Buying Advice First timer looking for best tractor options

[flusher]

Not a lot of ag work...at most I would work up an acre of land or so...Any thoughts on compact brands or models for best reliability/handling of FEL?

Kubota B or BX series would work OK for that small amount of acreage. My first tractor was a new 2005 Kubota B7510HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto, 4WD, hydrostatic tranny) with the LA302 FEL (4-ft wide bucket, about 800 lb lift). Cost: $12600 in May 2005.

I own a 1964 MF135 diesel deluxe with multipower (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny). It would be overkill for your small place. And it's not a particularly good tractor for attaching an FEL. The front axles are pretty spindly. And the 135 does not steer easily despite having "power assisted steering", which is a dinky hydraulic gizmo attached to the steering column. True power steering uses a large hydraulic ram (cylinder) attached to the front axle.

For FEL work you want a tractor with a hydrostatic tranny to make the back and forth movements a lot easier (no gear shifting with the hydrostatic).

Good luck.

 

[Domino2332]

Thanks for all the great insight so far...Definately some food for thought...I like the idea and value of an HST...Is a shuttle style transmission similar and does anyone have anythoughts on that type of transmission?

 

[Martian]

Thanks for all the great insight so far...Definately some food for thought...I like the idea and value of an HST...Is a shuttle style transmission similar and does anyone have anythoughts on that type of transmission?

Don't get caught up in people telling you which tranny is best. The HST is definitely easier, but the gear will deliver more power and is much simpler. It's really a wash for me, I like them both.

The problem I see you having is that in your budget it will be hard to find a machine that is big enough and has HST. I'd think you'd want to be in or around the 30HP+ range and there aren't many for that much with a loader and HST. If you can find one, that would be the way to go IMO.

 

[dkizerian]

I'm not sure what you plan on using the FEL for, but it sounds like you don't really have huge plans to do heavy work with the tractor, and most SCUTs would power a 48" tiller with no problem.

Maybe look at Kubota BX series, and B series tractor. I have a 16hp B7300 and it is about the perfect size for my acre so far. My only complaints would be small FEL bucket with limited lift, and the slightly low lift height of the 3pt, but this was only a problem with the monster-sized middlebuster I bought.

Good luck!