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What is the difference between ag and compact tractors?
Compact tractors weigh from 2,000 to 6,000 pounds bare weight.
Utility tractors are the next heavier category, 7,000 to 10,000 pounds bare weight. Utility tractors have a Cat II or Cat III TPH.
Ag tractor are heavier than utility tractors. Equipped with Cat III, IV, V TPH. I do not know what the biggest ag tractors weigh, but the biggest have 600-horsepower engines and operate on tracks.
Does a Cat II hitch provide more options or just more power?
A Cat II hitch is heavier in weight and spreads wider. It is stronger so it can pull heavier/wider Cat II implements without sundering.
All tractor Three Point Hitches are primarily ***connection points*** which offer some adjustability to whatever implement is mounted. By keeping most implement adjustment on the tractor you only buy the adjustment paraphernalia once, with the new tractor, rather than repeatedly with every implement.
Is there a significant price difference between attachments for a Cat I vs a Cat II?
Yes. Cat II implements are wider and heavier. You pay for every implement pound.
I have come to understand that 4wd and power steering is basically non-negotiable when running a loader.
Neither King Kong nor Godzilla feel power steering is essential.
It is difficult to maintain traction pushing an FEL bucket into dirt without 4-WD. With only 2-WD it is often difficult to fill the FEL bucket to capacity.
I assume that 20-30 year old tractors come with power steering?
Most, not all, twenty (20) year old tractors have
reliable power steering.
When it comes to name brands, I've landed on John Deere, Massey Furguson, Kubota, and New Holland as the ideals for parts availability. Can this be expanded?
Deere and Kubota have historically been tops for legacy parts. With all the current supply chain disruptions every tractor part supplier is about equally BAD. Low volume, slow turnover legacy parts can be breath-taking expensive.
Is there a RockAuto for tractors to your knowledge? No.
In good years, the last good year being 2018, the total market for new tractors in the USA is a minimal 300,000 units. Deere and Kubota combined had around 70% those 300,000 units in 2018. Twenty-five other tractor brands divided the 30% balance. You are stuck buying replacement parts from the manufacturer of your tractor.
Can you give your thoughts on hydro static vs gear terms of the trade off between longevity, maintenance/parts, and easy of operation with a loader or tiller.
HST transmissions visit dealers for repairs less often than clutch & gear tractors.
Clutch & gear tractors require considerably more operator finesse and operator physical stamina than HST transmissions.
Some tiller operation requires tractor progress at a slow walking pace. All HST transmissions can produce very slow wheel speeds.
Some gear tractors stall at low tiller operating speeds.
TBN ARCHIVE:
HST vs clutch & gear tractors site:tractorbynet.com
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