cannot believe the difference

milkie62 · Sep 9, 2009

I have a Kubota L305 4wd with a 79 ci engine.It weighs around 2200-2400 lbs before loaded tires.It has a fel.I just rented a Challenger 265 compact with fel.It has a 91 ci engine and weighs about 2700 lbs before loaded tires.I could not believe the difference in power.The Challenger ate the Kubota for lunch.The kubota only has 1100 hrs and is around a 1979-1980.The challenger is a 2004 model with a little over 300 hrs.The kubota is a dog compared to it and could never carry in the bucket what the Challenger can.is there that much change in technology over the years ???

Ductape · Sep 9, 2009

Hmmmm.............. is there much difference between a 79 Corvette and today's Corvette? 1979's 3/4 ton pickup and today's?

Definitely alot of improvement in the past thirty years.

Ken45101 · Sep 9, 2009

It would be interesting to compare the HP of the two tractors. I checked ritchiespecs.com but they don't show a 305.

Diesel technology has come a long way in the past 30 years, and I would think especially in small diesel engines. It wouldn't surprise me if that newer tractor had twice the hp between the larger displacement and the newer design.

Ken

MarkV · Sep 9, 2009

Horsepower is one thing but when you talk loaders it is all about hydraulic power. Newer tractors have much stronger hydraulics than those of the past.

MarkV

Builder · Sep 9, 2009

I used to have a '79 Kubota 285DT. It was ~28HP. I think the 305 was ~30HP.

The Challenger 265 is 33HP. That's only ~10% more, so the difference in engine power is not that great. The total hdydraulic pump flow GPM is 12.7-13.7 on the Challenger 265. Don't know Kubota 305 GPM.

Diamondpilot · Sep 9, 2009

You are right builder, the 305 is 30 HP. The hydro flow is about 6 gpm. Now as you all know the flow only controls the speed. The pressure and design of the FEL has more to do with what it will lift.

Not that it matters much but I show the 265 as weighing about 3,200# so that helps.

Like the others said, there is a big difference in stuff with age. It gets better all the time. The example of a 3/4 ton truck is perfect. Today's 1/2 tons are more truck then the 3/4 tons of 15 years ago.

Chris

milkie62 · Sep 9, 2009

My 305 kubota has no pickup at all when it starts lugging down.And forget about using 4th gear high range unless you are completely level.I was always worried about getting a new tractor--I have been kicking tires for about 5 yrs now.I have a 1958 MF 65 that is starting to get tired but still keeps kicking along with the kubota 305 with the semi-junky kelly loader.Well anyway all my big implements are sized for the 176 ci gas engine that the Massey has,the kubota could never pull the plows or the disks.I have been trying to compare newer diesels to my 176 ci gas for power.I think if I go with the 1552 massey with 4wd that i should have no problem after seeing how much grunt that 265 challenger had with a small engine.The 1552 has double the displacement.

Builder · Sep 10, 2009

milkie62 said:
My 305 kubota has no pickup at all when it starts lugging down.And forget about using 4th gear high range unless you are completely level.I was always worried about getting a new tractor--I have been kicking tires for about 5 yrs now.I have a 1958 MF 65 that is starting to get tired but still keeps kicking along with the kubota 305 with the semi-junky kelly loader.Well anyway all my big implements are sized for the 176 ci gas engine that the Massey has,the kubota could never pull the plows or the disks.I have been trying to compare newer diesels to my 176 ci gas for power.I think if I go with the 1552 massey with 4wd that i should have no problem after seeing how much grunt that 265 challenger had with a small engine.The 1552 has double the displacement.

I have a '05 AGCO Challenger MT285B the equivalent of a Massey 1547. It's a 47.5HP 180 cu in. engine tractor with 3 range hydrostatic. Your 1552 is even more powerful. These tractors are made by Iseki in japan. They are pretty nice. The AC & heat in the cab is great. Plenty of power. Engine starts in very cold weather with out complaining. Powerful hydraulics.

MessickFarmEqu · Sep 10, 2009

Yea, what your finding there is the difference in hydraulic power. Todays little subcompacts have as much hydraulic flow as that L305 does... things have changed more than a little over the last 30 years.

Diamondpilot · Sep 10, 2009

Not a Bota or Massey but I have a gas 172cu in Ford 861 PowerMaster that is something like 48HP. If you are not familiar with the 800 series Fords they look like a 8N but about 50% bigger. Anyway I bought a 28HP 94 cu in Jinma diesel 4x4 and it will pull the guts out of the 861. The only place the 861 can beat the Jinma is in applications that are pure PTO like running a chipper. My Jinma will pull a 2 bottom plow and a 11' disc like its nothing and the 861 will struggle and forget the plow in virgin soil. The guy down the street has a older Ford 961 which is even bigger and he can not believe how these little compacts will work!

Chris