Buying Advice Buying my first SCUT...So many options

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I've got a BX23 (TLB) and a BX2660. As you can see, I'm partial to Kubota. Don't know much about the Deere or Mahindra.

I'm sure there is plenty to like about each one of them. I find that the treadle pedal on the Kubota vs. the twin pedals on the JD and other tractors is a non-issue. You will quickly get used to whatever you get.

My biggest piece of advice to you would be to forget the MMM deck and keep your ZTR mower. My BX2660 came with a MMM. I used it a few times, got tired of taking it off and putting it back on, so I bought a used Woods 54" rear finish mower to mow the ditches and vacant lot, etc. with. And I bought a ZTR to mow the yard with. The ZTR is much faster and easier to get into tight spots than an SCUT with a MMM.

 

[jeff9366]

Assuming you have a truck, consider a York Rake for your driveway maintenance and for preparing food plots.

LINK: Model SUV/Pick Up [006008] - $4,161.00 : York Modern

I occasionally see used York Modern Model 6008 rakes for sale in the $400 to $600 range.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I was told that the Kubota's engine was superior to the competition in this tractors size and weight but I can not remember now who makes the little engine for mine versus who made the engine for JD .<snip>

I think Kubota is one of the few manufacturers that only use their own engine. Yanmar might be another. Deere is definitely not.

 

[nikerret]

Here's a comparison I did of a BX25 and a JD 1-Series.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/328518-2012-kubota-bx25-tlb-vs.html

 

[AxleHub]

I find that the treadle pedal on the Kubota vs. the twin pedals on the JD and other tractors is a non-issue. You will quickly get used to whatever you get.

.

I disagree. If you are average sized or small sized and have no ankle, calf, knee or sciatic issues . . then treadle pedal or 2 pedals is just a choice. But for many many users having dual pedals is much preferred.

1. Your leg position on a treadle pedal is at 90 degrees or greater . . but with 2 pedals it is at less than 90 degrees all the time. If you drive a car or truck . . most would not choose to drive 2 or 3 or 4 hours with their knee at a 90 to 110 degree angle yet operating a treadle requres that.

2. Dual pedals is always the same down pressure to the front of the foot. But treadle use requires substantially more range of motion movement of the ankle/calf/knee because you use forward and backward movements on a treadle and considerably greater ankle movement in addition to knee positioning.

3. Tall or larger operators have greater leg room with dual pedals than with a treadle again because of the knee bend situation and the directions of movement required on a treadle.

4. If a user has any type of prosthetic device for his right foot . . It will make a difference.

I spoke with someone recently who was a young healthy tractor owner. He had only recently purchased a scut and was very thankful he had aquired a scut with dual pedals. He had sprained his knee playing softball and would not have been able to use his tractor if it had a treadle oedal for a few weeks . . but with dual pedals he was running it safely and comfortably.

And then there's boots and winter clothing issues and sensitivity etc. etc. .

 

[RalphVa]

Of the 3 machines I've had: JD 4010, JD 1025R and JD 2025R, the 1025R was the worst. Very rough engine, bad FEL control. The gentle on to the PTO and position control on the 3ph were good, as was the seat comfort. The 2025R has been the best, but it's only now coming up on its 50 hour service. Had the 4010 for 660 hours with no troubles until the driveshaft blew apart (probably due to the abrupt PTO startups). Went about 160 hours on the 1025R before trading it back in after declaring it a lemon (oil leakage; throttle wouldn't hold, etc.). No warranty calls on the 4010 and none so far on the 2025R, which is identical to the 4010 except for position control and some other goodies built in. Best FEL of any of the 3.

Looked at a Kubota B2301, but the sales guy hadn't really gotten it presentable. On spreadsheet, it ranked better than the JD, but the Kubota dealer is way farther away than the skip and jump trip to the JD dealer.

If you have any uneven terrain or brush at all, don't get any SCUT with underbelly HST cooler like is on the BXs.

Ralph

 

[AxleHub]

If you have any uneven terrain or brush at all, don't get any SCUT with underbelly HST cooler like is on the BXs.

Kubota BX product is certainly substantial and capable equipment. And I don't believe anyone would deny that its HST cooler fan is its weakest link for exposure or damage. But companies like Bro Tek make underside shields to protect that weakness. Of course it is does get damaged its expensive to repair/replace on the Kubota BX product because it is labor intensive (my understanding).

But I'm not familiar with any scuts that don't have HST coolers . . but some manufacturers do a much better job than others in protecting them with better locations and much easier access for repair.

As an example: my Massey GC1715 has a hst cooler fan and even without a Bro Tek shield . . the fan is better protected and much easier to service relating to labor and part costs.

I believe you can't eliminate the major choices from consideration . . just because they all need hst cooling for longevity.

 

[TripleR]

Our John Deere 1025R doesn't have the vulnerable HST cooling fan like the 2305 or our BXs. The fan is a non issue with Bro Tek, but I'd like to see BX go the route of he JD.

 

[brasco426]

My Mahindra Max hydro cooling is piped up to the radiator area, and the coil is cooled via the radiator fan.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I disagree. If you are average sized or small sized and have no ankle, calf, knee or sciatic issues . . then treadle pedal or 2 pedals is just a choice. But for many many users having dual pedals is much preferred.

1. Your leg position on a treadle pedal is at 90 degrees or greater . . but with 2 pedals it is at less than 90 degrees all the time. If you drive a car or truck . . most would not choose to drive 2 or 3 or 4 hours with their knee at a 90 to 110 degree angle yet operating a treadle requres that.

2. Dual pedals is always the same down pressure to the front of the foot. But treadle use requires substantially more range of motion movement of the ankle/calf/knee because you use forward and backward movements on a treadle and considerably greater ankle movement in addition to knee positioning.

3. Tall or larger operators have greater leg room with dual pedals than with a treadle again because of the knee bend situation and the directions of movement required on a treadle.

4. If a user has any type of prosthetic device for his right foot . . It will make a difference.

I spoke with someone recently who was a young healthy tractor owner. He had only recently purchased a scut and was very thankful he had aquired a scut with dual pedals. He had sprained his knee playing softball and would not have been able to use his tractor if it had a treadle oedal for a few weeks . . but with dual pedals he was running it safely and comfortably.

And then there's boots and winter clothing issues and sensitivity etc. etc. .

The Kubota treadle pedal does not require you to use your toe for going forward and heel for reverse. I use the ball of my foot to go forward and then either put my toe under the pedal and pull up (there's a flange that sticks out from the side of the pedal for that purpose) or use my heel to reverse.

To me, it's 6 of one or a half dozen of the other. My Kioti DK50SE has twin pedals and I like them. My Kubotas both have treadle pedals and I like them. No issues switching from one machine to the other.

This always reminds me of the arguments I used to hear about the turn signals on BMW motorcycles. Instead of one unit with a switch you pushed left or right, there was a switch on each side - one near the left grip and one near the right grip. I owned BMWs and other bikes at the same time, and never had any issues switching from one bike to another. Other people loved one style and hated the other.