New L3560 Owner - Question

[teflondon100]

I will start out by saying hello to all.
I just purchased my first tractor. A used 2014, L3560 with 37 hrs. I have been using it around my dads place for the last couple of weeks getting familiar with it.
Made a wash board out of his drive way with the box blade, left some ruts across the side yard, and poked a hole in the corner of his new shed with the loader bucket. So far so good, no damage to the tractor.

I have some property 30 miles north of him that I want to start working. Putting in a drive, pulling a grade to build a shed for storage, then a home. The property is way out off the beaten path with a few homes but nothing close. I hardly know the good folks that live around there.

My Question;
Am I safe leaving the tractor there.
My dad always leaves his house unlocked, key in his tractor, side by side, and truck but he never goes anywhere except to the store.
I have been living in town for the last 15 years and if its not nailed down, its gone the next morning.
I really don't want to haul this tractor back and forth every time I need it.
Is there something I can disconnect, remove from the tractor that would not be obvious and would keep the tractor from starting if someone had a Kubota key.
Maybe I am just paranoid after living in town so long.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[dmanlyr]

Welcome to Orange!

Not sure how to answer your first question, I doubt that anyone on here can say if the tractor is safe to leave or not, short of looking up crime statistics, and then it is still a crapshoot. You can have zero percent crime statistics until the tweaker from the next county comes a visiting!

I understand not wanting to take it back and forth, but that is quite a chunk of change that you bought. In any case good insurance is the first step.

Then, well it has been debated about rigging up something that makes the tractor not run, a hidden valve or switch, but even at that, in my opinion if someone is going to steal it, they could care less if it runs. I mean so a bad guy uses the key or hot wires it, and make his escape at 10 or 12 mph, verses a quick winch pull on a car trailer and escaping at 60 mph.....

Of course if it is kids, just havin' a little "fun" to romp around the field or stream, that hidden switch or valve might defeat their "fun", although it does nothing to prevent someone who is bent on stealing it. Much like motorcycles, people don't as a rule hot wire them, or try to defeat the steering lock, they just grab a couple of buddies and throw the thing in the back of a pickup. Fast in, fast out.

That said, reasonable and prudent measures (so the insurance company does not hassle you for being partially responsible), IE not leaving the key in it, putting it out of view of the roads and having good insurance to cover the loss if it happens is probably the best way to get a good nights sleep.

My thoughts, David

 

[85Hokie]

I will start out by saying hello to all.
I just purchased my first tractor. A used 2014, L3560 with 37 hrs. I have been using it around my dads place for the last couple of weeks getting familiar with it.
Made a wash board out of his drive way with the box blade, left some ruts across the side yard, and poked a hole in the corner of his new shed with the loader bucket. So far so good, no damage to the tractor.

I have some property 30 miles north of him that I want to start working. Putting in a drive, pulling a grade to build a shed for storage, then a home. The property is way out off the beaten path with a few homes but nothing close. I hardly know the good folks that live around there.

My Question;
Am I safe leaving the tractor there.
My dad always leaves his house unlocked, key in his tractor, side by side, and truck but he never goes anywhere except to the store.
I have been living in town for the last 15 years and if its not nailed down, its gone the next morning.
I really don't want to haul this tractor back and forth every time I need it.
Is there something I can disconnect, remove from the tractor that would not be obvious and would keep the tractor from starting if someone had a Kubota key.
Maybe I am just paranoid after living in town so long.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

I would get your Dad to start hiding a key somewhere that only you and he know....and start looking the door!

Take the key out of the Kubota and place it somewhere too, if you must , hide it ON the tractor, someplace that it will not be lost, yet somewhere that a thief doesnt have time to look for.

Something else you can do is buy one of these :

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...rds=Top Post Battery Master Disconnect Switch

now, to use it - you have to open the hood(or where ever access) and turn the knob.

I too work park the tractor somewhere that cannot be seen easily. Back of house, out of the "vision" of most.

Dont worry about the wash board and the rest, you will get good on the tractor quickly!

I would be thinking about how you are going to secure the shed once built too!

And - go have a cold one with the neighbors, maybe you can help one of them out and then they will want to help you keep eyes out on your place.

good luck and welcome to Orange !

 

[Daren Todd]

85hokies right getting to know the neighbors is a huge help. They will know someone isn't there all the time and they are more apt to check on stuff if they see a strange vehicle if they like the person. I've had neighbors pull there vehicles across the drive way and lock them up, after seeing a strange vehicle in the yard. found the neighbor sitting in front of his house with a shotgun when i got there to check it out. Scared the living crap out of my kid in the process I keep the key stashed on mine, use a screw in fuse under the hood, and chain it to a tree if we go on vacation. Haven't had a chance to build a shed yet, to lock it up in.

 

[TripleR]

I agree on making contact with neighbors, I would have no objection to someone parking machinery on our place and several have over the years. Of course in my area, it is not unusual to just leave a tractor in the field for a few days, as mentioned hard to say without knowing the area.

 

[teflondon100]

Thank you for some great ideas.
I have somewhat tried to warm up to the neighbors when I bought the property, stopped by to introduce myself and wave when I see them.They don't see me much. I don't want to over do it. I figure they will warm up more when they see that I am building there, rather than just hunting and shooting. I am sure in time they will keep a watchful eye on things for me.
Until then, I like the battery disconnect idea, and a big chain to a big tree way out of sight.
When I bought the place I was going to put up a gate to the access point but didn't want to offend anyone since there was nothing back there. Once I start my road I will gate it also.
When I get power I will have a light put on the pole and give it a more lived at appearance.
Thanks for all the ideas and help.
I really enjoy this site, and I learn something every time I visit. I enjoy my Orange tractor and I am getting to know it better ever day.
My dad has green blood and he's even growing fond of my orange tractor.

 

[bambam31]

I leave my tractor at my camp. It's in a small community with houses around it and there are retired neighbors that are home all day. My tractor is not visible from the road but I do take some precautionary steps to deter someone from driving off with it.

After parking and turning the ignition off, I move the PTO lever to the on position. I then take two padlocks and put them in the space where the PTO lever would be if it was off. This prevents the PTO lever from moving. It won't start unless the PTO is in the off position. I also put a large boat trailer padlock on the clutch pedal shaft. This prevents the clutch from being depressed. The clutch pedal must be depressed to start the tractor.

I'm sure, if given then time, a thief could cut the locks off or eventually find a work around. However, it would be a whole lot of extra stuff to do in the dark and they would be making a whole lot of noise. Good luck.

 

[dmanlyr]

All the locks in the world on the tractor itself won't keep someone from taking a couple of minutes and just winching it onto a car trailer and being gone. Even if the wheels will not turn. They will slide.

Perhaps not a tracked vehicle, but the little wheeled tractors most of us deal with just are not that heavy.

Locking it to a post will slow things down, but determined thieves will have there way.

If it is during the day, some neighbors just think the tractor is going in for service or being repossessed, some thieves look really legit!

I mean really, as mentioned, thieves will NOT take the time to defeat locks on motorcycle forks, motorcycle wheels, motorcycle steering, they just take everything. Think they will take the time to defeat locks on a tractor or just be off with everything?

Good insurance is the only way to be protected against a loss. At least financially.

David

 

[dmanlyr]

I leave my tractor at my camp. It's in a small community with houses around it and there are retired neighbors that are home all day. My tractor is not visible from the road but I do take some precautionary steps to deter someone from driving off with it.

After parking and turning the ignition off, I move the PTO lever to the on position. I then take two padlocks and put them in the space where the PTO lever would be if it was off. This prevents the PTO lever from moving. It won't start unless the PTO is in the off position. I also put a large boat trailer padlock on the clutch pedal shaft. This prevents the clutch from being depressed. The clutch pedal must be depressed to start the tractor.

I'm sure, if given then time, a thief could cut the locks off or eventually find a work around. However, it would be a whole lot of extra stuff to do in the dark and they would be making a whole lot of noise. Good luck.

Not to say that what you are doing is not worthy, but if I were nefarious it would take me less than a minute to open the hood, tie the stop solenoid open and jump start the tractor at the starter motor and be off.

And thieves know this information. It is readily available to all but the dumbest tweaker.

By jumping the starter solenoid that bypasses all of the safety switches, It will start with the PTO on and the clutch pedal not depressed. Way quicker than cutting the locks off.

Food for thought

David

 

[Profnohair]

A friend had a camp on Grand Bayou in Empire, Louisiana. He left it unlocked but secured to the weather and had no problems other than someone coming in and sleeping in the beds or eating some of the food and drinks that were left there. Every month or so the person/people would leave a few dollars to compensate.
On the other hand, the camp across the bayou was always padlocked and had burglar bars over all doors and windows. It was burned to the ground. I take my chances with just letting the tractor sit in the tree line out of sight from the road. If they want it, they will eventually find a way to get it.

 

[bambam31]

Not to say that what you are doing is not worthy, but if I were nefarious it would take me less than a minute to open the hood, tie the stop solenoid open and jump start the tractor at the starter motor and be off.

And thieves know this information. It is readily available to all but the dumbest tweaker.

By jumping the starter solenoid that bypasses all of the safety switches, It will start with the PTO on and the clutch pedal not depressed. Way quicker than cutting the locks off.

Food for thought

David

Thanks for the tip. I was certain I would get some good info after posting that. Maybe I should figure out how to lock the hood too. Can you get the tractor out of neutral and into gear without depressing the clutch?

 

[dmanlyr]

Thanks for the tip. I was certain I would get some good info after posting that. Maybe I should figure out how to lock the hood too. Can you get the tractor out of neutral and into gear without depressing the clutch?

I would just put it in low gear and start it, at the reduction ratio available the starter will have enough torque to start the engine in gear. Locking the hood will help, most Kubota starters are mounted fairly low and can still be accessed with the hood closed, but it does make access to the injection pump a little more difficult, you have to reach up from the bottom. Defiantly slows the process down !

What you are doing is good, but don't forget the insurance aspect, that is the only way to protect yourself financialy against loss. If a determined thief wants your tractor, short of sitting on it 24/7 yourself, they will take it. Even with you on it, depending upon what weapon you might have, if they want it, they will just remove you from the equation and still take the tractor.

Thieves are pretty industrious, out in my area they pulled off a million dollar heist at a jewelry store, the owner who I know with a state of the art electronic surveillance and detection. What they did was to poke a small hole in the wall, less than about 1/2" and use one of those small wand type cameras to locate the safe, then enter the safe thru the wall from a adjacent shop. Cut the wall, a foot of concrete and the steel safe and just reached in and cleaned it out, all without ever opening the safe door.

The security cameras caught the wand camera looking around in the shop. But since it was not a monitored in real time camera system, nothing was seen until the security tape was replayed.

Never stepped foot in the jewelry store, so neither the motion or heat sensors picked anything up.....

I hate to sound pessimistic as to preventing loss, but unless you are going to Governmental security, and have the pocket book to pay for it, there is just no way to prevent a determined thief from taking what is yours.

Food for thought,

David

 

[teflondon100]

Insurance is going to be my best bet. I am not sure who offers tractor insurance and what pricing will be. Just can't afford not to have it, if I want to sleep well.
I remember when I financed my Kubota zero turn. Kubota insurance came in the financing which covered hauling, theft and some other things. Back then I thought what a rip off. I am only going to haul it home, who needs insurance on a mower.
I never thought about someone steeling a tractor until the salesman mentioned the dealership lost a few new tractors to theft, right off the lot.
Its sad to think what people will do for a quick buck. And even worse that there is a market for them. I never dreamed I would be buying tractor insurance.
Welcome to 2014 reality.
Anyone know a good insurance company that insures tractors.

 

[bambam31]

I would just put it in low gear and start it, at the reduction ratio available the starter will have enough torque to start the engine in gear. Locking the hood will help, most Kubota starters are mounted fairly low and can still be accessed with the hood closed, but it does make access to the injection pump a little more difficult, you have to reach up from the bottom. Defiantly slows the process down !

What you are doing is good, but don't forget the insurance aspect, that is the only way to protect yourself financialy against loss. If a determined thief wants your tractor, short of sitting on it 24/7 yourself, they will take it. Even with you on it, depending upon what weapon you might have, if they want it, they will just remove you from the equation and still take the tractor.

Thieves are pretty industrious, out in my area they pulled off a million dollar heist at a jewelry store, the owner who I know with a state of the art electronic surveillance and detection. What they did was to poke a small hole in the wall, less than about 1/2" and use one of those small wand type cameras to locate the safe, then enter the safe thru the wall from a adjacent shop. Cut the wall, a foot of concrete and the steel safe and just reached in and cleaned it out, all without ever opening the safe door.

The security cameras caught the wand camera looking around in the shop. But since it was not a monitored in real time camera system, nothing was seen until the security tape was replayed.

Never stepped foot in the jewelry store, so neither the motion or heat sensors picked anything up.....

I hate to sound pessimistic as to preventing loss, but unless you are going to Governmental security, and have the pocket book to pay for it, there is just no way to prevent a determined thief from taking what is yours.

Food for thought,

David

dmanlyr
I do have the insurance through Kubota and I'm going to see what I can do about locking the hood. It's scary what people do these days. Thanks again for your insight and to OTT. I'm a first time tractor owner and I've learned so much from this forum.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I bet insurance covers you for theft only when its stolen right from under your nose.
Not for when its not on your occupied property.

Insurance companies are trained by warranty guys, doesent matter what it is, the answer is no ir its your fault.

Chain wheels together, or to the hoe, makes it hard to drag. I would go as far as sticking buckets in ground as well as outriggers.

Still wont stop the determined guys, but deterring them helps.

I reside not far from a northern community, my co-worker lives closer to a high crime area, its common to remove a wheel or take the seat off the atv, then it looks disabled

I heard about the local police watching two guys sliding a snowmobile from one truck to another. Thought nothing of it.
Insurance paid in full without argument for that one.

 

[Daren Todd]

I used to have the same arguments with customers back when i used to do alarm systems. The electronic stores were the worst. Had several that used to get broken into once a month. Then i would get a monthly a$$ chewing because some kid stole a car and drove it thru the store front and did a smash and grab. It was always the same argument, the alarm system didn't prevent someone from breaking in. Well duh!!! It's to notify of a break in. Used to walk them out side the store and show them that if they wanted to curb this, then they need to put up a barrier small enough that someone couldn't drive there car through.

 

[Wildan]

You may want to invest in a couple game cameras to monitor your place.
There are also GPS units you can hide on the tractor.