Cincinnatus
New member
Hi,
This is only my second post, so I hope I don't botch any protocols. I just went through the size versus projected tasks equation myself. After searching through my local dealers' stocks--prices weren't as good as nationally advertised sales, but you have to build a service relationship over the years--I thought I'd go with a Kubota L3130GST with FEL and 5-foot rotary mower/5-foot rear blade purchase. Great local dealer and _very_ sweet tractor. My existing tractor, an extremely durable Satoh S650-G Bison 2wd w/4-foot rotary cutter was ever faithful, but required much seat time for my 40-acres [15 open] and big hills.
As I pondered the vagaries of different jobs--half mile of gravel driveway to maintain [1600 feet mine, 1600 shared but maintained by me] and clear of snow--deadfall to clear, fencing to maintain, brush hogging, path maintenance, etc., I decided to sacrifice transmission in favor of power. I could have stayed "orange," but the local John Deere dealer made me a good offer on the 990 4wd. As much as I favored the Grand L--I was really sold on it and had a spot all picked out in the barn for it--I reconsidered.
Already being used to a gear tractor [I learned to operate tractors on a JD 1010 and loved my Satoh], I had no qualms about working with the 990. Yesterday, I took delivery of the 990 with a 430 FEL, 6-foot Frontier rear blade, and Deere LX6 rotary cutter. With just one day's work on the hobby farm I can already see what the extra size and power has translated into in terms of work and stability.
Others on the discussion board can offer more advice on value, etc., but I can say that moving from 28hp to 40hp on 15 acres of property I work regularly has really shown up early as profoundly different. The power difference in brush hogging means _no_ bogging down, even in the heavy stuff--and I had some truly heavy stuff, at this point. Also, I did a couple hours of gravel work which the tractor did easily.
Good luck with your decision, but for me the upgrade in power was worth the sacrifice of a transmission I really liked and an electronic dash.
This is only my second post, so I hope I don't botch any protocols. I just went through the size versus projected tasks equation myself. After searching through my local dealers' stocks--prices weren't as good as nationally advertised sales, but you have to build a service relationship over the years--I thought I'd go with a Kubota L3130GST with FEL and 5-foot rotary mower/5-foot rear blade purchase. Great local dealer and _very_ sweet tractor. My existing tractor, an extremely durable Satoh S650-G Bison 2wd w/4-foot rotary cutter was ever faithful, but required much seat time for my 40-acres [15 open] and big hills.
As I pondered the vagaries of different jobs--half mile of gravel driveway to maintain [1600 feet mine, 1600 shared but maintained by me] and clear of snow--deadfall to clear, fencing to maintain, brush hogging, path maintenance, etc., I decided to sacrifice transmission in favor of power. I could have stayed "orange," but the local John Deere dealer made me a good offer on the 990 4wd. As much as I favored the Grand L--I was really sold on it and had a spot all picked out in the barn for it--I reconsidered.
Already being used to a gear tractor [I learned to operate tractors on a JD 1010 and loved my Satoh], I had no qualms about working with the 990. Yesterday, I took delivery of the 990 with a 430 FEL, 6-foot Frontier rear blade, and Deere LX6 rotary cutter. With just one day's work on the hobby farm I can already see what the extra size and power has translated into in terms of work and stability.
Others on the discussion board can offer more advice on value, etc., but I can say that moving from 28hp to 40hp on 15 acres of property I work regularly has really shown up early as profoundly different. The power difference in brush hogging means _no_ bogging down, even in the heavy stuff--and I had some truly heavy stuff, at this point. Also, I did a couple hours of gravel work which the tractor did easily.
Good luck with your decision, but for me the upgrade in power was worth the sacrifice of a transmission I really liked and an electronic dash.
