Really really really want a tractor

[Cliff R]

I've been watching this thread and have also been compact tractor shopping.

So far I've went to John Deere, Yanmar, Kubota and contacted Bobcat and Kioti (nothing in stock). Yesterday I drove to a dealer who sells used, John Deere and Kubota. I tested a B2601 and an L2501. Didn't care much for the B2601 at all. Slow hydraulics and the operators station was cramped. I do NOT like the hydrostatic pedal but could get used to it. Much prefer two separate pedals. The L2501 is a stout machine, way more of a tractor and would never be a mower and probably why no mid PTO is even offered. It's a bit lacking in the "H" speed range, OK in the M and plenty of grunt in L. It came with a 66" bucket and did fine with it with only loaded tires.

Today I went to the Yanmar dealer and spent some time on an SA424. It's bigger than a Kubota B series and smaller than an L. There were a LOT of things I really liked about the SA424. The hydraulics were smooth and quick, excellent operators station, plenty of power in both ranges. Negatives were the 54" bucket, it could have easily handled a 60" and did not have the skid-steer mount was was a quick-attach set-up.

I'm going to look at and test a John Deere 3025E Friday. When I looked at JD a few weeks ago it was close to closing time so no time for a test drive. Good looking tractor but not the HD version like the D or R series. I'll see how it does testing it but right now I'm leaning toward the Yanmar. It's also a LOT less expensive than the others outfitted the same way........

 

[husky455rancher]

I've been watching this thread and have also been compact tractor shopping.

So far I've went to John Deere, Yanmar, Kubota and contacted Bobcat and Kioti (nothing in stock). Yesterday I drove to a dealer who sells used, John Deere and Kubota. I tested a B2601 and an L2501. Didn't care much for the B2601 at all. Slow hydraulics and the operators station was cramped. I do NOT like the hydrostatic pedal but could get used to it. Much prefer two separate pedals. The L2501 is a stout machine, way more of a tractor and would never be a mower and probably why no mid PTO is even offered. It's a bit lacking in the "H" speed range, OK in the M and plenty of grunt in L. It came with a 66" bucket and did fine with it with only loaded tires.

Today I went to the Yanmar dealer and spent some time on an SA424. It's bigger than a Kubota B series and smaller than an L. There were a LOT of things I really liked about the SA424. The hydraulics were smooth and quick, excellent operators stay station, plenty of power in both ranges. Negatives were the 54" bucket, it could have easily handled a 60" and did not have the skid-steer mount was was a quick-attach set-up.

I'm going to look test a John Deere 3025E Friday. When I looked at JD a few weeks ago it was close to closing time so no time for a test drive. Good looking tractor but not the HD version like the D or R series. I'll see how it does testing it but right now I'm leaning toward the Yanmar. It's also a LOT less expensive than the others outfitted the same way........

funny you said yanmar I was just looking at the same tractor online. I inquired about it so we’ll see what happens. I’m surprised at the lifting capacity. Is it a compact or subcompact? Do you mind saying what he was selling it for? I’ve seen some prices but their just da all over the place.

 

[holeycow]

A neighbor has a 50hp Yanmar in green. It is a helluva nice little tractor. Very impressively built.

 

[Robpm]

I live on 2.3 acres in northern NJ. I have woods all around me. I grew up in NH burning 12 cord of wood each winter in a Sam Daniels Wood furnace which was placed in the basement. We had an IH 330 Utility tractor with a FEL and prior to that a MF 30 utility (yellow) with an FEL and BH. We also burned 12 cord in the Grimm evaporator making lots of maple syrup every March as well. I say all that because I bought a used 2005 JD 990 CUT with a 300CX FEL and an 8B BH close to 10 years ago. It only had 75 hours on it when I bought it and it saved me $10k by not buying a new one. I know today in the day of Covid those kind of deals do not exist or if they do they are rare. The 990 is a 40 hp 4WD tractor with a collar shift transmission (3 forward, 1 revers with 3 ranges giving 9 ahead and 3 in reverse. That is the kind of tractor I grew up with. it is simple to work on and does not have any electronics. I have a Stihl 044 that is over 20 years old and still cuts like it was new and I have cut a lot of wood with it. I also own a 200T which comes in handy when you have to be in a tree. I have my own ropes and climbing gear for when I need it. I have a Splitfire wood splitter which is the best splitter I have ever used. Until recently I burned about 6 cord of wood each winter to help save on the gas bill. I love the tractor and the FEL and the BH. This thing has paid for itself with no problem. The BH has been a real benefit. I still mow my lawn which takes me about 1.5 hours with a regular push mower. I only have 2.3 acres but I am glad for the power and the size and wish often I had even more lift power. I would not downsize at all. The thing would drive up a rock wall if could have the traction and not fall. I have purchased a Woodland Mills chipper which still sits in the box and an Igland 3501 winch for it as well which I have not had time to use. I have a set of pallat forks which also have a grapple setup. This tractor is so handy I do not know what I would do without it. So I would be one to say there is a benefit in going as big as you can. You wont be dissapointed by going as big as you can afford. By the way I'm almost 62 and am the managing director of a German subsidiary with the US and Canada as our specific market so that takes the major portion of my time.

I agree with others, go out and look at the tractors, try them out. It is the best way to get a feel. By the way, my JD990 is really a Yanmar through and through. The whole tractor was made by Yanmar, not just parts of it. Yanmar tractors are excellent tractors and their diesel engines are some of the most fuel efficient in the industry. One time before I bought this tractor I was sitting with a Kubota salesman at a dealership and he said he wished that Kubota engines were as fuel efficient as the Yanmar engines. Yanmar is over 100 years old. Go out and look around and try them out. Bring your wife and let her try it out as well. You cannot do wrong in doing so.

 

[Cliff R]

"funny you said yanmar I was just looking at the same tractor online. I inquired about it so we’ll see what happens. I’m surprised at the lifting capacity. Is it a compact or subcompact? Do you mind saying what he was selling it for? I’ve seen some prices but their just da all over the place."

The Yanmar 424 would be more of a compact than a "sub-compact". I'd compare it to a John Deere 20 series although it's close to the 30 series. It's a very capable machine with great lifting capacity for the size. They really should have set it up with the skid steer quick attach system and a 60" bucket. Since I tested several tractors the Yanmar so far has been the most impressive.

Pricing is attractive as well. I can get the SA424 with a loader, third function hydraulics added, a grapple, and loaded tires for apprx $22,000. They are also offering 0 percent financing this month out to 84 months....

 

[bthom70]

funny you said yanmar I was just looking at the same tractor online. I inquired about it so we’ll see what happens. I’m surprised at the lifting capacity. Is it a compact or subcompact? Do you mind saying what he was selling it for? I’ve seen some prices but their just da all over the place.

Hello from Southbury CT, I've also been watching this thread too. We have a Yanmar dealer in Newtown and 2 Mahindra's within 30-45min and a Kioti in 20min. That Bobcat lineup look sweet too. The green stuff is off my list.
We just moved into this house in Southbury 1yr ago with 2.4acres and 1/2 wooded/hilly and lots of tree logs pushed over the edge of the cliff. A backhoe is important to me I have lots of rocks to dig and stuff to plant. I'm still in my honey do list phase at this house and with the market and supplies etc shopping for a tractor is research mode until inventory/price opens up.

 

[holeycow]

I think the Kioti powertrain warranty is far, far longer than the bobcat one. like 6 years unlimited hours vs 2 years 1500hrs. Wth?

there's that..

 

[rwoods]

I live on 2.3 acres in northern NJ. I have woods all around me. I grew up in NH burning 12 cord of wood each winter in a Sam Daniels Wood furnace which was placed in the basement. We had an IH 330 Utility tractor with a FEL and prior to that a MF 30 utility (yellow) with an FEL and BH. We also burned 12 cord in the Grimm evaporator making lots of maple syrup every March as well. I say all that because I bought a used 2005 JD 990 CUT with a 300CX FEL and an 8B BH close to 10 years ago. It only had 75 hours on it when I bought it and it saved me $10k by not buying a new one. I know today in the day of Covid those kind of deals do not exist or if they do they are rare. The 990 is a 40 hp 4WD tractor with a collar shift transmission (3 forward, 1 revers with 3 ranges giving 9 ahead and 3 in reverse. That is the kind of tractor I grew up with. it is simple to work on and does not have any electronics. I have a Stihl 044 that is over 20 years old and still cuts like it was new and I have cut a lot of wood with it. I also own a 200T which comes in handy when you have to be in a tree. I have my own ropes and climbing gear for when I need it. I have a Splitfire wood splitter which is the best splitter I have ever used. Until recently I burned about 6 cord of wood each winter to help save on the gas bill. I love the tractor and the FEL and the BH. This thing has paid for itself with no problem. The BH has been a real benefit. I still mow my lawn which takes me about 1.5 hours with a regular push mower. I only have 2.3 acres but I am glad for the power and the size and wish often I had even more lift power. I would not downsize at all. The thing would drive up a rock wall if could have the traction and not fall. I have purchased a Woodland Mills chipper which still sits in the box and an Igland 3501 winch for it as well which I have not had time to use. I have a set of pallat forks which also have a grapple setup. This tractor is so handy I do not know what I would do without it. So I would be one to say there is a benefit in going as big as you can. You wont be dissapointed by going as big as you can afford. By the way I'm almost 62 and am the managing director of a German subsidiary with the US and Canada as our specific market so that takes the major portion of my time.

I agree with others, go out and look at the tractors, try them out. It is the best way to get a feel. By the way, my JD990 is really a Yanmar through and through. The whole tractor was made by Yanmar, not just parts of it. Yanmar tractors are excellent tractors and their diesel engines are some of the most fuel efficient in the industry. One time before I bought this tractor I was sitting with a Kubota salesman at a dealership and he said he wished that Kubota engines were as fuel efficient as the Yanmar engines. Yanmar is over 100 years old. Go out and look around and try them out. Bring your wife and let her try it out as well. You cannot do wrong in doing so.

The 990 is a great tractor by reputation and has held its resale value well. I couldn’t find one when I was shopping. And in hindsight that was good as it doesn’t have quite the lift capacity for much of what I do - greater than 24” diameter hardwood stems. For most, it should have more than enough capacity. I owned its little brother from the first series years ago - a 750, I wish I still had it.

Ron

 

[bthom70]

I think the Kioti powertrain warranty is far, far longer than the bobcat one. like 6 years unlimited hours vs 2 years 1500hrs. Wth?

there's that..

Yanmar is 10yr / 3,000hrs
Mahindra 7yr / 3,000hrs
Kinda odd the Bobcat tractors are so low, seems they copied and pasted info from other commercial equipment.

 

[rancher2]

husky455rancher I would stay away from the subcompact. Spend more once and be down with it. I just don't see a first time tractor buyer spending 6,000 to 10,000 for a backhoe attachment. I had a three point back hoe for years around the farm and never used it enough to have it so I sold it. When I need a backhoe for a job I hire it or rent a mini ex. Give the Kubota L2501 HST with FEL a good look. No DPF and a good sized tractor. Make sure the FEL has the skid steer quick tach system so if you want to add forks or a grapple later it no problem. I almost bought one last summer and ended up with a Kubota MX-6000. I looked at the other brands and Kubota just stood out. My big tractors are green.

 

[ericm979]

I got a used Branson backhoe for my Branson from my dealer for about half what a new one would have cost. It's been useful at times but of the implements I have it's given the least value per dollar. When I need a backhoe nothing else well do, but I don't need one that often. The other day I dug a couple hundred pound rock out of the garden with it and dug out a couple stumps and some century old buried pipes. But it sat for 4 months before that.

It's not nearly as easy to run as a mini ex. The controls are much harder to use than electric over hydraulic ones on a good mini. At first I was totally useless. It's taken some hydraulic mods and 20 or so hours to get to where I am halfway competent for a homeowner. A contractor would laugh but I get it done eventually. On the mini I could do stuff right away. With the tractor you have to get off the BH and onto the tractor operator's station to move it where with the ex you just pick up the blade and drive. On the other hand it takes 15 minutes to put it on the tractor. For a rental that's just the phone call to set it up then there's the hour+ round trip into town and hitching up a trailer and another hour+ trip to return it.

 

[planB]

Check kubota they will give you a tractor with 0 money down and like 3% financing for 84 months I believe. My ex gf and I walked in and walked out with a bx tractor you probably want to go next size up. Definitely spend the money for the hydro trans trust me

 

[Bearcreek]

No, no, no. Those are just wheel loaders. Tractors are a different machine entirely. Even a small skid steer would offer a great deal more versatility.

They are wheel loaders, yes, but they will work circles around a skid steer, especially a small skid steer, when it comes to moving wood. They'll drive through, over and around more while carrying more weight with more stability than any small skid steer, all while doing far less ground damage. The only thing that skid steers do better than those Kubota wheel loaders is dirt work. You are right about them not being cheap though.

 

[Sawdust Man]

When I was tractor shopping I was going to buy a backhoe attachment, but got to thinking that for the 9k they wanted for the backhoe I could just buy a used backhoe. l ended up getting an Allmand tlb535 loader backhoe for 8k delivered, it's a much heavier bh than the 9k unit I was looking at to boot.
So I saved 1k, and now have a backup machine when I need it.

 

[MMG]

Dont forget about the 3pt sizes. A cat 1 or 2 3pt on your tractor will have the most options for implements. A cat 0 will have the least. Branson makes a good little tractor and you can get a larger chassis with a smaller engine for less money. I bought a 4720 in 2004 (47hp) but they had the same tractor chassis down to a 28hp for quite a bit less money. The 28 would do everything the 47 did except make HP to the PTO. The bigger chassis gives you weight and stability. It was a cat 1 3pnt. Hyrdo remotes are a must as well as skid steer compatible FEL. If a third function hydro is available, get it. Makes grapple work much easier.

 

[husky455rancher]

I called the dealer who sells yanmar. I talked to him for 45 minutes. He seemed like a good guy. I told him what I was looking to do and I asked his opinion of the subcompact vs the compact. In his opinion he thinks the sub compact will work great for what I want to do. He sent me a couple pics that customers have sent him and it looked good to me. He also encouraged me to check out all the dealers and see what one I personally like. I told him I’m going to try to go check some out Friday or Saturday. The Massey 1725m is $17212 and the sa 424 was 24k. The Massey with the backhoe is $22,804. The yanmar costs more around here I guess lol.

 

[GeeVee]

They are wheel loaders, yes, but they will work circles around a skid steer, especially a small skid steer, when it comes to moving wood. They'll drive through, over and around more while carrying more weight with more stability than any small skid steer, all while doing far less ground damage. The only thing that skid steers do better than those Kubota wheel loaders is dirt work. You are right about them not being cheap though.

Bearcreek? You must be referring to a skid steer with wheels, not a rubber tracked skid steer....? I generally refer to mine as a Compact Track Loader, and the old 763 Bobcat skid steer, a Skid steer..... I didn't scroll back to see what PDQL was saying no to, but, a wheel loader isn;t going to have a 3ph or rear PTO either.

The ancient 763 rubber tired skid steer was worthless in my Hammock land, just as soon as you drove far enough for the wheels to make one complete revolution, the bar tread tires were loaded with mud and you had zero traction, with no load. The giant cat 956 wheel loader i had for an extended loan, faired only slightly better, but was seriously hard to get unstuck, being about 30,000 lbs.....

 

[sb47]

While I agree with much of your post, I have to disagree about the hydro trans. I drove truck for 20 yrs and hauled heavy for many of them. Most the trucks I drove were 13-18 speed, while I am not challenged at all driving a stick on a tractor; I'd rather not for a machine that is to do work in small areas, if you are out tilling large plots of land there may be some advantage.

It's worth it, you will thank yourself if you get it, if you are using it in tighter places.
@farmer steve any thoughts on hydro vs manual.

All my kubotas have been great machines. I like most Japanese products, and so do others who have owned them, I think that's why they are able to command a premium price.

Great advice here. I like to say my tractors have more guts than butt, they just aren't a large piece of equipment such as a skid steer and they don't have the power or lifting capacity.
As far as the bolts on the wheels and loader, all mine loosened up on my kubota L3800, all was good until it wasn't and I cracked a wheel .

I prefer a manual transmission over a hydro static all day long. I don't like having to keep my foot on the pedal to make it go. I like putting in in gear and letting out the clutch and not having to have my foot on a peddle. Hydro's are noisy and wine like they are in a constant bind.

 

[GeeVee]

I called the dealer who sells yanmar. I talked to him for 45 minutes. He seemed like a good guy. I told him what I was looking to do and I asked his opinion of the subcompact vs the compact. In his opinion he thinks the sub compact will work great for what I want to do. He sent me a couple pics that customers have sent him and it looked good to me. He also encouraged me to check out all the dealers and see what one I personally like. I told him I’m going to try to go check some out Friday or Saturday. The Massey 1725m is $17212 and the sa 424 was 24k. The Massey with the backhoe is $22,804. The yanmar costs more around here I guess lol.

The middle red picture is a cutie subcompact, but I'd seriously check if i needed a BH at all. Infrequent use is like a anchor- literally. Only, PERHAPS, if you had a little thumb on it to load the rounds or bolts onto a cutting/splitting deck or table, but once you've dug every hole, and ditch on your land, what else would you use it for? You afre getting a FEL, so you dont need a BH to pick up a bolt. A BH is a one trick pony, and that show gets old when you've seen it once.

My reason for posting your reply is not to denigrate the BH. Its to check the tire choice. I'm not so much a fan of the wide low profile, even if they had some agressive tread. I prefer a tall R1 Tread on my ag tractor- as much because my own land is prone to have clayey sand, and when through the top 1-2 feet, you find Clay and Gumbo. The mud will load up those on the red one, as soon as you drive over it, and the machine really has no ground clearance for traversing the standing water. or through the mud slurry I make when I drive through it repeatedly.

Picture 2 is your tires on the red cutie.

 

[peterr]

I called the dealer who sells yanmar. I talked to him for 45 minutes. He seemed like a good guy. I told him what I was looking to do and I asked his opinion of the subcompact vs the compact. In his opinion he thinks the sub compact will work great for what I want to do. He sent me a couple pics that customers have sent him and it looked good to me. He also encouraged me to check out all the dealers and see what one I personally like. I told him I’m going to try to go check some out Friday or Saturday. The Massey 1725m is $17212 and the sa 424 was 24k. The Massey with the backhoe is $22,804. The yanmar costs more around here I guess lol.

Woodbury Tractor, sells Yanmar too, Robert (owner) is well liked. Peter in Roxbury