Comparison LS: Best and Worst

[RedNeckGeek]

Looking to buy a new hydro 4x4 tractor in the 50-60 HP range. LS seems to have the best pricing by a long shot, but my experience is you don't get something for nothing. LS owners out there, what are your best and worst experiences with your tractors?

 

[searcyfarms]

I wouldnt be afraid of an LS = if they were junk, this place would be full of horror stories and so would the internet - CNH and CIH would also not allow LS to build junk for them either

 

[terryknight]

when i was shopping year ago the loaders of the LS were rated much higher at the pins, but they were very short and stubby, ie low lift heights. that helps inflate the capacities. i don't know if they have changed more recently, but it is something the be aware of

 

[searcyfarms]

oh and one more thing, the largest HST currently available that i am aware of whether its LS/Mahindra/Kubota/Case IH/NH etc..... they are all around 45ish PTO hp.

this has been discussed in length on here - unless something has changed its hard to find a 50 PTO hp HST tractor yet - im sure someone is working on it - you will have to go to a shuttle or gear trannie to get into more ponies at the PTO

if you need PTO hp just thot i would throw that out there

 

[dusty3030]

oh and one more thing, the largest HST currently available that i am aware of whether its LS/Mahindra/Kubota/Case IH/NH etc..... they are all around 45ish PTO hp.

this has been discussed in length on here - unless something has changed its hard to find a 50 PTO hp HST tractor yet - im sure someone is working on it - you will have to go to a shuttle or gear trannie to get into more ponies at the PTO

if you need PTO hp just thot i would throw that out there

MX 5800 is hydro - 58hp engine / 50hp PTO

https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/economy-utility/mx

 

[searcyfarms]

yup and that is about all you will squeeze out of one currently, i think when i dug deep there were a couple like 52ish cant remeber the manufacturer but i was looking for 60 i dont think i ever found one 55

 

[Diggin It]

I think the 'worst' of what I've read here involves engine failures on certain 30 series models. But that seems to happen only in very cold regions and was said to be due to an oil recommendation issue. LS was replacing the engines under warranty though.

 

[rgr33]

The best thing about my g3033 is that it has been virtually problem free since I bought it in 2012.

The worst thing is everybody thinks it is a Ford.
Then again, maybe it’s the crappy parking brake set up.

 

[mred2]

I really like my LS XR4150. No problems at all. Good tractor for the money.

 

[hks003]

The worst part of my G3038 is hooking up the 3 pt hitch without telescoping arms. But, I mostly loader work is use the draw bar, so it's not very frequent, and I'm looking at getting a pat's quick hitch to help alleviate the pain.

 

[BRMyers]

MX 5800 is hydro - 58hp engine / 50hp PTO

https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/economy-utility/mx

The Grand L6060 has 53HP PTO. I think that is the biggest one in the Kubota line, but I could be incorrect (wouldn't be the first time I was wrong).

 

[searcyfarms]

yea i think there are a couple out there hovering between 50 and 55 when i last looked - it seems when u get over 55 pto hp you are getting into the shuttle or powershift type units

 

[arlen4720]

yea i think there are a couple out there hovering between 50 and 55 when i last looked - it seems when u get over 55 pto hp you are getting into the shuttle or powershift type units

John Deere has the 4066r which is 66 hp, and before that the 4720 (also a 66hp hydro).

 

[Tractorable]

And Yanmar has the YT359 with 52 PTO hp using its “ integrated hydro-mechanical transmission” (iHMT).

 

[searcyfarms]

John Deere has the 4066r which is 66 hp, and before that the 4720 (also a 66hp hydro).

those deere are 51.9hp with a hydro at the pto

keep digging there were none over 55 i dont think i remember anything over 52, but that has been a year ago when i was helping my buddy look for one, he gave up and is still pondering what to do - he sold his mid sized tractor and is getting by with his 2-105 and his dads D17 for now

 

[tradosaurus]

Looking to buy a new hydro 4x4 tractor in the 50-60 HP range. LS seems to have the best pricing by a long shot, but my experience is you don't get something for nothing. LS owners out there, what are your best and worst experiences with your tractors?

If you haven't yet I would test drive the tractor you are looking to buy. Also make sure you have good dealer support and that parts won't be an issue.

 

[arlen4720]

those deere are 51.9hp with a hydro at the pto

keep digging there were none over 55 i dont think i remember anything over 52, but that has been a year ago when i was helping my buddy look for one, he gave up and is still pondering what to do - he sold his mid sized tractor and is getting by with his 2-105 and his dads D17 for now

The 4720 tested at 59 PTO hp at the Nebraska Test Labs in 2009. Take a look at their website. They evaluate many tractors there, and the test reports have allot of valuable information.

 

[searcyfarms]

From the OP = " Looking to buy a new hydro 4x4 tractor in the 50-60 HP range. "

and I was looking at new when i looked a year ago, the 4720 is no longer available

it would take a 70HP tractor to get to 60HP using a modest 15% reduction in power from a HST - I believe that is the normal calculation used in general. My friend was trying to replace a 65 + PTO hp tractor with a new 65 +PTO hp tractor in a hydro for his wife to use for mowing w/cab - he didnt want to reduce power or weight from what he had and its tough to find that w/out a ballast or loaded tires/wheel weights etc..... he wanted to leave the loader on the tractor also just remove the bucket -

 

[arlen4720]

From the OP = " Looking to buy a new hydro 4x4 tractor in the 50-60 HP range. "

and I was looking at new when i looked a year ago, the 4720 is no longer available

it would take a 70HP tractor to get to 60HP using a modest 15% reduction in power from a HST - I believe that is the normal calculation used in general. My friend was trying to replace a 65 + PTO hp tractor with a new 65 +PTO hp tractor in a hydro for his wife to use for mowing w/cab - he didnt want to reduce power or weight from what he had and its tough to find that w/out a ballast or loaded tires/wheel weights etc..... he wanted to leave the loader on the tractor also just remove the bucket -

I think the new 4066r would test just as high as the 4720, it’s just that the Nebraska hasn’t tested that model as of yet.
You can see from other tractors tested that JD tends to rate their engines conservatively, so they consistently have high PTO hp in the tests. The 66 hp of the 4066r should land the OP in the upper end of the 50-60 hp range.

 

[searcyfarms]

He has decided to wait until he can get something in a bigger frame/heavier unit than a 4 series deere with HST, I would imagine whichever manufacturer does it others will follow suit.

I personally wouldnt have to have an HST since a powershift w/shuttle is plenty adequate for mowing and general work and much better for any tillage work, ( which he will do some for food plots and garden ) it would not be quite as handy for loader work but his loader work is not regimented its just occasional as needed -