Comparison in need of a smaller tractor

[tamersinger]

so back in march my wife and I bought a used b2650 with loader for use on our 2.6 acre lot. it has come in handy many times with moving logs and rocks around but it is just plain to large/heavy for our yard. I am looking at downsizing to a scut and offloading the b2650 soon.

so far I have looked at
bx2380/1880 and lean more towards the 1880.
ls mt122 with loader (don't know much about these)
massey gc1723e
1025r (most expensive by far 4k more than any of the others)

ls dealer is the furthest away and kubota is the closest.

my only concern with the kubota is the hst fan. not sure if any of the others have the same flaw.

main use will be spreading mulch and moving appropriate sized logs to the fire pit. I have a bush hog I use on an old golf cart trail to the lake about once a month or so in the summer.

I know the limitations of the scuts vs cuts argument and have decided this is the best route for my situation.

 

[Roadworthy]

If the tractor is satisfactory in all other respects you may wish to consider a lawn mower for the yard. I know it's one more piece of equipment but you will probably lose money selling your tractor and buying a smaller one. Just consider it food for thought.

 

[tamersinger]

If the tractor is satisfactory in all other respects you may wish to consider a lawn mower for the yard. I know it's one more piece of equipment but you will probably lose money selling your tractor and buying a smaller one. Just consider it food for thought.

we have a smaller deere we mow with. I have mostly yard and woods. the small jobs I have left for tractor work require running through the yard and it is just devastating my grass and ground.

the only thing in the future is I may get a mower deck or rear finish mower for whatever replaces the b. we were going to do that eventually anyways

 

[chim]

I'd get a rear mower for the B and call it good. I don't understand why going through the yard is devastating it. Are you running R1's in 4WD with the loader mounted?

 

[ruffdog]

Maybe just put the loader on when needed? It is surprising how maneuverable and light they feel when the FEL is off.

 

[tamersinger]

Maybe just put the loader on when needed? It is surprising how maneuverable and light they feel when the FEL is off.

The b is just to heavy and large for our property I really got overzealous when I was given free rein.

 

[dfkrug]

I know the limitations of the scuts vs cuts argument and have decided this is the best route for my situation.

Tractors are kinda like motorcycles: the first one you buy is rarely the right size for long term.

Most folks don't intentionally buy their first tractor of the wrong size and options, but I suspect most of us do. Most on TBN seem to think that bigger is always better. I don't. Users are different, as well as job types and terrain.

Even BXs are very expensive, tho it is hard to go wrong with a Kubota. Check and see if you can rent one first. No substitute for personal experience.

 

[tamersinger]

Tractors are kinda like motorcycles: the first one you buy is rarely the right size for long term.

Most folks don't intentionally buy their first tractor of the wrong size and options, but I suspect most of us do. Most on TBN seem to think that bigger is always better. I don't. Users are different, as well as job types and terrain.

Even BXs are very expensive, tho it is hard to go wrong with a Kubota. Check and see if you can rent one first. No substitute for personal experience.

We have demos a bx2380 before we got the b and thought it was small but now that there has been yard destruction I think the smaller tractor will serve me better especially that I'm not doing side work now.

 

[tamersinger]

I don't need to be talked out of selling my tractor I need experiences from those that have owned the ones listed above....I have been told ls tractors are not as fit and finished as others.

 

[kenmbz]

I see you already have a lawn tractor.
The SCUTs are only a bit lighter and smaller wheels.
I think the wheel type is maybe the issue, might be as simple as switching to more lawn friendly tires.
Agree with DFKrug - go try some out. I love my SCUT and have 6 acres, I just learned it takes more time with a smaller tractor, but mine fits in all the places I need it.
Sometimes I just use the lawn tractor to pull an aerator or my small dump cart too!

 

[tamersinger]

maximizing tractor time sounds like a good idea.

looks like the ls may be out because it has a smaller than standard ssqa.

waiting for prices from 2 kubota dealers a deere dealer and 2 massey dealers

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

The choices you are looking at would suit your needs for sure. I am prejudiced towards the LS, a lot of "bang for the buck". When I was shopping for a SCUT, my choices were narrowed down to either Kioti or Massey..... then I stumbled upon LS! The LS was $1000 less than the Massey, $1200 less than the Kioti. This was almost 4 years ago, so prices have been coming closer together.

There are differences between the different manufacturers, so I would suggest going to sit on them, see how they "feel" to you. The LS fit me better than the others. I had my MT125 TLB for 2 yrs, 220 hours of hard work, not one problem.

Hope you can find a suitable machine, keep us posted!

 

[metalbender]

Change out the tires on the 2650 and call it good.

 

[MoMower]

I’m in the Massey fan club. I have a 19’ 1723e @225 hours. That replaced a 14’ 1710 @575 hours. Both TLB both MMM. The decks cut very well and the new machine has the larger 60”. Sell your JD and the B, get 1 machine to do it all. That was my plan and it has worked well, 6 acre “farmette”. No issue with either.

I use the machine both on our property and commercially.

 

[tamersinger]

I’m in the Massey fan club. I have a 19’ 1723e @225 hours. That replaced a 14’ 1710 @575 hours. Both TLB both MMM. The decks cut very well and the new machine has the larger 60”. Sell your JD and the B, get 1 machine to do it all. That was my plan and it has worked well, 6 acre “farmette”. No issue with either.

I use the machine both on our property and commercially.

is there a way to add backhoe to the 1723e after the fact?

 

[rademamj1]

Yard Damage is not an indicator your tractor is too large but rather your R4 tires are just too aggressive. Even a BX2380 with R4 will tear up a lawn.

Change all your of your B2650 tires to turf and your yard damage problem will be solved. It's also alot cheaper than taking a potential loss at trade in time. Turf is also best for snow traction.

 

[tamersinger]

Yard Damage is not an indicator your tractor is too large but rather your R4 tires are just too aggressive. Even a BX2380 with R4 will tear up a lawn.

Change all your of your B2650 tires to turf and your yard damage problem will be solved. It's also alot cheaper than taking a potential loss st trade in time. Turf is also best for snow traction.

it is adding ruts not just torn up grass

 

[Ortimber]

I've owned a B3300 and a BX2370. I can say for certain that the larger B tractor was not any harder on the lawn than the BX. If your tires are loaded, I'd suggest dumping the fluid out and see if that helps your rut problem.

 

[rademamj1]

I own a 2800 lb Kioti CK4010SEHC, which is a larger tractor than your B2650. My factory supplied R4 tires were rutting, tearing up my turf and were just overly aggressive. I really avoided using it on quality grassy lawn areas, until I switched all four wheels to turf tires. Cost me $980. Now there are no ruts and no marks and no damage, as long as there is no rain. And I still do everything I did before with the R4 tires, with the understanding that my sidewalls are the weak points of these tires, so avoid running over small stumps.

 

[chim]

About half of our property is in a flood plain. The small creek comes out of its banks anywhere between 0 and a half dozen or so times per year. A couple days after the water recedes I can get on it without ripping things up or making ruts. This is with loaded R4's on 3 different tractors since 2002.