Big difference in turning radius: Kioti NX5510 vs Kubota MX5200 vs Mihindra 2555

[jeff9366]

I don't think manufacturers print incorrect information intentionally.

Intentional mis-representation is FRAUD, subject to both civil and occasionally criminal penalties.

VW is paying the price, BIG TIME, for fraud regarding their diesel engines.

 

[DieselBound]

Some things are more important to me than others and I honestly never rely on published numbers for them. WHen I go tractor shopping I fully expect and demand a full test drive and am always armed with the tools or misc items needed to fully test the machine for most things.

Do you bring our own dyno? Do you bring a measured weights to determine loader lift capabilities?

Yes, I can measure this myself, but if people aren't measuring these other things then I think it's a bit inconsistent to expect me to have to measure what I believe is important to me. Again, we're talking roughly $30,000; brake assisted turning was implemented because folks a long time ago needed extra maneuverability.

As far as bringing tools... I've done that for cars, used cars. Not sure if a dealer with new vehicles is going to allow you to start popping things off.

If someone wants to sell me a tractor then they're going to have to work at it. Clearly, in this case, they haven't worked hard enough (had someone fact-checked/QA'd their sales info then this might

 

[DieselBound]

Intentional mis-representation is FRAUD, subject to both civil and occasionally criminal penalties.

VW is paying the price, BIG TIME, for fraud regarding their diesel engines.

There is a mountain of similar issues lurking out there: Mercedes might be nailed: Mercedes Benz BlueTec diesel emissions investigation They just haven't been exposed yet. I could rant about the financial institutions (LIBOR rigging, mortgage fraud etc), but won't: hardly any criminal prosecutions here.

Getting back to the subject, Kioti appears to have just messed up. Since the error really isn't to their favor (more likely to hinter sales than boost) I figure this to be a non-intentional outcome.

 

[jeff9366]

brake assisted turning was implemented because folks a long time ago needed extra maneuverability.

Partly for maneuverability, partly because turning with brakes was easier than wrestling the steering wheel before tractor power steering became available.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

It might help to remember that kioti's US based presence/investment is probably several hundred times smaller than Kubota's tractor division.

 

[DieselBound]

It might help to remember that kioti's US based presence/investment is probably several hundred times smaller than Kubota's tractor division.

When I told the dealer (not the sales guy I'd been talking to- I think I got someone who wasn't in sales) that Kubota's MX5200, which I was considering, had a published figure substantially less than the NX5520 he replied that the Kubota was thousands of dollars more. I pointed out they also carry Mahindra and that I was looking at the 2555 and that the 2555's published turning radius was less than the NX5510's (though not as drastic as with the MX5200).

There's no doubt that Kubota is a lot more solid in their marketing/sales.

 

[TripleR]

Partly for maneuverability, partly because turning with brakes was easier than wrestling the steering wheel before tractor power steering became available.

Before we had tractors you could lock both rear wheels together, we also used them to transfer power to the wheel with the most traction, no one could afford to wait on ideal field conditions or farm around wet ground.

 

[N2DFire]

ok so I kind of glazed over somewhere between pages 2 and 3 so forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but ...

"Turning Radius" by itself really tells you nothing because you aren't told at what point on the tractor they are taking there measurements from.

When we Read / Write / Compare specifications on Fire Apparatus we have 2 different "Turning Radius" numbers we look at.
One is called "Curb to Curb Turning Radius" and it measures where the outside front tire will track during a turn - it does not account for any front or rear overhang of the body and assumes that any such extension will be high enough to clear a curb or sidewalk.

The other is called "Wall to Wall Turning Radius" and while the Curb to Curb number is nice on paper - the Wall to Wall numbers are more indicative of real world performance and maneuverability because it accounts for every last inch of overhang, extended bumper, and add-on hardware that may encounter a Sign post, tree, or wall when swinging thru a turn. In essence a "How big of a box do we need to turn around?" number.

Back to the tractor world - how much front overhang (including the FEL) you have beyond the front axle is going to dictate the true real world performance.

If I'm on tractor A with an 11' TR but with a FEL hanging over the front while you are on Tractor B with a 13' TR and no FEL - then we both know who's going to be more maneuverable in the real world.

I understand what you're doing by comparing the stats on paper as that's all you have to work from, just do so with the understanding that unless all other variables are equal - those numbers won't indicate true side by side performance.

Good luck with your shopping.

 

[DieselBound]

Yes, inside and outside matters. I run around trees to mow. If you have large spacing between trees then you're only being concerned with whether you can mow around the tree's base/root crown closely: imagine a single tree out in the middle of a pasture that you're wanting to make a single pass around to mow right around the trunk (root crown). Most of what I mow around are larger trees.

For sure, though, the loader sticking off the front and something hanging off the rear becomes an issue on things at the outside of the turning arc. On my B7800 I am often snapping my loader up and down and curling the bucket in order to clear things. I fully expect that I'd see having to do more of this with a larger tractor; it is for this reason that I would like to think it prudent to really consider how much I ought to weight/prioritize maneuverability.

If numbers are fairly close among a couple of tractors then I'd think that the manufacturers' methods are similar. Again, the MX5200 is roughly 9' while the 2555 is 11'. That 9' is pretty impressive! The 11' I wouldn't stress over (will it be enough to handle most situations I deal with? probably). But, 13' just doesn't seem right: one would think that the 2555, being as big-framed as it is, would show with a larger turning radius- who knows, maybe Mahindra is blowing smoke on that figure (but, it's within a reasonable statistical difference with the MX5200). Interestingly, I think that Kubota's loader sticks out farther, so if one were operating with it on then, as far as clearances to the outside of the turn, might be wash.

It should be fairly clear why an HST is absolutely a requirement.

My decision-making process might seem odd to others, but it's proven to work really well for me. And, again, you all are here helping me with my, perhaps, unorthodox decision-making!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Also look at how easy removing the FEL is. I often do remove it when brushhoging because it's so ridiculously easy. Literally less than a minute after some practice.