Gave the B the last bath for the year…sort of …more like we played in the rain today…
Happy New Years!
Happy New Years!
The block heater in my BX22 was installed in either 2003 or 2004 and was used every winter when snow was expected for roughly 12 hours from the time it was plugged in the night before the storm and when I got out to snowblow. It never failed, and I do the same with my 2020 BX23S and it also hasn't failed.I started out without a timer until the second one burnt out then installed a timer, on for twenty five minutes off for five and also installed an ammeter so I could see when it wasn't working.
Now I have reduced the wattage to half and removed the timer.
I want to leave it on for an hour , the timer might be stressing it popping in on and off.
Install a bridge rectifier to cut the voltage in half by only using half the dc side , now it operates at 200 watts instead of 400.
I believe the space around the heater is too small for the 400 watt heater.
I've never had block heater problems until I bought this Kubota tractor, if you use a block heater on a bx you might want to test it if it has been in use for more than three seasons.
It really only needs to be on about an hour before your going to use it, the heater and your wallet will appreciate that too.I started out without a timer until the second one burnt out then installed a timer, on for twenty five minutes off for five and also installed an ammeter so I could see when it wasn't working.
Now I have reduced the wattage to half and removed the timer.
I want to leave it on for an hour , the timer might be stressing it popping in on and off.
Install a bridge rectifier to cut the voltage in half by only using half the dc side , now it operates at 200 watts instead of 400.
I believe the space around the heater is too small for the 400 watt heater.
I've never had block heater problems until I bought this Kubota tractor, if you use a block heater on a bx you might want to test it if it has been in use for more than three seasons.
Welp, we all have done something or another that got the tractor into some situation you can learn from. Trick is not to kill yourself doing it.Well I got mine stuck today. First time. I was just cleaning up around the fire pit from being all the brush. There is a small decline, on the other side, I went a little too far and when I went to back up....nope. The tractor told me I want to go forward.
Just spun and spun. Even tried dif lock but that help. It was just too muddy and the tires were full so it had no traction. Theres a creek only feet away. I was a bit worried. I had the bucket on and just put it in the ground so it couldn't move and took a few minutes to figure out a plan to get out of it.
I even went to my neighbor who has a tractor and asked for help, he has way more experience so but it was gonna be a while before he could help so I figured I would give it another go.
Managed to use the bucket to curl myself back up this really small incline. But yeah it was scary to me but a joke to others I'm sure. Either way it was a learning experience.
View attachment 145233
It doesn't look bad but the tractor wanted nothing to do with it.
Honestly I'm kinda starting to regret this tractor. It's just too big and heavy for what I need. I got a good deal on it sure but it's probably not what I really needed. I might have to consider downsizing to something small, maybe B series or heck even the BX. Something I will be giving some more thought to for sure. I don't know how it's gonna be once the ground is nice and dry, maybe it won't be too bad but I have a feeling it's gonna be a pain to use around the house.
What I did learn is that wet ground and mud are tractors kryptonite.
Man I felt so embarrassed and stupid.
You passed a milestone with flying colors. You should have had the ballast box on, you might not have got stuck (or you might have got really stuck).Well I got mine stuck today. First time. I was just cleaning up around the fire pit from being all the brush. There is a small decline, on the other side, I went a little too far and when I went to back up....nope. The tractor told me I want to go forward.
Just spun and spun. Even tried dif lock but that help. It was just too muddy and the tires were full so it had no traction. Theres a creek only feet away. I was a bit worried. I had the bucket on and just put it in the ground so it couldn't move and took a few minutes to figure out a plan to get out of it.
I even went to my neighbor who has a tractor and asked for help, he has way more experience so but it was gonna be a while before he could help so I figured I would give it another go.
Managed to use the bucket to curl myself back up this really small incline. But yeah it was scary to me but a joke to others I'm sure. Either way it was a learning experience.
View attachment 145233
It doesn't look bad but the tractor wanted nothing to do with it.
Honestly I'm kinda starting to regret this tractor. It's just too big and heavy for what I need. I got a good deal on it sure but it's probably not what I really needed. I might have to consider downsizing to something small, maybe B series or heck even the BX. Something I will be giving some more thought to for sure. I don't know how it's gonna be once the ground is nice and dry, maybe it won't be too bad but I have a feeling it's gonna be a pain to use around the house.
What I did learn is that wet ground and mud are tractors kryptonite.
Man I felt so embarrassed and stupid.
I try to remember to always engage the dif lock when backing up an incline like that when I put it in reverse. I've found it better to do that and it can often avoid that first spin which is obviously always the tire with the least traction. I came near getting stuck my self the same way just a week ago clearing brush with the grapple near a cherry that I want to drop that got struck by lightning last year. I was able to minimize my backing up by planning a route to go down and turn around for the dicey spots. That is another part having a plan B if possible.Well I got mine stuck today. First time. I was just cleaning up around the fire pit from being all the brush. There is a small decline, on the other side, I went a little too far and when I went to back up....nope. The tractor told me I want to go forward.
Just spun and spun. Even tried dif lock but that help. It was just too muddy and the tires were full so it had no traction. Theres a creek only feet away. I was a bit worried. I had the bucket on and just put it in the ground so it couldn't move and took a few minutes to figure out a plan to get out of it.
I even went to my neighbor who has a tractor and asked for help, he has way more experience so but it was gonna be a while before he could help so I figured I would give it another go.
Managed to use the bucket to curl myself back up this really small incline. But yeah it was scary to me but a joke to others I'm sure. Either way it was a learning experience.
View attachment 145233
It doesn't look bad but the tractor wanted nothing to do with it.
Honestly I'm kinda starting to regret this tractor. It's just too big and heavy for what I need. I got a good deal on it sure but it's probably not what I really needed. I might have to consider downsizing to something small, maybe B series or heck even the BX. Something I will be giving some more thought to for sure. I don't know how it's gonna be once the ground is nice and dry, maybe it won't be too bad but I have a feeling it's gonna be a pain to use around the house.
What I did learn is that wet ground and mud are tractors kryptonite.
Man I felt so embarrassed and stupid.
Happy New Year!Well I got mine stuck today. First time. I was just cleaning up around the fire pit from being all the brush. There is a small decline, on the other side, I went a little too far and when I went to back up....nope. The tractor told me I want to go forward.
Just spun and spun. Even tried dif lock but that help. It was just too muddy and the tires were full so it had no traction. Theres a creek only feet away. I was a bit worried. I had the bucket on and just put it in the ground so it couldn't move and took a few minutes to figure out a plan to get out of it.
I even went to my neighbor who has a tractor and asked for help, he has way more experience so but it was gonna be a while before he could help so I figured I would give it another go.
Managed to use the bucket to curl myself back up this really small incline. But yeah it was scary to me but a joke to others I'm sure. Either way it was a learning experience.
View attachment 145233
It doesn't look bad but the tractor wanted nothing to do with it.
Honestly I'm kinda starting to regret this tractor. It's just too big and heavy for what I need. I got a good deal on it sure but it's probably not what I really needed. I might have to consider downsizing to something small, maybe B series or heck even the BX. Something I will be giving some more thought to for sure. I don't know how it's gonna be once the ground is nice and dry, maybe it won't be too bad but I have a feeling it's gonna be a pain to use around the house.
What I did learn is that wet ground and mud are tractors kryptonite.
Man I felt so embarrassed and stupid.
So I if I could have turned to the left I probably could have drove it out but I tried. I couldn't get it to turn.@nerwin
Looking at that picture, if you could have got turned around, I bet it would have walked right up that hill. I’m thinking hard left to get between that tree and rock, maybe there was a path there to get out? Or just completely turn around where you are and go up the hill.
Great tree work, I enjoy seeing a job done well and that one was excellent.A couple pics from last Wednesday.
Honestly, I was scared of using dif lock lol. I heard horror stories of people destroying their transmissions. But I knew that you can't step on it wheels are spinning so I made sure they were stopped. It actually worked really smoothly. My intentions weren't to go down that little decline, when you're up on the tractor its like you lose the sense hills, it doesn't seem that bad up there. So I miss judged it and couldn't back out...of course it doesn't help when it's all freaking mud!I try to remember to always engage the dif lock when backing up an incline like that when I put it in reverse. I've found it better to do that and it can often avoid that first spin which is obviously always the tire with the least traction. I came near getting stuck my self the same way just a week ago clearing brush with the grapple near a cherry that I want to drop that got struck by lightning last year. I was able to minimize my backing up by planning a route to go down and turn around for the dicey spots. That is another part having a plan B if possible.
I was where you are with my L2501DT 4 years ago even though I have had my 8N for 25 years prior.
Its a different beast and always a learning curve.
Bill
I spent like an hour cleaning the mud off the tires before putting it back in the garage...then I went ahead and wiped it down with my car detailer lol.I am glad you got it unstuck. Yours is still way cleaner than mine in your picture and mine got a bath yesterday.
Am aware slopes generally look a lot less severe in pics v IRL. Makes a lot more sense being it was in 2WD, albeit unintentionally. No counterweight on the back, weight on front (even if it’s just the loader with nothing in the bucket), only back wheels turning, too slick for front wheels to get traction to turn. I’ve gotten a 2WD loader “stuck” (wouldn’t move anywhere but downhill, but hadn’t sunk in) many, many times in that scenario. It’s very easy to do with a 2WD loader if the front end is downhill, even on a mild slope.So I if I could have turned to the left I probably could have drove it out but I tried. I couldn't get it to turn.
Here's another angle.
View attachment 145247
I know it doesn't look bad but it was just steep enough where the tractor wasn't having it. I tried to turned left but no matter what it just went straight. I'm not sure how I managed to get it out, I think as it kept spinning it was sliding to the right a little and finally hooked on some gravel, wasn't soft and I was able to back out. But as I was attempting to back out, I noticed it came out of 4wd...I must have accidently hit or something but it probably helped lol.
You’re learning. you will figure out what your tractor wants for your property.So I if I could have turned to the left I probably could have drove it out but I tried. I couldn't get it to turn.
Here's another angle.
View attachment 145247
I know it doesn't look bad but it was just steep enough where the tractor wasn't having it. I tried to turned left but no matter what it just went straight. I'm not sure how I managed to get it out, I think as it kept spinning it was sliding to the right a little and finally hooked on some gravel, wasn't soft and I was able to back out. But as I was attempting to back out, I noticed it came out of 4wd...I must have accidently hit or something but it probably helped lol.
The rear tires are loaded with beet juice, so I'm sure it helped somewhat. Though having rear ballast past the axle probably would have helped in this scenario. I did learn to use the bucket to curl myself out which worked surprisingly well. I remember when I had a ATV stuck or my riding lawn mower stuck...there's nothing you could do except pull it out with something else. But having the bucket is quite useful to get out of a tricky spot. I only remembered this method from watching folks use excavators and curling themselves out of mud. Just glad my tractor has enough power to do it.Am aware slopes generally look a lot less severe in pics v IRL. Makes a lot more sense being it was in 2WD, albeit unintentionally. No counterweight on the back, weight on front (even if it’s just the loader with nothing in the bucket), only back wheels turning, too slick for front wheels to get traction to turn. I’ve gotten a 2WD loader “stuck” (wouldn’t move anywhere but downhill, but hadn’t sunk in) many, many times in that scenario. It’s very easy to do with a 2WD loader if the front end is downhill, even on a mild slope.
If you need it to turn and it won’t, that’s the time to use split brakes (if your machine has that capability). Apply the brake only on the left wheel if you need to turn left, right brake to turn right.
4WD is incredibly useful in that scenario. The vast majority of overall pulling power is in the big rear wheels, but if there’s a bunch of weight on the front and not much on the rear due to positioning, weight distribution or whatever else, having power to the front wheels allows the machine to back out of places a 2WD would be inexorably stuck.
With the bucket on, you can curl down, lift the front of the tractor, curl up as you back up. Most times that will push it out backward.
All that said, it would be highly unusual to have driven off road a lot and never been stuck.
It would also be unusual to be immediately highly proficient with a new machine even if you have experience running equipment. One of my first tasks for my L was to pull the base out from under a large oak tree that was hung up half fallen into another tree. Messed with it for about 2 hours cutting and pulling; honestly disappointed in my new tractor’s pulling power, blaming it on my mistake of getting that horrible power robbing HST. Getting back on the tractor after a water break, noticed I had the range in Medium the whole time. Put it in Low and pulled the tree down.
You got out without damaging anything or anyone and learned some stuff, so that’s a good day.
I didn't put it on. Didn't know it was wrong lol. I'll look in the manual...can it be fixed easily?We have all been stuck at least once, not a big deal but your bucket level indicator is not on right. The top pin should be turned down. It shows in the loader manual.