In need of CUT or small utility purchase advice

Keith_B · Dec 21, 2004

I am planning on buying a new or decent used CUT or small utility tractor sometime in the spring. I own horses and plan to use the tractor for hay (mostly moving, cutting and raking, as my father-in-law has a 4000 Ford that we use for bailing), build more fence, bush hog pastures, clean barn aisles, pull the manure spreader, garden with, etc.

Due to the nature of the farm a 4WD would be very beneficial, it has lots of hillsides. A loader would also be very beneficial, as I feed round bails in pasture feeders.

Within an hour drive of me located in about the same area are dealers for Kubotas, Long's Farmtrac, Mahindra, John Deere, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, LG Montana, and McCormick. There is a Kioti dealer about an hour and a half away, and I am not opposed to going that far.

There is a Caterpillar dealer about 40 minutes away, who sells Cat branded CUT and Ag tractors. I know these have to be manufactured by the same supplier as some of the other CUTs, but am unsure which one.

I'm thinking in terms of somethin in the 35-40HP neighborhood. There are pieces of equipment already on the farm that are sized for that equipment, such as a 6' 3 PT disk, 6' bush hog, etc. I am also leaning more toward a gear tranny, rather than a hydrostatic, due to costs. I realize that the hydrostatic is easier to use, but I've been using geared tractors since my wife and I married over twenty years ago. Yes, the wife will be driving the tractor also; but she will have no trouble with a geared tractor; she has been driving tractors for more than 30 years. I am not opposed to owning a hydrostatic if it is the only tranny option with a tractor that is an exceptional buy.

I am looking for is the most bang for the buck. I am not brand loyal, but I'm definitely not going to look at the stuff put out by some of those Chinese companies and sold over here as FarmPro, Nortrac, and other brands. I plan to keep and work this tractor for years.

The advice I am looking for is what models some of you recommend, based on your experiences as owners/operators, as well as some idea what kind of price I should expect for that model with a loader and ag tires.

I also would like to know if there are any models to definitely stay away from, in either the new or used market.

zekeman · Dec 21, 2004

Keith_B
Below is a copy of my reply to a similar question- hope
it helps?:

My First and current Tractor is a Mahindra 4110 with FEL, 435 hrs on it now, one time major warranty repair was a new pto shaft- company fixed under warranty even though it was more operator error then tractor defect. I Have Horse's and 31 acres of rocky and forest land and has done everything I needed it to do, including Removing a hill on the side of my house and filling in a pond with the dirt, I have pushed over small trees (6-8 in) roots and all,( the tractors weight give it more power then I expected), and have actually done some hay at my neighbor's farm when his machine broke down ( I buy my hay from him). plus the everyday manure and fence posts chores. I do not regret buying this tractor, it has made my life easier, because I was doing a lot of the above by hand for the last 7 years (since starting with Horse's). My dealers current price for the 4110 with loader is $18,500.00, in this part of NY, A good dealer is also important. Good luck shopping
P.S. Forgot to mention pulling down logs from the mountain for firewood
Ron in central NY

JerryG · Dec 21, 2004

Keith,
The engine crosses for the Cats are
Cat Massey AGCO
MT255, MF1233, ST30X
MT265, MF1250, ST35/ST35X
MT275/MT285, MF1260, ST40/ST40X
The MF1433 also has the same engine as a Cat MT265/MT285
The MF 1440 has the same engine as a Cat MT275/MT285
I have had a MF 1250 and now have a MF 1440. Either one will do what you want to do. I do all the operations that you want to do and a lot more except spread litter. I have had very good luck with the MFs having put over 1200 hours one the MF 1250 in 4 years and over 300 hours on the MF 1440 in a year. If you want a standard transmission, I would suggest a Power Shuttle or at least a shuttle. The advantage with the power shuttle is that the clutch is a fluid clutch that will last as long as you will and you don't have to clutch to change directions. You just flip a lever and got the other direction.

Keith_B · Dec 21, 2004

Jerry, What kind of price range will the Massey 1440 be in? I stopped by to look at some Masseys on Saturday, but the dealership was already closed.

floridahay · Dec 22, 2004

I would suggest looking at the Massey 451 if you are planning to hay with it, It is a farm tractor that is designed to do heavy farm work day in and day out. We have a very good Massey dealer who has sold several of these tractors and says the owners are very happy with them. I am buying a 471 myself for my small hay operation. I think that these tractors are one of the best bargains out there for a good basic tractor without all the bells and whistles.

Keith_B · Dec 23, 2004

( I would suggest looking at the Massey 451 if you are planning to hay with it, It is a farm tractor that is designed to do heavy farm work day in and day out. We have a very good Massey dealer who has sold several of these tractors and says the owners are very happy with them. I am buying a 471 myself for my small hay operation. I think that these tractors are one of the best bargains out there for a good basic tractor without all the bells and whistles. )
I'll have to look at the 451, but it may be a little large for the barn loader work. We have a 4000 Ford on the farm for bailing and heavier work. I figure the larger CUTs will easily handle raking and mowing duties with a sickle bar mower; as well as handling a wagon load of bailed hay. The round bails we use are about 4x5, and probably weigh about 800 lbs or less, so the larger CUTs w/loader and loaded tires or weights will handle the bails fairly easily.

I would really like to get some comments, both pro and con, on the 40hp class of CUTs.

Soundguy · Dec 24, 2004

Generally your '2nd' brands like kioti, mahindra, and agco stuff will be a tad less than big three stuff. MF also tends to come in at a price savings at the expense of a few bells and whistles.. though some MF stuf is comeing out very nicely equipped these days.

I'd size the machine based on the biggest task it will do.. sounds like hay mowing.. what are you using? haybine? disc mower? sickle bar mower?

Soundguy

Keith_B · Dec 24, 2004

( Generally your '2nd' brands like kioti, mahindra, and agco stuff will be a tad less than big three stuff. MF also tends to come in at a price savings at the expense of a few bells and whistles.. though some MF stuf is comeing out very nicely equipped these days.

I'd size the machine based on the biggest task it will do.. sounds like hay mowing.. what are you using? haybine? disc mower? sickle bar mower?

Soundguy )

Hay mowing would be done with a sickle bar mower.

How much of a savings, on average, is there with the Mahindra, Kioti and other 2nd brands?

What are the Agco tractors badged as? Would these be sister tractors to the MF, with different branding badges?

I know some frown on the 2nd brands, but it really hasn't been that long since Kubota was one of those second brands and sold for thousands less than the JD, Case, IH, Allis and Ford equipment.

KiotiJohn · Dec 24, 2004

( How much of a savings, on average, is there with the Mahindra, Kioti and other 2nd brands? )
Pricing is so regional that it's rather hard to give an average. In some reports, Mahindras and Kioties have even be a bit higher if the reports are to be believed.
A year ago, I saved between $2,000 and $3500 over comparable Kubota, and JD respectively. I got a great, heavy duty small frame Kioti tractor and the savings helped pay for a backhoe. John