Help me decide, Kubota B2601 VS Mahindra VS Kioti

[searcyfarms]

Hope you’re lovin the Deere, and I feel no matter how great any piece of equipment may be, we need a good relationship with our dealer for service, without it we’re stuck in an uncomfortable situation.

The young fella locally that has been selling Mahindras for some time and just picked up Kioti said that the vast majority of his customers seem to be swayed by price alone haha. I’d rather pay more for something I feel is the best bang for the buck with dependability first and foremost. Still a tough decision with so many tractor companies out there.

as a matter of fact i do really like the deere, as far as pricing goes i was pleasantly surprised at how deere came to bat and made every attempt to compete, once the dealing was done, the only people less than deere were kioti - but to be fair, no one has a tractor in the segment i was in looking at a lighter weight with a 72 inch MMM and 38/30 engine/pto hp. Big Difference in a lighter tractor for mowing. My daughter and wife like to mow and they love it as well. I have had a couple WTY items but my dealer has been great from dealing with them on my old deere and this new one. A great dealer is worth the $$. I was able to get a great deal with Deere - they came down considerably from the MSRP. I used the build your own feature on their website to perform my calculations.

I called another kubota dealer just because I wanted to know what i could get close to in their unit, studied Mahindra/LS ( they are a combined dealer here ) and have two other locations in the state. No Branson or Kioti close enough to really consider but i did call them just to feel them out. They both seemed negotiable over the phone. The CNH/CIH dealers in our area are BIG and have been around a long time. They were fairly negotiable but didnt have a tractor in my segment either with less weight. CIH seemed more interested in my business vs CNH but could have just been the dealer.

Kubota was by far the most $$$ and both dealers were similar in attitude/stuck on their prices. Mahindra was higher than LS but they had a ho hum kind of attitude when i went there and never pursued me, I called them back for more pricing/options info and still they never followed up. Kubota never called me back. The CIH salesman called me back 2 times and he said he understood my situation and wished he had something for me, he wanted to work with me.

They all knew i was serious and a cash paying customer. I had a trade if they wanted or if not i would buy their unit and sell mine on my own.

The deere salesman was young and dealt with me through email primarily, interesting how generational traits are predictable. He called when i asked but his follow up has been via email as well. Not that I mind just funny how times change. Im an old school in person handshake kinda guy.

My experience was fun, got to drive and see a lot of things. Different features/technology. Oh if i had the $$$$ the toys i would have HA!!!!

I liked the grand kubota, I liked the simple LS, I liked the beefy branson, ( saw those at the state fair ) never got to see a kioti maybe at that fair this year ?

I liked the looks of the massey 1734/1739 and i liked the CIH 35C vs 35A but you are getting up there in size/weight/price on those up into the 3 series Deere size

The LS/CNH and CIH are all going to be comparable due to them being made similar with just different specs.

LS was just slightly less for the same unit when you get out of the Economy units.

I love the quick connect mower deck for the girls and myself so i can get it off easier - that was a big selling point - enjoy your research, take your time, i dont plan to keep mine forever but for now its what i needed - one of these days i will likely trade it and get something else so i wanted good resale also.

 

[ErnieR]

I started looking at the Kubota L3301, but after looking and with the wife giving some wise advice, I ended up with the Kubota Grand L3560 HSTC.

They sure look like a deelux model and is say you need to buy your wife more flowers for her giving you advise like that. I’ll be using this tractor in the woodlot and a cab as nice as it would be to have especially for climate control, it won’t be my friend in the bush.

 

[BRMyers]

I'm very blessed with a very wise wife who helps me make the right decisions.

 

[rScotty]

I'm very blessed with a very wise wife who helps me make the right decisions.

I know the feeling. My wife decided that I had put in my time fixing up old tractors. She insisted that for once in our life we go down and buy a brand new tractor. And to, "be sure to get the one you've always wanted...."
rScotty

 

[BRMyers]

I know the feeling. My wife decided that I had put in my time fixing up old tractors. She insisted that for once in our life we go down and buy a brand new tractor. And to, "be sure to get the one you've always wanted...."
rScotty

Gotto love a good woman

 

[YLee Kioti]

Re: Help me decide, Kubota L Series, VS similar Mahindra VS Kioti vs ?

Tier IV emission controls and DPFs began to phase in ten years ago. Old news in 2019.

Consensus is DPF problems are 90% caused by operators who do not carefully read regeneration procedures in Operator's Manual or refuse to follow the procedures. Many small property users regenerate just once per year. This creates regeneration procedure uncertainty in itself. (Regeneraton occurs every ~~60 engine hours. Non-commercial users average 80 engine hours per year.) ((Honey, do you know where my tractor manual is???))

Operator Manuals for DPF equipped compact tractors do a poor job of explaining DPFs and a poor job of explaining regeneration cycles. Most manuals do not inform that filter soot accumulates faster during low weather temperatures, none inform time required for DPF to attain 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, the ignition temperature for diesel soot and none address faster soot accumulation at higher altitudes. It seems to me a DPF temperature readout on electronic instrument panels would address many DPF complaints, as would more descriptive technical writing.

Diesel Particulate Filter supersedes tractor muffler.
At some point in time DPF needs to be replaced.
At some point in time tractors with mufflers need the muffler replaced.

The average residential tractor user operates eighty engine hours per year, according to industry surveys. Ten years of industry experience indicates compact tractor DPF is good for at least 3,000 engine hours.
3,000 hours / 80 hours = 37.5 years of residential use prior to DPF replacement.

I speculate that DPFs in warm climate areas like Florida, may last longer than DPFs used in cold climate areas where tractors in winter may warm at idle for thirty minutes prior to use, and tractors are used for snow removal in freezing temperatures. The DPF will be colder between winter regenerations in the northern tier of states.

Tire wear and tire replacement will cause as many headaches and more expense than DPF for most long term compact tractor owners who read and comprehend their Operator's Manual.

Lots of good info, thanks for that.
Agree on the very poorly structured manuals. I worked as a tech writer for servicing and calibrating circuit breakers and protective relays. So these vendor manuals are a pet peeve of mine.
I've only had my NX for about 16 months and have 375 hours on it. Do not see any slowing down since an elderly relative has 10 acres that need serious clearing and shredding. So a busy summer...woo-hoo.....
When my machine goes into regen, I let her rip and just merely take my task at hand a bit slower and let the regen fully cycle.
The high temps do concern me though. I will have to get a fire extinguisher now I see.
We are very dry down here and his pasture is about 3 to 4 foot tall since he sold his cows.
A regen in that kind of grass and dry conditions can be a bad day with a regen.
So again thanks for the reminder about the temps.
When not cutting at rated PTO speed, but doing other work would also recommend to set RPMs above 2k at least to keep particulate from building up. I used to run at about 1500 until someone here posted the down side to running at that low of RPM.
Wealth of wisdom here....only need a few brain cells to recognize it when ah sees it...lol..hey the 70's were great so I'm told...

 

[ErnieR]

Re: Help me decide, Kubota L Series, VS similar Mahindra VS Kioti vs ?

Tier IV emission controls and DPFs began to phase in ten years ago. Old news in 2019.

Consensus is DPF problems are 90% caused by operators who do not carefully read regeneration procedures in Operator's Manual or refuse to follow the procedures. Many small property users regenerate just once per year. This creates regeneration procedure uncertainty in itself. (Regeneraton occurs every ~~60 engine hours. Non-commercial users average 80 engine hours per year.) ((Honey, do you know where my tractor manual is???))

Operator Manuals for DPF equipped compact tractors do a poor job of explaining DPFs and a poor job of explaining regeneration cycles. Most manuals do not inform that filter soot accumulates faster during low weather temperatures, none inform time required for DPF to attain 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, the ignition temperature for diesel soot and none address faster soot accumulation at higher altitudes. It seems to me a DPF temperature readout on electronic instrument panels would address many DPF complaints, as would more descriptive technical writing.

Diesel Particulate Filter supersedes tractor muffler.
At some point in time DPF needs to be replaced.
At some point in time tractors with mufflers need the muffler replaced.

The average residential tractor user operates eighty engine hours per year, according to industry surveys. Ten years of industry experience indicates compact tractor DPF is good for at least 3,000 engine hours.
3,000 hours / 80 hours = 37.5 years of residential use prior to DPF replacement.

I speculate that DPFs in warm climate areas like Florida, may last longer than DPFs used in cold climate areas where tractors in winter may warm at idle for thirty minutes prior to use, and tractors are used for snow removal in freezing temperatures. The DPF will be colder between winter regenerations in the northern tier of states.

Tire wear and tire replacement will cause as many headaches and more expense than DPF for most long term compact tractor owners who read and comprehend their Operator's Manual.

I might be one of the new owners who might not be delving too deep into my new owners manual especially looking for anything to do with the DPF. Who honestly driving any newer diesel truck can say they don稚 just keep fuel in it and go, then add DEF when the idiot light tells us weæ±*e getting low...

I do know my buddy who subcontracted some work to my small business showed up with his brand new shiny Massey Ferguson 1742 a few years ago on the job site. Luke has a pretty solid mechanical background and I知 confident he did his homework before purchasing that tractor. Well he recently told me that tractor has been in the shop more then he痴 worked it and he痴 some disappointed. Granted I知 not sure what type of System it uses but after hearing that I知 certainly nervous because I doubt I壇 put more than 40-60hrs per year on mine. Winter usage not as much depending on if the snows too deep to do bush work or not.

My cousin whoç—´ a hobby farmer, well I guess with me looking for a new tractor, itç—´ certainly got him thinking also. So we decided this afternoon to take the hour drive to the closest Kioti dealer where they had both an open station and cabbed version CK3510SE. We were both pretty impressed with the fit and finish and also with the included accessories this model offers compared to the regular CK3510. Best deal offered thus far on the SE and keep in mind this is in Canadian, 30K all in (thatç—´ including our lovely 13% tax here in Ontario) one thing I do Not like about the Kioti CK3510 is a single brake pedal and not independent like in my opinion they certainly should be for steering if need be.

As much as I love the bulldog pulling tractor stance of the Mahindra 1635, well you want rear remotes, ahh that痴 $1000-$1200 extra, which makes the Kioti even more attractive. One Kioti dealer that has their tractors sitting outside is 32K all in and the other dealer who carries mahindra and just recently taken on the Kioti line has many new KIOTI models mostly still sitting in shipping crates for 2K less. Maybe it痴 just me but my equipment Never sits outside and there痴 no way I値l joyously accept any tractor that痴 been sitting outside in the weather at a dealers without considerable discounting, even then I壇 still rather have a brand new fresh from the crate. Am I wrong in thinking this way ???

I like the idea of no DPF on the mahindra and yet some of the QC issues I致e been reading about them, and for pretty well the same money I can get the SE Kioti but no idea how their DPF system is. Both KIOTI dealers are roughly same distance apart. Not sure where Kubota would fit into this but I should find out.

Can someone please explain why I’m getting this %*€•¥£ in my posts ??? Sheesh

 

[jeff9366]

Re: Help me decide, Kubota L Series, VS similar Mahindra VS Kioti vs ?

I like the idea of no DPF on the Mahindra.

Beginning about thirty-three horsepower most tractors have Diesel Particulate Filters.
A few Tier IV compliant tractors between 26 and 75 hp use DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) conversion. Mahindra is one. Mahindra has DOC of similar construction to DPF. Both the DPF and the DOC are honeycomb ceramic filters which supercede the muffler.
The DOC forces engine exhaust over a honeycomb ceramic structure coated with platinum, palladium, and rhodium. These catalysts oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water at hot exhaust temperature.

Mahindra has a DOC oven hot all the time, DPF tractors have an oven hot intermittently.

There is no free lunch.

 

[searcyfarms]

my guess is because you are typing from a phone not a pc ?

 

[rScotty]

Re: Help me decide, Kubota L Series, VS similar Mahindra VS Kioti vs ?

Can someone please explain why I’m getting this %*€•¥£ in my posts ??? Sheesh

No sure. Maybe go to the top of the page: "My Home/my settings/misc. settings/editing" and try a different text editior setting.