All - thanks for the replies.
Shaneard, really not much difference (reliably/functionally) nowadays? I've not run a tractor much since leaving the farm nearly 40 years ago.
Digginit, thanks for the LS tip. I knew there was a lot of cross-manufacturing in the market, but didn't know those were actually the same tractor.
BRMyers - I was assuming the Grand L series might be a bit big for trail-clearing in the woods.
Any thoughts on HST vs geared, or implement selection? Rotary cutter size vs. cutting diameter, grapple brands, things like that? Thanks again
Tractors are not all that much different now from 30 years ago. In fact, as you get to know your new rural neighbors I'll bet you are surprised at just how many of them have older tractors that run about the same as newer ones. That may be because there was a lot of progress made in tractor features from 50 years ago to about 30 years ago.
Compared with 30 years ago, everything has a 4wd option now. You want that, even though on tractors it is still basically a power assist type rather than full time all wheel drive.
For comfort, seats haven't changed much except some do slide back a little, steering angle and position tends to be adjustable now, power steering is now more common.
Be sure to check out the ease with which you get on and off the tractor. You'll do that a surprising amount and I hope you find that tractors are easier to mount now than used to be.
Front end loaders are near identical except that buckets on the front are now SSQA (skid steer spec Quick Change). BTW, you definitely want SSQA. Check that on the FEL you can move the bucket powerfully while simultaneously lifting or lowering the main FEL arms..... You do want that ability, and some manufacturers don't offer that anymore. Some do; some don't.
Engines are much the same. You'll probably never need to do anything to the engine - whether new or old. Turbos are more common now, and some newer machines have more pollution control devices for wringing cleaner exhaust out of smaller higher RPM engines instead of the older heavy low RPM engines in older tractors. But from a user standpoint engines are all good.
PTOs haven't changed at all in 40 years. You still want to get an independent type, but size and RPM are still the same as always. Your brand new tractor will run a 50 year old implement without any adapter. Same goes for the all-important 3pt hitch, but there you will find that some features that used to be common are now discontinued or extra expense. Probably worth it to go ahead and get those older features, even if you have to pay extra. Take a close look at the 3pt hitch.
Get as much as possible of these 3pt features I'm going to mention here: Get selectable draft control and position control, telescoping lower lift arms, pin-adjustable side sway bars instead of those stupid chains, and look to get hand-geared cranks to adjust the side links instead of threads and lock nuts. These last few things can be added aftermarket, but at an expense.
You asked about transmissions. Basically it comes down to the old gears and clutch vs the newer HST transmissions. HST is wonderful for delicately moving around and also has lots of power. Theoretically one HST speed in forward and reverse is all you need, for everything from heavy pulling to racing down the road. But realistically the more selectable speeds and ranges that any HST tranny has the better (and quieter) it works. The top of the line HST being the 6 speed HST+ (HST plus) on some Kubotas. They get double the gear speeds by using a syncronized electro/hydraulic shifter on a vintage two speed rear axle. So far nobody else has tumbled to doing that. It's a great tranny.
But in the meanwhile those old geared transmissions now come standard with auto-clutching powershifting, lots and lots of speed including sometimes creeper gears. It's commont to get several ranges and a full set of gear speeds in each. Plus it's not uncommon to have a reversing lever that simply takes whatever you are doing going forward and instantly gives you the same gear in reverse - all instantly without stopping or even clutching. Clutches work as good as they always did and last even longer.... often the life of the tractor. So if you like using a clutch, there are some great geared trannys now. They cost less than the HST, and don't have that HST "whine" which bothers some people.
Well, that's enough to think about now. Enjoy the search. It took my wife and I a few months of weekend visits to different brands to get our most recent tractor.
We worked hard to make it a fun outing and it became something to look forward to doing.
rScotty
just no AC that way.
