Broken branson

TomSeller · Mar 17, 2014

Branson is enough of a significant brand that here should not be a problem getting satisfaction, particularly given the selling dealer is stepping up. I am sure you will be taken care of.

Having said that, Camas, WA to Hermiston, OR is 3 hours each way. If there is anything I could add, having a reputable local dealer of any color is important. You are near Portland, OR, not exactly out in the sticks. Good luck.

john_bud · Mar 17, 2014

Be interesting to hear what the issue was.

Also, it sounded like the OP kept on running the equipment after the "popping sound" and problems occurred. My experience is that more $$$$$ damage is done after the initial failure by continued operation.

Camastown · Mar 19, 2014

Update on broken branson. The dealer wanted me to bring back my tractor and exchange it of another new tractor. My first tractor was a 2014 tier3 tractor with 3.7 hours. I returned it with 5.7 hours. The new tractor he offered me was a tier 4 with 1.7 hours. I assume it is a 2015. At first I thought I might try return it and try to get a new yanmar that he had. But after reading a post on this forum I decided that tractor was not for me. After all research I did I really did not want a tier 4. All the scare stories that read is why I was in a hurry to get the tier 3 that I got. So last night I crammed 3 hours of research in before bedtime. So after just studying up on this single issue I was enlightened. yes this extra garbage seams unneeded and is infringing on my right to pollute . But after my findings I am excited to check it out in person. I understand there is two versions, a system that requires a liquid injected into this system and a system that requires nothing. The cummings engine used in the Branson's the compact tractors like my 4520r does not require the liquid. Cummings did the home work. So I made my journey to hermiston and dropped of the broken branson . Ken pulls out the new tractor and I was sold as soon as he fired it up. First of all there is no diesel smell. It is less noisy . Runs smoother and seams to rev up and have better power. And no soot on the frame of the tractor. My research tells me that the the large atomic bomb looking gizmo on top of the engine will last 2000 hours before needing replacement. That's 20 years for me. There is other improvements on the tractor like a better looking hood and head lights. It has a much nicer joy stik for the loader.it has better set of rear tires.i think the seat is even upgraded.this tractor should have cost me 1500.00 more. But Bonneys ag offered it to me for no extra charge. So I took it. I feel it was my lucky day . Ken even filled my trucks gas tank for the trip home. Bonneys ag took a real bad situation for me and made it a great experience. I am going to start another thread on the tier3, 4 topic. It is pretty interesting.

TomSeller · Mar 19, 2014

Great to hear a happy ending.

coobie · Mar 19, 2014

Camastown said:
Update on broken branson. The dealer wanted me to bring back my tractor and exchange it of another new tractor. My first tractor was a 2014 tier3 tractor with 3.7 hours. I returned it with 5.7 hours. The new tractor he offered me was a tier 4 with 1.7 hours. I assume it is a 2015. At first I thought I might try return it and try to get a new yanmar that he had. But after reading a post on this forum I decided that tractor was not for me. After all research I did I really did not want a tier 4. All the scare stories that read is why I was in a hurry to get the tier 3 that I got. So last night I crammed 3 hours of research in before bedtime. So after just studying up on this single issue I was enlightened. yes this extra garbage seams unneeded and is infringing on my right to pollute . But after my findings I am excited to check it out in person. I understand there is two versions, a system that requires a liquid injected into this system and a system that requires nothing. The cummings engine used in the Branson's the compact tractors like my 4520r does not require the liquid. Cummings did the home work. So I made my journey to hermiston and dropped of the broken branson . Ken pulls out the new tractor and I was sold as soon as he fired it up. First of all there is no diesel smell. It is less noisy . Runs smoother and seams to rev up and have better power. And no soot on the frame of the tractor. My research tells me that the the large atomic bomb looking gizmo on top of the engine will last 2000 hours before needing replacement. That's 20 years for me. There is other improvements on the tractor like a better looking hood and head lights. It has a much nicer joy stik for the loader.it has better set of rear tires.i think the seat is even upgraded.this tractor should have cost me 1500.00 more. But Bonneys ag offered it to me for no extra charge. So I took it. I feel it was my lucky day . Ken even filled my trucks gas tank for the trip home. Bonneys ag took a real bad situation for me and made it a great experience. I am going to start another thread on the tier3, 4 topic. It is pretty interesting.

Good to hear.I think you have found a great dealer to stay with.Good luck.

wd5mhz · Mar 19, 2014

Glad to hear you cant be a dealer willing to go the extra mile!!!

bjr · Mar 20, 2014

The only negative I can say is from "my" experience is MOST farm type tractors just are not made to go "Dig Dirt". If that is what you have to do then you need a construction style machine. When I purchase my smaller import farm tractor I knew before hand I would never have a FEL on it. If I need to go Dig Dirt I will rent a machine for that purpose. I too have done research and there is a fair amount of broken in two tractors from this use. I have twelve years on my tractor now and haven't had any major issues. I have purposely not mention the brand of my tractor as I do not have time for some sophomoric pissing contest. Good Day. bjr

MHarryE · Mar 20, 2014

You have a great dealer to agree making the even swap.

The power train on your tractor should be rigged enough to handle anything you can throw at it. Even though it is a compact utility tractor it is not a lawn tractor made only to pull itself. Whether you are scraping dirt with the loader or pulling a disk, plow, or other tillage tool the power train is transmitting the same load.

The one thing we are all missing out on is that your problem was solved by the dealer giving you a new tractor. Will he tell you what broke on the old one? You said it was the 4wd that went out. Does that mean the rears were still driving okay? I remember some people saying the front drive shaft on their tractor had a splined coupler between the front axle and drive shaft with a pin going through the shaft to keep it in place. Pin left out, coupler slid back and when putting power to it, there was only a tad engagement so it popped back stripping a slight bit of spline.

Camastown · Mar 21, 2014

MHarryE said:
You have a great dealer to agree making the even swap.

The power train on your tractor should be rigged enough to handle anything you can throw at it. Even though it is a compact utility tractor it is not a lawn tractor made only to pull itself. Whether you are scraping dirt with the loader or pulling a disk, plow, or other tillage tool the power train is transmitting the same load.

The one thing we are all missing out on is that your problem was solved by the dealer giving you a new tractor. Will he tell you what broke on the old one? You said it was the 4wd that went out. Does that mean the rears were still driving okay? I remember some people saying the front drive shaft on their tractor had a splined coupler between the front axle and drive shaft with a pin going through the shaft to keep it in place. Pin left out, coupler slid back and when putting power to it, there was only a tad engagement so it popped back stripping a slight bit of spline.

AT first I thought it was pretty serious . The noise that was coming from the rear of the sounded pretty bad and member of this forum had the same noise and I think he had a issue with the ring and pinion.The next day when I went to load the tractor that noise went away. Just the 4wheel drive wasn't working . I think the dealer was leaning towards the pto fuse link popping. The owner of bonneys AG said he will keep me posted about what happened to the tractor. I think with the shortage of tier 3 tractors out there he will have no problem selling that tractor . The tier 4 tractor I got is awesome. I moved dirt on my motocross track for 2 hours yesterday with no problems and never smelled any diesel exhaust. It has great power and is really quite. Funny how things work out sometimes.

k0ua · Mar 21, 2014

Camastown said:
AT first I thought it was pretty serious . The noise that was coming from the rear of the sounded pretty bad and member of this forum had the same noise and I think he had a issue with the ring and pinion.The next day when I went to load the tractor that noise went away. Just the 4wheel drive wasn't working . I think the dealer was leaning towards the pto fuse link popping. The owner of bonneys AG said he will keep me posted about what happened to the tractor. I think with the shortage of tier 3 tractors out there he will have no problem selling that tractor . The tier 4 tractor I got is awesome. I moved dirt on my motocross track for 2 hours yesterday with no problems and never smelled any diesel exhaust. It has great power and is really quite. Funny how things work out sometimes.

I am glad to hear you did not get just good service, you got above and beyond the call service. WOW, a new tractor, I don't think many dealers would have taken care of you like that, regardless of brand. I don't know what happened to your first tractor, but I have sure dug a lot of dirt with a FEL on the various tractors I have owned, including digging down a complete hillside to make a burm for shooting. I haven't broken anything yet. Sure tractors are not bulldozers, but if you use common sense, you can do a lot of dirt work with them. Again, a more than happy ending.:thumbsup: Oh, an as a Kioti owner I won't "hate" on your Branson. I have owned several brands, including 2 Kubota's before this Kioti.