City boy shopping for first tractor

[RoyJackson]

Does that apply to a novice?

edit: Also a second or two every time you go in for a load seems like it would add up Roy.

Actually, if you have any experience driving a manual in a car or truck...but as a novice, you'll be learning a lot of things...and going pretty slow as you learn. Learning to use the clutch will be one of the easiest of skills to acquire.

As far as adding up...well, I reckon that depends on how big a hurry you're in. I don't make money on a tractor (good thing too!), so I can't say I'm ever in a rush to get done...rushing makes for accidents. And a second or two adds up to maybe 15 minutes over an 8 hour shift. You'll take more breaks then that.
Now, if I was a commercial operator, I'd probably go for the hydro...especially if there were more then one operator.

I'm not even going to try to convince you one way or the other. It's your money...spend it as you wish and is what is more comfortable for you and Cindy.

 

[john_bud]

Actually Roy, I have both a straight gear tractor and HST. The HST makes 2.5 round trips for every one the gear tractor makes. That's a lot.

Geedub,
The tractors you selected were all about 40 pto HP or less. Yeah the "gross" is 45 or more, but the PTO hp is less than your target. Still, the prices are more competitive than I thought!

jb

 

[Pete Milley]

geedub:
You haven't even bought a tractor yet and you're talking about resale value? Did you stress over seperate maintenance before choosing a wife? Don't you realize a tractor becomes part of the family after you buy it? City folks! lol

 

[geedub]

geedub:
You haven't even bought a tractor yet and you're talking about resale value? Did you stress over seperate maintenance before choosing a wife? Don't you realize a tractor becomes part of the family after you buy it? City folks! lol

Enjoy your laugh Pete, I'm just trying to add up any benefits of HST. The funny thing is that most of this thread is about the one feature I said I had made my mind up about. Country Folk!

John_bud, I've been referring to engine horsepower, I probably should have specified. So do you think I'd be serving Cindy well by choosing any of the tractors I linked to?

 

[RoyJackson]

Actually Roy, I have both a straight gear tractor and HST. The HST makes 2.5 round trips for every one the gear tractor makes. That's a lot.

LOL!!! Maybe I'm just better with a clutch then you are!

Geedub

John_bud, I've been referring to engine horsepower, I probably should have specified. So do you think I'd be serving Cindy well by choosing any of the tractors I linked to?

I'd suggest running down to your local Kubota and NH dealers. At least set on the models you selected on Tractor House to get a feel for them and the controls.
I did notice all those machines are more then your budget...and don't forget taxes (if applicable) and shipping costs (figure $1.50-$2.50 per mile for delivery)

 

[madpogue]

It doesn't activate the brake, but you slow down pretty quickly.

Wouldn't be any help to me; on my slopes, going downhill, the engine driving the machine keeps it from running away. If getting off the pedal on an HST effectively puts it in "neutral", that would be a bad thing for me

I'll bet you don't use cruise control in the parking lot of the grocery store.

I bicycle to the grocery store, most trips...

From what I've heard HST is simpler when using the FEL because you control your forward and reverse with your foot leaving one hand free to steer and the other to control the bucket.

This makes a lot of sense to me. If the gear selector on a collar-shifter were in a place akin to the location of a shifter in a car, it wouldn't be a big deal. And esp. if reverse and whatever forward gear you choose (probably first gear of the selected range) were synchronized. But I'm reaching way down btw. my legs to throw a pretty stubby lever to select gears. Again, for my purposes (no FEL), no big whoop. And if you're carrying buckets-full for a distance with each load, I wouldn't think it would mean much. But if your work consists largely of, say, transferring buckets-full from a truck to an adjacent pile (or vice-versa), the HST pedals make more sense. As usual, it all depends on what you're doing with your machine. Diff'rent strokes....

 

[LBrown59]

You mentioned a 40hp. now and a 65hp later. Have you considered the special O% or low interest rates for longer term. That way you can get the 65 now and skip the 45 and save $$ in the long term..
In my situation I 'm taking advantage of the ZERO finacing and leaving money in Money Market.
On my L 5240 purchase.
Good Hunting thats part of the tractor buying fun!!
Frank

I took the 0% loan on my bx23 .
I left my money in good paying mutual funds.
This way the new BX 23 cost me about 3 or 4 thousand less than I would have had in a used BX23.

 

[geedub]

My frame of mind now is to get a tractor with +/- 45 engine HP. HP is the biggest question at the moment. The budget can be adjusted upwards if a tractor has extremely low hours or some other special feature or implement. I'm mostly considering used tractors, but LBrown59's suggestion has merit and I'll check into it.

 

[LBrown59]

With all the jobs you have coming I can see more than one tractor in your future. IMHO you can't find one tractor that will be suitable for all your needs. You will need big for some things and smaller for mowing and tree mowing.

I would suggest that you look into timber prices and have some ...not all your timber cut then use the proceeds from the sale to finance your new addiction to tractors and equipment. As a tree farmer you will be surprised how much of a tax break you can get from equip purchases that will help.

with that said 60 hp would be a good size to mow and move logs while 25 to 30 would be fine for garden and drive way maintenance.

I am SE Georgia and I have a wife and 20 acres of trees so similar but diff needs.

Good luck

Let me know if you want some dealer information for new stuff.

One needs at least 3 tractors.
Ya might get by with 2 but that's pushing it.
I had 5 till i sold one saturday.
Now i havta to buy 2 more to fix that.

 

[LBrown59]

madpogue, I can see your points, but you haven't really said much to change my mind about HST. You mentioned not wanting to have your foot committed to being on the pedal so that you can react quickly, but with HST stopping the tractor is as easy as lifting your (one) foot. When you drive your car you always have your foot on the gas...

The reason I think resale will be better with HST in the future is that the popularity of HST seems to be growing, especially with novices. More novices are buying tractors all the time. Are these statements incorrect anyone?

That leaves higher cost of HST. Can anyone guesstimate how much more a tractor with HST would be than an identical tractor with one of the other tranny's?

Gears on tractors are steppong back into the dark ages just like gears on cars is.
HA Ma Bell we don't use use your hand cranked wall phone any more.