Branson 2515H tractor

[prometheus303]

I'm considering purchasing this Branson 2515H tractor? Wondering if anyone has one and what they think about it?

Also what type of fuel consumption I would expect? The operation rpms is 2100. It 24hp engine. It nearly 3000lbs in weight.

 

[Cablefed]

If your just doing loader work and have time to kill it's fine. Range C is useless, PTO HP is weak, and it's a thirsty pig when your actually working the motor. The only gear that is worth working in is low gear. I burn 3/4 of a tank finish mowing my lawn with a 60 inch 3 pt setup on about 2 acres and it bogs down in the thick patches in range B. My motor never sounds like a smooth running sewing machine rather a blender that keeps getting more stuff stuffed in the pitcher. I also run a 4 ft bush hog on another 6 acres I cut twice a year and it still bogs down. If you even think you might use the PTO bump up in size. I hear 35 HP models are non existent right now. Button placement on the dash is horrible. I swapped the cruise and hazard position after hitting the cruise with my knee backing up and almost putting it in the pond.

3 pt lever on on the station is super short and a nightmare to operate when working the 3 point, feels like it might as well be on the floor.

I bought mine thinking I could do the same or more than the 2400H I had. It actually performs less than.

Nothings ever going to be perfect on a tractor and I understand, however you asked for feedback....here's mine. Go for the 4815H.

 

[prometheus303]

If your just doing loader work and have time to kill it's fine. Range C is useless, PTO HP is weak, and it's a thirsty pig when your actually working the motor. The only gear that is worth working in is low gear. I burn 3/4 of a tank finish mowing my lawn with a 60 inch 3 pt setup on about 2 acres and it bogs down in the thick patches in range B. My motor never sounds like a smooth running sewing machine rather a blender that keeps getting more stuff stuffed in the pitcher. I also run a 4 ft bush hog on another 6 acres I cut twice a year and it still bogs down. If you even think you might use the PTO bump up in size. I hear 35 HP models are non existent right now. Button placement on the dash is horrible. I swapped the cruise and hazard position after hitting the cruise with my knee backing up and almost putting it in the pond.

3 pt lever on on the station is super short and a nightmare to operate when working the 3 point, feels like it might as well be on the floor.

I bought mine thinking I could do the same or more than the 2400H I had. It actually performs less than.

Nothings ever going to be perfect on a tractor and I understand, however you asked for feedback....here's mine. Go for the 4815H.

Thank for the feedback. I'm really New to tractors. Do you think that more HP like 35 or 48 for fuel economy since at that point your not working the engine as hard?

 

[jeff9366]

Thank for the feedback. I'm really New to tractors. Do you think that more HP like 35 or 48 for fuel economy since at that point your not working the engine as hard?

My 3,700 pound bare weight, 35-horsepower Kubota L3560 has a very accurate digital fuel use meter. It uses 1/2 gallon of diesel per hour.

If you buy a new compact tractor your all up operating cost will be around $25 per engine hour, including fuel, assuming Branson dealer performs your preventative maintenance. Isolating on fuel cost of ~$2/hour~ does not make sense unless you are far from the fuel source or have a disability which makes fueling the tractor difficult.

If you do all your own routine maintenance your all up new tractor operating cost will be around $20 per engine hour, including fuel.

As you purchase implements your tractor cost per hour increases. All implements have to be factored into tractor operating cost. I have multiple implements. I consider my tractor operating cost is $35/hour.


Here is a good, current thread on new tractor considerations:

Currently In Decision Phase - Tons Of Info To Be Had - Hopefully This Helps Some

First off; appreciate all of the info I was able to get from the threads here. It can be an overwhelming experience for someone about to buy their first tractor. Is it procrastination when you put off a purchase because you want to get all possible information to make a good decision? Someone...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[jeff9366]

The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to first identify potential tractor applications, then, through consulataton, establish bare tractor weight necessary to safely accomplish your applications. Tractor dealers, experienced tractor owners and TractorByNet.com are sources for weight recommendations. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.`

 

[prometheus303]

The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to first identify potential tractor applications, then, through consulataton, establish bare tractor weight necessary to safely accomplish your applications. Tractor dealers, experienced tractor owners and TractorByNet.com are sources for weight recommendations.

Sufficient tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.`

Thanks, fellow Floridian

 

[jeff9366]

TYM T494​

The TYM T494 is 3,900 pounds bare weight with 48-horsepower gross. A good balance of weight and power. Chassis is 63" wide, which makes it a stable platform on moderate slopes. With 63" chassis width, probably ~ 69" ~ tire width, you will use at least 72" operating width implements. With 48-horsepower you can power a 72" Rotary Cutter through high grass and thick brush. This weight/power tractor is suitable for working five to twenty acres of crop land. Fuel use will average ~.6 to .7 gallons~ per hour.

This is the mid-weight in compact tractors, a high unit volume segment. Every tractor manufacturer offers at least two models in this approximate weight. Horsepower ranges from forty to sixty in tractors in this weight.

Before you order evaluate critically the staying power of your TYM dealer through a recession.

A quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important for tractor neophytes. Most new tractors are delivered with a glitch or two requiring correction. My Kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment after nine years. Dealer proximity is less important for those experienced with tractors and qualified to perform their own maintenance.


MORE T494 IN T-B-N ARCHIVE:
T494 site:tractorbynet.com

 

[Have tractor did travel]

I'm considering purchasing this Branson 2515H tractor? Wondering if anyone has one and what they think about it?

Also what type of fuel consumption I would expect? The operation rpms is 2100. It 24hp engine. It nearly 3000lbs in weight.

Prom: Consider spending some time reading reviews of Branson company - and how they address issues. I was shocked at reading the Better Business Bureau report. Maybe not so much the issues, but that Branson DIDN'T do anything meaningful to resolve the issues, even with the awful reviews.
Were I buying my first tractor, I'd go with one of the big 2. There are reasons they are, where they are, in the market place.

TYM | Better Business Bureau® Profile

This organization is not BBB accredited. Tractor Dealers in Rome, GA. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, & more.

www.bbb.org

 

[jeff9366]

I'm considering purchase of a Branson tractor.

I do not know where you are in Florida. If you reside in north Florida Lee's Custom Service is a well regarded Branson dealer who has been in business a long time selling/servicing ONLY Branson tractors.

Welcome to Lee's Custom Services, Branson tractors sales

Branson tractors, tractor repair shop and implement sales

leescustomservice.com

 

[Cablefed]

My experience with Branson and warranty issues has been exceptional. On my old 2400H I had a front steering hydraulic start leaking past the 2 year warranty and they sent me a new one to my home to replace myself, no charge.

The second issue I had was my hydro pedals were sticking. There was a bad roller bearing in the transmission that had to be replaced. It was done quickly, without any issues, and covered under the powertrain warranty.

Because of Branson's response to my issues and the 2 dealers ( Reed and Reed and Mathis) I chose to go with another Branson for my upgrade. I should have done better homework on my purchase, however they do make a decent product. I don't think the 2515H should have been built, however it seems all the tractor companies today make this similar frame size / engine combo and it sells well. At this point I don't see the value on spending another 8K for the 4815H. I will just deal with it's short comings for the next few years until I upgrade again.

One plus to consider on the Branson line is the lack of computer and sensors. I hear alot of guys have issues with other brands where a sensor gives the CPU an issue and throws codes and even causes the tractor to not even run.

 

[Boswell]

Prom: Consider spending some time reading reviews of Branson company - and how they address issues. I was shocked at reading the Better Business Bureau report. Maybe not so much the issues, but that Branson DIDN'T do anything meaningful to resolve the issues, even with the awful reviews.
Were I buying my first tractor, I'd go with one of the big 2. There are reasons they are, where they are, in the market place.

Sure good advice, I read through these before purchasing my Branson tractor last spring. You can also pull up reports on every brand including the "big 2". Branson is currently building a very robust and reliable tractor but, as with all tractors they are not perfect. The "big 2" have their share of problems as well and you need to look no further than this forum.

Bottom line is do your homework and buy a tractor with enough weight and horsepower to meet your needs. 25 hp with the heavy robust Branson can put limitations on certain uses because it take horsepower to move weight. Dealer support is good to have but at times overrated. The dealer network of the 'big 2" is far superior with out a doubt. I have needed no support from my dealer at this time only a few parts and that was not an issue.

If you are purchasing a tractor for the long haul and not a couple of years then you need to consider the emissions setup for a tractor over 25 hp. Branson's decision to stay simple and avoid an ECM and the myriad of sensors required support the on board computer puts them in a class of their own. Getting a check engine light in your personal auto most likely requires a trip to your mechanic, or dealer, unless you own a code reader. Getting a check engine light on a tractor (and its not a matter of "if" but "when") or worse yet having it go into limp mode is beyond inconvenient and expensive to repair once your warranty is gone.

Everyone has their reasons for selecting a brand. I have friends and family who own "the big 2". For some, their tractors have serviced them well and others its been a nightmare. You will find happy and unhappy with every brand out there.

 

[Texasmark]

I'm considering purchasing this Branson 2515H tractor? Wondering if anyone has one and what they think about it?

Also what type of fuel consumption I would expect? The operation rpms is 2100. It 24hp engine. It nearly 3000lbs in weight.

I think you will be disappointed. I had a 2400 weighing about 1800# plus FEL. It had plenty of power but being a small tractor it was only large enough to do small jobs....reason for the purchase. Neighbor just bought a 4815C with FEL and he has plenty of power. If you are into small jobs maybe you will be ok. Just don't expect a boy to do a man's job.

 

[prometheus303]

Sure good advice, I read through these before purchasing my Branson tractor last spring. You can also pull up reports on every brand including the "big 2". Branson is currently building a very robust and reliable tractor but, as with all tractors they are not perfect. The "big 2" have their share of problems as well and you need to look no further than this forum.

Bottom line is do your homework and buy a tractor with enough weight and horsepower to meet your needs. 25 hp with the heavy robust Branson can put limitations on certain uses because it take horsepower to move weight. Dealer support is good to have but at times overrated. The dealer network of the 'big 2" is far superior with out a doubt. I have needed no support from my dealer at this time only a few parts and that was not an issue.

If you are purchasing a tractor for the long haul and not a couple of years then you need to consider the emissions setup for a tractor over 25 hp. Branson's decision to stay simple and avoid an ECM and the myriad of sensors required support the on board computer puts them in a class of their own. Getting a check engine light in your personal auto most likely requires a trip to your mechanic, or dealer, unless you own a code reader. Getting a check engine light on a tractor (and its not a matter of "if" but "when") or worse yet having it go into limp mode is beyond inconvenient and expensive to repair once your warranty is gone.

Everyone has their reasons for selecting a brand. I have friends and family who own "the big 2". For some, their tractors have serviced them well and others its been a nightmare. You will find happy and unhappy with every brand out there.

I have learned from experience that I don't base my decision few bad reports from the BBB. Even reviews on products in general. I can't tell how many times I have read a bad review, but when I read between the lines I find it is customer expectations issue not a product issue. I have bought stuff that had like a 4.8 star review only to have it be defective. Even a good product at time will slip pass quality control into the hands of the consumer. That's where manufacturer warranty comes in. Anyone who has a bad experience with electrical issues with like a car, knows it's a bad in the ass. That's why I'm looking at Branson's tractors. Also considering T474 & T494 because the both have same engine manufacturer

 

[prometheus303]

I do not know where you are in Florida. If you reside in north Florida Lee's Custom Service is a well regarded Branson dealer who has been in business a long time selling/servicing ONLY Branson tractors.

Welcome to Lee's Custom Services, Branson tractors sales

Branson tractors, tractor repair shop and implement sales

leescustomservice.com

I live Ocala, FL. I have 2 dealers I could deal with. I one about 10 miles and one about 60 miles way (Brooksville) Unfortunately, The one that is 60 miles away is the ones the one that's give me the warmest fuzzy feelings. Though I think the on that's closer to me would be fine also. I will check out north Florida Lee's Custom Service. Thanks Jeff

 

[DGZRT]

I can give you a small amount of feedback . I have 60 hours on a Branson 2515H , 2020 . I did not buy it to farm or plow or Mow 20 acres. Even though we have a 113 acre's 85 of it is wooded and the front 25 is leased to the farmer next door . For the math people 3 acres for the house ... 2 years ago we had it logged off and the mess that was left behind is tremendous .

I looked for a year at different MFG , Models and pricing . I won't go through the good and bad of every one I looked at but the dealer should play a major roll in the purchase . I found a Great dealer about 28 miles away and he will pick it up and drop it off anytime I need service .

I felt the Branson by far gave me the most options for my money ! It has a large frame and one of the heaviest in it's class. The loader is rated at 2200#s and it has never struggled to pick anything up . I choose the 25Hp motor because it has no Regen or ECU running things, just a well built easy to work on Diesel ! This thing turns on a dime and gets into places bigger tractors can't . At this moment I have a Grapple, Box blade and tooth bar for loader work .

Now the bad. Yes "C" range is useless anywhere except the road . I'm mostly in the woods so "A" range it is . That's it ! nothing else yet to complain about . I do know that a 5 ft Brush hog will slow the tractor down that's why I'm going with a Flail Mower . Yes you will compromise having only 25HP but once you learn how to use the implements for your purposes it will be fine.

Fuel usage ? I have said this to my wife 100 times so far... Look, we did all that work for around $6.00 bucks. I have zero complaints ! Going from a 4 wheeler and a wagon that we have to fill by hand to a Tractor . All I can do is smile

Probably 20 guys on here have told me I should have bought one twice that size. I'll save the Cab and the 50 HP for Retirement , It will give me something to look forward to .

 

[Boswell]

I have learned from experience that I don't base my decision few bad reports from the BBB. Even reviews on products in general. I can't tell how many times I have read a bad review, but when I read between the lines I find it is customer expectations issue not a product issue. I have bought stuff that had like a 4.8 star review only to have it be defective. Even a good product at time will slip pass quality control into the hands of the consumer. That's where manufacturer warranty comes in. Anyone who has a bad experience with electrical issues with like a car, knows it's a bad in the ass. That's why I'm looking at Branson's tractors. Also considering T474 & T494 because the both have same engine manufacturer

I agree, these reports can be scary until you read between the lines. To draw any reasonable conclusion a buyer really needs to know how many units are in use, as well as annual sales. Any manufacturer that deals on a large scale customer basis will have complaints. Some legit and some not. I really believe the manufacturer can benefit more from reading through complaints than the consumer.

You may or may not know TYM owns Branson. TYM is a large company and it is my understanding they build some other brands of tractors as well. Some on the forum are more "in the know" with regard to the reaches of the TYM company.
I purchased last April and my choices came down to Branson and TYM. The TYM when comparing apples to apples offered a few more options than Branson. Availability is why I ended up with the Branson. Simply put I could not get the TYM I wanted within 500 miles of my home. No regrets with the Branson. I have a fair amount of mechanical experience and while I can't see into the transmissions and differential cases to inspect gear sets or bearings, when I look at the quality of the parts and materials used in the overall construction of the tractor I do see a very robust machine. A warranty can be (not always) a reflection of build quality.

Kind regards,
Norm

 

[prometheus303]

I agree, these reports can be scary until you read between the lines. To draw any reasonable conclusion a buyer really needs to know how many units are in use, as well as annual sales. Any manufacturer that deals on a large scale customer basis will have complaints. Some legit and some not. I really believe the manufacturer can benefit more from reading through complaints than the consumer.

You may or may not know TYM owns Branson. TYM is a large company and it is my understanding they build some other brands of tractors as well. Some on the forum are more "in the know" with regard to the reaches of the TYM company.
I purchased last April and my choices came down to Branson and TYM. The TYM when comparing apples to apples offered a few more options than Branson. Availability is why I ended up with the Branson. Simply put I could not get the TYM I wanted within 500 miles of my home. No regrets with the Branson. I have a fair amount of mechanical experience and while I can't see into the transmissions and differential cases to inspect gear sets or bearings, when I look at the quality of the parts and materials used in the overall construction of the tractor I do see a very robust machine. A warranty can be (not always) a reflection of build quality.

Kind regards,
Norm

Yes, I'm familiar with tym. I'm still think about getting t474 tractor or t494. I was told that they more plastic like for the hood. I could have been told wrong though. I have tym, Branson, LS, Kubuda, John Deere, kioti, New Holland, Bad boy (made by Branson), dealers in my area. Most with in 20 miles or closer. If you have any other input? Just let me know.
Thanks Norm

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Yes, I'm familiar with tym. I'm still think about getting t474 tractor or t494. I was told that they more plastic like for the hood. I could have been told wrong though. I have tym, Branson, LS, Kubuda, John Deere, kioti, New Holland, Bad boy (made by Branson), dealers in my area. Most with in 20 miles or closer. If you have any other input? Just let me know.
Thanks Norm

The TYM tractor is like the RK tractor they build, it’s all plastic. Some like that, some don’t... but I’ve heard good things about TYM and now they use the Kukje power plant in some models

 

[jeff9366]

I live Ocala, FL. I will check out north Florida Lee's Custom Service in Branford. Thanks Jeff

It is best to have warranty work performed at the dealer where you purchase your tractor. Due to manufacture's skimpy warranty reimbursement to dealers and slowness of reimbursement, many dealers are reluctant to take on warranty work unless the tractor is purchased from the dealer.

Brandford is 80 miles from Ocala, therefore 4 X 80 mile segments = 320 miles, two round trips, for you or the dealer to trailer tractor for service. Expensive transport, whether you drive or Lee drives.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I think you would be very happy with the Branson. When I was trying to buy one almost 3 years ago, there were none to be had.... they released all the info / hype, but the tractors didn't hit the lots for almost 6 months later.... in the meantime waiting for the 2515, I purchased my LS. Been very happy with it.