Korean tractor dilemma

[Saucymynx]

There was never a question. There is a racial bias against Koreans similar to that against Japanese in the 70s. Lots of unsubstantiated claims and inuendo.

TYM and Daedong (Kioti) are not new to the business. They are also not related to the auto mfgs. Assuming the tractors are anything like Daewoo is ignorant of the manufacturers in question. Modern KIAs have better reliability data than US nameplates. Hyundai has also been better than average lately.

The author of this thread started their very first post with a question: “ Do i try for lucky #3 and get a kioti to replace the ls , or do i buy a used kubota or massey and live with the weaker loaders and deal with the crappy loader joy stick location?”

Separately, as you can see from my profile, I do not have a bias against Korean tractors, nor do I have a bias against Koreans at all

 

[paulsharvey]

The author of this thread started their very first post with a question: “ Do i try for lucky #3 and get a kioti to replace the ls , or do i buy a used kubota or massey and live with the weaker loaders and deal with the crappy loader joy stick location?”

Separately, as you can see from my profile, I do not have a bias against Korean tractors, nor do I have a bias against Koreans at all

So, a Massey MF 1835M, and the M is the key part; doesn't have the "crappy loader joystick"; Kioti makes good machines; But, mine, brand new; had loose bolts, a front axle pivot that was gorilla tight, preventing the axle from pivoting, and currently I think a venting issue on the fuel cap. Maybe Kubota would be better, but Kubota/Massey also have infant mortality issues as well.

When we talk about used; I'm guessing you'll need to go to maybe 10 year old Kubota to match the price; and parts should be easy to get, for the next 10 years; but some parts will be difficult to source at around 20 years old and older. I don't mean all parts; but certain very specific parts will be hard to track down, and/or will be on the slow boat from China.

There really isn't a "good" answer; but, assuming other then the current repair issue on the LS, the machine suites you; I'd keep it.

 

[Sid Post]

Separately, as you can see from my profile, I do not have a bias against Korean tractors, nor do I have a bias against Koreans at all

The biggest issue for me is dealer support. LS branded tractors may be great but, without dealer support they have no value to me for something I need to rely on.

Like your MT-7, I looked at a Mahindra that was a ~95hp tractor with a great price. The first problem for me was the lack of forward visibility with the loader installed. Sure it looked strong with those huge box beams and tall structure but, I might as well have worn a blindfold. How you would move or move round bales with it was a mystery!

USA made Mahindra tractors in the SCUT and UT class are solid machines IF YOU HAVE GOOD DEALER SUPPORT.

Kukje-Branson/TYM, Kioti/Daedong, and LS are all viable choices if you have good dealer support. Locally, there is a lot of love for Branson tractors but, for me, Mahindra SCUT/CUT is a better choice because of dealer support assuming we are talking about the tractors made in the USA for the USA market as the made-in-India tractors seem to be modeled after 1950's vintage JD, IHC, etc. options.

 

[Dftodd]

I'm happy with my Kioti, but on your list you have the MF1825E. Might be worth looking at the MF 1835M, it's a more premium machine, and priced like one, but was some pretty nice features compared to the 18E series.

Also; 3 months for an HST repair, I assume under warranty? That seems like a Very long time for the repair.

I have the Massey 1825E. Only 32 hrs on it so far. But I've been extremely happy with mine.

Granted I went from a 40yo 15hp Grey market kubota so the 1825E feels like I'm running around in a Cadillac

 

[IndyIan]

If the prices are pretty close for the same tractor, I would get a Kubota even though my Kioti has been good. In 2011 though, a new Kubota for the same price as my tractor was a couple sizes down at ~2200lbs and probably gear drive. So it wasn't going to do the jobs for me.
I've found my Kioti pretty good at 900hr now, no chinczy parts really other than a cheap positive lead that corroded to fast. Really the only future issues coming are the stuff on it from the US, which is the loader and the tires. The loader pins have worn a bit looser than I think they should, and the front tires are sidewall cracking(not leaky yet). Thankfully the rears are fine!
In hindsight, given the amount of dirt moving I do, I probably should've got a L39 TLB but even back then in 2011 a used L39 at the same price as the new DK40SE was very used and I had little tractor experience to evaluate something very used...
If I had to get a new tractor, I would look at the Kioti NS which is back to the less electronics simplicity of the DKSE series, and hopefully as robust.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

I'd prefer a tractor that's made in the USA or Japan (based on other products I've bought), but would consider other brands that are made in Korea or elsewhere.

Kioti had my interest, as they make all their own parts, but the nearest dealer is 300 miles away.

I went to the TYM dealer that was about 75 miles away and was told they were having problems with their turbo models at elevation. They were having to de-tune the engines to work around the problem. I'm at 6,800ft ASL and want a turbo, so that's a hard pass from me on TYM.

In the end I went with Kobota as the dealership was close and I got a deal on a low hour used tractor. I don't expect it to be perfect (just look at the crappy fading paint on these premium priced tractors), but I'm taking an educated guess that it should give me less trouble than some of the other brands, but who really knows? I figure if I'm not happy with it, I can sell it for what I paid for it in a few years. Can't do that, paying retail, for a brand new globally sourced tractor!

 

[Dftodd]

Are the L series really intended for ground engagement in the field or heavy lifting? They are more intended for large estate maintenance and the M series are intended for the tasks you mention.

We used an L2250 for 112 acres. Had a forestry winch we used for logging in the winter. Mowed probably 150 acres worth of fields with it every summer.

Dad had a construction buisiness, and had several fields that he mowed yearly.

A 25hp tractor will maintain that land. It just won't do it as fast as an M.

 

[Dftodd]

LS is building the Massey compact now in many cases. Iseki builds the subcompact, or used to.

Not sure if it is still Iseki now.

1825 is manufactured by agco in Indonesia.

Here's the serial number tag.

 

[jyoutz]

We used an L2250 for 112 acres. Had a forestry winch we used for logging in the winter. Mowed probably 150 acres worth of fields with it every summer.

Dad had a construction buisiness, and had several fields that he mowed yearly.

A 25hp tractor will maintain that land. It just won't do it as fast as an M.

An L is great for mowing. I was referring to ground engaging implements and heavy loader lifts. This was in response to the post that stated those were faults of the L series. I was pointing out that the L series is primarily designed for estate maintenance duties, not heavy ground engagement or lifting. Yes, you can do all of those things you mention and I used to mow 20 acres with a 25hp JD tractor. But that’s not the intended design purpose and indeed it’s slow with a 4’ rotary cutter.

 

[Dftodd]

An L is great for mowing. I was referring to ground engaging implements and heavy loader lifts. This was in response to the post that stated those were faults of the L series. I was pointing out that the L series is primarily designed for estate maintenance duties, not heavy ground engagement or lifting. Yes, you can do all of those things you mention and I used to mow 20 acres with a 25hp JD tractor. But that’s not the intended design purpose and indeed it’s slow with a 4’ rotary cutter.

We ran a 60" brush hog. But the majority was with a 72" sickle bar mower.