Kioti DK4710SE HST

[thewoodlands]

I don't like to use the tractor itself to pull things out. If it doesn't come up with the FEL, then I try another way. I also read on another thread on TBN not to use the top lid of the grapple to pull things. I have been considering a ballast box, but if something doesn't lift with the stump grinder or BH (when it arrives) on the back of the tractor, I don't have any business trying to lift it. I definitely keep you words about not using the tractor as construction equipment at the front of my mind when using the tractor. The bulk of my work so far has been skidding trees/logs and a few rocks.

I think that we get on the tractor and just want to go without thinking the job through, that can get us in trouble.

 

[SpaceBus]

I think that we get on the tractor and just want to go without thinking the job through, that can get us in trouble.

I definitely like to get off of it and look at the work area before I use ground engagement stuff. Today I just set the snatch block on a good sized tree that I'm keeping and guided several trees down with the winch. The tractor didn't even move. In fact I don't think I even sat in the seat!

 

[SpaceBus]

Yesterday I missed the frozen ground. I had to drag some logs out of my work area and they gouged the gravel driveway. I usually leave the tops on when I drag trees, so not much of an issue, but these were way too big for that. Fortunately it was easy to rake the gravel back where it is supposed to be. Today I'm going to use the tractor to get all the rounds over to the splitter. Unfortunately the area I just cut is too Rocky to put the splitter closer to the rounds.

 

[thewoodlands]

Yesterday I missed the frozen ground. I had to drag some logs out of my work area and they gouged the gravel driveway. I usually leave the tops on when I drag trees, so not much of an issue, but these were way too big for that. Fortunately it was easy to rake the gravel back where it is supposed to be. Today I'm going to use the tractor to get all the rounds over to the splitter. Unfortunately the area I just cut is too Rocky to put the splitter closer to the rounds.

If you can fit the tractor back there, you can get the splitter there. I've been raking up dead grass and some leaves today which went back in on our property I do most of the cutting on, it's drying out nice back there.

 

[salecker]

Is there a brand or type you recommend? I assume you can't just use random hemp fibers in the threads.

Most old plumping shops will have it.It is probably the same as hemp rope
If you are considering using it this is the procedure taught to me
-Take a shape chisel and score the threads at a 90 degree or close making lines 1/4" or so apart,these scores will hold the hemp and help pull it into the threads as it is being tightened.
-wrap hemp around the fitting in the opposite way of the threads,then the tail of the hemp is pulled as apposed to being pushed.
-wrap enough around so the threads are covered,and apply a light coat of some pipe dope to hold the hemp to the fitting.
-install and tighten then forget about it
-next fitting.
A bit of a pain,but worth it when i built my boiler system i had one out of over 150 threaded fitting leak,it was a reused fitting.

 

[SpaceBus]

Most old plumping shops will have it.It is probably the same as hemp rope
If you are considering using it this is the procedure taught to me
-Take a shape chisel and score the threads at a 90 degree or close making lines 1/4" or so apart,these scores will hold the hemp and help pull it into the threads as it is being tightened.
-wrap hemp around the fitting in the opposite way of the threads,then the tail of the hemp is pulled as apposed to being pushed.
-wrap enough around so the threads are covered,and apply a light coat of some pipe dope to hold the hemp to the fitting.
-install and tighten then forget about it
-next fitting.
A bit of a pain,but worth it when i built my boiler system i had one out of over 150 threaded fitting leak,it was a reused fitting.

I'll have to find a pumping shop.

 

[Ashful]

Most old plumping shops will have it.It is probably the same as hemp rope
If you are considering using it this is the procedure taught to me
-Take a shape chisel and score the threads at a 90 degree or close making lines 1/4" or so apart,these scores will hold the hemp and help pull it into the threads as it is being tightened.
-wrap hemp around the fitting in the opposite way of the threads,then the tail of the hemp is pulled as apposed to being pushed.
-wrap enough around so the threads are covered,and apply a light coat of some pipe dope to hold the hemp to the fitting.
-install and tighten then forget about it
-next fitting.
A bit of a pain,but worth it when i built my boiler system i had one out of over 150 threaded fitting leak,it was a reused fitting.

I’m not going to argue with your method, I have no experience with it. But I will say I have the same or better failure rate with regular Teflon tape, at a whole lot less work. My failure rate with gold ‘ol Rectorseal No.5 dope is even lower. In hydraulic applications I use tape or a dope made specifically for hydraulics (Loctite makes one available to consumers, and your tractor dealer likely stocks it). This hemp thing seems to be going to the extreme, and I doubt it’s necessity, in most normal applications.

 

[SpaceBus]

If you can fit the tractor back there, you can get the splitter there. I've been raking up dead grass and some leaves today which went back in on our property I do most of the cutting on, it's drying out nice back there.

Ha, I got the tractor stuck on a stump today. I had to get the farm jack out, lift the tractor, cut the stump, and set it back down on some smaller rounds just to be safe. It's messy now. I'm going to have to cut the stumps and rake it out once it fully thaws.

 

[thewoodlands]

Ha, I got the tractor stuck on a stump today. I had to get the farm jack out, lift the tractor, cut the stump, and set it back down on some smaller rounds just to be safe. It's messy now. I'm going to have to cut the stumps and rake it out once it fully thaws.

I did another three loads of leaves and pine needles which I put on some trails that needed it, the peepers are going strong. I'll finish raking the backyard tomorrow and maybe the front.

You didn't hurt your tractor did ya? Before we had the tractor with the hoe, I spent a bunch of time cutting the stumps flush with the ground near the trails, lets just say I had a mudder chain after I did five stumps.

 

[SpaceBus]

Of course I forgot to take a pic of the whole cord, but you get the idea. It took me a while but I finally found a way to store my firewood that isn't ugly or space consuming. Eventually I'll make coverings for them. By the time I'm done it should be about a cord and a half.

 

[SpaceBus]

I did another three loads of leaves and pine needles which I put on some trails that needed it, the peepers are going strong. I'll finish raking the backyard tomorrow and maybe the front.

You didn't hurt your tractor did ya? Before we had the tractor with the hoe, I spent a bunch of time cutting the stumps flush with the ground near the trails, lets just say I had a mudder chain after I did five stumps.

No, I just high centered it. I'll grind all the stumps down on Wednesday or Thursday.

 

[salecker]

I’m not going to argue with your method, I have no experience with it. But I will say I have the same or better failure rate with regular Teflon tape, at a whole lot less work. My failure rate with gold ‘ol Rectorseal No.5 dope is even lower. In hydraulic applications I use tape or a dope made specifically for hydraulics (Loctite makes one available to consumers, and your tractor dealer likely stocks it). This hemp thing seems to be going to the extreme, and I doubt it’s necessity, in most normal applications.

I did a test myself because i was skeptical as well.
So when i started to build my system i built a stand with 2 500 gal propane tanks where i had to weld some extra ports to .So i plugged all the openings and used
-just teflon tape
-just pipe dope
-hemp and dope
I had one fitting with Teflon tape that i couln't tighten enough to stop leaking.the pipe dope ones were tightened to be leak free,the hemp ones need nothing.I was testing system to to 80 psi,normal working pressure is up to 30 psi.
Over the years i have had enough leaks without using hemp.
Now i have time to do it right,instead of the extra time it takes to do it twice.
Just like the saying "There is never time to do it right,but always enough time to do it twice".

 

[heavy hammer]

With what you said about not thinking about before the job. Equipment still has its limits most take them to far that is how things get broken.

 

[SpaceBus]

The chipper shredder made it to the dealer yesterday, but they were too busy to bring it here. It should be showing up today or Monday. It's pretty windy and rainy today, so I won't he surprised if it comes Monday.

 

[Ashful]

With what you said about not thinking about before the job. Equipment still has its limits most take them to far that is how things get broken.

I find I’m always traction and weight limited, on all the tractors I’ve ever owned. I’m more likely to flip the machine and break *me*, before breaking any equipment.

That said, I’ve always owned older stuff, which due to a lack of economical engineering, is usually comically over-built for its intended purpose. Modern equipment may be more engineered to “just good enough.”

 

[thewoodlands]

The chipper shredder made it to the dealer yesterday, but they were too busy to bring it here. It should be showing up today or Monday. It's pretty windy and rainy today, so I won't he surprised if it comes Monday.

The suns been out today so that's helping things dry up some, the river still running high especially the houses that are just above the rivers normal water height. I did see one home with sandbags around three sides.

 

[SpaceBus]

The suns been out today so that's helping things dry up some, the river still running high especially the houses that are just above the rivers normal water height. I did see one home with sandbags around three sides.

We are having sun today too, finally! Our ground is so saturated, I can't do much of anything with the tractor right now.

 

[thewoodlands]

We are having sun today too, finally! Our ground is so saturated, I can't do much of anything with the tractor right now.

I've been keeping the tractor off the trails for the same reason, it's been drying out pretty good back here so after tearing up the trails last year with the tractor, I'm staying off them.

I have a few things that I need to attend and then I can get back working on felling the ash.

I did make the boss some spaghetti sauce yesterday with some pork chops browned in the pan before I made the sauce.

 

[thewoodlands]

We are having sun today too, finally! Our ground is so saturated, I can't do much of anything with the tractor right now.

The fluctuating temperatures in the northern mid-Atlantic will result as storms continue to track through the Northeast, causing rounds of rain and thunderstorms to keep pestering those with outdoor plans in the Northeast.

Snow may also re-visit the interior of northern New England on a couple of occasions.

"If the storm late in the week follows a more northerly track, then winds would turn from the west and briefly end the spring chill across New England on Friday," Andrews said. "However, a more southern track can keep the chill in place."

Regardless of that storm's track, an end to the summer warmth over the southern mid-Atlantic will come in its wake.

Temperatures next weekend throughout the northeastern U.S. should be near to slightly below normal.

 

[heavy hammer]

The temps for the next week are supposed to be warmer but a chance of rain almost every day. I did cut some wood this weekend five truck loads of locust with one more still to get at the bottom of the hill I was cutting at but the ground is to wet to take a truck on now. I put it up on some other log pieces till I can get to it this summer.

 

[heavy hammer]

Like you guys said the yard is way to wet to use the tractor. I want to move the wood to the woods but I'll wait till it dries out a little.

 

[thewoodlands]

The temps for the next week are supposed to be warmer but a chance of rain almost every day. I did cut some wood this weekend five truck loads of locust with one more still to get at the bottom of the hill I was cutting at but the ground is to wet to take a truck on now. I put it up on some other log pieces till I can get to it this summer.View attachment 243726 View attachment 243727

Nice job @heavy hammer , that's some nice firewood.

 

[heavy hammer]

Thanks I worked for this stuff. It was on the side of a hill, I had to cut it smaller so i could carry it.

 

[SpaceBus]

The chipper shredder is on the way still in the crate along with a stihl 131r kombi system power head along with an extension and the pole saw attachment. At some point I'll get a string trimmer, blower, and probably a 20" scythe

 

[SpaceBus]

I got the crating off, but didn't get all of the fasteners tightened up before it got dark. We'll see how the weather goes tomorrow.