1st time tractor buyer

newbury · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
One thing I forgot to mention in my post, is that I currently have a very small, 1 car garage. I have my old riding mower in there now, plus a workbench and some storage. That's part of the reason I was looking at the sub compact size. Also, knowing that the riding mower is old and wore out, is why I was looking for something with belly mower capability.
<snip>

With any decent tractor you are eventually going to want a barn, but many tractors have lived under tarps for years. On a larger tractor you might want a rear finish mower. But unless lawn mowing is going to be the prime use on your 120 acres (congratulations by the way) you shouldn't size your tractor for your smallest, easiest task.

$25K out the door is about what I've spent on my B7610 (23HP), my M4700 (50HP), my trailer and some implements.

2007 B7610, 245 hrs, LA352 FEL, Bush Hog SBX 48 box blade, '07 Hudson HSE Deluxe - 5 Ton 18' foot dovetail trailer for w/ 2 chains and load binders $11.5K from CL in 2009

M4700, 1400 hrs, LA1001 FEL $11.5K from auction Jan 2013

Tomhanx said:
I rented a mini trackhoe when I first moved here a couple years ago. I kept it for a week, and got a bunch of stuff done, my biggest issue with that machine, was that it takes so long to travel long distances across the property with it. It really cut down on the amount of time I had to actually get work done with it.

The property won't be used for any business. No crops are grown, except for a small vegetable garden. I did cut some firewood last year, and would like to do more in the future, but it was logged 6 or 7 years ago, so there's not many big trees left, mostly stuff that's 12-18" diameter. I don't hunt, but had some family and friends hunt here this past season, and they had a good year, so they'll probably be back next year.

So are you planning on building trails? A backhoe may run from $5K up, a used mini-ex under $15K. But as you write the tracked mini-ex doesn't move fast.

For getting through the woods pay attention to CLEARANCE, the SCUTs are close to the ground. My B7610 is close to the ground, but at about 8".

My M4700

is good for the woods.

jeff9366 · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
I rented a mini trackhoe when I first moved here a couple years ago. I kept it for a week, and got a bunch of stuff done, my biggest issue with that machine, was that it takes so long to travel long distances across the property with it. It really cut down on the amount of time I had to actually get work done with it.

TRACTOR BACKHOE LIMITATIONS: tractor backhoe limitations - Google Search

Is less than 50 to 55 acres arable and reasonably flat?
(Need to know how much land needs most tractor hours.)

What is your plan for arable portion of your property?

Tomhanx · Feb 12, 2018

Thanks Jeff. I honestly never considered ebay. I haven't used it in years, and never even thought about it for a tractor, I'll have a look at those listings later. There's probably about 30 acres that I would call arable AND reasonably flat. (not completely flat, but no more than 10% grade probably), Everything else would be steeper. The steepest half of the property is where most of the woods are.

And I apologize for my ignorance. I grew up on this property, but we never had equipment growing up. Mom used to lease out portions of it for various things (used to be a corn field for a farmer down the road, and another area where he pasture'd some of his cows), when I was a kid, that guy would always come and do any needed work with his equipment. But, that farm closed down years ago, and mom let much of the property go without any kind of maintenance. I inherited it 2 yrs ago, and now that I've got the house in better shape, it's time to tackle the land. I AM a pretty handy guy, electrician by trade, and I know how to run a full size backhoe, and trackhoe...but mostly just trenching experience on them. I was so set on one of the sub compacts, because they advertise them like they can do all the things I want to do....maybe they can on flat land, idk.

I'll start reading more on here about some bigger models, (and check pricing and look at used listings), and I'm sure I'll have more questions later when I find something. Do you think the 1526 that the Massey dealer suggested is also too small?

No real plans yet, other than getting things cleared. There's a ton of multi flora rose and small crabapple trees on the section that is closest to flat. I know blueberries grow very well around here, I'd like to get some of those growing.

Tomhanx · Feb 12, 2018

newbury said:
With any decent tractor you are eventually going to want a barn, but many tractors have lived under tarps for years. On a larger tractor you might want a rear finish mower. But unless lawn mowing is going to be the prime use on your 120 acres (congratulations by the way) you shouldn't size your tractor for your smallest, easiest task.

$25K out the door is about what I've spent on my B7610 (23HP), my M4700 (50HP), my trailer and some implements.

So are you planning on building trails? A backhoe may run from $5K up, a used mini-ex under $15K. But as you write the tracked mini-ex doesn't move fast.

For getting through the woods pay attention to CLEARANCE, the SCUTs are close to the ground. My B7610 is close to the ground, but at about 8".

The one in your first picture looks closer to the sub compact size (too small), but to my inexperienced eyes, the 2nd one looks too big. I definitely have more research to do, ty.

jeff9366 · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
There's probably about 30 acres that I would call arable AND reasonably flat. (not completely flat, but no more than 10% grade probably)

Do you think the 1526 that the Massey dealer suggested is also too small?

There is about 30 acres I would call arable AND reasonably flat.

More "nitty gritty". I suggest you copy this into Post #1, otherwise respondents will recommend 5,000 - 6,000 pound bare tractors.

You need a tractor with at least 3,500 pounds bare tractor weight. Buy once, cry once, then drive it till it croaks.

I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs.

Massey Ferguson 1526

2011 - 2018 1500 Series
Model years
Compact Utility tractor

Manufacturer: Massey Ferguson
Original price (USD)
$15,968 (2017 )

Massey Ferguson 1526 Engine:
Iseki 1.5L 3-cyl diesel

Capacity:
Fuel: 7.1 gal [26.9 L]

3-Point Hitch:
Rear Type: I
Control: position control
Rear lift (at ends): 1322 lbs [599 kg]
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 992 lbs [449 kg]

Power Take-off (PTO):
Rear PTO: independent
Clutch: electro-hydraulic
Rear RPM: 540
Mid PTO: independent
Mid RPM: 2000

Dimensions
Wheelbase: 61.4 inches [155 cm]
Weight: 1873 lbs [849 kg]
Wheelbase: 61.4 inches [155 cm]
Length: 111 inches [281 cm]
Width: 49.2 inches [124 cm]
Height (ROPS): 95.5 inches [242 cm]
Ground clearance: 11 inches

Massey Ferguson 1526 attachments:
mowing deck
front-end loader

Massey Ferguson 1526 Power:
Engine (gross): 24.8 hp [18.5 kW]
PTO (claimed): 20.1 hp [15.0 kW]

Mechanical:
Chassis: 4x4 MFWD 4WD
Differential lock: mechanical rear
Steering: power
Brakes: wet disc
Cab: Two-post foldable ROPS.

Transmission:
Type: hydrostatic
Gears: infinite (3-range) forward and reverse

Hydraulics:
Type: open center
SCV flow: 5.5 gpm [20.8 lpm]
Total flow: 8.7 gpm [32.9 lpm]
Steering flow: 3.2 gpm [12.1 lpm]

RalphVa · Feb 12, 2018

For any woody situation, I would recommend staying away from any tractor with underbelly hydraulic cooling fans like the Kubota BX series. I've had brush remove lots of things on my tractors and even had a dipstick removed from a Gravely engine.

For what you're looking at, I like the Kubota B2301 or JD 2025R. I'm not familiar with other makes. Think one of the makes use Isuzu engines. The Isuzu on our diesel generator is the smoothest diesel I've ever heard aside from a VW TDI. Don't know anything about the tractors made with them.

Ralph

jeff9366 · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
I rented a mini trackhoe when I first moved here a couple years ago. I kept it for a week, and got a bunch of stuff done, my biggest issue with that machine, was that it takes so long to travel long distances across the property. It really cut down on the amount of time I had to actually get work done with it.

Hydrostatic transmissions (HST) are selected by 85%+ of new compact tractor buyers.

Most light tractors have two range (2) HST transmissions.

Over 3,000 pound tractors have three range (3) HST transmissions.

With your large property, mostly sloped, you will find a two-range (2) HST equipped tractor takes a long time to travel across the property.

teg · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
...Do you think the 1526 that the Massey dealer suggested is also too small?...

I think that Massey would be on the smallest size that I would get. What do they have in the 25-30 hp range? If you have not sat on a Kubota L2501, I would recommend that as a great first tractor, not too big and heavy. You can still move it with a 1/2 ton pickup truck. Anything larger and you'll need 3/4 ton to a one ton truck to move it. Big is not always better, in the woods, small and nimble wins in my books.

newbury · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
<snip>
And I apologize for my ignorance. I grew up on this property, but we never had equipment growing up. Mom used to lease out portions of it for various things (used to be a corn field for a farmer down the road, and another area where he pasture'd some of his cows), when I was a kid, that guy would always come and do any needed work with his equipment. But, that farm closed down years ago, and mom let much of the property go without any kind of maintenance. I inherited it 2 yrs ago, and now that I've got the house in better shape, it's time to tackle the land. I AM a pretty handy guy, electrician by trade, and I know how to run a full size backhoe, and trackhoe...but mostly just trenching experience on them. I was so set on one of the sub compacts, because they advertise them like they can do all the things I want to do....maybe they can on flat land, idk.

I'll start reading more on here about some bigger models, (and check pricing and look at used listings), and I'm sure I'll have more questions later when I find something. Do you think the 1526 that the Massey dealer suggested is also too small?

No real plans yet, other than getting things cleared. There's a ton of multi flora rose and small crabapple trees on the section that is closest to flat. I know blueberries grow very well around here, I'd like to get some of those growing.

Tractor size and "class" (Sub-compact, compact, utility, ag) are subjective terms. Per Kubota's prior products website a subcompact is a BX of 18 to 25 HP, a compact is a B or L from 17.5 to 62 HP, an economy utility is an MX from 49.3 to 61.4, a Utility is from 57.9 to 133 HP.

The big difference, to me, on the SC's are the small front wheels. The Massey 1526 looks small, like my B7610.

But with MOST tasks my B7610 will do everything my M4700 will do if I have the appropriately sized equipment. It just takes more time.

I can bushhog w/ a 48" bushhog on the B7610, or a 72" on the M4700
I can move dirt, stones etc. with either, just a lot smaller bites with the B7610.
I can lift firewood w/ the 3pt on the B7610, but my M4700 will lift 3 times more weight.
I CAN'T lift a 10' 14" oak log with my B7610, I can with the M4700.

For getting things cleared you might get by with a heavy duty bushhog, but they need more HP to pull. The Massey might be a bit too small.

jeff9366 · Feb 12, 2018

Tomhanx said:
No real plans, other than getting things cleared. There's a ton of multi flora rose and small crabapple trees on the section that is closest to flat. I know blueberries grow very well around here, I'd like to get some of those growing.