We recently got two letters from two different viewers on our YouTube channel, both asking whether you can ruin your tractor’s hydraulic system by putting a foreign attachment on the tractor. In other words, if you connect a hydraulically powered attachment from somewhere else to your tractor, is there a risk of damage? The first viewer said he’s fairly new to tractors and still learning, but had a question he couldn’t find an answer to anywhere. “I have the basic implements, including a grapple,” he said, “but  obviously I cannot buy every attachment I will ever need. It makes more sense ..read more

What To Consider When Choosing a 3-Point Sprayer The 3 point sprayer comes in a lot of sizes and models, and this  3 point sprayer buyers guide can help you make your choice wisely. First, before you make any decisions, it’s helpful to consider the size of the acreage you’ll be spraying. In fact, if you’ve just got a lawn to spray, any old pump-up sprayer will work just fine. And you can use whatever pesticides you like. But an ag sprayer sure comes in handy when you plan to spray wide areas like crop fields, pastures, or acre-plus lawns. Now, when you’re spraying a food plot – for either ..read more

Hydraulic Valve Converter Kit: Add Implements to Your Tractor A hydraulic valve converter kit is a must if you’re planning to add attachments to your tractor but lack the hydraulic ports to power their cylinders. Our hydraulic diverter valve kit allows you to easily add implements like a front loader grapple or tree shear. And that means greater work versatility around your acreage. How Does a Hydraulic Diverter Valve Kit Work? The diverter takes the oil flow from the motion of the loader bucket and moves power to your front mounted hydraulic implements. A switch mounted on the tractor joystic ..read more

 Brush hogs are known by many names; I own a Bush Hog, but the advice applies to all brands of brush hogs. Not long ago, I needed to service my Bush Hog so I thought it would be a good time of year to do a front-to-back service. You really should do it every time you take the bush hog out to use…but if you don’t, be sure to do it as often as you can. If you have a leaf blower, go ahead and clean the brush hog off; it’s a lot easier to work with the attachment once it’s free of debris. Takes Only a Few Steps The first thing I do is  remove the PTO shaft and grease everything on it; this i ..read more

  Tractor safety on hills can’t be emphasized too much. Tractor rollovers are some of the most common and most deadly tractor accidents. Now, most of us who run small tractors have to deal with hills because those of us who “homestead” in the country get the hilly ground, left over after fulltime farmers work the rich flat ground. But slopes and tractors don’t go well together. And whether you just bought your first tractor or you grew up farming, you can never be too careful when operating on slopes. Today I give you ten ways to avoid a rollover. Before You Get To the Field The first fo ..read more

Tractor Fuel Usage- A Test Lab Studies It Fuel usage matters more now than ever. Ever wonder where you can get unbiased information about tractor fuel economy or horsepower? One of the best-kept secrets in the equipment world is the existence of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The facility was established by the Nebraska State Legislature in 1919 and started testing all brands of tractors in 1920. You can access all of the tests clear back to that time. It’s fascinating information if you’re a tractor geek like I am. The Nebraska Tractor Test The Ne ..read more

How to Install Your Own Quick Attach Here’s a do-it-yourself quick attach tutorial on how to install your own quick attach instead of taking it to a welding shop. It does take some time, of course, but if you know how to weld, it can save you money. Let’s take a look at each step of the process. Step 1: Remove Bucket Pins and Install Face Plate When you’re changing from a pin-on bucket to quick attach, the first step is easy if the bucket pins have been greased on a regular basis. Put the tractor on a level surface and remove the pins that hold the bucket on. Back the tractor up while not cha ..read more

 Ten Tools To Enhance The Tractor Owner Experience Now that I’ve discussed ten tools that are essential for owning a tractor, here’s ten optional tools that will enhance your equipment owning experience. While it’s true that you don’t absolutely have to use these tools, I know from experience that they can make owning and working on a tractor a much more pleasant experience. (If you missed the Ten Essential Tools info, you can view the video and read the blog here. ) Mechanic’s Creeper The older I get, the less concrete and my bones get along. So when doing service work I like to get und ..read more

 Top Ten Tools You Need to Own It’s surprising how often viewers want to know what the best tools are for the new tractor owner. And it’s a really good question, too, because proper tractor maintenance requires the right tools. To get you started, I’ve worked up a list of ten items that you definitely need if you just purchased a tractor. These are tools that are somewhat specific to a tractor and what it does. I’m assuming here that you already have a selection of standard tools that you’d use on anything mechanical: sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, vice grips, etc.  So let’s ta ..read more

The Gator Tree Puller “Because sometimes it just feels better to yank the whole tree out of the ground; roots and all!” A Tree Puller Versus a Tree Shear A  tool that I find really handy around my place is a tree puller, a device that goes on front of the tractor. You must have front hydraulic remote connections on the front of your loader to use a tractor tree puller. You just squeeze the prongs of the puller together around the base of a tree, lift up your loader, and lift the tree right out of the ground. It’s pretty slick, and I’m going to tell you the advantages of this tool today ..read more