Kubota,Massey or McCormick

[ALHILLDIRT]

Trying to decide on a new tractor. Have narrowed the field to the Kubota L3400 DT, MF 1532, and the McCormick CT36. All 4WD w/loader. Anybody have any negative or positive comments on the above.

All have pretty much the same specs, except that it is my understanding that the McCormick is the only one of the bunch that has draft control, a real plus for me. Kubota has a pretty stable history behind it, and they build their own. I have some questions on the durability of the McCormick, and I haven't had any history with Massey Ferguson in 20+ years.

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Simple. Which dealer do you like the best? It matters more than you may think...
Mike

 

[Maka]

The McCormick has draft, better 3 point lift, dual aux. remotes, skid steer compatible loader, larger pump capacity and far more loader lift capacity not to mention a bit more hp. Not knocking the Kubota it is good but I think you would have a better match up with the Kubota L3540 as it is speced more closely.

McCormick and Kubota are excellent machines and you will be happy with both.

Maka

 

[ScottFarm]

Isn't the McCormick the same as the Montana in that model? I really like my Montana.

 

[Maka]

Yes it is.

Maka

 

[teg]

Try out the three point hitch on the Kubota L3400... If it jumps up an inch, Don't walk... run away.

 

[flusher]

Trying to decide on a new tractor. Have narrowed the field to the Kubota L3400 DT, MF 1532, and the McCormick CT36. All 4WD w/loader. Anybody have any negative or positive comments on the above.

All have pretty much the same specs, except that it is my understanding that the McCormick is the only one of the bunch that has draft control, a real plus for me. Kubota has a pretty stable history behind it, and they build their own. I have some questions on the durability of the McCormick, and I haven't had any history with Massey Ferguson in 20+ years.

Any comments would be appreciated.

I used to own a 21 hp Kubota B7510 HST with the LA302 FEL and 4WD, Kubota makes nice machines, but they tend to be pretty lightweight. I traded that 7510 for a Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto) with the ML250 FEL since I plan to do haying on my 10 acres.

If you positively need draft control, get the McCormick.

Also I would recommend that you get the skid steer quick attach option on your FEL.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The tractor that McCormick is selling is comming from a group of companies that have not been known for their financial stability or long term dedication to their product. If this is a 5 year purchase, you'll probably be okay. If its a 30 year purchase a Kubota, Deere or New Holland is a much safer choice.

 

[ScottFarm]

From my research this company has been around for at least 30 years. I own a Montana and I compared it to a Kubota when I went looking. Go test drive them, I think You'll like the McCormick better.


LG Tractors was a division of LG Cable. The group of companies were formerly known as GoldStar Cable.

The tractor division began in 1975 as a part of Hyundai in cooperation with Yanmar of Japan. See GoldStar for more history.

LG had tie-ups with Mitsubishi and Fiat/New Holland, (CNH Global), and sold tractors under the LG, LG-Fiat and LG-New Holland brands.

They also built tractors for sale by LG Montana, TAFE, LongAgri and Farmtrac in North America.

In 2005, LG Cable split off from LG and became LS Cable. The tractor division became LS Tractors.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Tractors"

 

[Maka]

I disagree respectfully Neil. The tractors that McCormick is selling are from a group called LS a division of LG and they are a 100 billion dollar company w/130,000 employees world wide. I suspect you could put Kubota, NH and JD together and not get near that number but that is a guess.

To the original poster drive all the machines, compare apples to apples see who has the best price and what dealer you feel you are most comfortable with and buy. All of them are well built machines and you probably won't be disappointed with any.

Thanks,
Maka

 

[ScottFarm]

Another thing you want to look at is the gears. I believe you'll find the McCormick to be shuttle shift and the gears syncronized. Which means you can change shift on the fly. On the Kubota unless you get hydrostatic you'll have to stop in the lower six gears change the gear and then start again. Most older tractors were like this. Once you go to a syn shift, you'll never go back to the old.

Check that out when you go test drive them and see if I'm right. I think you'd be happy with all three. When I was looking It was between Deere, Kubota, and Montana. I did not like the sound of the Deere 3 cylinder diesel at all. At first I thought I wanted a Kubota until I test drove the Montana.

 

[ALHILLDIRT]

Simple. Which dealer do you like the best? It matters more than you may think...
Mike

Feel pretty comfortable with either dealer. Both have been around for years, one's bigger than the other, but both appear to be stable.

 

[ALHILLDIRT]

Another thing you want to look at is the gears. I believe you'll find the McCormick to be shuttle shift and the gears syncronized. Which means you can change shift on the fly. On the Kubota unless you get hydrostatic you'll have to stop in the lower six gears change the gear and then start again. Most older tractors were like this. Once you go to a syn shift, you'll never go back to the old.

Check that out when you go test drive them and see if I'm right. I think you'd be happy with all three. When I was looking It was between Deere, Kubota, and Montana. I did not like the sound of the Deere 3 cylinder diesel at all. At first I thought I wanted a Kubota until I test drove the Montana.

Did a test drive on the Massey 1533 and the McCormick CT36 yesterday. Was impressed with both machines. The Massey appears to have a little heavier front axle than the McCormick, and a little larger operator platform. The McCormick is more compact than the Massey, but boy does it have the features. Nice clean lines, operator platform and area is nice, well laid out. Comes with not 1 but 2 rear remotes, plus the draft control. I like the way the quick attach loader slides into a heavy pocket as compared to the Massey hookup. I don't like the location of the hydraulic valve under the floorboard on the McCormick. It seems to me that it is in a prime location to catch on just about anything that passes under the tractor. The Massey was in the same location but higher up. It was right at 32 degrees when we cranked both tractors. The McCormick fired up without hesitation very smooth. The Massey sputtered and smoked for a few mins until it smoothed out. The transmission was a little harder to shift on the Massey than on the McCormick. The shuttle shift on both was SOLID AND SMOOTH.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Keep in mind that on the 1533 you can get draft control, 2 rear remotes, skid steer quick attach and a few other options. What is standard on one and not the other does not mean that you can not get those options, just that they are just that, options. If you like these machines, price them out so that they are equipped the same and then see what the $$$$ difference is and go from there.

I have been wanting a tractor of this size myself for awhile now. For me, I really like the feel of the 1540, but can get a Montana R4944 for thousands less. With both priced out with about the same equipment, it will be hard for me to purchase the Massey or Challenger equivalent instead of the Montana. But then again with people needing to sell off stuff, I'm waiting for the right used machine right now, should be able to save even more $$$$ for a tractor that I don't really need, just want.

 

[ALHILLDIRT]

Haved bought and used a lot of MF Ag equipment over the years, small, large, good, bad. Unfortunately John Deere and Massey have made the choice to compete with others in the compact market by taking away what made them better in the first place. I've done a lot of research into this size tractor, according to the dealers, John Deere, Massey, Case, and Kubota do not offer draft control (even as an option) until you get up to the 50 hp tractor. McCormick and Montana come as standard nice plus. All of the above except some John Deere models offer rear remotes as an option, or in the case of McCormick they're standard.

 

[jeconn]

If you need draft control that means you will be using the 3ph. Don't get the L3400. I did and now I regret it. Kubota Corp. won't stand behind their product. Good luck and happy shopping.

 

[LBrown59]

If you need draft control that means you will be using the 3ph. Don't get the L3400. I did and now I regret it.
* Kubota Corp. won't stand behind their product. Good luck and happy shopping.

Find this hard to believe.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Haved bought and used a lot of MF Ag equipment over the years, small, large, good, bad. Unfortunately John Deere and Massey have made the choice to compete with others in the compact market by taking away what made them better in the first place. I've done a lot of research into this size tractor, according to the dealers, John Deere, Massey, Case, and Kubota do not offer draft control (even as an option) until you get up to the 50 hp tractor. McCormick and Montana come as standard nice plus. All of the above except some John Deere models offer rear remotes as an option, or in the case of McCormick they're standard.

Well, I have to disagree with you. when I priced out a 1540 Massey,(40hp) the draft control option was $1400. I am looking at a brochure as I type and looking at the slot next to the position control for the draft control lever. Not sure when the last time it was that you looked, but draft control is available on the 1533 also. Oh, I believe that the more expensive models of JD in this hp range also have draft control available. Just did a search on JD 3000 series, all have draft control, and none are above 50 hp.

 

[jeconn]

Find this hard to believe.

Check this out.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/131742-l2800-position-control-jerky.html

 

[ALHILLDIRT]

Well, I have to disagree with you. when I priced out a 1540 Massey,(40hp) the draft control option was $1400. I am looking at a brochure as I type and looking at the slot next to the position control for the draft control lever. Not sure when the last time it was that you looked, but draft control is available on the 1533 also. Oh, I believe that the more expensive models of JD in this hp range also have draft control available. Just did a search on JD 3000 series, all have draft control, and none are above 50 hp.

According to the latest brochure I picked up from the dealer, position control is standard accross the board until you get to the 1560 model. However, buried in the fine print under options - "top link draft sensing". It does not specify if it is available on all models or not. I guess I need to contact the dealer again about this.
I grew up in an age where the break on tractor horsepower between compact and utility was at 50, now it seems that there is a model available by 2 hp bracket, and you are right 40 seems to be a more general break now