JD or Kubota?

[Bob_Young]

"almost bullet proof" huh? OK, let's say that's true. How about rodent-proof and flame-proof; that too? I've seen too many dollars and too much time lost due to major electrical problems on high dollar machines that HAVE TO work.

A neighbor lost use of his big combine at the start of the harvest season due to mice destroying the wiring while the machine sat. Repairs cost several thousand, not counting downtime.

Same neigbor lost use of his NH8970 at the start of the spring plowing this year when a birds nest under the hood ignited and led to a fire that destroyed the wiring. The tractor itself suffered little more than blistered paint. To replace the wiring cost $14500...glad the guy had insurance. The 8970 isn't a sitter either; it sees daily use. I've got a fair amount of time in that one, awesome tractor.

I've gotta agree with btolle on this one. The benefits of electronics have to be carefully weighed against a very real liability. To me, the risk is worth taking only if the benefits are NEEDED. For my simple applications, electronic everything would be a major liability with little offsetting benefit. Of course your needs may differ.

It's worth asking how many old tractors like halfmoon2's MF135 would still be running today if they had been built with an electronics module that controls operation. I'd guess most would have been scrapped long ago due to being unrepairable. My old Ford 4000 fell victim to a major rodent attack a couple of years ago. They got everything behind the instrument panel. I was able to replace a wire or two and get the old girl chuggin' again. Maybe this year I'll get around to doing a proper repair. If that thing had been 'all electronic' it would be scrap iron now.
Bob

 

[KiotiJohn]

After the warranty is gone, then the electronics seem to know that. Now you're going to pay BIG bucks to get it fixed. John Deere pricing for parts? EXPENSIVE.
Of course, they'll be there to support you, but you'll pay big time for it. Less electronics for me too! After all, I bought a tractor so I could have fun USING it, not it doing everything for me. John

 

[CurtC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Huh? You might feel that way, but in real life, they are almost bulletproof. I won't give mine up.
)</font>

That wasn't the impression I got from the dealer who sells both orange and green, he said he 'had not been impressed' with the reliability of the electronics. I do take that with some grains of salt..

 

[Dargo]

Well, I've had "some" issues with both green and orange, but none of my issues have been with electronics. My issues on both have been with hydro components in either the 3 pt lift or the FEL. That being said, I don't think I'll ever buy a tractor without a 3 pt or a FEL. I really wonder what brand tractor would be the " most reliable " tractor? With cars, I've had people swear to me that a Lexus or Infinity vehicle will never break. Yet, whenever I've been in either one of those dealerships, their service department was still there; doing repairs in addition to maintenance. Anyone know of any place on the net that rates the reliability of tractors? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I sort of say these things tongue in cheek. Obviously anything mechanical can and will break, regardless of how well it is built. That is where all the talk about a good local dealer comes into play. Granted, some makes will consistantly break more often than others, but I wonder how this has changed over the last several years? Five years ago I would positively would have never even considered an "off brand" tractor, regardless of the price advantage. I've only owned big three tractors (and I've had at least one from each), but in the future I think it will only be prudent to consider some of the others such as Mahindra or Kioti. I may not buy one of them, but I'll at least give them real consideration and do some homework on each.

 

[CurtC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The famous "higher resale value" can bite you, especially if you are already looking to sell it in three years.)</font>
JD resale value around here seems to be insanely high, judging by what few used tractors I've been able to find, and what the dealer was willing to give some friends for trade-in on a 4600.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't know how big a difference in the loading capacity is so this might be off base but for 4 grand less the Kioti sure sounds like the best deal.)</font>
Kubota: 72" bucket, 1870 lbs at pivot, 102" lift, times 3.3/2.2/2.1/1.3 (raise/lower/rollback/dump)
JD - 430 specs, 300cx is rated a few hundred pounds higher, but I haven't been able to locate the exact specs: 61", 1261 lbs, 101", 2.9/2.4/2.2/1.6
Kioti: 60", 1155 lbs, 92.5, 3.9/2.8/2.4/2.7

PTO Power, kubota/JD/Kioti: 24/27/23

4 grand is a big difference, but not so much that it's a no brainer, at least thus far.

 

[Varmintmist]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( then a good dealer with factory trained mechanics, readily available parts, and great factory support would be a must in my book. You aren't going to get that with the off brands like you will with JD. )</font>

If you go to the JD forum, I think you will find that the Deere is running on their rep, not their current service. It has more to do with the dealer than the color. Seems there are plenty of problems with green tractors and dealers, just like everyone else. Seems like some of the "off" brands are kicking butt in customer service with real dealers, parts and factory support. Same argument was used against Kubota 20 years ago. Mahindra may be a "off" brand here, but in the rest of the world, they are the big league.


</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
As far as price it depends on your dealer. I couldn't make a deal on a kubota at all. Deere dealers are way better priced in our area. Look at list price for both units and then see how good of a deal you are getting off of list for each one. )</font>

That is regional. In this area there is a price, not a starting point on tractors. If you want the machine, then you pay the $$. Color doesnt matter.

I am pretty color blind as to tractors, not to money /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Dealer does IMHO make a big difference. That was another reason I went with Mahindra. The Kub dealer had a good rep for selling, not for maint. The first Deere dealer, well, lets say the impression was less than favorable. If He would have impressed me I probably wouldnt have looked at a "off "brand. I'm thankfull that he made me angry though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The second Deere dealer had the same machine, same price, no shop. That bothered me. The third Deere dealer was fantastic. Better price, real tractor shop, but far away and by that time I knew that I could get more machine for the money with a red one.

You buy what suits you, what will do the work you want, for the amount you are prepared to spend. Thats how it works. Any one you get that has a established presence in the US will be taken care of if you need it to be.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red">
PTO Power, kubota/JD/Kioti: 24/27/23 </font>

Curt, please correct me if I am wrong, but I'm under the impression that the L3400 that is being considered in the original post to this thread has 29pto HP.

The PTO hp difference is easily enough to power much larger implements.

 

[CurtC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
<font color="red">
PTO Power, kubota/JD/Kioti: 24/27/23 </font>

Curt, please correct me if I am wrong, but I'm under the impression that the L3400 that is being considered in the original post to this thread has 29pto HP. )</font>

Yes, to clarify, those numbers are for the 3130/4310/ck30 I've been noodling over.

 

[cowboydoc]

And Kioti parts aren't high priced??? Come on all tractor and auto parts are ridiculously priced.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( And Kioti parts aren't high priced??? Come on all tractor and auto parts are ridiculously priced. )</font>
Kioti parts prices are among the lowest I've ever seen.
Example: a member on here stated he replaced his cooling fan blade for $11.00. Try that on a Deere.
PTO shaft was $35 for an early '90s model. Try that on a Deere
A Deere dealer here in Florida contacted my dealer to get parts for a Kioti he was repairing for someone as they had no close dealer. He was astonished at the low prices Dave gave him.
Yes, most parts are expensive everywhere, but Kioti parts are very reasonable, as usually are their filters etc. Of course, the dealer may be bumping them on occasion, but that's usual as well. John