Buying Advice John Deere Vs Branson

THEPARTYHOUND · Dec 26, 2017

Hey everyone, I've been reading these forums for the last several weeks and have decided it was time to just put a post out there and get everyones opinions. Ive recently sold a truck and am seriously considering getting a tractor. I have 2 that i am looking pretty hard at and the 2 are quite a bit different.

The first is a 1989 4wd John Deere 2240 with about 4200 hrs on the clock. It has a FEL, rear scraper blade, and somewhat of a cab (roof and windshield). I have not seen it yet, but there are no leaks i am told and it has been well maintained. I believe i was told that this is a 50 or 55 hp tractor. Also, it has a class 2 3-point hitch.

Second option in the same pricepoint is a 2010ish Branson 3510i. It comes with a triple axle trailer, FEL, rake, harrow, and back blade. This has about 130 hrs on it. Everything in good shape according to the owner.

For what i will be using the tractor for, either one would work fine. I plan to grow hay on about 20 acres, clear snow, and other chores around the property. My main concerns are reliability and ease of starting in subzero weather. Which tractor would i expect to get the most hours of trouble free use out of?

mcfarmall · Dec 26, 2017

I'd do the Branson if there was a dealer within 25 miles of my base camp. Extremely low hours for an almost 8 year old tractor.

THEPARTYHOUND · Dec 26, 2017

Well, the closest branson dealer is about 6 hours away. I figured that I'd be doing all of the maintenance myself, buying parts online, and it is no longer under warranty so I hadn't really considered a dealer being close by to be of much importance. If I bought a 10 year old toyota pickup, the closest toyota dealership would be my absolute last consideration in the purchase. However, I've never owned a tractor. Maybe a dealer close by is important for some reason, and if it is please clue me in!

ericm979 · Dec 26, 2017

Tractordata.com has all the specs. If the 3510 is big enough for haying I'd choose that one out of the two. 4200 hours is a lot.

Unlike Kubota there's no internet website ordering for Branson parts. You need a dealer. There's a couple that post here who will ship parts- Dave's Tractor in Northern CA and Mr Bitz in ND. I bought my Branson 3725 from Daves, they're good people.

THEPARTYHOUND · Dec 26, 2017

Well, I just got off the phone with the lady who is currently using the branson (she's not the owner...long story). From the specs I had found on this tractor, it should be able to lift a 1500 lb round bale. According to her, it will not. She also said that they have gone through some hoses by trying to lift things that are too heavy for it. That is starting to tip the scales away from the branson.

So, 4200 hrs on a korean brand of tractor like Branson or Kioti is probably a LOT. But I see John Deere, Case, IH, and others of that nature with a lot more hours than that and still going strong. Is 4200 hours a lot on that model of john deere?

LouNY · Dec 26, 2017

That doesn't sound like the proper year for that model 2240?
Is it old enough to have a mechanical tach and hour meter or is it an electronic clock?
4000 hours on an electronic hour meter can be a lot different then 4000 on a mechanical meter.

THEPARTYHOUND · Dec 26, 2017

I had noticed that too. When i looked up that model it was only made till 83 i think it was.
I was assuming it was a mechanical hour meter. Why the difference between the mechanical and electronic?

Kentuckyfarmer · Dec 26, 2017

I have a 4720 and 1500 lbs on pallet forks is about all it will pick up and you better have something on the back for counter weight. Hit a bump and the back tires will float a little. I believe its probably 1500 lbs at the pins is what it rated at. A little less sticking further out. I have moved 1200 to 1300 lbs round bales. One on the back and one in the front. 4200 hours on the smaller tractor is quite a bit. The larger tractors not so much.

LouNY · Dec 26, 2017

Most tractor mechanical hour meter tachs show engine hours at rated speed, usually PTO speed;
at pto speed an hour equals an hour on the hour meter,
but idle it down to half of rated rpm an hours run time is only 1/2 hour on hour meter,
at idle it could take 4-5 hours to make an hour.
The newer stuff with the electronic hour meter total up clock hours regardless of engine rpm even just leaving the key on
and not even running will add hours.