Clueless about tractors

[murphy1244]

Greetings teachu2,

Since getting forks to be used on my scut . . I often use pallets of different dimentions to move pato blocks or landscape blocks or concrete blocks or bags of heavy weight from spot to spot. The weight varies from a couple hundred pounds up to about 800+ pounds depending on need and physical size of the pallet. I wasn't referring to commercial palletizing.

And yep . . Sometimes automatic spellcheckers seem to re-interpret typed statements lol.

Tractor data says lift a full height is 670lbs TractorData.com Massey Ferguson GC1715 tractor attachments information

 

[AxleHub]

Tractor data says lift a full height is 670lbs TractorData.com Massey Ferguson GC1715 tractor attachments information

I recently requested catalog and brochures from Massey and in the same packet for the same loader were 2 different weight capacity numbers.

Massey 1700 series catalog both gc1700s and 1700s. Page 18 dl95 for gc1700s. Lift capacity at max lift at pivot pins 870 pounds

Massey compact Front Loader specifications sheet lify capacity to max height is 580 pounds.


Recognize proper rating should be at pin point because it is before bucket weight which is 155 pounds.

 

[jenkinsph]

Tractor data says lift a full height is 670lbs TractorData.com Massey Ferguson GC1715 tractor attachments information

If you put 400 lbs. in the bucket of a scut and drive around the property that can be very useful imo. When you stretch every specification to the maximum as some people do expect premature failure or an accident to happen.

When I look at your equipment list they are very different and all three are good choices for different types of jobs. That is a good selection to work with.

 

[art]

For building a house and later property work a Kubota BX 25D is like a swiss army knife for a home owner.

 

[Teachu2]

Greetings teachu2,

Since getting forks to be used on my scut . . I often use pallets of different dimentions to move pato blocks or landscape blocks or concrete blocks or bags of heavy weight from spot to spot. The weight varies from a couple hundred pounds up to about 800+ pounds depending on need and physical size of the pallet. I wasn't referring to commercial palletizing.

And yep . . Sometimes automatic spellcheckers seem to re-interpret typed statements lol.

Thank you for clarifying. Are you using SSQA forks?

 

[AxleHub]

Thank you for clarifying. Are you using SSQA forks?

No. I have a quick attach unit in my fel from mytractortools.com for the massey gc1700 series/loader dl95. I acquired a fork set from the same location and will be adfing 1 of their 4 grapple units shortly.

 

[wcampbell47]

When buying my first with the intent of gardening I looked at ground clearance of the tractor and for a unit with a Power Take Off. A 3 point PTO tiller is a work saver in gardening. For me the more ground clearance the better in gardening. Front End Loader - regardless of other options you choose get this one. It is like having 4 young men with you all the time to lift stuff, dig up stuff, move stuff without having the food/car/insurance bills to pay. It doesn't want to borrow the car and need $50 for a date either. Hydrostatic Transmission as opposed to gear is recommended. One with L, M and H ranges - not just low and high. With an FEL you definitely want 4 wheel drive. Guys that can smoothly and efficiently operate a gear drive tractor with FEL should make good helicopter pilots as both feet and hands are required at the same time. If you don't fly helicopters stick to the HST.

Mowing 2.5 acres - I maintain a property with just about that much area to mow. Guy on a zero turn 54" takes 4 hours. Experienced driver on a Ferris ZT. Me on my L3901 with 72" pull behind finish mower - 2 hours. Both together 45 minutes. Depends on how much tractor you are willing to buy as opposed to how many hours you want to spend mowing grass. If you have a high stress job go for the longer mowing time. Mowing seems to give you time to reflect on life.

My first was a 21 hp 3 cyl diesel "lawn mower on steriods" with FEL and 48" tow behind finish mower. Later got a 54" mid mount mower and a 48" tiller for gardening..
My second was a 32 hp 4 cyl diesel all decked out B3200 - "my last tractor". Just needed something bigger. HST 3 range.
My other "last tractor" a 37 hp 3 cyl diesel.

So why didn't I just buy my last tractor first?? I did not think I needed that big of a tractor. But I do.
Are you building the house or a contractor?? Regardless a big enough tractor to do real work in that project is a plus. So I have moved the bar way beyond that little big box rider!! Oh by the way a 27hp gas rider mower in now way compares to a 27hp diesel 4 wheel drive tractor.

I don't live in a snow area so I will leave those suggestions to someone that does.

 

[dragoneggs]

Short answer... SCUT.

Why I waited so long I don't know. As far as a backhoe... it is indeed a luxury and yes it may be hard to truly get $5000 worth of work out of it unless you have a huge amount of digging, trenching, etc. to do. BUT! Factor in the cost of a bad back or surgery and that $5000 is replaced with a healthy back, faster completion of jobs and a big smile and it is just dang fun besides being productive.

 

[RSKY]

Skip the SCUT and get a CUT. You will get a lot more work done faster. And get a good zero turn DESIGNED TO MOW GRASS. You will not regret it.

RSKY

 

[AxleHub]

Skip the SCUT and get a CUT. You will get a lot more work done faster. And get a good zero turn DESIGNED TO MOW GRASS. You will not regret it.

RSKY

I always marvel at how many people recommend getying bigger tractors. They claim they love opetating and running their tractirs . . .yet they always use speed and less time needing the tractor as some of the bigger reasons to get a bigger tractor. In other words when an op states he doesn't want or need to hurry the effort because he wants to enjoy the process . . many try to convince him to hurry the process along by getting bigger.

Thats how a friend of mine got talked into getting the wrong size. He wanted the advantage of a tractor but he also wanted to use it. He got bigger and his time using it was shortened too much and it wasn't fun and it wasn't convenient . . just faster. He sold it and got the size he'd originally wanted and he enjoys it much more.

My point is . . Nobody desires to waste time . . But often people don't want to "rush their lives away" either. Everyone doesn't want to live with the slogan "get ur done" in every conversation.


Just a perspective.

 

[DK35vince]

Mowing 2.5 acres - I maintain a property with just about that much area to mow. Guy on a zero turn 54" takes 4 hours. Experienced driver on a Ferris ZT. Me on my L3901 with 72" pull behind finish mower - 2 hours. Both together 45 minutes.

The guy running the zero turn needs to push those sticks ahead if its taking him 4 hours to mow 2.5 acres.

I recently measured my lawn.
The section I mow is 1034' long x 345' wide. So I'm mowing around 8 acres of lawn.
My 35 HP tractor with 84" rear finish mower takes me around 3 1/4 hours to mow.
My Hustler Super Z 35 HP 72" zero turn I can mow it in just over 2 hours.
My 3rd year with this zero turn and I'm still amazed at the speed it will mow.

 

[jenkinsph]

The guy running the zero turn needs to push those sticks ahead if its taking him 4 hours to mow 2.5 acres.

I recently measured my lawn.
The section I mow is 1034' long x 345' wide. So I'm mowing around 8 acres of lawn.
My 35 HP tractor with 84" rear finish mower takes me around 3 1/4 hours to mow.
My Hustler Super Z 35 HP 72" zero turn I can mow it in just over 2 hours.
My 3rd year with this zero turn and I'm still amazed at the speed it will mow.

Vince,
I would suspect you have a smoother lawn than some members have. If people would do the needed work on their lawns it would dramatically shorten the time spent mowing. It seems to me that some are hesitant to rework their lawns but still want a tractor. I don't get it because it is fairly simple to do and will look great after the new grass comes up.

 

[DK35vince]

Vince,
I would suspect you have a smoother lawn than some members have. If people would do the needed work on their lawns it would dramatically shorten the time spent mowing. It seems to me that some are hesitant to rework their lawns but still want a tractor. I don't get it because it is fairly simple to do and will look great after the new grass comes up.

An idea of what I mow.
I still have some rough areas, but much of the lawn I can mow at or near full speed with the zero turn. (full speed is 13-14 MPH)

 

[jenkinsph]

Vince,
Looks great, takes time to get everything smooth but once done it frees up time from mowing to get other areas fixed up too.

 

[DK35vince]

Vince,
Looks great, takes time to get everything smooth but once done it frees up time from mowing to get other areas fixed up too.

Thanks.
I tilled the entire yard an inch or 2 deep years ago to take off many the bumps.
It helped smooth it up a lot.
I would have really like to hit it with a Harley type power rake, but I never did.

 

[DK35vince]

3.) Subcompact tractor with front loader for snow, and a mower attachment...and wallet permitting, a backhoe for other work

For 4 acres and the work you have listed the sub cut with loader, mower, snow blower would be the way to go IMO.

 

[dragoneggs]

I always marvel at how many people recommend getying bigger tractors. They claim they love opetating and running their tractirs . . .yet they always use speed and less time needing the tractor as some of the bigger reasons to get a bigger tractor. In other words when an op states he doesn't want or need to hurry the effort because he wants to enjoy the process . . many try to convince him to hurry the process along by getting bigger.

Thats how a friend of mine got talked into getting the wrong size. He wanted the advantage of a tractor but he also wanted to use it. He got bigger and his time using it was shortened too much and it wasn't fun and it wasn't convenient . . just faster. He sold it and got the size he'd originally wanted and he enjoys it much more.

My point is . . Nobody desires to waste time . . But often people don't want to "rush their lives away" either. Everyone doesn't want to live with the slogan "get ur done" in every conversation.


Just a perspective.

If the OP really wants an all in one type of unit then a SCUT is a better answer than a CUT in my opinion. I run a SCUT w/BH and a couple other implements, but have to admit I love having a Z turn dedicated to mowing and not have to mess around with a MMM. My terrain and landscaping effort would mean I would be taking on/off the MMM. Swapping out 3pt implements is a enough for me. Maybe most importantly, there is no comparison when it comes to mowing maneuverability between the two.

 

[AxleHub]

If the OP really wants an all in one type of unit then a SCUT is a better answer than a CUT in my opinion. I run a SCUT w/BH and a couple other implements, but have to admit I love having a Z turn dedicated to mowing and not have to mess around with a MMM. My terrain and landscaping effort would mean I would be taking on/off the MMM. Swapping out 3pt implements is a enough for me. Maybe most importantly, there is no comparison when it comes to mowing maneuverability between the two.

All valid points of opinion dragoneggs . . but also opinions formed by the equipment you chose. Now lets assume you have a 2 acre yard with trees only on property edging and lots of garden type areas all landscape block edged (drive over) and numerous steeper sloped areas. Then you might find a zero turn to actually be slower than a scut with dedicated mulching mmm attached. Why? Because a true mulching deck has no chute or side exhaust . . so you have no concerns with which direction you cut near all the plant and rock garden areas. And trees are not an issue but comfort of ride and handling hills is.

A friend uses a very nice zero turn rider each summer cutting bike trail areas many hours each week. The ztr is an expensive one yet he'd never desire to cut my lawn with something like it because its too wide of a deck and too dangerous on hills . . and he's impressed how easily a dedicated mulcher deck on my scut makes it for mowing options . . . in other words . . a rught choice in scut ans a right choice in mmm combined.

My point is . . readers need to recognize that many opinions of posters are formed by their personal conditions and not always reliable for all circumstances being described.

Personally any zero turn that doesn't have direct control of the front wheels (steering wheel) and tread on the front tires (for grab) and better weight balance on the front end . . I wouldn't own myself.

By the way I own a zero turn tractor ( not a ztr but a ztt) that has those things I indicated . . and it's a fine machine . . but my massey scut with dedicated mulcher deck still beats it in time to completion of my lawn . . and in ride comfort and safe feel on hills and in fuel usage.

But again . . Its an opinion formed from a combination of needs and equipment choices. However . . Put a snowblower on that zero turn tractor and you're talking a whole different capability in snow removal. Stunningly manueverable to me

 

[jeff9366]

What is a Zero Turn TRACTOR? (ZTT)

 

[DK35vince]

What is a Zero Turn TRACTOR? (ZTT)

I assume he means some kind of thing like this.
zero turn tractor - Bing images