Decision Day Tomorrow
- Thread starter Dranrab
- Start date
- Views: 8427
Diggin It
Super Star Member
I don't see any blue on that list: MT2E Series Compact Tractors | LS Tractor
I see several dealers within those mileage ranges including Gulfport, Nicholson, Lucedale and Hattiseburg.
The Gulfport and Nicholson dealers are very small players. Neither of them have the 2025 or MT225 in stock. They can get them at a price that is just okay. But then both of those tractors have the bucket control that is beside the wheel. I would have no problem owning an LS if I had a good dealer/service center close by and the FEL control was where I wanted it.
skipperbrown
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2002
- Messages
- 678
- Location
- Pensacola Fl, Birchwood TN
- Tractor
- Kubota b2650, bx2200, L3940 (gone), New Holland FWD TN85, RTV 900
I have a Pat's and telescoping link arms. This makes it much, much easier to hook up attachments, especially heavier ones like brush cutters. Just extend the arm that is an inch or two too short and gently lift the arms and click, click, the arms are locked in. Just add the top link. An Imatch would be helpful as well. With a bad shoulder, you don't need to be trying to kick or muscle around stupid implements that won't line up just right. I have a 3# hammer I keep in a PVC tube on the tractor to coax link arms on and off when necessary. You may want to invest in a top and tilt too. Regarding the placement of the loader control, I believe you will want a seat with arm rests and I bet any competent metal worker can bend/weld some steel to put the control handle exactly where it works best for you. Finally, have fun picking out the tractor that fits you the best.
chim
Elite Member
Some of the things you mention are interesting. So far I've had 5 tractors, and here's my opinion:
Cruise Control - Three of the tractors had this, and I've only used it (OK, MISUSED) it on one tractor. It was an act that would draw way too much comment to even mention it here. Suffice it to say I pulled it off without getting injured. Still wouldn't pay any extra money on it.
Telescoping 3 Point Arms - Only my L4240 has them and they are truly handy.
SSQA Loader - Again, only the L4240 is equipped with them. This was an option that never appealed to me. Lo and behold, one of the first projects was an 8' power angle snow plow. Guess who is now a believer in QA loaders. I already have a few more ideas for QA projects. It was fortunate that the tractor also came with the third function valve. Made it simple to do the power angling.
3 Speed HST - Three of the tractors have had 3 ranges and that would be a minimum requirement in my book. The L4240 also has HI and LO shift on the fly in each range. Love that. There really is a range for every purpose.
Take some time and don't rush. The last time I was in the market for a tractor, I spent a fair amount of time getting the feel of different controls. Some had loader controls that made it very difficult to maintain the bucket in a level position while lifting. Some had transmissions with a strange feel. There were differences in turning radius. The seats on two models wouldn't slide back far enough to be comfortable.
Cruise Control - Three of the tractors had this, and I've only used it (OK, MISUSED) it on one tractor. It was an act that would draw way too much comment to even mention it here. Suffice it to say I pulled it off without getting injured. Still wouldn't pay any extra money on it.
Telescoping 3 Point Arms - Only my L4240 has them and they are truly handy.
SSQA Loader - Again, only the L4240 is equipped with them. This was an option that never appealed to me. Lo and behold, one of the first projects was an 8' power angle snow plow. Guess who is now a believer in QA loaders. I already have a few more ideas for QA projects. It was fortunate that the tractor also came with the third function valve. Made it simple to do the power angling.
3 Speed HST - Three of the tractors have had 3 ranges and that would be a minimum requirement in my book. The L4240 also has HI and LO shift on the fly in each range. Love that. There really is a range for every purpose.
Take some time and don't rush. The last time I was in the market for a tractor, I spent a fair amount of time getting the feel of different controls. Some had loader controls that made it very difficult to maintain the bucket in a level position while lifting. Some had transmissions with a strange feel. There were differences in turning radius. The seats on two models wouldn't slide back far enough to be comfortable.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
I have CC. I have no use for it.
Telescoping arms would be nice. Mounting the tiller is a bear that those arms could probably tame.
Quick things? Not really interested. But then I don't change the front tool. I took the bucket off once and it took less than 10 minutes to get off and back on. I have not yet taken the full FEL including arms off.
A third speed range would be nice.
The forward mounted FEL control is OK for me, but I can see where fender mounted could be better for the OP.
Telescoping arms would be nice. Mounting the tiller is a bear that those arms could probably tame.
Quick things? Not really interested. But then I don't change the front tool. I took the bucket off once and it took less than 10 minutes to get off and back on. I have not yet taken the full FEL including arms off.
A third speed range would be nice.
The forward mounted FEL control is OK for me, but I can see where fender mounted could be better for the OP.
murphy1244
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2011
- Messages
- 16,335
- Location
- Ohio
- Tractor
- Kubota 1120 RTV Kioti DK-40, MF-135, Ventrac 4500Y
Funny I use cc a lot. Would not buy a tractor without ss. One function that I truly thankful for is the 3 point control on the back of the machine. My stuff is on wheeled skids. Just roll them up to the machine and lift and lock with my qh.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
CC might be OK if you have a lot of going in one direction with wide swing curves where you can turn without changing speed. I don't have that.
I would have gotten a TYM all day long if the dealer wasnt selling them out of his garage, literally. Dealer support I could really care less on as long as there is a dealer or a place I can get parts, but this guy was great by accounts from others I have talked to but out the garage thing just didnt sit well with me for the future as who know how long he would be there. Ended up with kubota, I dont need a dealer for most things, and with Kubota parts can be had on amazon
Last edited:
At stop two I went primarily to look at Kioti. I just didn't think Mahindra was going to be cost competitive. I know the owner. I'd met him a few times before. He's the brother-in-law of a friend. He had me working with his sales guy Buford. I had demoed the Deere 3025 and really liked it. The controls were intuitive, the functions were smooth and the machine seemed somewhat refined. The bucket control was acceptable, but not ideal. I was pretty sure when I left that I was going to come back to it.
I tried the Kioti CK2610. It shuddered at start up, coughed smoke and idled rough. The bucket controls were very sticky. At first I had to muscle them. Same with the HST. They eased up after use. Something about it seemed crude in comparison to the Deere. Less intuitive. The seat was a suspension seat and it was SWEET.
I almost left without looking at a Mahindra 1526 because the price Buford worked up was too high. I demoed it anyway. I liked it pretty well. I thought the Deere felt a bit better. I can't really quantify it, it just did. I liked the Mahindra well enough to buy it, but not at the price they were asking. It was a good bit higher than the JD. I thanked Buford for his time and was leaving to go to Kubota when I passed the owner David.
I told him that Buford tried, but the numbers weren't quite right. He asked me to give him a few minutes. He spun up some numbers and we came out at $18,500 for the tractor, 5' blade and 5 foot cutter. Insurance would be just a tad over $1,000 for 60 months of coverage. We made the deal.
I tried the Kioti CK2610. It shuddered at start up, coughed smoke and idled rough. The bucket controls were very sticky. At first I had to muscle them. Same with the HST. They eased up after use. Something about it seemed crude in comparison to the Deere. Less intuitive. The seat was a suspension seat and it was SWEET.
I almost left without looking at a Mahindra 1526 because the price Buford worked up was too high. I demoed it anyway. I liked it pretty well. I thought the Deere felt a bit better. I can't really quantify it, it just did. I liked the Mahindra well enough to buy it, but not at the price they were asking. It was a good bit higher than the JD. I thanked Buford for his time and was leaving to go to Kubota when I passed the owner David.
I told him that Buford tried, but the numbers weren't quite right. He asked me to give him a few minutes. He spun up some numbers and we came out at $18,500 for the tractor, 5' blade and 5 foot cutter. Insurance would be just a tad over $1,000 for 60 months of coverage. We made the deal.
Last edited: