Buying my 1st tractor this weekend and need advise BIG TIME - quotes included

[whizdbiz2]

I'm use to the Kubota pedal so it's the Deere that is awkward for me when I use it.

At least with the Kubota there is no way to be in forward and reverse at the same time...

I've stepped on both forward and reverse with the Deere unintentionally many time.

On my Mahindra with pedals they are really two different functions of the same control on the transmission. Stepping on both cancels the action of each and you don't move. Not a problem.

 

[bevis28]

And that's why test driving these things is so important. What one guy likes another guy will hate. And vice versa.

Have you looked at any other brands, or are you stuck on Kubota and Deere as the only choices?

After the KUB test drive, I'm stuck on JD and thats the way it has to be.
As far as others, here in florida, there is next to no dealer support for ALL the other brands.
If its not green or orange, you have some big issues for dealer support.

 

[TripleR]

Just got back from driving the 2601 at the KUB dealer. The ergos on the KUB are awful unless you have a size 12 or 13 shoe. Im not sure why KUB insists on carrying on with this design.
For me and my injuries, that sealed the deal for the JD 2025R. It makes you use the muscles in the back of your leg and calf to engage reverse no matter the rpm you are at. I still say the KUB is most
likely a stouter / slightly a better made tractor but its not going to work for me.

I don't have large feet either, I just use the ball of my foot for forward and reverse. However since you find the JD more practical for you then that's the one to get. It's a good tractor no doubt.

 

[dickfoster]

Just got back from driving the 2601 at the KUB dealer. The ergos on the KUB are awful unless you have a size 12 or 13 shoe. Im not sure why KUB insists on carrying on with this design.
For me and my injuries, that sealed the deal for the JD 2025R. It makes you use the muscles in the back of your leg and calf to engage reverse no matter the rpm you are at. I still say the KUB is most
likely a stouter / slightly a better made tractor but its not going to work for me.

When I drove a Mahindra with a rocker pedal HST I couldn't stand it either. It took maybe 50' for me to think it was an awful design. I bought a shuttle drive and am doing just fine with it plus it saved me about a grand in cost. A two pedal might work better but there is still the braking issue. I don't really know why people are so crazy for HSTs because to me it's just plain awkward.

 

[bevis28]

I agree. For not too much more than 1000 bucks you can get a nice 20 ton gas log splitter that will be independent of your tractor.

I already have a new 22 ton gas splitter. i was just going to sell it and use the tractor for splitting.
After seeing the price on splitters, i will just stick with the gas one i already have

 

[ultrarunner]

On my Mahindra with pedals they are really two different functions of the same control on the transmission. Stepping on both cancels the action of each and you don't move. Not a problem.

This is exactly my point and how I ended up in the creek with my Deere...

The bank was soft and started to give way and I stomped on reverse but in reality I stepped on both pedals and it was slow motion down the bank...

With my Kubota treadle it would be impossible to step on reverse or forward at the same time...

 

[KennyG]

When I drove a Mahindra with a rocker pedal HST I couldn't stand it either. It took maybe 50' for me to think it was an awful design. I bought a shuttle drive and am doing just fine with it plus it saved me about a grand in cost. A two pedal might work better but there is still the braking issue. I don't really know why people are so crazy for HSTs because to me it's just plain awkward.

I'm a 2 pedal guy because I've used several rocker pedal machines and couldn't get comfortable with them. With the left side brakes it only takes a few minutes to get fully comfortable with that. To the best of my knowledge all the HST tractors have HST pedals on one side and brakes on the other. I think the HST is the only way to go on a CUT. Anything that requires keeping the RPM high and varying the speed (that would include mowing, bush hogging, tilling and loader work) goes much better with an HST. Unless I was doing row crops, a gear tractor would only be a curiosity for me.

 

[TripleR]

I'm a 2 pedal guy because I've used several rocker pedal machines and couldn't get comfortable with them. With the left side brakes it only takes a few minutes to get fully comfortable with that. To the best of my knowledge all the HST tractors have HST pedals on one side and brakes on the other. only way to go on a CUT. Anything that requires keeping the RPM high and varying the speed (that would include mowing, bush hogging, tilling and loader work) goes much better with an HST. Unless I was doing row crops, a gear tractor would only be a curiosity for me.

Some Kubota Standard L Series don't. I'm sure they will transition, but haven't yet.

 

[mike69440]

Bearing in mind my tractor ignorance, I'm being told by the KUB dealer that the lift and curl is a major thing for a newbie. ****, i don't even know how to work the **** thing until i buy one.
Is the lift and curl a marketing ploy ? Or would it be useful for a newbie. Im assuming that you really need to learn how to do it the old fashion way.

Lift and curl are really important if you want to work the machine. The JD loader is pretty useless, the Kubota is better, about 60% of my little tractor, the Kubota loader control is top notch, smoother to operate than most, including my Mahindra. 2 speed Hst, Yuck!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...53387-weak-loader-curl-possible-solution.html

 

[bevis28]

Lift and curl are really important if you want to work the machine. The JD loader is pretty useless, the Kubota is better, about 60% of my little tractor, the Kubota loader control is top notch, smoother to operate than most, including my Mahindra. 2 speed Hst, Yuck!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...53387-weak-loader-curl-possible-solution.html

The kubota is out for me and I'm finalizing the details of the deal on a JD2025R. The treadle pedal is a deal breaker for me. The lift and curl function is nice
but certainly not so important that i buy the KUB just for that. The JD does dump and curl but not lift and curl. That seems exactly backwards from what it should be
but then again , what do i know about tractors let alone loaders. Plain truth is i will not live with that treadle pedal no matter what feature the tractor has.
If KUB would just move to a 2 pedal system instead of that treadle pedal, they would have more sales. I certainly would have bought the 2601 TODAY and
had it in my garage right now if not for that horribly non ergonomic treadle pedal.