The perfect tractor.

[Iron Brew]

I've got a Kubota tractor, and a Kubota R loader/backhoe (mentioned earlier by somebody). I have no idea how many times I've wished that loader had a 3pt hitch, extra hydraulics and PTO on the back of it. I'd probably get rid of the tractor. The loader is just a far more versatile machine, with (due to articulation) better suspension. All valving is mechanical, not electrical

Looking at the powertrac (interesting machine, new to me), my loader, my tractor and a Versatile bi directional (no, I don't have one), I think there is a mix that would be pretty much fantastic.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've been through Belfast a number of times........and I'm commin to git ya!

Wait until summer and drop a line off the causeway during high tide. After catching a bunch of mackerel, you'll feel a bit more amiable.

 

[aczlan]

I'd need four of those 2-speed motors. Could get expensive, quick.

That is where one would be better off using a solid axle and two two speed motors rather than four.

I wonder if there is an electric version of a tractor that makes sense. 4 high torque wheel motors and just a ton of battery. I would think there would be a huge market for something like this if you could hold the price point under 20K. The way I see it is that the assuming you got a tesla sized battery you could probably get a minimum of 5 hours of work at least. Wether you use a hyrdualic pump to work implements or make your own electric would be something to explore. but yeah, I would consider an electric tractor for sure.

At very least, it might be worth looking into using a generator and electric wheel motors for driving it rather than hydraulics. A lot of the new man lifts are going that way because then they can use a battery or a motor and the electric side is more efficient than hydraulics would be which is important when you're running on a battery.

Aaron Z

 

[fried1765]

Wait until summer and drop a line off the causeway during high tide. After catching a bunch of mackerel, you'll feel a bit more amiable.

I usually do go through Belfast every summer, on my way to Hamilton Marine in Searsport, and to visit my college roommate in Deere Isle.

 

[MossRoad]

That is where one would be better off using a solid axle and two two speed motors rather than four.
...Aaron Z

At that point, we might as well use the hydrostatic transmission, range selector, and driveshafts to two differentials. What's the point of simplifying the engine/tram pump/4 wheel motor system only to complicate it with engine/tram pump, 2 two-speed drive pumps, two differentials?

I think its why we don't see low-speed/hi-torque hydraulically driven tractors, and why we do see a split in the family tree, with one branch being traditional tractors and the other being front end wheel loader type machines. There's no happy medium between the two.

 

[Agvg]

If it shall be easy to repair and long lived you must find a proper industrial engine that are mass-produced, the Japanese has a habit of constant change things, doesn't make them in big numbers, if you are going cheap on engine a VW diesel must be better, made in the tens of millions scale, no Japanese diesels compete with that.

 

[fried1765]

If it shall be easy to repair and long lived you must find a proper industrial engine that are mass-produced, the Japanese has a habit of constant change things, doesn't make them in big numbers, if you are going cheap on engine a VW diesel must be better, made in the tens of millions scale, no Japanese diesels compete with that.

Good point !!

 

[Agvg]

Sell it without engine and let people put in a old 1.9 VW diesel with mechanical injection, suppose such a hole is covered in the law.

 

[Renze]

Who will buy a tractor built to last 100 years, if even mining machinery is built to last just 35.000 engine hours ?

Nobody can afford a tractor built to last 100 years, for hobby. Hobby tractors need to be light duty and affordable.

 

[motownbrowne]

Personally, I just don't see people lining up to buy a tractor like this. First off, the majority of the under-100 HP sales seem to be sub suburban financially secure people on 3-30 acres who want to blow snow, scrape their driveway, and mow their horse pasture. Most of them think of John Deere and Kubota when they think of tractors and I don't think anything will really change that.

Honestly though, I think you already know that, and you're trying to sell a second generation of solidly built American tractor that will last 100 years, which isn't what Kubota or Deere are trying to do. The problems I see are that one: Americans aren't built the way they used to be. Not very much thinking outside the box. Farmers still have to improvise and fix things themselves of course, but it's not like it used to be. No one's overhauling motors under shade trees anymore. At least not very many folks. And honestly, those guys who want something they can work on themselves can still go buy a 40 year old JD, Ford, or International and have something reliable they can fix themselves for the next 40 years.

And that leads me to the next problem. It used to be that one man and one tractor could make a living on 100 acres, which is the size farm you mentioned earlier. Well, that's not really the case anymore. You can thank Earl Butz and the "green revolution", but there isn't a place for a 35-60 HP tractor or a 100 acre farm anymore. Yeah, there's vegetable farms and other specialty crops that can absolutely make a good profit on well less than 100 acres, but that stuff all requires specialty equipment. There's already small manufacturers catering to that market, like the Tuff-built tractor company. Yeah, they have use for a tractor like you're talking about, but the vast majority of those producers are just gonna go buy an international 504, JD 3020 or something similar.

Just my .02.