JD5105 (MFD) VS Kubota M4900 (MFD) VS NH TC-45

[cowboydoc]

I can't speak for NH but I run JD tractors sometimes 16-24 hours a day and that's one of the reasons I have a JD is because there isn't the vibration that I've felt on other tractors and they don't leave you beat up at the end of the day.

 

[cowboydoc]

Bob,

I don't remember for sure which one it was. I get alot of them. The magzines I get are agri-news, successful farming, progressive farmer, beef, farmers digest, farm and ranch, livestock journal, no-til farmer, western livestock journal, and farm equipment. I usually throw them away after I read them, or rather my wife does. If you go back and look through them you will find the articles.

 

[AndyMA]

As others have said the TC45 seems a little small compared to the others you are looking at.

<font color="blue"> If you run the tractors for long periods I think you will find the viabration on the JD and the NH can get tiring. </font>

I don't feel vibration in my New Holland TN.

I can ditto what cowboydoc said about JD for the New Holland TN series. I don't run 24 hours a day but I have run 12-16 and comfort is important..Maybe that's why I like the suspension seat, sun screen for my eyes, air conditioning and stereo /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif sure makes a day go by faster. With all the electro hydraulic controls in my TN, they all operate smooth as silk. Now back to reality, the basic series of TN's are also very smooth to operate.

Andy

 

[40Kchicks]

Richard has said how smooth his JD is, and Andy knows his NH TN is really smooth so I have to add how smooth my Kubota M is. Actually I have the 4 cylinder in my M9000 which isn’t as smooth as the M4900 5 cylinder engine. That 5 cylinder in that tractor is the smoothest engine I have ever test drove. However I have played with a JD 7710 (100HP) tractor that was truly plush with comfort and as smooth as silk. But you can’t compare an $80K cab tractor to a $20K open tractor. One other thing is that I like the electronic over hydraulic controls for a loader no matter who makes the tractor. Like Andy was saying it really make the long days easier.

Let us know which one you get.
Eric

 

[Woodbeef]

Seeing as how none of those publications are pure tractor and equipment oriented, I'd not bet the farm on their reviews or unbiased reporting!! Now if it was a magazine like PROFI www.profi.co.uk I'd believe what they had to say about one tractor brand or another. Check out the site,and order a free copy while you are there.......and you'll see what I mean about their unbiased,in depth reporting about tractors and equipment!!! Even if you advertise there,you are not gauranteed of a good report from them.

 

[rtimgray]

Not necessarilly a reply to you Woodbeef, just thought I'd tag my thoughts in here.

As far as inferior metal goes, why is that necessarily so bad. The claim is that the metal is poor quality, so they must use more of it to get the proper amount of strength for the tractor to function. How is this bad? One of the most common discussions on this board is about people having to fill tires, add front weights, add rear weights, 3 pt weights, etc. to get enough weight for their tractor to reach optimum performance. So if a manufacturer chooses to use lighter, stronger, more costly metal that causes the end user to have to install 1000 pounds of weight on a tractor that cost more up front, what has that end user really gained because of this superior metal. Meanwhile, the tractor with the inferior metal is already heavy and already cheaper - how is that so bad. I would bet that the older Fords, JDs, IHs, Cases, etc. were made with "inferior metal" one of the reasons that they were so heavy and also so durable, so maybe it isn't so bad after all.

As a former owner of one of the tractors that used inferior metal (my Belarus 420 AN had 57 hp and tipped the scales at about 7,000 pounds), I do agree there are large castings and pieces of plate on the tractor, but nothing ever broke or leaked through a casting (the hydraulic system leaked at practically every coupling and tube, though - but the engine never leaked or burned one drop of oil in the years that I owned the tractor which was pretty good for any engine, I thought - my nissan, isuzu, ford, international and 1st suzuki can't claim that - my 2nd suzuki can, but anyway).

Again, can't see the harm in this allegedly cheaper metal unless tractors are falling apart because of it. It does seem that there is the conception that just because the second tier of tractors (Mahindras, Kiotis, Century/Branson, TYM) are cheaper, they are somehow an inferior product, and I can't agree with that. They may have lower resale, and their dealers have not been around as long, of that there is no doubt - but the tractors themselves are solid performers.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Regarding resale, I don't buy anything based on that. I buy based on what I want now. However, I must admit that probably one day, hopefully 30 years hence, my "bride" may have sell my "heavy" Mahindra 6000 after she digs the hole to put me in with the FEL. Hopefully it will be on the original tires as well. BobG in VA

 

[rtimgray]

Hey, Bob - I'm with you on resale. I did sell my old Belarus, but was satisified with the price (I bought it cheap used, so I figured it would sell even cheaper used more and I was not disappointed). I have no plans for my Kioti to go anywhere, either. I'm not too worried about parts/dealer network either, what with this being the internet age.

By the way, I bought a Kioti, but a Mahindra was a close second choice. If they had offered the 4500 in 4wd when I bought, there's a chance I might be on it instead of the DK 45 (although I love my Kioit Dealer - Little Tractor - what a shameless plug). Can't go wrong on a Mahindra.

 

[40Kchicks]

Hey Scudbait
I’m glad you got the chance to look at a Mahindra. Your profile doesn’t give an area but out here in Oregon I have never seen a Mahindra for sale. I even checked the northwest farm newspaper and didn’t see any for sale. I did see Zetor, Century, Kioti, and all the old brand names but no Mahindra. It sounds like the users really like them; I’m surprised they aren’t any around the Northwest.

Anyone out there ever see a Mahindra in the Northwest?

 

[DavesTractor]

I just took on the Mahindra line in Northern California. They are just starting to develop dealers out here. You should see quite a few within the next year or so. I have my first dozen Mahindras arriving this coming week.