Which brands have more metal, and which brands have more plastic?

[ptsg]

I have a Branson tractor, ROPS model, with metal hood and fenders with just a little bit of plastic cowling around the instrument cluster. This tractor is used to till the orchards and, as much as I hate that it happens, having branches slamming and sliding over the hood and fenders just happens.

So far, all the damage I got was a couple deep scratches on the clear coating, which I'm not very happy as I like to take care of my stuff. I've actually broken branches up to 3" thick with the fenders, again, not proud of but it happens. No way the plastic stuff would be handle any of that without cracking all over the place. The metal on the Branson is actually quite thick and can handle some serious abuse. It's not like the stuff they make the vehicles today.

Now, I do know that the cab version on the Branson tractors have plastic fenders, but the way they sit, you'll damage something in the cab before it gets even close to the fenders, so doesn't really matter much on the situation.

 

[SmallChange]

The Kubota had the sides and front around the engine as one piece. Once this cracked, story over, it eventually fell apart.

Yeah, my old Kubota didn't have much plastic, but the grill in front of the engine was one piece plastic (the side panels were steel). Mine wasn't even cracked, it was just warped. Plastic gets kind of tired or something, and gradually changes shape under stress, so this grill wouldn't hold itself in place. For years I had it bungeed to the side panels. It was just... junky.

It's always nice to see somebody restore a tractor that's 50, 100, or so years old. They're beautiful, whether they still work hard or sit on display someplace. Can we imagine any of the big plastic parts today making it to 2121?

 

[GeneV]

My MF GC1710: metal hood, metal floor, fiberglass fenders. The hood has dents, but Miss Fergie wears em with pride.

 

[Henro]

Both my Kubota Tractors have little or no plastic where it matters.

The only plastic I like is in my wallet, and only then before I pay off the balance each month so I never pay interest charges for the convenience of using the plastic cards...

If I were to buy a new tractor, plastic on the hood, fenders and other places would send me to another brand...

 

[dodge man]

I realized this thread is evolving into one of those classic debates, like aluminum or cast rear end, the best chainsaw, the best oil, the diesel additive etc. People always preach for what the own or use.

 

[CADplans]

My JD 4105 is mostly plastic, and I never gave that a thought when I purchased the tractor,,

My other two tractors that I also use a lot came from the "All Steel" era,,

I gotta say,, after owning the 4105 for over five years, (and the all steel ones for longer),,
my belief is that I prefer the plastic tractor.

The rear fenders amaze me, as to how strong those plastic fenders are,,
The same with the hood.

We were cutting branches over my driveway so that a dump truck could "tailgate" gravel.
A friend dropped a 4" branch with a pole saw, it swung right over onto the hood of the 4105.

The result was no dent, and only a minor scratch.

If the IH 584 or the JD 650 had been hit,, there would have been a BIG dent to contend with,,

 

[GeneV]

Both my Kubota Tractors have little or no plastic where it matters.

The only plastic I like is in my wallet, and only then before I pay off the balance each month so I never pay interest charges for the convenience of using the plastic cards...

If I were to buy a new tractor, plastic on the hood, fenders and other places would send me to another brand...

What brand is that tho?

 

[paulfun9]

They’re not “plastic” hoods, they’re “composite” hoods, OK fellas? Kinda like when “used” cars became known as “previously owned” cars.

All these tractor owners being straight shooters and calling things out for what they really are doesn’t make for good advertising LOL.

Just a different word to describe which type of plastic it actually is.

 

[ruffdog]

Composite would be more accurate as it contains different resins and fibers.

 

[CADplans]

Composite would be more accurate as it contains different resins and fibers.

I worked for a company that used thousands of aluminum handles,, the tooling wore out for molding the handle, I was given the job of replacing the mold, and other tools used to make the $25 handles.
The mold alone was going to cost over $20,000.

Well, I talked my manager into letting me take a shot at making a plastic handle,, he said OK,,
I spent right at $6,500 for the mold to make the handle, the finished plastic handle cost the company $1.96 each.

We got the first sample of the handles in, and I took them to the Design department to show the change,,
They rejected it,, it seemed that the handles were used on electrical cases,,

Frequently, the electricians that were installing the panels used the handle as a step, the design guy said the plastic handle would never be strong enough.

I took him down to the shop, and put an aluminum handle in a big vise, and I simply dropped a 2 pound ball peen hammer on the aluminum handle, and the handle broke.

Then, I put one of the plastic handles in the vise, and handed the design guy a 5 pound hammer. (He was a pretty big guy)
I said, try to break it,,
He wailed away with that 5 pound hammer, at least five swings,, the plastic handle just bounced the hammer back up.

He gave up, and agreed that the handle would be OK to use,,
First year savings was over $60,000 .

I knew the handle could not be broken,, hardly ever,
I had specified virgin nylon, with a very high percentage of glass fill.

Those handles will still be usable in 300 years,, that glass filled material does not degrade.

That was not the end of the story,,
Purchasing called me about a month later,, and asked when I was going to have the aluminum mold replaced.
I explained we had changed to the plastic handle,,

The Purchasing guy then told me that at least four other plants were using handles from that mold.
I got all of the other locations to switch to the plastic handle,, it was a drop-in replacement.

It turned out the first year savings was over $250,000.

Plastic can out perform metal, in the right applications,