Bruce's Journal

[Bruce]

OK, called the dealer about the 50 hours service. They don't have a service truck. Since the machine is new he would waive the pickup and drop off fees. For them to do it would cost $600. The parts will cost $300. Guess I'm picking up parts, get oil at Walleyworld or somewhere.

 

[greybeard]

Make sure, that each component (oil and filters) meets or exceeds the manufacturer's specs..especially the hyd fluid.. I've seen failure to do so used as a reason not to honor warranties when there was no real evidence the 3rd party hyd fluid had any thing to do with the warranty claim...

 

[CntryBoy777]

I would use the recommended brands and keep the receipt, in fact I would buy it from the dealer....even tho it may cost a bit more. As far as disposal of used fluids, I would ask the tractor guy for suggestions.....here, it is a small town and many places will take old oil and pour it in their tank to be picked-up....even WallyWorld takes stuff here....but the hydro fluid will be a bit different.....

 

[RollingAcres]

OK, called the dealer about the 50 hours service. They don't have a service truck. Since the machine is new he would waive the pickup and drop off fees. For them to do it would cost $600. The parts will cost $300. Guess I'm picking up parts, get oil at Walleyworld or somewhere.

So you have to get the parts and oil then bring them to the dealer for them to do the service on your tractor? Since they are doing the service at the dealer you don't have to worry about disposing of the used oil right?

 

[Latestarter]

Wow... tractor ownership gets pretty expensive huh? There must be "how to" video's on YouTube and since you're handy, could save a bunch doing the services yourself. The sales places I've looked at down here, several offer to pick up and return the tractor for service, for free. Some even offer the first service free.

I was thinking... on that bank area, since you've already scraped the area where the standing water is down to ledge, you should be able to drive fwd into it and scoop the bank with the bucket to get it better sloped. The added weight from the scooped material + 4x4 drive, and being on rock ledge should allow you to back right back out of there. Of course you can't do it when any family member is present as you might "accidentally" run over some creature in the puddle ... Probably be a lot easier to see what you're doing that way vice backed down the bank and reaching with the back hoe. Either way, what you've done so far is looking really good! Maybe some of that dug out material could be added along the top of the berm to increase the height/pond depth even more?

In my earlier post was going to ask if they wanted you to pay for water (using house water/hose) to add to the puddle. Guess you confirmed that was the case. If I lived closer, I'd insist on kidnapping you every now and again and forcing you to join me at some bar a few towns away for a few beers or dinner and a few drinks.

 

[greybeard]

So you have to get the parts and oil then bring them to the dealer for them to do the service on your tractor? ?

I don't think that's what he had in mind but, it is Vt...maybe they do it different there.
I don't know a single restaurant here that I can take my steak and tater into and get them to cook it for me......

 

[Baymule]

Tadpoles. @Latestarter said it all.

 

[Bruce]

So you have to get the parts and oil then bring them to the dealer for them to do the service on your tractor? Since they are doing the service at the dealer you don't have to worry about disposing of the used oil right?

No, I bought the oil and hydraulic fluid at Wallyworld. both good quality. The Mahindra manual had suggestions on the motor oil and Wally had several of them. I got the Mobil Devlac 15W-40. The chart shows 15W-40 is good from -4°F to 86°F, same for 10W-30. The hydraulic fluid bucket listed many major brands of tractors. I bought the 4 filters at the dealer. Somewhat cheaper than he said on the phone, they were about $185 total. He said their records would show I had purchased the filters and that is good enough for the warranty. He didn't seem at all concerned that I would be doing it myself. My guess is most people do the basic service stuff themselves. He also didn't ask if I needed to buy oil or hydraulic fluid so I ASSUME most get it elsewhere.

But yeah Joe, that cost is something I didn't think about up front! Fortunately they don't need to be replaced again for another 200 hours for the fuel filter, 300-350 hours for the others. That should take a little time. I still have 4 hours to run the tractor before I change the filters and the front axle fluid. The manual seems to have adequate directions but we shall see.

The guy at the service desk said no one has ever put 50 hours on their new tractor in such a short time. I guess no one else was trying to recover a drying up and perennially shallow pond before the rains DO come . He wanted to know where I was last year when the were looking for someone to put hours a demo tractor. I asked why they needed lots of hours put on a demo. Turns out it was model that hadn't yet been tested and approved for sale in the states. Well, that wouldn't have been me, the pond didn't dry up last year. I won't be putting hours on so fast when I'm moving wood or mowing the fields.

I can't do anything with the tractor on top of the "rim" of the pond. Not wide nor flat enough. And you want me to drive through the small amount of water that is there now? That wouldn't go over well.

Nearly got myself stuck today, front end sliding down slope in the muck on the left side of the "road" out the north end. Remembrances of the garden tractor doing the same thing on ANY side slope in the snow. Guess it isn't just the relatively massive weight of the blower that makes that happen. Thought for sure I was going to have to call Al. But I managed to pull one of my "@CntryBoy777 Tractor Supports ®" to the rear of the tractor with the backhoe and back the tractor onto it. Still needed to use the hoe to get leverage to get the front end back on more solid footing. Maybe I need to test my post hole auger and plant a 6" post 4' deep above the pond so I have something to anchor to if I need to pull myself out I am wondering how much of the remaining pond I can clear. There is solid ground under the muck, at least near "shore" but the slope may be too much.

 

[goatgurl]

you are sure making progress mucking out the pond. just be sure you don't bury it in the mud so that it slowly sinks into the sunset. be hard to explain.

 

[Bruce]

I'm working hard at that @goatgurl!