70 hp Massey, New Holland or Kubota

[Robert_in_NY]

My original message had a typo. I am looking at the MF 573 and not a 473. Sorry. The NH TN75A has some good incentives since they are changing the line. Any thoughts on what they are selling for? And, with regard to Robert's comments as to the amount of acreage that he works with a TN65, what do you think the minimum horsepower I would need? Finally, it is easy to find the positive things about these tractors. Does anyone know what the downside is to the MF, NH or Kubota's in this size range?

If all you are planning on working is 35-50 acres a year a 60+ pto hp tractor would do the job fine. You can get by with 50pto hp but more is not usually a problem in this class of tractor. I pull a 3-14 plow with my TN65 (which is around 47pto hp) and a 10 foot disc if the ground is soft or a 12' disc if the ground is solid. The TN75 would handle this equipment also in 2wd (I ran a 2wd cab TN75 on this equipment also so I know, but don't take that 12' disc into a soft spot ). I do enjoy running my 7710-II on this equipment also as that is basically a 87pto hp tractor and is 2wd and you don't even notice the disc back there. I also pull a 4-16 plow with it but if you go up to that size tractor you are going to enjoy yourself a lot more as you will get your work done a lot faster and in comfort as the longer wheelbase tractor smooths out the bumps from tillage.

So anything 60pto hp and up will work well for you. But you can get by with less if money comes into play.

 

[CumminsLuke]

I have an M7040 Kubota and can not say enough about it. It has been flawless so far.

 

[JerryG]

The 500 series seems like it would work well but I would also look at the 3600 series. I looked at both two weeks ago. As for NH, I second what Robert said. The T5000 have me drooling.

The 3600 series is a nice tractor. If you go with the 12 speed PowerShuttle, you get a wet clutch which will seemly last for ever. With the PowerShuttle, you can go from forward to reverse and back without even using the clutch. Anytime you order the PowerShuttle you get independent PTO which has wet clutches. That way all the internal wear items are Wet. The PTO, the main clutch and also the brakes. Anytime you can get these wet you are ahead of the game. The 3600 has a two speed PTO. The regular 540 RPM PTO and the the 540 E. If you are using something that is PTO powered and you don't need all of the power that is produced at the engine speed that the normal 540 PTO generates. You can shift to the 540E. By doing that the PTO is still turning 540 RPM but the engine speed is reduced thus saving fuel and reducing the noise.

 

[landinista]

The TNs are nice and I nearly bought a TN75DA cab version to replace my open-station MF231. But I found them to be a little light for a 75Hp and the all-electronics version seemed a little too high-tech for a utility tractor - seemed more like a step above a compact. The other thing I found out is that if something goes wrong and the computer throws an error code, you need an authorized technician to bring out the laptop and clear it. The other thing I was a little concerned with is that the 75Hp was a 3cylinder with dual inline turbos to provide enough boost for 75Hp. I put an offer in and it was a no-go so I left and about an hour later, I ended up finding the Landini distribution centre for Canada. These machines actually look similar to each other from a distance - especially the colour.

I checked out their inventory and they gave me the name of a very nearby dealer. I ended up purchasing the PowerFarm 85 cab, MFD, 24f/12reverse transmission, with 34" rears and 24" fronts. This is a Perkins 4.4litre 4cylinder non-turbo unit and although I only have a handful of hours on it, I love this thing. It weights almost 2000lbs more than the TN and you can tell it went into the frame and sheet metal.

Anyway, you might want to have a look at Landini if you've got any dealers near you and while they're not too inexpensive, they are competitive with Greens and (the other) Blues.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The TNs are nice and I nearly bought a TN75DA cab version to replace my open-station MF231. But I found them to be a little light for a 75Hp and the all-electronics version seemed a little too high-tech for a utility tractor - seemed more like a step above a compact. The other thing I found out is that if something goes wrong and the computer throws an error code, you need an authorized technician to bring out the laptop and clear it. The other thing I was a little concerned with is that the 75Hp was a 3cylinder with dual inline turbos to provide enough boost for 75Hp. I put an offer in and it was a no-go so I left and about an hour later, I ended up finding the Landini distribution centre for Canada. These machines actually look similar to each other from a distance - especially the colour.

I checked out their inventory and they gave me the name of a very nearby dealer. I ended up purchasing the PowerFarm 85 cab, MFD, 24f/12reverse transmission, with 34" rears and 24" fronts. This is a Perkins 4.4litre 4cylinder non-turbo unit and although I only have a handful of hours on it, I love this thing. It weights almost 2000lbs more than the TN and you can tell it went into the frame and sheet metal.

Anyway, you might want to have a look at Landini if you've got any dealers near you and while they're not too inexpensive, they are competitive with Greens and (the other) Blues.

The Landini Powerfarm is not a direct competitor to the NH TN/T4000 line. You need to jump to the TL/T5000 line for an apples to apples comparison. New Holland has more utility lines under 100 hp then any other manufacturer that I can think of. The larger hp TN's are designed for pto work where you don't need a lot of extra weight. It is a utility class machine and much heavier then a standard compact. The TL/T5000 line is a class higher then the TN and would have been a good comparison for the Powerfarm 85 you bought. If you get a chance the next time you go by the NH dealer check them out and you will see what I mean.

And if you want a simpler, no frills, fewer electronics tractor that would compare with the Powerfarm, New Holland also has the TD75D and TD95D.

 

[jrl@nf.sympatico.ca]

I have an M7040 Kubota and can not say enough about it. It has been flawless so far.

I am glad to hear you like your M7040 as next week I will go and pick up the one I have ordered. It is 4WD with cab, two remotes, FEL, power shuttle and a few other things. This is my first tractor and it has taken me awhile to make up my mind. The decision finally had to be made as no longer would any local guy cut, tedder, bale and deliver my hay to the barn. I am not blaming them as most are so busy that they hardle have time for their own work. Needless to say, I still have to buy or rent some additional equipment to harvest the hay. I do believe that I got a good deal on the tractor and I am financing it for 48 months at 0% interest at a cost of losing $3000.00 vs cash.

I did get a quote from New Holland but the guy acted as though he was not to interested in even talking to me. The JD dealer for a comparable machine was quite a bit higher. I talked to a lot of Kubota owners around here and they all seem very satisfied with their tractors.

I also looked at a lot of used tractors but for a year old tractor the price was not much lower than a new tractor and no warranty.

Most all of the equipment that I need I have found except for the mower and I am still looking for a disc mower in relatively good shape for mowing my 40 acres of hay.

 

[slowzuki]

Its gets pretty complicated here as Landini have 4 models in the 70 hp mark, all of them available with basic manual tranny and reverser up to powerreverser, dual speed, declutch button etc. Their big split is low units like the TN's vs tall units like the TL/TS then sort of a trim level split for the tillage / electronic 3point hitch split. The Landini are pretty similar to the MF's but a bit different cab and all perkins, no sisu (I think).

The Landini Powerfarm is not a direct competitor to the NH TN/T4000 line. You need to jump to the TL/T5000 line for an apples to apples comparison. New Holland has more utility lines under 100 hp then any other manufacturer that I can think of. The larger hp TN's are designed for pto work where you don't need a lot of extra weight. It is a utility class machine and much heavier then a standard compact. The TL/T5000 line is a class higher then the TN and would have been a good comparison for the Powerfarm 85 you bought. If you get a chance the next time you go by the NH dealer check them out and you will see what I mean.

And if you want a simpler, no frills, fewer electronics tractor that would compare with the Powerfarm, New Holland also has the TD75D and TD95D.

 

[mark.r]

The Landini are pretty similar to the MF's but a bit different cab and all perkins, no sisu (I think).

One thing that puzzled me (and your comment reminded me) using the 5400 series why does MF use the Sisu 4 cyclinder for their larger higher HP tractor i.e. 5470, while say the 5465 uses the 6 cylinder Perkins motor. Wouldn't the larger displacement turbo give increased torque while only down by 5-10hp?

 

[WilliamBos]

The Landini are pretty similar to the MF's but a bit different cab and all perkins, no sisu (I think).

Only similar to the MF by using Perkins, from tranny back is all Italian Design. NO DYNA 4 or all that good stuff.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

One thing that puzzled me (and your comment reminded me) using the 5400 series why does MF use the Sisu 4 cyclinder for their larger higher HP tractor i.e. 5470, while say the 5465 uses the 6 cylinder Perkins motor. Wouldn't the larger displacement turbo give increased torque while only down by 5-10hp?

From what I learned they basically give you two options for the same basic 100hp tractor. If you are going to do mostly pto work like baling and such the 4 cylinder Sisu is a better option. If you are going to do draft work like plowing and disking the 6 cylinder Perkins is the better option.