Help me decide - Massey vs Kubota - 40-50hp

[Mich4x4]

I don't believe I have a good kioti dealer near me.. Really, i'm limited to Kubota, New Holland, Deere, Mahindra, and Massey. No LS, Branson, Yanmar anywhere that I know of.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have to shake my head when people make comparisons of what they get vs price by what they can see. Yeah, a Snap on wrench looks just like the one at HF. I also have to confess, that we did the same in thing the 70s, bought the Fancier, more options and offerings tractor and in hindsight made a mistake.

 

[jeff9366]

I think I've convinced myself to get the hydro tractor regardless of what model I get. I'm also getting the loader and bucket, R4 tires and a remote out back. That's it.

Unless you consider ballast for the rear of the tractor you will pick up less than potential with the Loader on any tractor.

Ballast can be 'loaded' rear tires or an appropriate weight implement mounted on the Three Point Hitch or a combination of the two. I have air in my L3560 tires, I use an appropriate weight implement as counterbalance to Loader weight. Most usually a 850 pound TR3 Rake to counterbalance my LA805 Loader with 1,750 pounds lift capacity. The rake protrudes to the rear a moderate distance, leverage increasing its effect as counterbalance.

There are several YouTube videos showing how tractor owners self-load rear tractor tires.

LINKS: Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks

6 Reasons to Liquid Ballast your Kubotaç—´ Tires | OrangeTractorTalks

MORE: Kubota MX ballast site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search





When considering a tractor purchase, bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second and (narrowly) rear wheel ballast third.

(Usually, but sometimes not.)

 

[TheMadOne]

As someone who has the L3901's wimpier twin, I strongly recommend the MX. I thought I bought more tractor than I'd need. I was wrong. The L3301/L3901 are light for their horsepower. Even with rimguard all the way around, loader, and hundreds of pounds of rear ballast I find myself running out of traction time and time again. If you were doing just light loader work, with some bush-hogging/basic property maintenance I'd heartily recommend the L3901. But if you intend to do any form of ground engagement task or logging large trees, the MX is in another class entirely.

Have you looked at the Grand L60s? The L3560 is almost the same weight as the MX in a more refined package. Priced squarely between the MX4800 and L3901. The L4060 is all but identical in price and weight to the MX, but you get that lovely HST+ and the rest of the Grand L goodies, as well as a bit of a boost on the 3pt lift. You do get a weaker loader with the Grand Ls.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have mentioned it before. I suggested an Institutional customer of mine buy a Kubota L series. They did and think it's weak and well, basically a piece of junk. Not in quality, but performance.

 

[TheMadOne]

I think the standard L line is great for what it is. What it's not is an actual farm tractor. Bush hogging, light loader work, grapple, finish mowing, driveway maintenance, those are the things it is best suited to.

If I had more acres I would want more tractor. If I planted more than a few hundred sq. ft. of food plot I'd want more tractor. I do want more tractor for logging.

More tractor doesn't mean more HP, necessarily. I think the engine in the standard L line is great, but they're not built heavy enough to make full use of it. Which is understandable, they're the economy line. The smaller Grand L60s are a much better balance of weight to HP than either the standard Ls or the MX line, IMO. When you get to the top of the Grand L line the M6060/7060 start to look better for actual field use, though the upcoming M4 range may move them squarely into economy territory as well.

 

[sixdogs]

I have a 40HP, 4 cyl L4300 with ag tires and it's an actual farm tractor. I've raked hay with it, pulled a 13' spike harrow, 8' cultivators, pulled hay wagons, pulled a seeder, an 8 ft Brillion cultimulcher, used a 6' rototiller and done everything I have done in years past with an 8N or Int'l H. I never overworked it. Actually, the Ford and H were comparatively light duty and the L4300 will far exceed them in work with substantially less fuel usage. Any farmer of the 1960's or earlier would have marveled at it's efficiency and ability to get work done.

If this were the 1960's again and the choices were the same on a typical 60 acre farm of the day, the L4300 would be my choice for everything but tillage. Put some weight on it, however, and it would pull a two bottom plow better than an 8N and the same or better than an Int'l H. I've used all three.

Some of these smaller tractors like this, however, struggle with industrial work because they don't weigh enough or have the wrong tires for the task. I wouldn't want to load gravel all day every day with an L. It's not made for that. Pumping water all day or running a generator all day is fine, however. Twitching big logs more than occasionally is too much while pilling a heavy hay wagon on flattish ground is fine. It's not going to efficiently run other than a smaller baler but neither did other tractors of the day. That why some old balers had engines. Anyway, that's my take on it.

 

[AndyMA]

I have an MX5200 and love it. I traded an New Holland TN75D for it. I need none of the “Deluxe” features of the New Holland or Kubota Grand L series. I went with the 5200 verses the 4800 for the telescoping 3pt arms.

Andy

 

[MaineGuy1]

I think you're discounting Mahindra too much. I looked at the Massey's when I was shopping for a tractor and though the Massey was nice, it was overpriced for what you get in comparison to the Mahindra. Also, both the Kubota and the Massey have DPF which has been problematic for a lot of people. Mahindra doesn't use DPF to meet tier 4 requirements. Mahindra also beats Kubota and Massey and many others on warranty with a 2 year full warranty on everything and a 7 year powertrain warranty included.

Not all Masseys have DPF, mine does not and even some of the more HP Masseys do not.

 

[jeff9366]

Beginning about thirty-three horsepower most tractors have Diesel Particulate Filters.

If there is no DPF there is an alternative incendiary technology to burn off very fine particulates (soot).
Sometimes exhaust heat is elevated all the time, sometimes periodically.

Diesel particulates must be burned. THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH.​