Buying a new tractor

[Ledgemere Farm]

I was looking for at John Deere's 30 to 40HP range. My salesman told me that for the money the 5103 would be the best tractor

My brother just bought that same tractor. It is a great Plain-Jane machine. The only thing I thought strange was that, according to the dealer, the loader is not quickly attached/detached. My brother did NOT buy a loader, so that's strictly hearsay..

 

[Dutch445]

He's right, those 510 loaders for the 03 tractors are not quick tatch. There is a kit with parking stands and quick couplers for the hydraulics, but that doesn't mean it comes off like the 400 loaders. It's just not quite as easy,, pulling pins etc.
I don't think its meant to come off daily, but occasionally wouldn't be too bad.

 

[PM1]

I have a JD 5203 with a 510 loader, and I agree it's a ton of tractor for the money. Yes, it's 2wd with a collar-shift transmission, but it also has 47hp at the PTO, fully independent PTO, and 11gpm hydraulics feeding the loader. All of that (tractor+loader) was a grand total of $15,800 brand-spanking-new -- of course your dealer price may vary.

The 510 loader certainly isn't a quick-attach model, although it can be removed if necessary. The 521 loader also fits the 5X03 tractors -- it's designed to be quick-attach and is only a little more expensive.

 

[johnbilt]

Great Question! I have a 990 and have been very happy with it. It's a great value. I would imagine that it would perform adequately for you with the right bush hog. But, you can't beat extra horsepower and weight if you can afford to buy larger.

 

[tough451]

I have 45 acres and a Poultry house so I needed a Tractor and I chose a Utility model because it is more farm oreineted.
I looked hard at the 5203 because all I wanted was a heavy simple made tractor and this tractor fit the bill ,In the end I went with a 451 Massey because by the time I added remotes too the Deere it was more expensive than the Massey that came stock with dual remotes.
I think you will be happier in the long run with the 5000 series Deere or comparable other brand.
Good luck

 

[Turner]

Thanks for your response and advice. From this question, you will see that I am new to this, but what are dual remotes?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> what are dual remotes? </font>


On the back end of a tractor you can add a hydraulic quick attach coupling or two. These hydraulic outels are typically called remotes. They are used for controlling hydraulic top links, side links, or powering the dump cylinder of a 3pt cement mixer, or hydraulic ram for a 3p log splitter, etc. Most compact tractors come standard with no remotes, most can have 1 added, some can have 2 added. On the larger tractors and agricultural tractors it is much more common to find a couple remotes.

 

[Turner]

What would be the right bush hog for the 990?

 

[benjey]

Does anyone know the difference between the JD 510 and 512 loaders for the 5102, 5103 tractors? One dealer said there is no difference. Another said the decal is the difference.

 

[tough451]

If my memory serves me right this tractor should pull a 6ft bush hog but you need to take into condsideration tractor weight bushog weight weight and the lay of you land for safety reasons. I did test the 5203 with a 6ft Bush Hog brand bush hog the tractor did not know it was there. Maybe some of the 990 owners will speak up and give their opinons.
My gut tell's me you should still really consider the 5003 series or comparable utility tractors.
What ever you decide Good Luck