JD vs Kubota...HELP!

Bird · Jul 30, 2001

Joyce, my summary that glennmac mentioned of the differences between the mid-mount and rear mount mowers is in the "enough tractor" thread in the "Kubota Owning" forum on 7/26/01, if you haven't already read it.

However,I haven't used any kind of clippings collection system since I lived in town and had a "walk behind" lawnmower. And if such a system exists for the rear mount mowers, I have seen it yet, so I would assume you will definitely want the mid-mount mower.

Sounds to me like you're doing your homework, comparisons, and shopping pretty well (and will probably eventually buy a B2710/2910/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif). That ought to get you a few more responses from the NH and Deere camps./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

cowboydoc · Jul 30, 2001

Joyce,
Both are good units whichever way you go. Around here, Iowa, I can get deere for same as kubota prices. As far as reliability and longevity you're not going to go wrong on either one pretty simple. Buy the one that you like to drive the best and you get the best deal on. When you decide on two put them side to side and compare features and price. That's my quick two cents.

Now as an aside you are getting robbed on the hay deal!!!!! My gosh around here the worst you can hope for is shares. This means that the farmer does all the work and absorbs all the cost and you get half of the crop. On 60 acres of hay you are looking at, with only getting two ton an acre which is extemely low, 120 ton at a minimum at at least $80 a ton. You're missing out on at least $5k a year in income! Even if you rented the ground out at $100 an acre you're looking at $6k a year. That will pay for your tractor in a year or two. I don't know where you are but you really are getting the shaft on that deal.

Bird · Jul 30, 2001

Richard, I agree she should be getting something for the hay, and of course I don't know where she is either, but prices are definitely different in your part of the country. Around here if a person could get one-fourth the amount you calculate, he'd sure consider himself very lucky.

Bird

r0GuE · Jul 30, 2001

Oh geeze, I don't event think I can say BX with a straight face here BUT. Given what you said,
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My needs are: MMM anywhere from the 54" to the 60". I know they have a 72", but that might be getting too big. I also want a grass catcher, a post hole digger, a bush hog and a snow blower. The mower would get the most use, then the bush hog, and then the snow blower...and so on. (I'm not looking at the ever popular FEL because we have an old, old FEL backhoe for what little we need it for. It runs.
***
BX2200 will do all that VERY easily, very simple and as for ergonomics, it even has a CUP HOLDER. Wouldn't blame you a bit for getting a bigger machine, but what you said, the BX will do nicely.
Good luck

Rogue

Anonymous Poster · Jul 30, 2001

Rogue,

You are the first person who has suggested sizing down. Everyone else has said that if you think size 'M' is what you need, that you will likely grow into size 'L' or 'XL'. I was not familiar with the BX that you suggested, so I checked the specs on the internet, and was surprised to see lower HP tractors with a PTO...18 and 22 HP I think they said? I can't imagine running a bush hog on something that small. Nor can I imagine running a large snow blower to clear a 900' + driveway (add a few turn arounds) with a smaller tractor. But, hey...that cup holder is so tempting!!! Just kidding...

Joyce

glennmac · Jul 30, 2001

Actually, Joyce, in Kubotaspeak, the M's are larger than the L's. Hope you had the opportunity to try some different models.

Anonymous Poster · Jul 30, 2001

Cowboydoc...Richard,

Just got back from the Kubota dealer, and drove the 2910 Hydro. They didn't have a 2710 on the lot, so I could not compare. They left me with the following quotes:

Just the tractor 2710 13K
Just the tractor 2910 15K

72" MMM 2,948.00
60" MMM 2,340.00

Front snowblower with all the necessaries 3,468.00

Previous quotes from the green machine folks:

4200 Hydro $17,200 and $15,195 ... quite a spread

I am not sure if the 15K quote included the mid mount pto, as it is not standard with JD. So...since the 2710 is 27HP and the 4200 is 26 HP, they are the closest, and therefore Kubota comes in at a better price. The prices that I have by the way, have not been negotiated at all yet, as I'm still collecting information.

I live in Maine, and this dealership is in Union, a reasonable drive. There is another dealership in Bangor, also a reasonable drive for me.

NOW...this hay business has always been a quandry, and I was glad to see your 'aside'. Mom grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio, and tells me we're getting ripped off...in a word.

It seems around here, that there are a fair share of folks who are not farmers, but own lands that have been previously used as hay fields. They, like us, don't own all the larger equipment to bring in the hay, but do not want the fields growing in. So...we stepped into a situation where a farmer approached us and our ignorance in the situation, and asked about the hay, and pretty much set up the deal we have.

Our land is 60 acres, but our available fields now, with house and gardens and such taking away some, is conservatively, about 25 acres. And I know it is not top quality hay, as no manure or amendments have been added as long as we have owned it (13 or so years).

Since I feel that we are being robbed to a certain degree (I just don't know how much yet), the idea that I would own a bush hog in the near future, would put me in a bargaining position. If I go to farmer man and say that I think it is time for an adjustment in our arrangement, and he wants to call my bluff because the current arrangement is clearly in his favor (even if he is selling the hay for mulch hay), then I can say 'no thank you' to his services. Owning a bush hog, I can run it over the fields at my conenience, and the fields will not go to trees. It also ocurrs to me that bush hogging the fields at a few intervals durring the summer, would be adding needed nutrients to the soil, thus making better hay. Though it would likely change the nature of what grows, but I am looking into those facts through a local agricultural extension service. But you see my point, that the farmer kind of has me in a position. Either I let him do it this way, find someone else, or do it myself. I want the tools before I start making any deals. See what I mean.

You cannot imagine how good it feels to hear that our deal is not exactly fair. It will inspire me to change our arrangement.

How will we thank all you cyber tractor junkies, anyway?

Joyce

Anonymous Poster · Jul 31, 2001

Bird,

I went looking for the "enough tractor' in the Kubota Owning forum. I could not find it, and thought perhaps it was another date than 7-26-01. However, I got distracted reading other discussions that looked like they could be part of my 'Tractor Owning 101' class.

Now, what I want to know is:
1. how you guys have time to respond to all these questions that inquiring minds want to know, when you should be outside working with your tractors, and...

2. how come I don't see many other women asking the questions that I am asking in this site?

Just jumping into the "Kubota Owning" forum, has made me realize that some of my questions may have already been asked and answered, so I will be spending lots of time reading those.

BY THE WAY...the Kubota 2910 that I drove today was great. The hydro pedals did not bother me. They were comfortable to use, and as glennmac mentioned, it does not lurch as he said the JD's do (which I also experienced on the 4400 that I drove).

I sat on a NH in the same dealership, and I didn't even get as far as turning the key. The seat felt like it was on a perch, even though I adjusted the position, and the foot deck area seemed crowded even for me. I could not imagine my taller (6'4") husband finding comfort with regard to leg room!

If I do settle on the 2710 or the 2910, what are the chances that this would excite the JD camps? Wouldn't they be hanging around in the JD forum? Or do they float around in the Kubota camps/forums looking for arguements? Remember, I'm new here! New enough that I have no idea how you guys get all those cute little smile faces on your letters.

This is all very time consuming...time to go. Thanks for your input. I keep learning here.

Joyce

Anonymous Poster · Jul 31, 2001

Glennmac,

Man...I'm getting in over my head. I wasn't speaking in Kubotaspeak. VERY funny. I was actually thinking about tee shirt sizes, but I guess you got that, huh?

I only tried the 2910 today, as mentioned to someone else I responded to here, but have lost track of who. Okay, you were right about the hydro. I did like it. I would like to have tried the 2710, but they didn't have one. Maybe the other dealership that we are close to will have one.

I did not try anything larger. If I can run a bush hog and a snowblower (along with the MMM and a post hole digger), then I will be happy. Some day I would like to own my own haying equipment, but we'll have to go to used equipment. For this reason, I don't think we need to go larger, and I really don't want to go smaller. This is starting to feel like the Three Little Bears.

That is my cue to go.

Joyce

ps...I think you need to answer my questions posed to Bird too. (I think it was to Bird)

glennmac · Jul 31, 2001

Joyce,

Here is the thread with Bird's summary, which is actually in the Buying a Kubata forum:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=buykubota&Number=59308&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5

It is primarily a spirited discussion as to whether a BX is a suitable tractor for another first-timer.

Most of the "regulars" on TBN read all of the forums. The discussions range far and wide from tractors. So there will be lots of Green and Blue owners reading this thread, ready to offer advice and experience. There are very few women who post here, and almost none regularly. Most of us regret that a lot. I suppose it's because tractoring is primarily a male vocation and avocation.

You can get better prices than you have been quoted.

The 2910 is the same as the 2710 except it has:

1. A larger, more powerful engine: 3 more hp (it is 30 gross hp, not 29, somewhat confusingly), and 10 more cc's of displacement.

2. A soft, rubberized steering wheel v. hard plastic.

3. Tilt steering wheel.

4. Telescoping steering wheel.

5. Toolbox under the fender instead of under the seat.

6. High suspension seat (more travel and spring).

5. Telescoping links on the ends of the lower 3ph arms, to make it easier to hook up 3ph implements.

6. Ratchet control on the right vertical link of the 3ph, instead of a turnbuckle.

7. Hand throttle/cruise control on the right side of the seat.

Some people spend a lot of time here because they are retired, some because they are goofing off at work, and most because TBN is a lot more fun, entertaining and educational than anything on tv or elsewhere on the net. This site is like the front porch of a country store. We allegedly come here to discuss tractors, and we do, and to answer questions for tourists, and we do, but then the discussions literally go to the ends of the universe.