 times as long. Maybe “just” add turbo on the L I have, add 10 or 15 PTO Hp and it’s all good.

I’m on the wrong side of the county for being able to go to Messick’s, but I’ve watched a bunch of Neil’s YouTube videos. Good information. I’ve even talked to the parts department at couple times. Didn’t start helpful, but we got there.

One thing about the cab, if you plan on working near trees (such as brush hogging around them) you’ll need to limb up your trees pretty high or stay further away. I’d like a cab too, but with all the work I do around trees, I think it’d limit my mobility and I’d be concerned with breaking some of that beautiful glass.

Griz, really enjoy your input & thoughts. That’s my one fear w the cab. One of our fields has some low-hanging limbs.

Plus side of the cab is I’ve gotten poison ivy twice this summer clearing russian olive w chainsaws and pushing through the vines … just brutal. I think the grapple / piranha tooth bar will let me get to the olives & avoid much of the other nastiness.

Another plus, I’m outside enough & kind of relish the idea of plowing snow from the comfort of a cab. I’ve always been out in the weather & as I’ve gotten older … I must be getting softer.

Here’s another consideration, if I go cab-less the Grand L4760 might be doable. Higher lift capacity, more PTO no cab though. I think I’d rather have lower cost w cab (L4060 @ 32.5 PTO) than higher cost without (L4760 @ 39.5 PTO)

We’ll see … I do appreciate your thoughts, feedback & observations bc I’m new to all this stuff. All of my neighbors & several friends that aren’t neighbors have them (or several depending on their property - horses, cattle - pure AG).

I’ve been pummeling them w questions, searching the internet, talking & meeting w dealers trying my best to learn all I can.

Anyhow, headed out to hit 4 - 6 acres of the place w the SCAG ZT depending on the weather. Have a great day.

If you have any other thoughts, suggestions or guidance - pls don’t be shy.

 

[GrizBota]

Griz, really enjoy your input & thoughts. That’s my one fear w the cab. One of our fields has some low-hanging limbs.

Plus side of the cab is I’ve gotten poison ivy twice this summer clearing russian olive w chainsaws and pushing through the vines … just brutal. I think the grapple / piranha tooth bar will let me get to the olives & avoid much of the other nastiness.

Another plus, I’m outside enough & kind of relish the idea of plowing snow from the comfort of a cab. I’ve always been out in the weather & as I’ve gotten older … I must be getting softer.

Here’s another consideration, if I go cab-less the Grand L4760 might be doable. Higher lift capacity, more PTO no cab though. I think I’d rather have lower cost w cab (L4060 @ 32.5 PTO) than higher cost without (L4760 @ 39.5 PTO)

We’ll see … I do appreciate your thoughts, feedback & observations bc I’m new to all this stuff. All of my neighbors & several friends that aren’t neighbors have them (or several depending on their property - horses, cattle - pure AG).

I’ve been pummeling them w questions, searching the internet, talking & meeting w dealers trying my best to learn all I can.

Anyhow, headed out to hit 4 - 6 acres of the place w the SCAG ZT depending on the weather. Have a great day.

If you have any other thoughts, suggestions or guidance - pls don’t be shy.

We’ve got poison oak on my side of the country. I understand your pain.

I admit it would be really neat plowing snow in a cab. I don’t plow snow (if you can call it that with a bucket) but once every few years. The wife did ok a snow plow. Kind of spendy to sit in the shed 999 days out of 1000. But maybe I’ll want the tax write off…

I’ve never had a cab tractor, so keep that in mind with my input on that aspect. I know getting on and off my open station L a bunch gets to be a hassle. Such as patching pot holes in the gravel driveway. Usually I ask DW to drive while I man the hand shovel.

One thing I do that I know having a cab would hinder for me is attaching 3 point implements. The Grand Ls do have the extendable eyes on the 3 point so that would help reduce the in/out of the cab to hook up. On my open station, I can stand next to the tractor and adjust the 3 point up or down a little, as well as bump the HST pedal to move the tractor an inch or two (before the safety nannys try to shut the engine down). The work around for a cab could be one of the 3 point quick hitches. A lot of folks on OTT seem to like them. I don’t have one myself.

Have a good time mowing. I like it in the spring. Right now it’s pretty dry, so I only mow along the driveway with the B and it’s MMM. We won’t be mowing much until it starts raining in October now. DW used a push mower for the yards around the house. They are pretty small.

 

[cthomas]

On my BX2370 definitely noticed the difference mowing when I installed 2 inch spacers. I only installed spacers, rear tires loaded and loader installed(nothing on it) so I have a seat of the pants comparison. I have a long section of the driveway that I mow that is a 18 degree angle(slooowwwwlllllyyyyy filling it in to reduce the angle.

 

[DustyRusty]

On my BX22 I had 2" spacers held on with grade 8 bolts, and filled rear tires, with a weight box filled with 600# of lead hung off the 3-point hitch all winter long for almost 20 years while I plowed or blew snow with no problems whatsoever. I put about 800 hours on that machine, and it never even gave me a moment's notice of being a problem.

 

[Hyperborean]

Here's a video just posted by "Peek's Peak Hobby Homestead" that shows a before and after of how tippy his BX was on the same slope.

TLR: Without the spacers he was able to push the tractor's back wheels off the ground significantly and with ease when on the slope. Afterwards, he said it was requiring much more force from him pushing the tractor to barely move the wheels. He was using 1.5" spacers and very pleased with the results.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

he also could have eliminated the need for the spacers by filling and regrading the land. Also cutting wet grass sideways on a slope is a 'silly' thing to do.....
but differn't stroke for differn't folks......

 

[Hyperborean]

he also could have eliminated the need for the spacers by filling and regrading the land. Also cutting wet grass sideways on a slope is a 'silly' thing to do.....
but differn't stroke for differn't folks......

He could also eliminate all the time he spends in traffic by flying his own helicopter... What's the time and financial cost of filling and grading land versus just putting on wheel spacers?

The point that spacers work and is an affordable way of adding safety and stability is proven by the video.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: What's the time and financial cost of filling and grading land versus just putting on wheel spacers?

ZERO

Fill is free, at least around here it is, even get prime top soil for free.... grading land is 'free' as well. Same load of poles if you move diet or cut grass.

 

[fried1765]

re: What's the time and financial cost of filling and grading land versus just putting on wheel spacers?

ZERO

Fill is free, at least around here it is, even get prime top soil for free.... grading land is 'free' as well. Same load of poles if you move diet or cut grass.

Fill is free, prime top soil is free, grazing land is free, steel is free.......I'm planning a move to Ontario.

 

[Hyperborean]

re: What's the time and financial cost of filling and grading land versus just putting on wheel spacers?

ZERO

Fill is free, at least around here it is, even get prime top soil for free.... grading land is 'free' as well. Same load of poles if you move diet or cut grass.

Grading land is only free if you don't value your time. You should drop him a line about how you're going to hook him up with some of that free fill you have.

Jay, you have a real hard time admitting that you were wrong in this thread. Now you're just doubling down and being absurd.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

as I said ,differnet strokes , differnet folks

instead of buying $$$$ spacers, my option cost nothing and makes the field a lot safer to cut. kinda important when when someone else cuts the field using a different mower.

to me cutting grass is a HUGE waste of time and money. I plowed over 1/2ac of lawn ( PO played golf it was that nice..), turned into a very viable veggie patch, made $1,000s every year.
I was told once to 'work smarter ,not harder'....

as I said ,'different strokes , different folks'

 

[2650fan]

Both my tractors B2650, JD2305 have filled tires (rimguard) and spacers. 2” on the B and 1” on the 2305 limited by the mower deck….I live on very uneven ground and would not set up my tractors any other way. I do notice a big difference. I also have spacers on my Kawasaki mule all 4 wheels, so i think they are totally worth it
PS the B2650 is a TLB and backhoe will probably never come off machine