Cadillac of tractors?

[Builder]

Why no JD listed in your sig?

Because it's my 18HP Garden tractor, so it's hardly worth listing in my signature.

One other thing you are paying for in the more expensive brands is dealer networks, parts & service availability.

 

[Ken45101]

My local Kubota salesman told me yesterday that Kubota & JD both hover around 37% market share.

I would certainly think that depends on which market one is measuring. In the "large tractor" market (e.g. over 150 HP or so), I don't think Kubota is in the running. Around here, all the big stuff is JD and MF, probably more MF than JD.

Of course the JD salesman said JD's are just a step above everybody else

While JD's large tractors are probably top notch, their low end is rebadged Middle and Far East (India, Turkey, I think) and I doubt that they are a step above the competition.

Just trying to get a salesman to talk to you about a 50HP JD around here is a challenge :laughing:

I have a JD skidsteer, but the rest of my equipment is Kubota. I had a NH TT60A for a short while, but traded it in with 32 hours on it for a bigger Kubota. Again, the low end NH tractors are made in the Middle East and apparently aren't comparable to the better NH equipment.

Ken

 

[JerryTSummers]

I would consider the L39 kubota, JD110, JCB mini. All three are really nice machines. They are your smaller construction grade machines. I believe that they all have swivel seats if your using a backhoe. It's much nicer to spin your seat around to move ahead, than getting off and moving around the back. Additionally, you can transport them by a 3/4 to 1 ton truck . If your going with a TLB, make sure that you can perform more than one function at a time,(retract boom, and swing at the same time etc).
I have a Kubota L2800 HST with BH75. I love the machine. It does a ton of work(pardon the pun), but the BH gets a bit slow when doing 2 functions at once.

You may temporarily satisfy your tractor fever, with a smaller machine, but you will not cure it, it will only lead to a larger case of tractor fever which will only be cured by an additional 35K to 40K expenditure for a larger machine.

 

[buck12]

the only problem with plastic I see is long term age and uv degredation.

metal, while it will dent, can be repaired fairly easily, and if you keep paint on it can last 70+ years.. EASY Plastic? hmm.. even the good 'space age' stuff seems to fall prey to getting brittle int he sun over the long term.. plus it's harder for the layman to repair.

soundguy

I agree. When I bought my Mahindra it had a good sized dent in the hood. I simply took the hood off laid it on a thick towel on the work bench and with few taps of a rubber mallet and a little Mahindra red paint she looks great. If I knew how to better feather the paint nobody would be able to notice the dent. On the other hand when I cracked the deere plastic it took much longer and the repair looks much worse. I have a friend that is JD mechanic trained at a JD training center. He owns the same mower as I do and had to replace his hood. He said he prefers the metal hoods on larger JD tractors. He said the week link on the mowers is the hand hole used to open the hood.

 

[beppington]

Just realized, another "top brand" example is Stihl. I have their pole pruner, weedeater and blower, & they are awesome machines. You do pay more, actually a lot more. I used to always see pro's around town using them, & now I know why.

 

[flusher]

Just realized, another "top brand" example is Stihl. I have their pole pruner, weedeater and blower, & they are awesome machines. You do pay more, actually a lot more. I used to always see pro's around town using them, & now I know why.

Same way with string mowers (weed whackers). I bought a $179 Ryobi that lasted less than 15 hours before the engine siezed. Got a pro-grade Tanaka for $369 and have been using it now for 5 seasons and probably have over 100 hours on it with no problems.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree. When I bought my Mahindra it had a good sized dent in the hood. I simply took the hood off laid it on a thick towel on the work bench and with few taps of a rubber mallet and a little Mahindra red paint she looks great. If I knew how to better feather the paint nobody would be able to notice the dent. On the other hand when I cracked the deere plastic it took much longer and the repair looks much worse. I have a friend that is JD mechanic trained at a JD training center. He owns the same mower as I do and had to replace his hood. He said he prefers the metal hoods on larger JD tractors. He said the week link on the mowers is the hand hole used to open the hood.

yep.. I only have fords and NH's with metal hoods.. don't like them plastic and FG hoods.

Heck.. even my old rider mower is a metal hood style murray

soudnguy

 

[Builder]

I agree. When I bought my Mahindra it had a good sized dent in the hood. I simply took the hood off laid it on a thick towel on the work bench and with few taps of a rubber mallet and a little Mahindra red paint she looks great. If I knew how to better feather the paint nobody would be able to notice the dent. On the other hand when I cracked the deere plastic it took much longer and the repair looks much worse. I have a friend that is JD mechanic trained at a JD training center. He owns the same mower as I do and had to replace his hood. He said he prefers the metal hoods on larger JD tractors. He said the week link on the mowers is the hand hole used to open the hood.

Be more careful next time and plastic will be your freind forever. :laughing:
How could you dare dent your hood?

 

[Soundguy]

Be more careful next time and plastic will be your freind forever. :laughing:

plastic? long term?

yeah....

soundguy

 

[buck12]

Just realized, another "top brand" example is Stihl. I have their pole pruner, weedeater and blower, & they are awesome machines. You do pay more, actually a lot more. I used to always see pro's around town using them, & now I know why.

Interesting you brought up Stihl. I was at the local Stihl dealer last week and noticed he now also carries Kawasaki string trimmers. This place has carried the Stihl for as long as I can remember. I asked the parts guy about the Kawasaki trimmers and he said he preferred the Kawasaki.