Is a Branson 4520R a good tractor?

[DavesTractor]

Congrats on the Branson. Great machine. As far as the engine, many years back Cummins needed a supplier for the smaller A-series engines. Kukje went after this contract and designed and got an engine series approved by Cummins. Cummins has pretty stringent standards, but Kukje made the grade. So they sell the engine as a Cummins, and then they also install it in their tractors. They are not noted as Cummins on the engines installed in the tractors, although the numbers are all the same, like A2300, etc. And I believe them to be the same as the Cummins labeled units. But to put the Cummins decal on the engine and get the max benefit of that branding requires a payment to Cummins for each engine. That label has some value. So I guess you can say it is identical to a Cummins A-series, but is not actually branded as such. But the engine rolls off the same assembly line with the same parts.

On the LS, someone noted that it is a Mitsubishi designed engine built by LS. I suspect that LS simply buys the engine from Mitsu and installs it in their tractors. I really doubt they build that engine. Mitsu, Kubota, Yanmar, etc., are all commonly bought engine to put in industrial and commercial rigs. All are good.

The 4520R is a sweet tractor, you will enjoy it.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Pump diesel is fine. You just save on the taxes by buying offroad diesel.

 

[GManBart]

On the LS, someone noted that it is a Mitsubishi designed engine built by LS. I suspect that LS simply buys the engine from Mitsu and installs it in their tractors. I really doubt they build that engine.

LS has gone through something of a change in this regard. They started out buying engines from Mitsubishi, and now they absolutely make them under license. TSO sent LS an e-mail about the topic, and someone who I recall as being a relatively high level exec at LS confirmed the engine in his R4047H was a Mitsubishi model built by LS.

 

[TomSeller]

Purchased the 4520R and it was delivered yesterday! Really impressed with the tractor so far! It has lots of power and with the rear tires filled, the FEL and my new 6' box blade it weighs in over 7000 pounds. One thing the dealer mentioned was that if I could get off road diesel I should. Is this the case or can I just get it at the pump at Walmart?

Congratulations. There is a dealer nearby but I have not been able to take the time when I am in that area. They look good and the Cummins connection gives them clout. I would get either off road or pump diesel whichever is the fresher source. I add Power Service treatment to mine.

 

[DavesTractor]

LS has gone through something of a change in this regard. They started out buying engines from Mitsubishi, and now they absolutely make them under license. TSO sent LS an e-mail about the topic, and someone who I recall as being a relatively high level exec at LS confirmed the engine in his R4047H was a Mitsubishi model built by LS.

Thanks GManBart. I learn something new every day! Are they staying with the Mitsu engine for the Tier IV models?

 

[GManBart]

Thanks GManBart. I learn something new every day! Are they staying with the Mitsu engine for the Tier IV models?

I'm not entirely certain on that. I know that some models definitely now have a Tier IV compliant Shibaura engine, but others appear to still be a Mitsubishi. I know some models with the Mitsu will go away when current stocks are depleted, but that doesn't answer the question of a few new models that they don't specify the engine source.

 

[Texasmark]

The engines are supposedly Cummins according to the dealer. Any idea if this is true?

My engine is the Cummins B3.3NA made by Komatsu in Japan. No supposition, just fact. If you want to know facts, get on the www and look it up including Cummins licensees, Kukje in S. Korea that builds the tractors and some Cummins engines under license, and also some dearly beloved colors and all that.

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Purchased the 4520R and it was delivered yesterday! Really impressed with the tractor so far! It has lots of power and with the rear tires filled, the FEL and my new 6' box blade it weighs in over 7000 pounds. One thing the dealer mentioned was that if I could get off road diesel I should. Is this the case or can I just get it at the pump at Walmart?

In Texas off road is usually the same as over the road diesel minus the 40 cent per gallon road tax. The dealer where I buy says the state sets the price but still it is within a few pennies of what I said. You get forms from them, fill them out and apply for the tax free number. Here the number is good for fuel and other farm related purchases which saves you the 8.25% sales tax.

Personally I think you made a wise decision......biased answer????? Naw. What would give you that idea? Grin.

Mark

 

[TomSeller]

My engine is the Cummins B3.3NA made by Komatsu in Japan. No supposition, just fact. If you want to know facts, get on the www and look it up including Cummins licensees, Kukje in S. Korea that builds the tractors and some Cummins engines under license, and also some dearly beloved colors and all that.

Mark

I would dare guess that the Cummins connection could rank them higher on the quality list than some other up and coming manufacturers. I would like to hear more about them.

 

[TSO]

I would dare guess that the Cummins connection could rank them higher on the quality list than some other up and coming manufacturers. I would like to hear more about them.

Not sure about that ... respectfully, many people believe that the Cummins engine is the only good piece of a Dodge truck. That engine alone isn't enough to move them up the quality list though.

My "Mitsubishi" engine gets high praise from many people who report it being used in numerous commercial applications around the world.

Unfortunately, there's really no way to know which engine (ie Yanmar, Kubota, Cummins, Mitsubishi, Shibaura, Perkins, etc) is better in our tractor applications, because there are just too many outside factors that would need to be controlled.