Buying Advice Finally giving up on the Massey. New or used John Deere?

[JHurt]

The MF3635 that I bought a few years ago has been nothing but a PIA. It's been in the shop more often than not, and cost me 15k in repairs. Now the tach has quit and the PTO won't engage, so I've decided to cut my losses (I should have done it before now), and am looking for a different tractor now. I've decided that it's either going to be a Deere, or a Kubota. I have numerous dealers of both brands around me. So far I have I have found a couple of Deere that I am interested in and would like some opinions on.

I have found a 2014 5100E with 1100 hours that perks my interest. I have only seen pictures but it looks like a super clean machine. It has most of the features that I am looking for in a tractor. A couple of things that I don't like about it are; it has a Euro/Global bucket, and although it has third function, it uses one of the two sets of hydraulics to run it. I have already inquired and WR Long can provide me with a third function kit that has joystick controls for a little over $900. I already have a tree puller that is SSQA so I would have to decide to convert the tractor to SSQA and buy an additional bucket, or convert the trees puller to Euro/Global style. Price for the tractor is $39,900 on the website.

The second tractor that I have found is a new 5075E. This tractor can be built with all the things that I want (joystick control third function, and SSQA bucket) for $40,000.

Both tractors are open station MFWD tractors. My biggest concern with the 5075E is horsepower. The main thing that I do with the tractor is brush cut our 20 acres, and pull trees. I bought an 8ft twin spindle Bush Hog brush cutter last year, and I'm concerned that the 5075E may not have what it takes to pull it. Although this year has been an anomaly because of all the rain we received, the mowing was slow going because of how tall and thick the grass was. My 3635 and the 5075E are almost identical in horsepower, and the 5100E is about 20 more. Would I even be able to feel the difference in 20 HP?

I haven't given up on the idea of a Kubota either, I just found these two right away and haven't looked for one yet. I look forward to everyone's opinions, and thoughts.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have nothing to back up my notions, but I don't think the 5000 series is a solid tractor. I believe them to be problematic. Certainly, some years and models are better or worse than others. Too many of them on the market with few hours, make me suspicious. I would go with Kubota instead.

 

[dusty3030]

You will find a ton of low hour used 5E series tractors for sale at most any John Deere dealer.
If you are looking to avoid repairs / problems, then do your homework on them.

For the Kubota line if you are satisfied with the heft and power of your Massey look at the M5-091. The smaller M7060 might have enough horses for you, but would be lighter than you are used to.

 

[JHurt]

You will find a ton of low hour used 5E series tractors for sale at most any John Deere dealer.
If you are looking to avoid repairs / problems, then do your homework on them.

For the Kubota line if you are satisfied with the heft and power of your Massey look at the M5-091. The smaller M7060 might have enough horses for you, but would be lighter than you are used to.

I see a lot of negativity concerning the 5E series on here when I search, and that does concern me, because I am hard on a tractor. I recently hired a new parts guy that has worked at a couple of John Deere dealerships, and all he can do is praise them. Says they sold a ton of them, and rarely saw any issues. He says that they actually had more 5M series in the shop than anything else. I'll take a look at the Kubota models you mentioned. Thanks.

 

[DerbyRunner]

We have found the 5075E is a good machine. Seems an 8 foot twin spindle would be no problem.

 

[CobyRupert]

I run a 7', single spindle on a 5075E.
Never found it to lack power.
Have found it to be a good machine.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Go Kubota these things are bullet proof

 

[Tractorable]

Ask yourself if you’d rather own a machine made in India or Japan.

 

[yanmars]

In those size tractors 20 extra horsepower IMO would be a noticeable difference.

 

[daugen]

Ask yourself if you’d rather own a machine made in India or Japan.

I've owned an Indian MF and it was an outstanding tractor, utterly bulletproof. But it was all manual, just like any second/third world tractor.
The quality was there, but the engineering spec was very different. Kubota's, which I also have owned, are sophisticated and highly engineered tractors.
And one costs a lot more than the other. For a manual utility tractor, hard to beat an Indian tractor, which is why JD has been making their 5 series there for a long time. Wouldn't surprise me that 5M has more problems, much more complicated tractor, more electronics.

And now I own a very good tractor built in China by Agco. Because the 5M with identical specs was $25k more than new Massey.
I follow the local dealer anyway, not a mechanic, tied to service of dealer. A good local dealer makes everything work, usually.