JD/Kubota better quality than LS/ TYM, etc?

[rScotty]

I think the reason we want high quality manufacture for tools and equipment is because we believe that quality lasts longer. At least that's been the case most of my life. Tools where I bought for quality rather than price are still around and doing well. So the price was worth it.

But how do we determine good quality from the outside without taking something all apart?

We used to say that it was easy to tell if something was likely to be poor quality inside by the looking at the exterior fit and finish. If the outside fit and finish was sloppy, we could assume that the parts we couldn't see were no better. Functional maybe..... but not likely to be high quality = long-lasting.

Is the opposite true? Does real good fit and finish mean good quality inside as well? I hope so because I don't know how else to tell, but it's still a guess.

How do you tell good quality from medium or poor?
rScotty

 

[smartascii]

Just to add to what others are saying, a lot of your experience will depend on the individual unit you get. Some highly regarded manufacturers make duds, and some questionable manufacturers make flawless ones on occasion.

I know of no JD Power equivalent that reports tractor reliability data, and even if there were, the way these machines are used varies greatly (one might be used to mow on Sundays, another to try to dig a basement with the loader or to do heavy farming work 10 hours a day).

Operators also need more knowledge than the driver of a car, for example. There is a YouTube user who screamed to high heaven that his LS was overheating junk, because he was unaware that the radiator had a screen to filter out debris, so he never cleaned it, and the tractor overheated through no fault of its own.

My LS has had no failures or breakdowns in 2 years of ownership. I致e done the very simple maintenance myself, and so it has never been to the dealer. But that doesn稚 tell you anything about LS Tractors. That tells you about my XG 3140. Find something that fits you and your budget, buy it from a dealer that feels good to you, avoid buying something too small that will get traded at a loss in a year, and take good care of it and do not try to use it for things outside the design parameters. That last part is, IMHO, the most important part of having a good ownership experience.

 

[arcadelt]

How do you tell good quality from medium or poor?

Very tough these days. Price is king, so even those companies that traditionally built "quality" are tuning tolerances to save costs. You can’t 100 percent rely on reviews and word of mouth either, as the science of marketing is so sophisticated that opinions are biased by blind loyalty and even nationalism.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Looking for objective feedback from those who have owned a JD/Kubota and LS/TYM/Kioti, etc.

Better? That's a loaded question.

My question for you is: How much are you going to use it?
20 or 30 hours per year won't hurt any tractor. Go with a brand that you like and can get serviced by a local dealer. As far as compact tractors, I know people that have all the brands you mention and more. They seem to be happy with their choice.
If you're buying a Utility or Ag tractor to use every day, or make a living with, that's a huge difference. Farm tractors an commercial tractors get hundreds of hours of use per year. And, if that's the case, look around at the people who make a living with their tractors: Farmers, mowing contractors, etc. Around here, they're almost all JD.

 

[Rebeldad1]

I have had a few different brands of tractors. My last one a Kioti and have been really pleased.
I guess you have to ask yourself whats most important. The tractor or the dealer.
If you arnt able to do much work on the tractor including services... yes dealer first.
If you are mechanically handy go with your gut and choose what fits your pocket book and needs.
For me...
The Kioti was a good fit and price. Research shows a couple dealers but not close. I am comfortable if I cant fix it I can do a couple hours or more of trailering it.
As far as parts there are a couple great online Kioti dealers that ship daily. As where parts come from there is a huge Kioti USA center in SC. Just undergoing a 13M upgrade.
Im comfortable with my choice.
Good luck in whatever you get.

 

[dalola]

I can relate my shopping experience from 3 years ago, draw from this as you see fit.

In the market for a SCUT for loader work & general light duty tractor chores, I went shopping with an open mind, and no previous tractor prejudices, as all the farm tractors I operated as a youth were old & junky! I shopped based on local availability, and looked at Kubota, JD, MF, Kioti, Mahindra, & LS. All machines seemed robust & capable. The difference for me was mostly details & refinement. And that's where the Kubota earned my first choice pick. It came across as a more polished, sorted machine. Now, price of course is a big factor, along with the dealer. All the dealers I shopped were quality shops. And I was able to get prices between all candidates to within under $1K difference for any. For that, the Kubota was an easy choice, as I felt it was that much better than the other rigs. Certainly there would be a point where the cost/preference line would cross, but I did not get there. What would it have been? I think any difference beyond about $1500 would have made for a harder decision. Luckily, I didn't have to worry About it.

So, 3 years later, I would do the same thing again if I had it to play over. YMMV. Good luck!

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I have an india made mahindra 485. At one point they lisenced designs from international to build tractors. I've ordered parts from a 444 to fix it. Its built like a tank. But it's also 25 or more old.

 

[airbiscuit]

It's built like a Belarus :wink:

 

[shooterdon]

I made up a spreadsheet. I looked at them at the dealers and drove a few. I knew what I needed/wanted in terms of capabilities.

It was a simple decision for me but it took time and effort.

If you spend a few weeks reading the brand specific forums here, you will not find any junk machines. Bear in mind most of us put 100 hrs a year on our machines. I could not justify a 澱etter machine at my age. I will be over 100 years old before it might matter, The cost difference was $8000. Easy choice.

 

[kthompson]

I realize this is a tractor forum and mostly smaller tractors say less than 60 hp. However would like to interject a thought here: the question asked here is asked often and understand to big degree tractors are not something many grow up with and also if they did brands have really changed.

But when have you been part of a long rambling discussion on which is the best quality Pickup or SUV? I have never owned but one so called Luxury auto and it was short lived used one. However ask who makes a better vehicle, say KIA or BMW doubt it be so long. Do you remember the Yogo? I heard a person ask on a national call in mechanic radio was he better off to take the price of a Mercedes and just buy that many Yogos. He was not given a simple answer but was told, that is an interesting concept. We do know what brand is still a leader and which brand some here will not know.

It really comes to what you expect your needs to be, what you can tolerate in down time or need in support. The person who must have their equipment running during the narrow windows such as farming can not tolerate what a person who if theirs is down for a month they are okay just delayed in their wants but not needs. In my still going on buying the tractor I liked the most was about 8% less than the one I decided on. Three big reasons I went with the higher tractor, length of time in the USA in their name, only one dealership which is new to tractors within 100 miles of me. The third big issue, my wife does not like it! Nothing else really mattered does it. That is not a question.