Hydro Not 4WD?

downslope · Jun 11, 2014

Do any of the manufacturers make a Utility or CUT that is available without 4WD but with a hydro transmission? Any size, 30-55 hp.

Code54 · Jun 11, 2014

Check the Kubota site but I believe they have several. Seem to recall the MX series coming in 2 wheel drive (50hp area)

k0ua · Jun 11, 2014

Nope, can't think of a single modern new tractor with hydro and 2WD.. Its resale value would be next to nothing.

Code54 · Jun 11, 2014

Think KOua is right and I was wrong - seems that they have 2WD but they are all gear.
Recall seeing a 2wd gear drive MX4700 selling at a local auction last year for around 9K - real low hrs and nice shape.
With our hills they are not real popular and a tough sell

k0ua · Jun 11, 2014

Code54 said:
Think KOua is right and I was wrong - seems that they have 2WD but they are all gear.
Recall seeing a 2wd gear drive MX4700 selling at a local auction last year for around 9K - real low hrs and nice shape.
With our hills they are not real popular and a tough sell

I suppose it would make a pretty nice stationary powerplant for a generator.

Around here it would be at the bottom of one of our steep hills, and there it would stay.!.. In Kansas or a lot of Illinois where you have nice flat ground, they would be fine!

I had a full size Utility tractor with 2wd when I lived up by Willard, and it was fine.. Got it stuck a time or two, but generally it worked OK, but the ground was much flatter there. Next tractor there was a CUT in 4WD, and it was quite a bit better, but you can get along with 2WD tractors if the ground is flat and the tractors are larger with larger tires. AG tires preferably.

downslope · Jun 11, 2014

k0ua said:
...
I had a full size Utility tractor with 2wd when I lived up by Willard, and it was fine.. Got it stuck a time or two, but generally it worked OK, but the ground was much flatter there. Next tractor there was a CUT in 4WD, and it was quite a bit better, but you can get along with 2WD tractors if the ground is flat and the tractors are larger with larger tires. AG tires preferably.

That's what I was thinking, it would work good on a flat vegetable farm and the hydro would be able to run slow for delicate cultivating and transplanting. If it would be 2WD you could put different tires/wheels on the back without the concern and expense of maintaining ratios. Oh well, just a crazy idea I was thinking about.

Kubota's kind of strange with the 2WD M-series; if you opt for 2WD you have to get the cab, but choose 4WD and you can have either open station or cab, I wonder what's with that? You would think someone buying a bare-bones 2WD would be more likely to want an open-station than the 4WD user.

k0ua · Jun 12, 2014

downslope said:
That's what I was thinking, it would work good on a flat vegetable farm and the hydro would be able to run slow for delicate cultivating and transplanting. If it would be 2WD you could put different tires/wheels on the back without the concern and expense of maintaining ratios. Oh well, just a crazy idea I was thinking about.

Kubota's kind of strange with the 2WD M-series; if you opt for 2WD you have to get the cab, but choose 4WD and you can have either open station or cab, I wonder what's with that? You would think someone buying a bare-bones 2WD would be more likely to want an open-station than the 4WD user.

I can't answer your question, because I just don't know. Why not look at an older 2WD tractor like a Massey or something similar? You should be able to find plenty of those around from the 70's or 80's. They are good old tough tractors, but they are not going to be hydrostats, But if you get one with enough gear ranges, hopefully you could find a ground speed that would work for you. But when it comes to compact tractors, the vast majority of buyers want 4WD.

bigbull338 · Jun 12, 2014

yes kubota and other tractor brands offer 2wd drive tractor in all sizes.the kicker is most people buying a tractor want 4wd drives now.i seen a 2013 7040SU 2wd fel with 200hrs on it for $19500.and if i had the money id buy it in a heartbeat.

GManBart · Jun 13, 2014

bigbull338 said:
yes kubota and other tractor brands offer 2wd drive tractor in all sizes.the kicker is most people buying a tractor want 4wd drives now.i seen a 2013 7040SU 2wd fel with 200hrs on it for $19500.and if i had the money id buy it in a heartbeat.

True, but he was asking about 2wd with HST....doesn't appear anybody makes that combo now.

Halftrack · Jun 18, 2014

Just saw this and thought of your post. Price is right but lacking hp.

KUBOTA 2WD DIESEL G4200 HST WITH SNOW BLADE - $1200 (PLYMOUTH, IN)
© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap(google map) (yahoo map)
KUBOTA 12HP DIESEL 2CYL MODEL G4200 HST RUNS GOOD COMES WITH A SNOW BLADE 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRACTOR

$1200

show contact info

motownbrowne · Jun 18, 2014

There were a lot of old international 2wd hydro tractors. They are still used widely in vegetable farming. Also, if you want modern and mostly for cultivating veggies, check out Tuff-bilt tractors. They make them down south. I've only met one person who has one and they love it. It's like an Allis G but hydrostatic. I guess the guy hand delivers them too.

Those old IH hydro's are said to be pretty good. Look for real low hours or a rebuilt hydro, though.

downslope · Jun 18, 2014

motownbrowne said:
There were a lot of old international 2wd hydro tractors. They are still used widely in vegetable farming. Also, if you want modern and mostly for cultivating veggies, check out Tuff-bilt tractors. They make them down south. I've only met one person who has one and they love it. It's like an Allis G but hydrostatic. I guess the guy hand delivers them too.

Those old IH hydro's are said to be pretty good. Look for real low hours or a rebuilt hydro, though.

Yes, the IH Hydros are nice, I believe they made some models up into the 1980's. Ranged from 50ish to ~100 HP. I think they fell out of favor because of fuel consumption and hydros would fail because of farmers not following proper maintenance with oil and filters. Anyway, all that kind of stuff like old MF's 35, 135, small Fords etc are very scarce in our area because of number of small vegetable farms. And most of the time when you find something it's plumb wore out with like 10,000 hours; I'm really not looking for a project tractor as I already have an MF35 that's in that kind of shape although I still use it. Even a Ford hundred series with a step-down auxiliary would be good, but like I said, hard to find a good one.

candersen10 · Jun 23, 2014

What about a new holland 3040 cvt machine? I believe they are/have been available in 2wd, and the cvt provides similar control.

the8080 · Jun 23, 2014

Am I confused. Aren't all these HST tractors 2 wheel drive unless you put them in 4wd?

k0ua · Jun 23, 2014

the8080 said:
Am I confused. Aren't all these HST tractors 2 wheel drive unless you put them in 4wd?

Yes, but he doesn't want to pay the extra money to purchase a 4WD capable tractor as he believes in his circumstance he does not need it. But he does want the infinityly variable speed and the ability to go extremely slow with a hydrostatic transmission. How slow can you go? Mine will go pretty slow. See below

Kioti hydrostatic transmission speed test - YouTube

the8080 · Jun 23, 2014

Just sounded like he was worried about the miss match in front tire size.

whizdbiz2 · Jun 25, 2014

Halftrack said:
Just saw this and thought of your post. Price is right but lacking hp.

KUBOTA 2WD DIESEL G4200 HST WITH SNOW BLADE - $1200 (PLYMOUTH, IN)
ｩ craigslist - Map data ｩ OpenStreetMap(google map) (yahoo map)
KUBOTA 12HP DIESEL 2CYL MODEL G4200 HST RUNS GOOD COMES WITH A SNOW BLADE 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRACTOR $1200

Isn't the G series Kubby just a garden tractor?

downslope · Jun 25, 2014

k0ua said:
Yes, but he doesn't want to pay the extra money to purchase a 4WD capable tractor as he believes in his circumstance he does not need it. But he does want the infinityly variable speed and the ability to go extremely slow with a hydrostatic transmission. How slow can you go? Mine will go pretty slow. See below

Kioti hydrostatic transmission speed test - YouTube

Yes, it's mostly true that I don't want to spend extra for something that won't be needed most of the time, and could never be used if I changed the rear tire diameter. But just as important, I've noticed that on the 4WD versions in this horsepower range the front tread width is not adjustable, but on the 2WD it is.

If they offered something like a 2WD Kubota MX4700 with hydro it would fit what I'm looking for. Or I would even consider the 4wd if the front wheels were adjustable like on a full size utility 4WD. My neighbor actually picked up up a nice used 4WD L-series Kubota and built his own wheel spacers to get it out to 68" centers. He says so far it's working good in his vegetable rows.

Halftrack · Jun 26, 2014

Whizbiz2, you are correct. I posted a reply with the info and then engaged the gray matter and realized the craigslist add was not what he was looking for and just a lawn/garden tractor. Thanks for being observant and setting me straight.