Considering a new scut

[Mildthunder]

Hello. I live on 2 acres. Currently, I have an older Ford 1510 4x4 with a douglas 60" finish mower. Also have a little LT133 deere 38" cut. The wife liked driving the deere to mow, the Ford , not so much. The whole clutch, gears, manual pto engagement, and all that too much for her. The little 38" was obviously too small.


Anyhow, been thinking of getting rid of both, and picking up something like a 1025 deere, GC1705 Massey, or Kubota. My old ford doesnt have a loader, and would like to have one.

Main thing it would be doing is mowing, but also clearing the 600ft long driveway of snow, some garden tilling, light landscaping, etc. I dotn care for the pull behind finish mower, would prefer the belly mower.

Kinda torn between just picking up a rider with a 54" to handle mowing, and keeping the old ford for 3 point work, or just getting a new scut that can do it all.

Looks like the massey might be the best bang for the buck?

 

[jeff9366]

If the FEL is important the case is made for a subcompact tractor with MMM and a snow plow.

Look ahead five years. If your current equipment is not meeting your needs now it will probably be less satisfactory as you age.

 

[daugen]

What you get with the Massey GC is a very well made Iseki with hydrostatic trans, which your wife will love.
If she wants to mow with it, need to be careful with clearances in front, just like you have to be with a rear finishing mower, even if you
take off the bucket. Some folks take the whole FEL off but most don't, lot of work usually, though some have quick release features.
Small bucket is great for hauling mulch and other gardening supplies around.
If you are going to work the soil at all, I would get R4 tires instead of turf.

A diesel JD garden tractor weighs the same and uses the same tires. So if you only wanted to mow, and your wife prefers a steering wheel to zero turn levers, I would go that route, which I did, and have never regretted it. But if you don't have a FEL, when you get one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Your Ford is made by Shibaura and weighs almost a thousand pounds more than the Massey. Great for mowing, less great if you want to push a lot of snow or do ground engaging work. You have a long driveway, the Massey's 26-12 rear tires don't give you a lot of clearance, sits much lower.
Think about your snow plowing needs before you go too small or too light.

 

[dodge man]

A sub compact is a good choice. I live on 3 acres with and a 600 foot driveway and use it to mow and clear the driveway. Works great and I own a kubota BX. You will probably surprise yourself on how much you use the end loader.

I always take my end loader off when mowing. Once you get good at it the whole thing comes off in 5 minutes.

 

[Diggin It]

Anyhow, been thinking of getting rid of both, and picking up something like a 1025 deere, GC1705 Massey, or Kubota. My old ford doesnt have a loader, and would like to have one.

Main thing it would be doing is mowing, but also clearing the 600ft long driveway of snow, some garden tilling, light landscaping, etc. I dotn care for the pull behind finish mower, would prefer the belly mower.

Kinda torn between just picking up a rider with a 54" to handle mowing, and keeping the old ford for 3 point work, or just getting a new scut that can do it all.

Looks like the massey might be the best bang for the buck?

I got mine towards the end of last summer so haven't done a lot of mowing or tilling, but what I did worked out fine. My 48" tiller is a bit difficult to get mounted, but that may just me not being used to how to do it. The 60" MMM is fine, but turning takes some getting used to without the front tires digging in. I have left the FEL on full time so far, but might end up taking it off for spring mowing due to weight on soft ground. These things fully dressed out with RimGuard loaded tires will be close to 2500 pounds.


The Massey came in a close second for me, but in the end the LS was a better price for the package I got.

 

[Diggin It]

On daugen's points, is it possible/practical to add a loader to the old Ford? Maybe a front plow?

That would open your choices for a smaller mowing machine which would cost a whole lot less.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I don't think you would go wrong with getting a SCUT. Far more capable than a 'garden tractor', a "swiss army knife" of the small tractors. We have a Craftsman 6500 garden tractor that the wifey never even moved. Once we got our LS mt125, she doesn't hesitate to jump on it and operate it. No, she won't do loader or BH work....yet...

I had it narrowed down to between the Massey 1720 and the LS mt125, liked them both. The decision was a 1 year longer warranty on the LS, and $1,000 cheaper final cost.

I know Massey has reconfigured the 1705 - 1720 models and added some features to the new 1723 and 1725 models for the 2019 model year. Not sure of the new price tag.

Any brand you go with, try to actually sit and 'feel' the tractor. You may narrow down your decision just by how you 'fit' on the tractor. There are definitely differences.

Also, if your thinking of any attachments or implements, get them as a package deal for the purchase. Ussually much cheaper at that time.

Good luck in your search, keep us posted.

 

[shooterdon]

I have a 60” mmm for my JD855 and do not use it. I have about two dozen trees and a pond, fence etc to mow around. It is too heavy when the ground is soft and too bulky. Currently using a 48” rider but looking at a ZT.

Taking off my FEL is a pain.
Taking off the mmm is a pain...old design. Newer tractors are easier.

 

[atsah]

A SCUT in any of the brands you listed will be very useful to you and you're wife. I have the Massey and love it.

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what atsah says, we have 2 BXs and a 1025R and have looked at the others and none just jump to the front. My only complaint is the lack of position control 3ph; doesn't bother. I never buy based on price as over time, it's just not tha much as I keep stuff a long time. We still use the 55 Ford dad bought new.