firewood tractors

[Jim Timber]

The transmission heat issue is definitely something I'll make sure is addressed before the warranty expires.

The tractor had been sitting about a month when I started it, and I didn't let the plugs warm long enough (killing the battery). After boosting it, it popped and I was the first person to run it while it was stone cold (it was 8F that night and had only reached about 22F at the time - about 11:30 am). She ran out great. Brakes were smooth, throttle linkage was a bit stiff on the dash, 3pt moved smooth, clutch was predictable and smooth.

My foundry info is out of date. Last I spoke to someone (at Kurt Manufacturing - which IS in my back yard) they were being eyed up for silica handling/disposal, and also under threat of OSHA changes to arc flash exposure but lacked standards - back in '09. Deere's revamp started in '10. Duly noted.

 

[Hddnis]

Well, I wouldn't bet too much on that one, as I have a foundry background and many in my family and a few friends do too. Some of them have now retired out of those foundries... (my nephew owned one) Yes, "some" foundries around here have closed down, but NOT one of them because of the EPA, ALL of them because it was cheaper to make a casting someplace else...

SR

Several foundries have closed because it was too expensive to meet new regulations, not just at the foundry, but also in the supply chain. Same as they are doing to coal fired power plants.

But it isn't the EPA alone.

You add in unions, OSHA, and taxes.

If the foundry overseas can make it cheaper you have to ask where they are saving money? Labor alone does not make it cheaper to run a foundry overseas when you factor in shipping costs.



Mr. HE

 

[Steve NW WI]

Pics of it in use will come, but I'm currently waiting on news of when it'll be delivered because we have to wait for the loader to be procured from Deere. They said they haven't had to wait long for them in the past, but Deere's closed for Christmas/New Years until Monday.

Jim, forgot to ask, which loader are you getting? The 553 is a good loader, but if you go self leveling with the H240, you'll never want a non leveling loader again.

 

[Jim Timber]

Just the 553 they usually come with and the 73" bucket.

 

[mesupra]

After having worked briefly on a friends john deere 4000 series tractor I would take my kioti made bobcat any day of the week. The quality, fit and finish on the kioti seemed far superior to the john deere.

I have been a deere lover all my life and always planned on ended up with a deere one of these days until I got up close and personal.

 

[KiwiBro]

Several foundries have closed because it was too expensive to meet new regulations, not just at the foundry, but also in the supply chain. Same as they are doing to coal fired power plants.

We've got a rather innovative mob here who retrofit the smoke stacks to ensure super clean emissions. Further, that work they have done with smelters and coal fired power generators lead them recently to what is being touted as quite a breakthrough - they can now profitably take wood biomass and turn it into the highest quality coking coal, cheaper than mining it. If it takes off (they have a contract to supply to a local steel mill but are looking for the mega millions of $ needed to take their pilot to commercial scale), I fear for the firewood sellers and buyers because I have read about such markets being decimated by wood chip buyers overseas. For example, a new biomass 'lecky generator or pallet mill starts up and within 6 months there's no pulp/firewood logs available for miles around so the firewood guys are out of business or trucking logs in from miles away (yeah, that's clean and green) and having to jack up the prices to their buyers. Even mills that relied on reasonably low grade logs are pushed out of the market.

 

[KiwiBro]

I would take my kioti made bobcat any day of the week.

Am supposed to be demo-ing a kioti this week. We've had daedongs in NZ for what must be more than a decade and they really do seem to have stepped their game up in the last few years. Unfortunately, as they settle into a more secure market share and greater brand awareness, the pricing tends to creep up. But the deal they have going at the mo' is awfully tempting.

 

[farmer steve]

i couldn't remember if i had posted any pics here or not so i had to go thru 15 pages.
i use this tractor all 12 months. wanted bigger but needed the low clearance for digging $h!t out of the barn. i think it gets used most in wood season. forks were a must for moving bins. hooked to the sweet corn sprayer in summer. the rock bucket is great for hauling out of the woods as most dirt and debris falls thru.
four buckets like this is about a 1/2 cord. new holland tc55da.fluid filled rear tires. 4wd.

 

[mesupra]

The kioti prices are steadily increasing here as well. The bobcat version of the kioti sold new for less than they are currenetly selling used. The LS brand is a pretty good bargain as well, just not the quality of a Kioti.

 

[Jim Timber]

I know a guy who just got a Kioti, and I was wondering about them in 2011 when they were still under Bobcat colors/distribution. Their prices were good, the ones I looked at were very nice. Their support network is still lacking in our area though. Same with Mahindra - I'd have to drive for hours if I ever broke something and it couldn't wait to be fixed. Deere I can get parts and be home in an hour. Green also holds it's value best in my area.

MF 2615 was another strong consideration. In the end, I just liked the 5e's better and feel I have better service options in green.

Kioti: 3 dealers within 3 hours (one way), closest 95 miles.

MF: 5 dealers within 95 miles as the crow flies, closest is 35.

Mahindra: 3 dealers in the state, closest 78 miles.

Deere: 15 dealers within 90 miles, closest 17.

Kubota: 3 dealers within 90 miles, closest one 50.

 

[mesupra]

The deere hold their value very well as do kubota I was planning on staying with kubota but when the bobcat ct 335 tlb forks and rake showed up with under 200 hrs I could not pass it up

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thing is, around here you pay a lot more for a deer, just to get a tractor of equal HP, so they HAVE to give back more on return, just to stay even.

Last new tractor I bought, to get the exact same PTO HP deer, I would have had to pay 4K more, then the deer came with one remote instead of two, (second remote on the deere was $1,200.00 option) the deere had cheaper bias ply tires instead of top of the line radials and also SMALLER tires up front! It also had a 12 speed trans. instead of the 16 speed that I got, less hydraulic flow at the remotes, ect... ect... On top of that, the deere loader was rated to pick up 650 LESS pounds...

BUT, I buy things to keep, not to re-sell, so resale isn't of much importance to me, so my decision was easy and time has proven it to be the right one...

SR

 

[Jim Timber]

Some day I might want to get into a cabbed unit, or maybe even a smaller one - I'm not going to have choked up overgrowth forever, and I'm only 39. Resale value is a factor to me.

 

[tawilson]

One thing to keep in mind with jd is their quick attach. I like being able to swap attachments between my tractor and Bobcat skidsteer. Sorry if this was brought up already. I have read this whole thread but not lately.

 

[Jim Timber]

Easily fixed if needed.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0YZ5DQSQDHADTB5ACBA1

 

[firebrick43]

JimTimber, I think you will be very happy logging with the tractor compared to a skid steer! It's a tough decision on if you should buy jd/fronteer attachments to fit the jd quick attach system or SSQA attachments and an adapter. On one hand it's nice to keep the attachments if you ever sell the tractor and use them on the next one (if it's not a jd). On the other hand a adapter spaces the attachments out some and adds extra weight, both reducing your breakout force and lifting capacity. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Jim Timber]

I'll be making my own stuff for the most part, so compatibility is a moot point at present. You're right about down the road though - it's possible I'll need to torch off some welds and rework the stuff. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

The real issue with the global vs bobtach is for renting stuff. I don't envision renting much to hang off the loader. I should be set with some pallet forks, the dirt bucket (already have), and root grapple. What else am I missing?

 

[Jakers]

I'll be making my own stuff for the most part, so compatibility is a moot point at present. You're right about down the road though - it's possible I'll need to torch off some welds and rework the stuff. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

The real issue with the global vs bobtach is for renting stuff. I don't envision renting much to hang off the loader. I should be set with some pallet forks, the dirt bucket (already have), and root grapple. What else am I missing?

Rock bucket, log grapple forks, front mount hydraulic snowblower, bale spear, high lifting boom pole, sweeper...... see where im going with this???? itll happen, its just like chainsaw addiction and firewood addiction, attachment addiction for tractors or skidsteer

 

[firebrick43]

I think you will find most of the basic attachments are hard to fabricate and save any money, buy used if trying to save a couple of dollars. I looked at building pallet forks for mine and the high strength steel forks were nearly the cost of a whole attachment.

If I remember correctly your clearing out the underbrush of a woods. A tree shear works great on the little 3-6" trees.

Question. You are getting two rear remotes AND a joystick valve for the loader? While more expensive I have seen more than one guy put off the cost of a second remote and then the valve kit becomes unavailable after a model change.

 

[Steve NW WI]

Jim, why didn't you just get the loader with the SS mounts? Momma Deere will sell you one with either Deere, Global, or SS mounts.

Edit: If it ain't already got em, plumb the loader for a 3rd valve too. You'll want it for a grapple at a minimum.