Agco ST 34a, Massey Fergusen1533, Kubota 3130

[aesanders]

Today I went and looked at Agco ST34a. It is the same tractor as the slightly more popular Massey Fergusen 1533. Both are built by the Japanese company Iseki. Overall, I was really impressed with this machine and wonder why they are not more popular? Both the Agco and cussin Massey spec out very similarly to the Kubota 3130. The Agco st41a and Massey 1540 spec out very similarly to the Kubota 3830. You could tell who the engineer's based their latest designs on when they redseigned these machines.

I'd have to say that overall, I like these better than the comparable Kubota models. They seemed to have everything the Kubotas have and improved on some of the features I did not like on the Kubota's which are mostly creature comfort features.
Here is a list on some of the features I liked better on the AGCo/Massey.

1. Loader control built onto the tractor instead loader. I'm not sure why Kubota has not done this on the grand L's. All of the newer design tractors are going this direction.

2. Split pedal HST. This is my preference and seems to be gaining in popularity as well. Seems like more and more HST are going to this style.

3. More comfortable operators platform. At least to me. Does not have that Kubota tilt forward positioning.

4. Big brother Agco's (200-300hp+) tractors that could squish any Kubota for bragging rights.

These are all fairly minor things, but they do show that the designers really put some thought into this machine. As far a durablilty goes, I'm not sure how it stacks up to Kubota but I would imagine they are good. Iseki has a good reputation and is a very large company in it's own right making trucks and ag equipment.

As far as features, the AGCo products are fully featured. Transmission choice are varied such as standard syncro gear, powershift 12*12 gear and HST. The HST sounds unique in that it adjust engine speed as well, making it more like and automatic transmission. I didn't drive the HST so I'm not able to conirm how it varies from a standard HST though.
They also have all the bells and whistles of the Kubota grand L's and rivals such as Deere and NH. Fit and finish rivals those others as well.
And above all, the Agco's and Massey's are the best looking of any of the current cuts /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I guess my only question is why are they not more popular? Is it that they are just not marketed as well as the others? Kind of sad as they seem to have everything else going for them including a huge dealer base (or at least potential dealer base).
Any other opinions on the Agco/ Massey machines?

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> Is it that they are just not marketed as well as the others? </font>
That is the largerst problem. Another problem is old time dealers that don't believe in compact tractors and don't want to learn anything about them.

 

[aesanders]

The Agco dealer that I visited also sells Kioti. Said they sell more Kioti's than Allis comppact tractors. He said that he wishes they could rename them Allis Chalmers. He said they were a long time Allis dealer and if they had this name back he would sell 10 times as many. Not sure why Agco does not market that name instead of AGCO (Allis Gleaner Company). Allis Chamlers has a much more marketable name. People do buy on name recognition.

 

[Theowegian]

I enjoyed reading your post.

A couple things come to mind. OBTW, I own a kubota L3130. I dont really know what you mean by ( ...Loader control built onto the tractor instead loader... ) . My Grand L3130, LA513 loader controls stay on the tractor when the loader is removed. Do you mean the controls are attached to the tractor frame as opposed to the loader brackets?
Either way, I like the controls where they are located on my L3130.
You also mentioned you liked the split pedal transmission better than the treadle style. Well, that must be a personal preference thing, 'cause I like the treadle a lot better than the two pedal design. But I do think either style is workable. I really dont think one is BETTER than the other, but rather, it is what you get used to.

Overall, I woudn't shy away from a Massey compact tractor as long as there is good support from a Massey dealer. The Massey seems like a very good machine and if there was a local dealer, then I probably would have purchased one, but the Kubota guy is pretty close....70 miles (in kansas, 70 miles is close). /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

So go buy a Massey then tell us how you like it!
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Lastly, you asked why the AGCO and Masseys are not more popular....
Probably for the same reason that Honda/Toyota is more popular than KIA. My personal guess is that with Kubota or Deere, there is a heritage behind these compact tractors, whereas, the name recognition is not very great with the Iseki's.
Face it, in marketing, name recognition sells a product, as you already know...! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
dwight

 

[CarlGlas]

Of course I could be way off base here but I'm thinking that when Allis-Chalmers sold their farm equipment division in 1985 they kept the name for future business endeavors.

Today, Allis-Chalmers Energy (formerly Allis-Chalmers Corporation) provides drilling and oil field services to oil and gas exploration companies operating primarily in the western US.

AGCO's farm equipment business is better known in Europe and South America. In 2004 AGCO entered the Fortune 500 list of America's largest companies.


Poster: aesanders
"Not sure why Agco does not market that name instead of AGCO (Allis Gleaner Company). Allis Chamlers has a much more marketable name."

 

[texbaylea]

As to your points:
1. The controls on my L3130/LA723 stay on the tractor. Don't know where you got contrary info.

2. I happen to like the treadle type of control since I have a long foot and I hever have to move it on the pedal.

3. I don't feel any tilt forward on the seat. I have my seat in the most rearward position and the spring cranked up toward the highest since I am 240#.

4. Irrevalent when you are considering a CUT.

I looked at the Agco's but found that, at least around here they were priced well above what I could buy the equivalent Kubota for and I knew what to expect from Kubota and the local dealers. The Agco dealer was new in business and I did not want to be left with an orphan. Other wise I felt that had facts been different I could be happy with an Agco.

Vernon

 

[aesanders]

I was refering to the mounting position of the loader controls. The Kubota has them up bye the steering wheel and the Massey has them down by the seat near your right arm. This and the treadle pedal/ split HST pedals are all personal preferences of mine. If you like Kubota's better, so be it.
This was not a post to knock Kubota. It was mainly a post to point out that the Massey/ AGCo sure are nice machines and very comparable to the Kubota (the industry leader) in perfermance and features. Main differences are the comfort features which I like better on the Agco lines.

Also, Theowegian said
'Lastly, you asked why the AGCO and Masseys are not more popular....
Probably for the same reason that Honda/Toyota is more popular than KIA. My personal guess is that with Kubota or Deere, there is a heritage behind these compact tractors, whereas, the name recognition is not very great with the Iseki's. '

This makes sense when comparing to a Kioti or similar, but Massey Feregusen and Allis Chamlers (AGCo) have long established heritages and followings and have a very extensive dealer network. Other than John Deere, I don't think you will find any names more historic. Maybe International and Ford and a few others, but that is about it.

 

[Theowegian]

Howdy again.
You have some good points, aesanders. There are other considerations apart from the observations you made about the differences.

I get the impression you see tractors all in the same category because you brought up the 200+ hp AGCO tractors in your first post. I think that the compact market and the agriculture market are really two different and distinct markets.
For example, around kansas, very few farmers or those directly involved in agriculture own the newer compact tractors. There are a few, Im sure, but the vast majority of the compact tractor owners typically have day jobs, often well paying jobs that enable them to purchase a compact.
The functions of a compact tractor are really more along the lines of a skid steer rather than an older ag tractor like an allis D14.
I owned an allis D14 (approx 34 hp, gas) tractor and tried to do lots of work on my 7 acres with it. I got frustrated and eventually got a compact.
To me there is no comparison in functionality.
Here's a few examples:
My D14 worked fabulous at moldboard plowing, discing and pulling a wagon. But it was very akward at mowing compared to my Kubota.
My kubota excels at finish mowing, bush hog mowing, FEL work, rototilling, moving snow and box blading. But frankly, it doesnt like to pull the plow or disk. It can do it, but the old allis was much better at it than the kubota.
So what do I do more? Plowing a field or FEL work? Well, the FEL work and mowing of course.
So Im saying that a heritage of ag tractors doesnt necessarily translate into a good compact. They are two different worlds, in my opinion of course. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I would also venture a guess that most compact tractor owners never spent a lot of time using a tractor for farming. I could be wrong, but that is my observation in my area. Almost all my friends that have compacts never farmed or grew up on a farm, but they DID have lawn tractors. So they moved up to a compact tractor as opposed to moving down in hp to a lower hp compact.

So my point to all this is that the small compact tractor like Kubota had a heritage, at least in japan of being used on the small farms. They developed their tractors for that purpose. They were imported to the usa and found a niche market with guys like me that mess around with one acre sweetcorn patches and like to mow grass.

John Deere and others like Iseki caught up fast and now offer excellent products. But kubota was one of the first to really capture that particular market. Frankly, if Allis had had some visionaries in the corporate world they would have made a killing in the small farm or small tractor market. But it didnt happen. My kubota dealer used to be an Allis dealer, so he and I have had this discussion many times. He always chuckles when he says, "I sell what sells".

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JerryG]

Amazing. Just simply amazing.
A tractor isn't a tractor.

 

[Theowegian]

Exactly!

That's why we love them.

Tractors are engineered for different functions, be it farming or landscaping our homes. And lucky for us there are plenty of tractors to choose from, whether they are a kubota or a AGCO/Massey or an older allis...