Buying Advice - Kioti, LS, TYM Compact Tractors

[DK35vince]

I always loved those old JD/Yanmar 790 and 990 tractors because there was very little plastic on them. They looked and felt solid.

I had a JD 850 years ago and it was a solid machine.
I looked at a JD 790 when I was tractor shopping in 2001, I didn't like anything about it.
Seating position was awful, the ROPS didn't fold and the front axle looked like a tooth pick compared to other machines in its class or price range. My opinion

 

[jyoutz]

I had a JD 850 years ago and it was a solid machine.
I looked at a JD 790 when I was tractor shopping in 2001, I didn't like anything about it.
Seating position was awful, the ROPS didn't fold and the front axle looked like a tooth pick compared to other machines in its class or price range. My opinion

I never owned one, just liked them. I have a folding ROPs on my MX but have never used that feature. I have a canopy mounted on top, so a folding ROPs is of no value to me.

 

[arrow]

I always loved those old JD/Yanmar 790 and 990 tractors because there was very little plastic on them. They looked and felt solid.

Personally, I think some of the best tractors JD ever put their name to.
Reliable as a stone cliff face.
Even pulled in a fossilized shark once

 

[AndyMA]

I never owned one, just liked them. I have a folding ROPs on my MX but have never used that feature. I have a canopy mounted on top, so a folding ROPs is of no value to me.

LOL I have the folding ROPs on my MX. I've folded it once. Takes a Gorilla to fold & unfold

 

[arrow]

I had a JD 850 years ago and it was a solid machine.
I looked at a JD 790 when I was tractor shopping in 2001, I didn't like anything about it.
Seating position was awful, the ROPS didn't fold and the front axle looked like a tooth pick compared to other machines in its class or price range. My opinion

I dunno.
The front axle at least on the 750, seemed pretty well braced when I got to look at it.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I'll double down on a couple great comments already given:
1. Shop the dealer. If the one guy feels slimy, he problably is!
2. I'm not good enough on math, but the lower cost and the 3.99% interest might cost you more over 6 years than the high price at 0.0%
3. I'm a fan of renting the right tool for the job--digging out the trees--then finishing up the work with the tractor

BTW, I like the Cub Cadet!

 

[sallyb]

Hi All,

I am wanting to get a compact tractor for some projects around my property, and to have a little fun with. I currently have a 1971 Cub Cadet 128 that's just for fun and a Cub Cadet XT2 for mowing and snowblowing duties.

My main uses for the tractor will be moving soil, rock, and gravel, grading and smoothing the property with a blade, and leveling certain sections of the property for aesthetics. And, well to be honest, to play with and tinker with. I will not be using the tractor for mowing. We have 2.5 acres, but the actual mowable land can easily be handled by the Cub Cadet. I'd also to try and pull down a grove of trees running along my driveway, they are all 6 inches in diameter or less.

I think I have narrowed my choices down to 3 different models.

Kioti CX2510HST
I've been quoted 21,050 at zero %. I like this tractor for the ergonomics of the cockpit and the overall weight of the tractor. Would the weight be a concern at all for the extra strain it will put on the engine over time?

LS MT225S
I've been quoted 19000 at zero %. Lots of things to like about the LS. 3 range, Yanmar engine, good ergonomics.

TYM T264
I've been quoted 16000 at 3.99%. The cheapest in the group, but offers the same features for the most part. Nothing to really not like about the T264.

They all have 6 year warranties, all three dealers are about 45 minutes from my house.

What do you all have to say about these models of tractors? Any model I don't have listed that you would suggest? The 21K mark is just about the top of the price range for me, I can't get too crazy with the spending.

Thanks for your time! Here's a photo of my 1971 128 for the heck of it.

Hi All,

I am wanting to get a compact tractor for some projects around my property, and to have a little fun with. I currently have a 1971 Cub Cadet 128 that's just for fun and a Cub Cadet XT2 for mowing and snowblowing duties.

My main uses for the tractor will be moving soil, rock, and gravel, grading and smoothing the property with a blade, and leveling certain sections of the property for aesthetics. And, well to be honest, to play with and tinker with. I will not be using the tractor for mowing. We have 2.5 acres, but the actual mowable land can easily be handled by the Cub Cadet. I'd also to try and pull down a grove of trees running along my driveway, they are all 6 inches in diameter or less.

I think I have narrowed my choices down to 3 different models.

Kioti CX2510HST
I've been quoted 21,050 at zero %. I like this tractor for the ergonomics of the cockpit and the overall weight of the tractor. Would the weight be a concern at all for the extra strain it will put on the engine over time?

LS MT225S
I've been quoted 19000 at zero %. Lots of things to like about the LS. 3 range, Yanmar engine, good ergonomics.

TYM T264
I've been quoted 16000 at 3.99%. The cheapest in the group, but offers the same features for the most part. Nothing to really not like about the T264.

They all have 6 year warranties, all three dealers are about 45 minutes from my house.

What do you all have to say about these models of tractors? Any model I don't have listed that you would suggest? The 21K mark is just about the top of the price range for me, I can't get too crazy with the spending.

Thanks for your time! Here's a photo of my 1971 128 for the heck of it.

I own Branson/Tym 2910i and before this tractor a Kioti 35horse and a BeaverIii comparable to your Cub Cadet, I bought Kioti new , the dealer is wonderful, the tractor is a little light on the back end, I sold Kioti broke even and bought the Branson I found in a field some 2 yrs. before I bought Kioti, Branson seems wider , on hindsight due to Branson not being able to have readily available parts, I would have kept the Kioti, I still have BeaverIii after being recovered from thieves and my brother is putting it back together. You have quite decision to make, I did talk to JD dealer and they were so rude I left and won’t go back. If I buy another tractor it will be Kubota.

 

[nknelsen]

Hi All,

I am wanting to get a compact tractor for some projects around my property, and to have a little fun with. I currently have a 1971 Cub Cadet 128 that's just for fun and a Cub Cadet XT2 for mowing and snowblowing duties.

My main uses for the tractor will be moving soil, rock, and gravel, grading and smoothing the property with a blade, and leveling certain sections of the property for aesthetics. And, well to be honest, to play with and tinker with. I will not be using the tractor for mowing. We have 2.5 acres, but the actual mowable land can easily be handled by the Cub Cadet. I'd also to try and pull down a grove of trees running along my driveway, they are all 6 inches in diameter or less.

I think I have narrowed my choices down to 3 different models.

Kioti CX2510HST
I've been quoted 21,050 at zero %. I like this tractor for the ergonomics of the cockpit and the overall weight of the tractor. Would the weight be a concern at all for the extra strain it will put on the engine over time?

LS MT225S
I've been quoted 19000 at zero %. Lots of things to like about the LS. 3 range, Yanmar engine, good ergonomics.

TYM T264
I've been quoted 16000 at 3.99%. The cheapest in the group, but offers the same features for the most part. Nothing to really not like about the T264.

They all have 6 year warranties, all three dealers are about 45 minutes from my house.

What do you all have to say about these models of tractors? Any model I don't have listed that you would suggest? The 21K mark is just about the top of the price range for me, I can't get too crazy with the spending.

Thanks for your time! Here's a photo of my 1971 128 for the heck of it.

I can't comment on the 2nd and 3rd on your list. But I do have a 2021 Kioti CX2510HST. This compact tractor replaced an earlier and much loved Sub Compact Kioti CS2410HST.

I've had the CX for almost three years and I've had no trouble with it. It is much more capable than the CS yet it still has the Mid mounted mowing deck that I needed.

I would recommend Kioti to anyone. I looked at JD and Kubota before buying the CS. And I bought the CX without looking at any other brands.

Here in Canada the price for the CX is 8000 cheaper than the Kubota and 20000 cheaper than the JD. Both manufacturers produce great serviceable tractors. But my decision to buy Kioti was cemented by something else,

The Kubota uses a treadle pedal for their HST transmission. I've tried the treadle pedal and it just isn't comfortable for me to use for extended periods of time And at least some Kubota models use a cast aluminum rear axle. (Long story short, I've had these aluminum axles break twice on me in my professional career for a company that I was working for when plowing sidewalks in Toronto). I usually end up adding weights to the three pt hitch anytime I'm moving a lot of dirt with the loader, so I'm not sure why a tractor company would use anything other than cast iron. Maybe they have a great reason, but it doesn't fit with my uses.

The John Deere has many great features and is certainly an awesome and durable tractor. But the extra 20000 saved can go to any number of other places and I'm sure most readers will appreciate this part of the equation and secondly, the JD uses a proprietary loader bucket attachment. That means you can't use SSQA or Skid steer quick attachment toys on the front. This will do one of two things and maybe both, it will most likely make the cost of attachments more and it will limit the number of attachments available to purchase. I would guess that the SSQA represents 80% of the market, making them more plentiful and cheaper in both the new and used segments.

Sorry that I don't have anything to add about the other two tractors on your list, but I can and will promote the Kioti brand and the 2 that I've owned so far have been simply fantastic with no trouble and only regular maintenance needed.

 

[jyoutz]

I can't comment on the 2nd and 3rd on your list. But I do have a 2021 Kioti CX2510HST. This compact tractor replaced an earlier and much loved Sub Compact Kioti CS2410HST.

I've had the CX for almost three years and I've had no trouble with it. It is much more capable than the CS yet it still has the Mid mounted mowing deck that I needed.

I would recommend Kioti to anyone. I looked at JD and Kubota before buying the CS. And I bought the CX without looking at any other brands.

Here in Canada the price for the CX is 8000 cheaper than the Kubota and 20000 cheaper than the JD. Both manufacturers produce great serviceable tractors. But my decision to buy Kioti was cemented by something else,

The Kubota uses a treadle pedal for their HST transmission. I've tried the treadle pedal and it just isn't comfortable for me to use for extended periods of time And at least some Kubota models use a cast aluminum rear axle. (Long story short, I've had these aluminum axles break twice on me in my professional career for a company that I was working for when plowing sidewalks in Toronto). I usually end up adding weights to the three pt hitch anytime I'm moving a lot of dirt with the loader, so I'm not sure why a tractor company would use anything other than cast iron. Maybe they have a great reason, but it doesn't fit with my uses.

The John Deere has many great features and is certainly an awesome and durable tractor. But the extra 20000 saved can go to any number of other places and I'm sure most readers will appreciate this part of the equation and secondly, the JD uses a proprietary loader bucket attachment. That means you can't use SSQA or Skid steer quick attachment toys on the front. This will do one of two things and maybe both, it will most likely make the cost of attachments more and it will limit the number of attachments available to purchase. I would guess that the SSQA represents 80% of the market, making them more plentiful and cheaper in both the new and used segments.

Sorry that I don't have anything to add about the other two tractors on your list, but I can and will promote the Kioti brand and the 2 that I've owned so far have been simply fantastic with no trouble and only regular maintenance needed.

What model Kubota has a cast aluminum rear axle? I’m aware that JD does that, not Kubota.

 

[nknelsen]

What model Kubota has a cast aluminum rear axle? I’m aware that JD does that, not Kubota.

To be honest, I'm not sure if Kubota still uses aluminum since the treadle pedal turned me off Kubota before I actually Sat on one. The Kubota tractors that I know are aluminum are the 3030 model from at least 2007-2010. My boss bought 15 of them for a sidewalk plowing contract in Toronto that I was a Manager for. All 15 machines arrived with the wrong, Wide wheel package and not the narrow package. Dealer told us to use the plows while waiting for the narrow wheels to arrive. (Some tractors have wheels that can be repositioned for different widths, not these).

Well if anyone has done any amount of sidewalk plowing you know that proper width is crucial for two reasons. 1, you don't want your operators to hit cars, telephone poles or fire hydrants and 2, before frost sets in the wide wheels ride OFF the concrete sidewalk and sometimes cause significant damage to the grass, which as part of our contract required our forces to fix in the spring.

Getting to the aluminum part.

On two separate plowing operations a week apart, two different operators slightly clipped (different machines on different routes with different operators and both with the wide wheels)the 1" bung nut that sits on the front of a fire hydrant main cap directly adjacent to a sidewalk. In both cases the slight impact, that didn't take the paint off the rim where it impacted, broke the rear axle completely, I'm not talking about a little break, neither machine would drive and neither machine had all four wheels on the ground.

These were both freak accidents that may never happen again. But when you add this plus the treadle pedal issue and to the fact that the dealer refused to help fix it since it was our operators that hit the hydrant. And when you consider that extra weight is usually beneficial on a tractor I'm not sure why a company would choose aluminum.

Sorry for the innacuracy. And I had no idea that JD used aluminum as well. Maybe the smaller tractors are attempting to be lighter for cutting grass? I cut grass with mine, and it is heavy. But I have a wet lot, especially in the spring and I'm fine with turf tires. I guess some may want aluminum, but not Me.