Cheshire dairy farmer Anthony Oakes reasoned that a cab-less L1501 compact tractor would improve visibility when working in traditional livestock buildings and confined spaces at his family’s 500-acre Stublach Farm.
“It’s easier to see all around when there’s no cab,” explains Anthony Oakes, pictured. “There are no windows to get covered in dust and muck, so visibility is always the best it can be.”
Choosing the right tractor for the job has paid dividends with reliability and functionality for supporting WA & CG Oakes 300-cow Alcar herd and followers.
Bought new in 2019 from Cheshire Farm Machinery, the L-series has clocked up in excess of 5,000 hours, and is in use every day. Up front is a hydraulically driven Suton Turbo Clean cubicle brush carried on its LA854 loader, while the rear linkage carries an Ag Dispenser 175 with hydraulically tipping hopper, for saw dust.
The 50hp L1501 tractor features a hydrostatic transmission. Importantly, there’s no clutch to cause problems and this has eliminated a frequent failure point for hard-working yard tractors.
“Having a yard tractor with such a controllable and reliable transmission, is a game-changer,” says Anthony. “I can change direction and control my speed with a single foot pedal, leaving my hands free to steer and operate the brush and dispenser controls.”
An auxiliary hydraulic line powers the third service, delivering the necessary hydraulic power to run the brush’s switchable hydraulic functions – up/down, left/right slew, plus forward/reverse brush rotation.
“I added an on/off switch to the side of the dashboard, to create a constant power feed to activate the third service, so I don’t have to keep my hand on the button,” he says. “I can then operate the brush using its own control box.”
He says having the brush on the loader offers far more flexibility than using the three-point linkage.
“I’m looking forwards for a start, so this is really easy to see,” he says. “As I drive forward through the cubicles, I can sweep the edges, then when reversing out, I can dispense sawdust using the hydraulic spools for the belt drive. So whichever way I travel through a cubicle shed, I’m using both ends of the tractor. The visibility is great and the productivity is impressive, and I don’t have to worry about windows getting covered in dust.”
He says that extra work lights were added to improve mid-winter illumination.
“I fitted four LED work lights on the outside of the tractor’s ROPS frame,” he says. “Two face forward, and two face rearward, with the wiring connected to the tractor’s flashing beacon switch.”
Mr Oakes says the tractor is clocking up around 800 hours/year – much more than the farm’s telehandler.
“I didn’t expect we’d have such turn-key reliability, given the environment we’re operating in, but it really has delivered,” he says. “The tractor is serviced regularly, and kept well-greased. I’d have another one without question.”