Buying Advice Kubota vs Branson

[gravelman]

I have a Kubota 2650 cab, hst....have used it like a Cat D-8..great machine, loud in the cab tho. I was thinking of trying something different, same size tho... what do folks think about Branson..they look real good. I notice tho no one has extendable lift arm links on the 3 pt hitch except Kubota...that is a big help for an old guy

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well this will likely turn into a brand vs. brand drama, which I plan on staying out of.

I will only point out to gravelman that the 25 series Branson does come with extendable lift arms and adjustable lift arms on both sides of the 3 pt.

I have had mine for 3 years now. Still very happy with it. I have not in the past, nor will I in the future use mine as a bulldozer though. I don't consider mine "loud", but I'm almost never in High range on the HST.

 

[paulfun9]

Looked at a Branson recently and it was a well built machine and ran very well. It wasnt a cab model so I can’t coment on noise inside the cab but it wasn’t any louder than any other tractor I have tested.
As far as extendable links I have seen them on just about every brand tractor. My Kioti came with them as well so did every LS, TYM, NH and Mahindra I looked at when I last purchased.

 

[LouNY]

I have a Branson 8050 which at the time was there largest tractor and as far as I know still is in this country, it doesn't have the quietest cab but it's not bad.
The main issue that I have is not one that many here would have but I miss having an on the go shift such as the IH TA's or Oliver hydra-power or a partial power shift.
Of course I would really like a full power shift to go with my power shuttle but that would be a major cost increaser.
It doesn't have the extendable links but does have the Euro style quick hitch hooks, and the rear fender lift control.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a Century, which is the same thing as Branson. For awhile they where making both brands and having dealers compete against each other. That was crazy, so they cut out the Century line and now it's all Branson. If I can find parts for it, they are listed as Branson. When buying, I felt that the $4,000 more for the Kubota that had same HP and drive train was too much. While my tractor has been a beast and done more then I expected it to, it has also been very difficult to keep it running with the problems of dealers constantly closing. I've pretty much replaced everything that broke with after market parts, including tearing out all of the wiring and redoing it myself with just the basics. For the last couple of years before doing that, I never knew if I could get it started, and how long it would take me to find the newest issue. I feel that if I had gone with Kubota, I would have had more support from a dealer, and I would be able to find parts a lot easier. I wish I could say that they have gotten better, but it just seems like they are still opening new dealerships that last a few years and then disappear, and the online sources for parts are harder and harder to find. My guess is that I will have something break that I cannot find a part for, something simple like a starter, and that will be the end of my tractor.

 

[Cruiserdog]

We致e got a McCormick X1 35, (same as Branson 3520) traded in a 2010 Kubota L3800 for it. TheMcCormick/Branson is a much heavier tractor. It definitely has adjustable arms on the 3 point and a 12x12 trans. Handles my 6 ft Maschio Giraffa flail, and 7 finish mower much easier than the L3800 with no tendency to 斗ift a wheel on uneven ground (which happened way too often on the L3800, even with a 5 rotary cutter,

 

[paulfun9]

I have a Branson 8050 which at the time was there largest tractor and as far as I know still is in this country, it doesn't have the quietest cab but it's not bad.
The main issue that I have is not one that many here would have but I miss having an on the go shift such as the IH TA's or Oliver hydra-power or a partial power shift.
Of course I would really like a full power shift to go with my power shuttle but that would be a major cost increaser.
It doesn't have the extendable links but does have the Euro style quick hitch hooks, and the rear fender lift control.

The one. Test ran just recently had a 12x12 synchronized shuttle. The ranges were not synchronized but I found it was very smooth shifting gears.

 

[paulfun9]

I have a Century, which is the same thing as Branson. For awhile they where making both brands and having dealers compete against each other. That was crazy, so they cut out the Century line and now it's all Branson. If I can find parts for it, they are listed as Branson. When buying, I felt that the $4,000 more for the Kubota that had same HP and drive train was too much. While my tractor has been a beast and done more then I expected it to, it has also been very difficult to keep it running with the problems of dealers constantly closing. I've pretty much replaced everything that broke with after market parts, including tearing out all of the wiring and redoing it myself with just the basics. For the last couple of years before doing that, I never knew if I could get it started, and how long it would take me to find the newest issue. I feel that if I had gone with Kubota, I would have had more support from a dealer, and I would be able to find parts a lot easier. I wish I could say that they have gotten better, but it just seems like they are still opening new dealerships that last a few years and then disappear, and the online sources for parts are harder and harder to find. My guess is that I will have something break that I cannot find a part for, something simple like a starter, and that will be the end of my tractor.

I had to rewire almost every JD I ever owned never seemed to keep a kubota around long enough to need to replace more than a connector or two but surmise that a few more years would have had me doing the same. With all the wires on the tractors offered today I personally consider the more simple approach to thier build a plus. At least you can rewire it in an afternoon.

 

[gravelman]

I had to rewire almost every JD I ever owned never seemed to keep a kubota around long enough to need to replace more than a connector or two but surmise that a few more years would have had me doing the same. With all the wires on the tractors offered today I personally consider the more simple approach to thier build a plus. At least you can rewire it in an afternoon.

Ok on all those messages..i guess I was thinking the small tractors that do not or need extendable links...thanks for all that..i am going to look at Branson..i think it is cheaper too

 

[52wej]

I am another Century owner, the same model tractor as Eddie. I have had mine since 2004 and have used it with few problems. It is a tough heavy tractor. I have the Humploec loader with the euro style quick hitch on mine and love it. It is a hard working unit.

The only major components I have replaced are the fuel pump with a Napa one and the glow plugs. I have been able to find dealers to order my parts from and have used OEM filters, especially on the hydraulic system. But the dealer network is sketchy at best in this part of the country. It is definitely worth your time to investigate them though. W.Jones