hobby farm tractor

[SFW]

We are looking to replace an older Kubota 3710 for our 40 acre hobby farm (photo below) with another used tractor. We use the bucket a lot, cultivator and mowing deck attachments (for pastures and gardens), but hooking them up to the PTO is a real pain. Looking for advice on replacement tractor. The mid-mounted permanent mower decks sound great but then you sacrifice ground clearance. I don't pretend to be mechanically gifted and appreciate any advice.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d take a hard look at Massey Ferguson. Sold by real AG dealers. Nice, heavy duty tractors with the farmer in mind.

 

[JeepHead]

When I think of a large purchase like a tractor, I want something that will last the long haul. I bought my tractor with the intentions on having it until I die. So with that said, I wanted something that I knew parts support would still be there decades down the road. I did a LOT of research. I spoke to tractor mechanics, I spoke to service centers, and I spoke to owners. What I learned from the service centers and mechanics at independent shops was that brands like TYM, Kioti, Branson etc., they had a LOT of issues with parts support. One service center said they had Kioti's sitting in the back lot waiting months on parts. I also seen some of these off-brand tractor dealers open shop and then close down within a few years. So I had no faith in these little dealers selling the Korean tractors. The one thing I heard over and over was if you wanted a long term reliability, then you needed to look at Deere and Kubota. They sell more tractors than anyone else, for every 1 Korean tractor, there were 500 JD or Kubota tractors sold. So years down the road, chances are you'll find a part for these tractors before you'll find one for the lesser known tractors. That was important to me. Another isse I had with the Korean tractors was I felt they used inferior steel in their construction. I see far more steel related issues in these tractors than what I do in JD or Kubota. The parts support is getting better with the Korean tractors but I am not just talking about today's parts supply, but also the parts supply for them 30 years from now. While there will be ten's of thousands of old used JD's and Kubotas around, there won't be near as many of the off-brand Korean tractors out there.

I also wanted no part of the whole emissions world they put on these tractors. I have dealt with the emission issues on my diesel trucks and it was costly. So with my tractor, I wanted a bare bones, no emissions, all mechanical tractor that didn't need all of these sensors to run properly.

I chose a Kubota L2502 and it's an awesome tractor that does everything I could ask for on my 20 acres. And as many of these that are sold, I should be able to find parts for it even 30 years from now.

We all have different opinions and this one is mine...

 

[old and tired]

....but hooking them up to the PTO is a real pain...

Is that because it's a gear transmission and you want a HST? Or is hooking the PTO most of the problem?

It's a lot cheaper to buy a quick hitch for the 3 point hitch and maybe a new driveline for the PTO vs. selling this and buying another tractor.

For quick hitches, I like Pat's since it moves the implement 4" farther back and I have more room to attach the PTO. I hook up the lower links by just backing up to the implement and lifting the 3 point hitch. It locks onto the pins of the implement without getting off (most times )

Instead of the turn buckles for the 3 point hitch, I upgraded to Adjustable stabilizer bars. They hold the 3 point arms in place (give or take a little).

I would also, buy a new seat and a canopy for your tractor, spend money fixing that one up vs. spending on trading it.

 

[BigGG]

Is the PTO or the 3ph the real issue? I see the L3710 came with and without the extendable 3pt arm ends. Our Ford has a version of them, and it's a big improvement over rigid ones. If I did a lot of changing, I'd check out the Pat's quick connects.

If it's really the PTO, you're pretty much stuck with the collar style or the pin style. Just have to keep everything clean.

I don't think you want a mid-mount mower, and not many L Kubota's have mid-PTO, only the grand L's I think.

If you're looking for a little larger tractor, the MX's look like a good utility size.

 

[Hay Dude]

My AGCO/Masseys have very easy hook up on PTO splines. They are chamfered to allow easy slide-on.
Don’t know if smaller ones are like that.

I know Kubota didn’t have that feature.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Do you know what brands are represented with your local dealers?

 

[lsgreg]

... for every 1 Korean tractor, there were 500 JD or Kubota tractors sold ...

Not disagreeing with your main point, but I highly suspect these numbers.

 

[BlueKnife]

The one thing I heard over and over was if you wanted a long term reliability, then you needed to look at Deere and Kubota. They sell more tractors than anyone else, for every 1 Korean tractor, there were 500 JD or Kubota tractors sold.

Mahindra, an Indian tractor company, sells more tractors than anyone else. That's certainly not to say that Kubota and Deere aren't good recommendations, (I have two Kubota machines, a wheel loader and an excavator) but they don't sell the most tractors.

 

[dodge man]

I’d stick with a rear mount mower. I have a mid mount mower, it goes on and off easily but it’s a smaller tractor and has the auto connect system. I think on larger machines the mower isn’t as easy to take off and on as the rear 3 point mowers. Maybe take a look at quick hitch systems for easier hook up for the 3 point.

John Deere and Kubota are the main local dealers for me so that’s what I personally would look at.