What did you do to or on your Kubota today?

[ctfjr]

Since we moved a couple of months ago there has been little time for the tractor other that using it to move endless boxes (that we will never open) from the garage down to the basement,

I have manged to clear some of the woods area for the dogs with using the bucket & tooth bar and the grapple. More to do there.

Finally I finished a small project that I started 6 months ago and was interrupted by our move. I want to store as many implements as possible in the basement - there is a garge door down there. The snow blower has been mounted on the tractor since last November Nothing good can happen to it mucking around in the woods with it hanging off the back, So. . .

I took a couple of pieces of 3X3 angle iron and two pairs of casters to made a roll around base. The angle bolts up to the skid shoe holes (skids now removed). Worked out great

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I can't find the little b@$#@®#s! I've been out there twice and it's quiet as a church yard. I did find one little hole, but there was no activity. If I don't find 'em this morning, I'm going to treat that hole just in case.

Found it. Ten feet from where I was mowing.

Attack at dusk!

 

[aaluck]

Do you actually use the composter?

Yes. My wife has had that for about 12 years and she uses it constantly.

 

[Old_Paint]

Found it. Ten feet from where I was mowing.
View attachment 106629
Attack at dusk!

How considerate of them. They tidied up the hole to make sure a drink bottle will fit in it perfectly.

 

[Old_Paint]

The fig and peach trees have never really recovered from that deep freeze in 2021, and last couple years of droughts, so I pulled up about 9 or 10 them out of yard with that Orange shovel. There are half dozen or more on the other of the yard that need to be pulled as well, but requires moving a few things around so I can maneuver around obstacles.

View attachment 106575

View attachment 106576

View attachment 106577

That's an interesting stump bucket. Got some closer photos or a link for it?

 

[Old_Paint]

Getting our septic system put in, which requires some more clearing. They took down a large mature cherry and cedar tree to start, which I spent friday and today trying to process (still more to do).

Cut the cherry up with the chainsaw today and moved the wood out of the way for future firewood processing with the grapple. Then got to work with the chipper trying to get the branches all cleared out. Much better success this time with the WC68 now that I know to just shove the branch in there harder to get it to feed!

View attachment 106584
The trees that were cleared (you can see the backhoe loader buried in there)

View attachment 106585

The cherry tree

View attachment 106586

The piles I have to work through. Got the largest trunk of the cedar limbed and the rootball cut off. Still have to work through two other trunks.

View attachment 106587

Chipping the cherry limbs. We started up filling our gorilla cart and hauling it to the garden on the back of the mule, but the cart fills too quickly. So making a large pile for now we can move later with the tractor bucket.

So many more trees we want cleared. I don't know if my body has it in it!

You're right, it doesn't take long to fill up a relatively large trailer with a WC-68. I have a 60 x 90 x 18 homemade trailer that I throw a tarp in, and pull that behind the riding mower when I'm chipping. Full of chips, it's about all the mower wants. It fills up in less than 30 minutes of chipping. Sometimes, I do exactly what you did, and just blow 'em on the ground, and pick em up later with the bucket, especially if I'm just composting them anyway. The leaf matter in the chips makes it great compost, but tends to make it rot faster as mulch. If I want clean chips for mulch, I target pine limbs so that I have less leaves. I leave those laying until the straw falls off and get good clean chips for mulching in flower beds, etc. I still don't put any of it near the house. That's a termite all-you-can-eat buffet waiting to happen.

 

[Old_Paint]

I bought my L3010 in 2001. Early on, before SSQA loaders and grapples were common place on tractors, I put a grapple on my pin on bucket. I extended the grapple tines to get good closer with the tooth bar.


View attachment 106590


On several occasions including earlier this summer I have bent one of the tines side ways. Usually while popping rocks out of a woods road. You can see they are at risk.


View attachment 106591


They always bend in the same place - Between the end of that wide cross support plate and where I welded on the extension tips. I just pound them back straight with a 3 lb hammer. Today I was looking for something to do and decided it would be good to try and strengthen that area. I cut out some gussets from the small piece scrape box.


View attachment 106592


And welded them in - even had time to dab on some paint before lunch.




It should help at least.
View attachment 106593

gg

I had to do the same thing to my light duty grapple made by those folks that make little blue tractors. (LS) I'd pick up a few larger limbs or logs, and find it looking like a old kid that needed braces. So I gave it some. Welded little gussets on every tooth (both sides) on the clam-shell. The bottom teeth don't seem to bend as easily, but I was getting real tired of spending so much time beating on that thing after a few minutes of use. Certainly improved the quality of the grapple. Got a photo somewhere, just can't find it.

 

[NCL4701]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

 

[Flintknapper]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

Women.....!

That's all I have to say (and pretty much covers it).

 

[MOOTS]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

All I took from this is, you have permission to buy a BX.

 

[mcmxi]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

That's a great story!

 

[drumminj]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

I read this to my girlfriend last night and told her "see, we're not the only ones who have these type of conversations/arguments!" It backfired though -- her response was "my takeaway is that we should just get the BX" (we need a ZT or lawn tractor soon)

 

[NCL4701]

I read this to my girlfriend last night and told her "see, we're not the only ones who have these type of conversations/arguments!" It backfired though -- her response was "my takeaway is that we should just get the BX" (we need a ZT or lawn tractor soon)

I may have posted this before, but we spent a few months of conversations defining what my wife really wanted for a mower. I prefer a ZT for mowing but she hates them and she likes mowing so they were out. Actually nothing wrong with the 500 hour ZT we had. Due to her disdain for it, we gave it to our son when he needed a mower.

I was leaning toward a BX with loader and backhoe mostly to get a little backhoe and a tractor small enough to use on the yards and maybe a little bush hog for the orchard and field full of trees. She really just wanted a small machine with a mid mount mower. We visited a dealership and test drove a BX, T, and GR. The GR was eliminated pretty quickly. It cost as much as the bare BX and didn’t drive nearly as smoothly. The BX outfitted the way I would have wanted it was a bit north of $20K. The way she wanted it (no loader, no backhoe) was $13K. The T was more like $5500. I was mildly surprised at how much the BX, which looks to me like a tricked out lawn tractor, felt like a real tractor in miniature rather than a big lawn mower.

The BX is a sweet little machine but we just couldn’t justify to ourselves parting with that much extra money for what little use I would have gotten out of the TLB aspects considering we already have the L. And for just mowing a couple of yards it didn’t make sense to us to drop $13K plus whatever a small bush hog costs on a configuration that would have limited it to mowing lawns and the orchard/tree field.

If you’d get enough use out of BX to not give you heartburn over the price tag, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a BX. It likely won’t mow as quickly as a ZT but some prefer MMM and don’t care about 20 minutes or whatever extra time it takes to mow.

 

[fried1765]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

Sounds like very NORMAL wife/husband interaction.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

That's an interesting stump bucket. Got some closer photos or a link for it?

It's a XL Mesquite/tree puller or also known as a grubber. Bought it from Idig Texas, it's one the early models they sold. It has about a 9in opening between the forks. The forks and support is made from 3/4" AR400 steel, I have ran this attachment behind a 100hp cat skid steer, and have pulled up 13" diameter trees. I have had to add 3/8" steel plate to the back board because stabs can damage the hydraulic QA on my machine or a rental.

More detail in the beginning of my video about the attachment and what grubbing is around 4min mark.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

That's an interesting stump bucket. Got some closer photos or a link for it?

Oh forgot the link

AMFG Mesquiter XL Grubber | Tractor/Skid Steer Attachments & Implements

Learn more about AMFG Mesquiter XL Grubber from I Dig Texas. Based in Central Texas, I Dig Texas provides the US with high quality skid steer attachments & tractor implements.

idigtexas.com

 

[Old_Paint]

Wife decided to mow today while I was at work. She called me. I already knew she was having a quite frustrating day so I figured this probably wasn’t going to be good if she was calling. We proceed to have the following conversation:

Hey, what’s wrong with the Kubota?

Nothing I know of. Which one?

The little one. It runs fine but I don’t think it’s cutting grass and it doesn’t sound right.

What does it sound like?

It’s too quiet. It was mowing fine but since I ran over a stick, it isn’t cutting the grass. When I pull out the yellow button it clicks but won’t cut. What’s wrong with this POS???

Does the deck belt look right?

WTF is a deck belt?

That black ropy looking thing on top of the deck.

How am I supposed to see that from here?

Shut off the mower, get off, and look at it from the side.

(Background motor noise stops)

I don’t know why you told me to look at it from the side, it’s hanging two feet out the back and looks like a dog has been chewing on it. Why is this thing already falling apart? Why didn’t we buy the BX? If we’d bought the BX it probably wouldn’t have broke.

Look at the deck. See any sticks up there?

Well yeah. There’s a piece of that stick I ran over on top of the deck and it’s kind of chewed up. What’s that got to do with it? Why do you ask me these crazy questions when I ask you something simple and just want a simple answer?

Because they’re relevant. Or maybe I’m just an a$$hole. Jury’s still out on that one.

So how do I fix this stupid mower?

You don’t. You ran over a stick and it got tangled up in the belt, knocked it off a pulley, which toasted the belt. Stuff happens. Just a thing. Park it in the shop and I’ll order a belt tonight. Hopefully it was just a fluke stick strike instead of a spindle or idler seizing. If a spindle or idler seized, I suppose I’ll have to get with the dealer about possible warranty.

What’s a spindle or idler?

The spinny circle things on the top of the deck that look like little shiny wheels.

I didn’t need to know that and don’t care.

Agreed.

So how am I supposed to mow the grass?

Either use the Honda (push mower) or get the zero turn from the neighbor (our son) or leave it and I’ll do it when I get home.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

No.

But I want to use the Kubota. Don’t you have a spare deck belt?

No. We have a spare for the zero turn but not the T.

So I can’t use the Kubota?

Mowers without deck belts don’t cut grass. If you MUST use a Kubota you’ll have to take the chipper off the L and hook up the bush hog. Technically possible; practically unlikely; not recommended. I’d go with the Honda or the Cub unless you’re planning to mow a lot more limbs.

Fine. I’ll get the Honda.

————————————
She hates the zero turn for reasons beyond my comprehension. So she push mowed about half the yard. I finished with the Honda when I got home because it just wasn’t worth going to get the zero turn and return it.

After 9.5 hours on the meter I now need a $84 deck belt (Messick’s, Coleman, and a couple other places I never heard of all within $2 of each other). All the pulleys spin freely so apparently it’s just a random stick in the belt. I’ll call the dealer tomorrow. If they’re cost competitive and have one in stock I’ll get it local.

Stuff happens. $84 for a 102” x 5/8” Kevlar belt is pretty stout, though. Might have to check into a A/M spare.

Pretty much similar to the conversations I have with my wife anytime something mechanical breaks (on something she needs or wants to use), or when it's technically impossible to remove a wall (that's holding up the roof). She asks questions for which she doesn't want to hear the answers (mostly because she self-admittedly doesn't understand them). So I ask "Why are you angry at me if you know I didn't break it?" Silent 20 second stare, which I know is rare for a woman and my hair stands on end for the duration, but she does it when she's trying to come up with a valid response and knows I'm the authoritative voice on things technical. "Whatever, can you please fix it ASAP?" We RARELY have any arguments unless it's about kid matters (I'm the 'mean' parent/grandparent/great grandparent), and those are more like debates that I know I can't win, but I have to try to minimize the damages I'll later have to repair. She REALLY hates it when the kids prove me right, when all along, it's because of my own experiences growing up that I know what's coming next when she lets them do something I advise against. I've got a secret recipe for crow pie that tastes REALLY BAD, but on occasion, I have to take a bite of it myself.

The really funny part, though, is that she may not understand a single thing I told her about a problem, but she'll stand there and hand me tools while I fix it. She's a great helper for carpentry/renovations. I usually take charge during the building phases, then let her have it during decorations/painting. If I have an idea about final trim, I make sure she thinks it was her idea, otherwise, it ain't happening. I don't get to make decisions about things other people are gonna see. It's my job to do the math, make things straight, plumb, and square, then handle the big buckets of paint while she puts it on. She doesn't realize I really hate painting anyway. I'm a bit Tom Sawyer-ish when it comes to painting.

 

[Old_Paint]

All I took from this is, you have permission to buy a BX.

You read that too, huh? I doubt seriously that she'd admit that's what she told him, though.

 

[Old_Paint]

I read this to my girlfriend last night and told her "see, we're not the only ones who have these type of conversations/arguments!" It backfired though -- her response was "my takeaway is that we should just get the BX" (we need a ZT or lawn tractor soon)

I'm not convinced that was a backfire at all. The BX would likely be a lot more useful than the ZT or a lawn tractor. Get the BX-23S TLB, and you've got a very versatile machine that the neighbors will drool over. It's a bit heavy for a nice lawn, and I don't know how easy it is to put the MMM under it with the backhoe frame, but geezopete, dude, when a woman argues in favor of an upgrade, NEVER EVER look that gift horse in the mouth. It's comparable to telling her she can get the latest Michael Kors handbag. They're a lot cheaper than tractors and keep the little woman happy enough to let me get what I want.

 

[Old_Paint]

View attachment 106692
It's a XL Mesquite/tree puller or also known as a grubber. Bought it from Idig Texas, it's one the early models they sold. It has about a 9in opening between the forks. The forks and support is made from 3/4" AR400 steel, I have ran this attachment behind a 100hp cat skid steer, and have pulled up 13" diameter trees. I have had to add 3/8" steel plate to the back board because stabs can damage the hydraulic QA on my machine or a rental.

More detail in the beginning of my video about the attachment and what grubbing is around 4min mark.

I LIKE that thing. What I like most about it is that the bottom of it is flush with the bottom edge of the SSQA plate, which is exactly what I don't like about my stump bucket from Titan. Mine is actually the predecessor to this one, and doesn't have the huge holes in the back plate, but it is open about 1" across the bottom where the back plate is relieved. The bottom of the bucket is not aligned with the lowest edge of the SSQA plate (bottom latch holes), so it really doesn't serve well for trenching, which is something I need to do quite a bit of to relieve water runoff from neighboring properties. It IS aggressive for digging out a stump, though. Perhaps too aggressive for little stumps (<8" diameter). I can see it working better on a skid steer which has much more powerful hydraulics, but I can also see a skid steer eating this thing for breakfast. Yours, on the other hand, nope, ain't bending that, or if you do, you're probably replacing some hoses on the skid steer, too. That thing is a BEAST.

I've found digging stumps is as much about technique as it is about how much you dig. My technique starts with cutting around the stump with a sub-soiler as deep as I can pull it to break lateral roots on the surface. A tapered tap-root is actually not that hard to pull out if you loosen the soil around it. Water oaks grow mostly on the surface, so I start out where I can see the roots farthest from the tree and start breaking them off until I can see the stump wiggle. If it wiggles, I can get it out. I made a puller that I use to pull vertically once I wiggle the stump. Pretty basic inverted T with a crown on it to run the chain through so it doesn't slide off or split the post. Can't seem to remember to post a photo. Works VERY well on small stumps, and once I get all the lateral roots cut on larger stumps, I can generally pull anything out that I can wiggle. I use a combination of the subsoiler, the stump bucket, and the T puller on what I call campaign day, while I'm out stumpin'.