Looking for tractor to maintain 8.5 acres in NH

[AxleHub]

Just curious what the difference is between a tooth bar and an item I've been considering which comes in either a toothed bucket or in a rock bucket. Either one can have a hydraulic thumb on it to make it a form of a grapple bucket as well. Didn't have a Massey version to show . . Just a kubota colored version. See link


http://mytractortools.com/images/BXBB-1.gif

 

[IslandTractor]

Just curious what the difference is between a tooth bar and an item I've been considering which comes in either a toothed bucket or in a rock bucket. Either one can have a hydraulic thumb on it to make it a form of a grapple bucket as well. Didn't have a Massey version to show . . Just a kubota colored version. See link http://mytractortools.com/images/BXBB-1.gif

Problem with a toothed bucket is that it's messy to load sand, dirt or gravel from a flat surface. You'd prefer a flat cutting edge for loading and for back dragging. Only real advantage of teeth is for digging.

That device you are looking at has 1) much longer tines than a toothbar. Toothbar tines are also tough as anvils while those look a bit tougher than a hay spear but not tough enough to dig aggressively and 2) the bucket has no sides so is not designed for dirt or rock.

 

[varmint]

Basically, a toothbar BOLTS onto the bucket, with a bolt at each side, and is readily removable, but if you need it for digging or tearing something up, it can be attached. I have no idea what that bucket in the photo is intended for!

 

[IslandTractor]

Basically, a toothbar BOLTS onto the bucket, with a bolt at each side, and is readily removable, but if you need it for digging or tearing something up, it can be attached. I have no idea what that bucket in the photo is intended for!

Yes, a toothbar is readily removable with tools. The ratchet rake however is held in place by a simple ratchet hold down device. No tools and only a minute or two to remove or attach.

 

[DK35vince]

Ralph . . Massey has Iseki design and build the whole tractor and engine except for the fel and backhoes which ate bothbamerican made. I believe iseki has been building entire tractors with massey for 2 decades now. Certain Massey product (large units) uses shimura sp?? engines I believe.

Like kubota and Yanmar . . I think building great engine s is good . . But engineering and manufacturing the whole tractor with the great engine is a special advantage because there are no excuses and the engineers test everything as a combination . . rather than as parts. And kubota, yanmar, and Iseki all have very long historues building engines for others as well . . especially diesels.

I don't agree that building the whole machine automatically makes them better.
Example: Most trucks I've ever run (Peterbuilt, International, Kenworth , Ford, Etc.) run Cummins or Cat engines and Eaton transmissions and rears.
Our pavers, high lifts, chippers, skid steers at work run Cummins engines and someone elses transmissions, pumps, drive motors, screeds, Etc.
Same with the rollers. We have several brands that run Cummins, Kohler and Kubota diesel engines, and someone else's pumps and drive motors.
A lot of heavy equipment is made this way and they hold up to far more hours and abuse than most compact tractors would ever see.

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't agree that building the whole machine automatically makes them better.
Example: Most trucks I've ever run (Peterbuilt, International, Kenworth , Ford, Etc.) run Cummins or Cat engines and Eaton transmissions and rears.
Our pavers, high lifts, chippers, skid steers at work run Cummins engines and someone elses transmissions, pumps, drive motors, screeds, Etc.
Same with the rollers. We have several brands that run Cummins, Kohler and Kubota diesel engines, and someone else's pumps and drive motors.
A lot of heavy equipment is made this way and they hold up to far more hours and abuse than most compact tractors would ever see.

Agree. JD tractors are well respected but have virtually no JD manufactured parts until you get into the larger commercial Ag tractor sizes. Even Kubota used to have Daedong (Kioti) manufacture engines and other components.

Tractors are pretty much commodity items these days. We see occasional breakthroughs in technology but most differences between tractors can be explained by simple marketing decisions rather than engineering genius. Some of the worlds most advanced steel plants are in India and South Korea so it isn't like access to materials limits high quality manufacturing either. I'm rather surprised that the Chinese haven't broken into the international CUT market with a more substantial effort.

 

[sd455dan]

AxleHub - thanks for looking out for the newbie. I am new to tractors but not to internet forums. :laughing: I appreciate everyone's input, and recognize that I need to figure out what is best on my own.

And maybe I could have been more clear in my situation/requirements. Here's a quick re-cap of what I'm looking for in a tractor:

1) Mow 2+ acres (flat, no obstacles).
2) Maintain a long gravel driveway (700ft, straight and flat).
3) Remove snow from the driveway.
4) Miscellaneous landscaping, to include: i) moving dirt, ii) unknown.
5) Budget is $20k.

> The property is mostly woods, and I don't intend to do much with the wooded portion. However, it is possible that I'll need to pull a stump, drag a log, or drive over some difficult terrain once in a while.


From what I've learned so far, my preferences are as follows:

a) Turf Tires
b) 3-point finish mower
c) rear blade
d) 3-point snowblower
e) 12"+ of ground clearance
f) New or like-new condition

The models I am most interested in right now are the Kubota B2601, LS XJ2025H, Mahindra Max26XL. I think these are the right size for what I need, and they each seem like they will get the job done.

. However, it is possible that I'll need to pull a stump, drag a log, or drive over some difficult terrain once in a while.

and will you need regular Cat 1 capabilities and not (limited) cat 1? and 12 + inches of ground clearance?
If so It doesn't sound like most SCUTs will meet those requirements.

I read the question about -will your wife be able to run your new tractor,

but imo women don't get enough credit as far as their capabilities, my wife has no problem running either of my tractors , but actually prefers the larger 55 hp manual trans one and even runs the dozer if needed. have other friends whose wives are more than up to operating a tractor, size of the machine is not that big of a problem imo.

 

[Garandman]

Sub-compact tractors, such as the Kubota 'BX' line have only 9" ground clearance, so they are not very suitable for woods work where the ground is rough and where you will be driving over downed timber debris.//

5 acres is about three times a football field.

The L series doesn't support a front-mount snow thrower: that area can get 24" in a single storm. So BX or B.

Related thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ons/354148-kubota-b2650-vs-b3350-upgrade.html

 

[AxleHub]

. However, it is possible that I'll need to pull a stump, drag a log, or drive over some difficult terrain once in a while.

and will you need regular Cat 1 capabilities and not (limited) cat 1? and 12 + inches of ground clearance?
If so It doesn't sound like most SCUTs will meet those requirements.

I read the question about -will your wife be able to run your new tractor,

but imo women don't get enough credit as far as their capabilities, my wife has no problem running either of my tractors , but actually prefers the larger 55 hp manual trans one and even runs the dozer if needed. have other friends whose wives are more than up to operating a tractor, size of the machine is not that big of a problem imo.

Well I think phrasing is less accurate than actually quoting one of the points I recently made:

"3. How about your wife? Doesn't she need to be part of the process? If you had a scut would she be able to use it for projects too? If you've got a 35 hp cut . . I'm thinking its a different comfort level for her than a 25 hp scut? In fact scut brochures often show women operating them too."


Now lets look at the logic of your statement and mine sd55dan. You own 2 tractors and both are larger and I'd logically assume tractors have been in your past as well. In addition your wife has been around you with those past tractors and present tractors.

Now we fast forward to pedzolla who I wrote the postbto at the time and his wife. He's never owned a tractor, has no past history with tractors and so his wife apparently has none either. I happen to think that wives should be part of decision processes that are significant decisions to the family . . especially when neither partner had any experience with them. But your reasoning isn't based on pedzolla's situation . . Its based on an entirely different condition isn't it? Its based on your experience. I don't see how in any way shape or form your wife and pedzolla's are similar.

The issue isn't womens "capabilities" . . the issue is "what is a specific persons desire to operate something". Most people "CAN" drive a tractor . . But do they "desire" to do it . . And that was exactly what I was asking Pedzolla in that post point . . Had he consulted her . . Had he consideted her desires . . did she have an opinion on what she might want?

I don't understand how your wife relates to pedzolla's wife except in the least important issue that they are both women. Certainly different historys . . certainly different needs . . certainly different ecperiences and backgrounds. And certainly different uses for tractors than yours. I wasn't talking down to women . . I was talking UP to partners both financially and family responsibility wise.

Now lets say pedzolla gets temporarily hurt and can't cut the grasd for 5 or 6 weeks. Shouldbhisvwifevto be forced to use something she didn't want to use or run ? Or use something she is afraid of or . . whatever.

When I bought my tractor my wife and i talked about them for months. And on the final decision day she and I went to a dealer that had the complete line of scuts and cuts of both kubota and Masdey in their showroom. And shevsat on 5 of the units andvexpressed herbcomfort on eash one and if she would consider driving it. Why did we do it ? Because neithet of usvever had a real tractor before and wr are a team.

 

[motownbrowne]

Axlehub, I see your point and I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I'm throwing another data point into the mix. My wife likes driving our hydrostatic tractors. She hasn't spent much time on the NH yet, since we got it recently, but the 5000# Kubota doesn't bother her a bit. She didn't grow up around equipment.

Also, if I told her I wanted to spend over 10 grand on something that even sort of resembled a lawn mower, I don't think she'd be pleased. I think convincing her of the need for our Kubota was much easier than it would be to try to talk her into a small tractor. Of course, we rely on our tractor for our livelihood, and we use it for things a SCUT couldn't do, so our situation is definitely different.