help a damsel in distress

MossRoad · Jun 12, 2002

Only 76 posts before someone goes and mentions Long tractors. I thought we might make it, but I didn't want to jinx it /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

bpence · Jun 12, 2002

As always, wise and sage advice from the members on this board. I have no particular opinion on the size of tractor you should purchase, and the only point of reference I can work from is my personal situation.

I mow 5 acres every week, bush-hog 2-3 acres every month, and bush-hog a neighbor's 5 acre field 3-4 times a year. Not quite as much as you need to handle, but a good sized job none the less. I use a Kubota B7100 HST with a 5' mid-mount mower and a 4' Land Pride bush-hog. The tractor handles the chores just fine. The terrain I bush-hog is a bit hilly and although it takes a bit more time with the 4' cutter, I don't view it as a problem. I usually spread the mowing tasks over a few days every week so I don't have to spend 4-5 hours straight on the tractor, unless I get behind for some reason. I like to play golf, too.

Why a B7100 you might ask. I grew up on a dairy farm and view a tractor as nothing more than a tool to do particular jobs. When I bought the Kubota a few years ago, I decided how much I wanted to spend, and shopped around until I could fit that tool budget. A bigger more powerful machine would be nice, but I wanted to spend my $$ on other things, too (read that Mustang GT). I really didn't need a bigger tractor. You may decide you do need a larger machine, but, a B7100 will do what you have to do, and more. Heck, you might even want to put the money you save toward a new Mustang convertible like I did.

Trev · Jun 12, 2002

...HST: The hydrostatic transmission makes the tractor very easy to operate. You can control your speed and back up with a simple press of the pedal.

If you are used to driving manual shift cars, then my personal opinion is to stick with manual shift machines. Yeah, it's simple to just push one pedal to go forward, and another to go backward, but the problem comes when your instincts take over and you feel a need to nail that brake pedal. I had countless times on my old GT235 when I would drive slowly up to something dangerous, like pushing dirt into a hole that I didn't want to fall into myself, and I would go up to the hole and then instinctively take my foot off the forward pedal and nail the reverse pedal to stop. This could have been dangerous.. I got lucky.

Now I have a JD 4300 Synchro, with the brake pedals on the right, the clutch on the left, and a simple lever to move to change between forward and reverse. I feel much safer. I know when I need brakes I just nail the right pedal and I stop. Now admittedly, I'm retarded. But this works for me. I back the rear mower right out over the ditch, and when I feel the rear wheels start to drop, I nail those brakes. I don't want my brain to get confused about what pedal to hit in a situation like this! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I would love an HST that was set up differently. But the one I had left me fighting 40+ years of driving experience, and in a pinch the conditioned reflexes always won out. Now the thing is set up so I know what I'm doing (more or less /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif) and it's much more confortable.

As to power, there's nothing like pulling a 6 foot wide finish mower with plenty of power, and mowing grass up to my knees in 7th gear. Things get done quickly! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Bob

Soundguy · Jun 12, 2002

If she likes the 'safety' of the big three, she may also want to consider massey fergusion. Deffinately an 'A' brand.

Soundguy

"thought i'd stick with the big three for a few reasons

resale in case I ever lose my love for the smell of freshly cut grass

You will definitly get better resale out of the big 3
"

mbsil · Jun 12, 2002

Buy a goat, paint it orange, blue and green. It will eat the grass and you don't need to worry about how many horsepower it is!

Bunny (if that's your real name /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) ... it's all about karma. Test drive a sampling of the big three and buy the one that you like the most. The benchmark of satisfaction is set and measured by you and you alone.

Blades smacking grass at 540 RPMs don't care what color tractor they're being pulled behind.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 12, 2002

Bob: the circle is now complete. My original question was do I have too much work for a used Kubota B7100 HST that a local dealer has sitting out front. I know the dealer, and "trust" him. It has the MMM and he said he'd attach a 5' (I think) brush hog, for close to $9K. The Kubota is a 1999, and looks brand new. I like the small size. But I am worried that I am buying too small a machine, when, for a scant $5K more, (what's money?) (just paper!) I can go bigger. So, you're doing okay with your clementine? huh? If you think that only owl heads spin, you're wrong!. Since posting my original question, I have been vacilating back and forth with bigger and smaller. Smaller and bigger. Save a buck, spend a buck. Bigger or smaller. Time v. money, money v. time. YI, YI, YI I'm am going to CRACK!

Golfgar4 · Jun 12, 2002

"Smaller and bigger. Save a buck, spend a buck. Bigger or smaller. Time v. money, money v. time. YI, YI, YI I'm am going to CRACK!"

Bunny - got a coin? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

DaleW · Jun 12, 2002

Bunny,
My 2 cents as if you needed more.
I was in the same place as you over 2 years ago and appreciated all the help from the TBN members. I researched JD and discounted them because of the price value, the fact that the 4000 series were just assembled by JD (engine is Yannmar) and the uppity attitude of the dealers. I wound up buying a Kubota 2710 for many reasons and have never been happier. I mow 5+ acres of finish lawn and brush hog about 1 acre of scrub pasture. I got the 2710 with a loader and a 72 inch Mid mount mower and it takes me about 3-4 hours to mow the lawn. I opted for the 72 because I felt it was much more ruggedly built, was easier to take off and put on (10 minutes each way) and the cut was a foot bigger which makes a huge difference.
The hydrostatic trans is a MUST over a manual trans. I got turf tires so as not to dig up the lawn too much and with the 4WD I have no problems with the hill (STEEP) at the back of the property.
I hog with a 5 foot JD (used) and have had no problems with not enough HP. It will breeze through 1 foot high hay and briars without hesitation.
Kubota has been in business for a long time and the customer service for the most part is excellent with a good dealer network.
Yes I am partial to the 2710 because I have one and have not been able to find anything that it cannot do. You will not pull a 6 bottom plow across a 100 acres with it but you will be very happy with doing what it is supposed to do and for your property size it will do it very well.
Best of luck to you with whatever you decide
Dale

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 12, 2002

"I have been vacilating back and forth with bigger and smaller. Smaller and bigger. Save a buck, spend a buck. Bigger or smaller. Time v. money, money v. time."

I did the same thing for over a year... probably more than you and probably worse than you. I looked at new, vintage and all used in between. I looked at domestic and grey market. I looked at ag and industrial. I looked at the Big Three and even Oliver and John Brown. I looked at HP in the teens to over seventy. And I did all of this before I found TBN!

In the final analysis, I bought what I thought was a good deal. Kubota was probably my first choice for reputation and dealer (a HS classmate less than a mile away) but very pricey around here. Ironically, I ended up with a 26 HP (20 @ PTO) John Deere (another normally pricey brand). I'd never have gone that route had my Kubota dealer not told me I'd be a fool not to buy it. He also assured me he could do all my basic service work. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

As I wrote in an earlier post here, if you're undecided between two Kubota's at a dealer you like, get the bigger one. I don't know of anyone who's ever said, "Gee, I wish I had LESS power so I could go slower and take more time doing my tasks." Also, as I said before, get a loader bucket with whatever you buy. You'll never regret it. Good luck.

Boondox · Jun 12, 2002

I don't know of anyone who's ever said, "Gee, I wish I had LESS power

My wife said exactly that. She used our old B1750 all the time and considered it "her" tractor. Old Paint was sold so we could trade up to Clementine, our L3010. My wife, who never did the power-intensive things like digging, logging, etc, misses the old smaller tractor. She's intimidated by the size of the Grande-L.

Of course, I simply remind her that the biblical passage about man being given dominion over the beasts was the first historical reference to tractor ownership! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif BTW: There's also a biblical reference to motorcycles: "Joshua's Triumph was heard throughout the land!"

Pete