4310 and Newbie

blurrybill · Dec 6, 2001

I have ghosted the various forums for over 2 years and am finally taking the plunge...Have 8 acres and mow about 5 of that. There are some 200+ year old oaks along with Eastern Red Cedar and other trees. This is the dream home site and I need a tractor for mowing, loader work, general landscaping, tilling the garden spot, etc. The land is beautiful and hasn't been grazed for over 20 years, although a portion of the mowed area has been maintained. A DNR guy described it as an old Savannah and thankfully no farmer owners over the years have destroyed the trees for farmground. That's the background. Am really interested in the new JD 4310s but can't find out much about them. Anybody yet have prices/pictures? I did drive a 4300 and found the hydro pedals to be tiring and made my foot sore. Have absolutely NO tractor experience and have valued the various comments of the forum members. I plan on being safe and, at 53, have matured to the point that caution is important. So, I'll be asking lots of questions and appreciate your experience and advice in advance. Sorry about the length here, but I've waited a long time... Have lots of brush down and will have more as I plan to remove several of the Cedars. Thought that a 4 in 1 bucket would be ideal to pick up brush piles, but can't figure out if the cost or utility are there on the 43xx tractors. Does JD even make that bucket for the tractor? Other quality manufacturers? If you have a 4in1, does one need a box scraper at all? Anybody have the JD collection system (will have tons of leaves to dump in ravine)? I have to put a lid on this as I'm bubbling over. I seriously looked at Kubota, but believe that the JD midmount mowers can be removed much easier (the rear wheels lock sideways to roll the mower out). Comments? Thanks in advance.

kerr · Dec 6, 2001

I would get one that dont hurt my foot! My J.D.4200 dont hurt my foot .I would think the 4300 as almost perfect size or weight to H.P.The 4200's high range is all most useless except on flat ground.But its rock solid in mid. range and granny fer sure....My 2-cents

Boondox · Dec 6, 2001

Bill -- Two places to start would be Muhammad's book and Steve Carver's webpages. I know Steve deals with Kubota, but he has a lot of educational pages about mass, hydraulic capacity, implements etc that apply no matter what color you settle on. You don't mention what sort of dealers you have locally, but that's a very important part of the equation. I actually liked the JD4300 best, but some of the problems mentioned with earlier models coupled with a lack of faith in my local JD dealer pushed me over to the orange machine. So shopping for a dealer is a vital part of shopping for a deal. Be an informed consumer! Good luck.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

Snowman9000 · Dec 6, 2001

Congratulations on what sounds like a superb piece of land.
My dealer says the 10 series will cure the hard foot push problem. The 4 in 1 is nice but you can do without it with some manure forks or something similar bolted on the bucket. If you need a box blade, you need it, regardless of whether your bucket is regular or 4 in 1. The box blade will rip up, scrape, drag-carry, and level dirt/sand/gravel/etc. I just got one not too long ago, and it's a handy thing. Plus it provides good rear ballast, and a lot of people keep them on just for that. You can get a farm store cheapie that should last since you won't be making your living with it.
If your land is fairly rugged, as it sounds, you are right to be planning to be removing your mower when you do other work. I have a 3 point mower which has its pros and cons. Easier on/off, cheaper, can leave it attached while doing FEL work without bashing it into the FEL work. Can back it under trees and bushes. But if I was trimming around a lot of trees, the mid-mount would be better. One thing I have never seen mentioned, you can circle a bush pretty close with a 3 pt mower if you go around in reverse. Anyway I'm wandering... Have fun.

beenthere · Dec 6, 2001

I'm very happy with my 4300, and just recently added a forklift attachment for the FEL. I was surprised how smoothly it worked to pick up brush piles I had made (they were not huge, but were 5-8ft long limbs and branches piled about 6 ft high. Ran the forks under, lifted the pile, and moved it easily to a burn pile. Also, moving logs, boards, scaffolding, and numerous other things went quickly and easily. JD has a quick system for attaching and de-taching the bucket on the FEL, and the same procedure with the forks. Don't know how I got along without the forks. Also heard that there is a new reverse pedal for the 4x10's, although I have not noticed a problem with mine. If I had to do it over, I would get the extra horses that come in the 4400, as most everything else is the same. It is one great outfit.

blurrybill · Dec 7, 2001

Thanks to everyone who replied so far. To Beenthere: I hadn't thought about the forks, but that seems to be a more cost effective option than a 4in1 bucket. The 4in1s apparently have considerable more weight and extra hydraulic lines, so if the forks work, I'd be really happy. Can you tell me about costs of attachments to the FEL like the forks? Do you use all JD equipment or are other brands as good or better? Also, please give me some info on your uses for the 4300 and why you feel that a 4400 would have been better.

I have heard that costs for the new 4310 would compare favorably to the older model, but still can't find anything. Anyone know for sure when this info will be available? Thanks.

blurrybill · Dec 7, 2001

Snowman9000: Thanks for your comments. Any idea on brands of boxblades; the point you made about a cheapie makes sense and with what the tractor will probably cost, saving where one can is a good idea. I'm guessing that once I do the basic landscaping, I won't be using it that much. Still, is there a point of quality below where a person shouldn't go? Looking at them, they all appear to the uninformed eye to be about the same. Does guage of steel make the difference? Can you remove saplings with one? Give me some more hints, including what you bought, how it's used, etc. Thanks.

blurrybill · Dec 7, 2001

Boondox: I have spent some time on the Carver website. More info on Muhammad's book, please. Does he describe attachments and techniques for their use? Muhammad: if you see this, please add your comments. Boondox: Which orange machine did you purchase? Do you agree with my remarks about ease of midmower removal on the JDs? Also, I shied away from orange because the comparable model couldn't run R4 tires with the midmount mower -- a big disappointment. One Kubota dealer suggested I buy different tires Summer and Winter -- that was a turnoff. Thanks for a response.

Bill

JJT · Dec 7, 2001

"I seriously looked at Kubota, but believe that the JD midmount mowers can be removed much easier (the rear wheels lock sideways to roll the mower out)." Check with a Kubota dealer - I thought the Kubota MMM were built to be driven over.

Snowman9000 · Dec 7, 2001

I bought one at the farm & fleet that was made by Wallace Manufacturing.
http://www.wallacemfg.com/ag/products/
I think they probably are all just regional brands due to freight considerations. The 5' model is $270 and 6' is $290. They are simply built. I have seen better ones from "name" brand lines, but as little as I'll use it, it's just fine. I have not tried to push any saplings. People do that, from what I read.