Kioti vs Branson - New purchase 35hp range

[LouNY]

LouNY, I deleted part of your response just to address this part. Sorta. I've heard a lot about the non-responsiveness of Branson USA corporation if contacted directly. The response from others has been that "they" (Branson) leaves all that to their dealers as they don't have the resources to respond to a tractor owner asking about how the clutch is adjusted or why it overheated while running a mower. I'm kinda an old guy and have owned a lot of vehicles and equipment over the years and cannot remember ever a time I needed (or wanted) to contact a Corporate headquarters (Chrysler for instance on my Dodge cummins when an issue showed up) for anything. Of course not knowing why one wanted to contact them, I'm just supposing here but it's probably to complain about (something). But Corporate to me is a bunch of guys sitting around desks trying to figure out how to sell more and make more money. I want to talk to the do'er guys (dealers).
The service manual thing IS a problem and from what I've ran into trying to locate one is the cost is about 300 bucks (for my model) if you can find one. HOWEVER over on the Branson/Century forum there is a thread for downloading Branson manuals, I managed to do just that. There are 9 sections to it and encompasses right at 800 pages. Just about burnt up my new printer. Obviously I haven't gone through the whole thing but it covers several different models and a lot (probably most) of the things I wouldn't even attempt to "fix".....but good reference just the same.

Afternoon Hombre;
I will agree in part with you, I have never contacted Chevy, Ford or Dodge. I did attempt to contact RAM about the worthless transfer case in the fancier 1500's and got a worthless response.
How ever with Ford, IH and now New Holland if the dealer didn't know regional would contact you and years ago had an IH factory rep show up on a problem with a 1066. With my Branson 8050 failing to start the first winter the only response was "nobody else has that".
As far as the Branson service manuals yes some are available and I have downloaded some and shared them.
That said my 8050 is their most advanced and highest HP and it's a 2015 model with what they were getting for these and having a computer controlling the PTO and multi disc wet clutches not having software and manuals available for this tractor should be criminal. I didn't even consider that they wouldn't be available when I purchased a $45,000 piece of equipment and no need for the first 2 years when it had a so called bumper to bumper warranty. And then when I have an issue with it the dealer can't get to it because of where it is and when it wouldn't start and it's not in a location that a trailer can get to it??? Try and find out if a stronger starter is available and dealer gets almost no info. Most people that I have heard of have as issue at times with the clutch action on these which are full power shuttles on the 7845 and 8050. And like I said in most regards it's been a decent tractor, I can't believe it when they tell me that there is no place for a block heater and then I locate where it goes and then there's no over ride on the manifold heater to allow manifold heat when sensors see a warmed up block and sub zero starts need manifold heat even with a warm block, these have been sold world wide and in there own country it gets cold so there should be answers.
Sorry to get so long winded, have a good day.

 

[Hombre]

Afternoon Hombre;
I will agree in part with you, I have never contacted Chevy, Ford or Dodge. I did attempt to contact RAM about the worthless transfer case in the fancier 1500's and got a worthless response.
How ever with Ford, IH and now New Holland if the dealer didn't know regional would contact you and years ago had an IH factory rep show up on a problem with a 1066. With my Branson 8050 failing to start the first winter the only response was "nobody else has that".
As far as the Branson service manuals yes some are available and I have downloaded some and shared them.
That said my 8050 is their most advanced and highest HP and it's a 2015 model with what they were getting for these and having a computer controlling the PTO and multi disc wet clutches not having software and manuals available for this tractor should be criminal. I didn't even consider that they wouldn't be available when I purchased a $45,000 piece of equipment and no need for the first 2 years when it had a so called bumper to bumper warranty. And then when I have an issue with it the dealer can't get to it because of where it is and when it wouldn't start and it's not in a location that a trailer can get to it??? Try and find out if a stronger starter is available and dealer gets almost no info. Most people that I have heard of have as issue at times with the clutch action on these which are full power shuttles on the 7845 and 8050. And like I said in most regards it's been a decent tractor, I can't believe it when they tell me that there is no place for a block heater and then I locate where it goes and then there's no over ride on the manifold heater to allow manifold heat when sensors see a warmed up block and sub zero starts need manifold heat even with a warm block, these have been sold world wide and in there own country it gets cold so there should be answers.
Sorry to get so long winded, have a good day.

Ya know what? I agree with you completely.....no excuse for that stuff.

 

[Haneyrm]

Great info! I am not familiar with how the shuttle shift works. I'll see if theres anything on you tube showing it.

The hydraulic shuttles are nice and do not require clutching to switch from forward to reverse. Just push lever forward to go forward and pull lever back to go back. Super simple operation and no clutching. Lots of large utility tractors operate this way as well as heavy construction equipment.

 

[majorwager]

Jeffy takes cheap shots at TYM on a regular basis. Post 17, hypocrisy on display.

 

[Ffphil]

There is a Branson dealer in Olympia Washington. I looked hard at Kioti and Yanmar. For my use and opinion Yanmar is the better tractor of the two. I am close to pulling the trigger and driving to Hillsboro Oregon to pick it up.

 

[Teachu2]

There is a Branson dealer in Olympia Washington. I looked hard at Kioti and Yanmar. For my use and opinion Yanmar is the better tractor of the two. I am close to pulling the trigger and driving to Hillsboro Oregon to pick it up.

I've heard nothing but good about Yanmar. I didn't have a local dealer when I bought, so they weren't under consideration.

 

[Texasmark]

I've heard nothing but good about Yanmar. I didn't have a local dealer when I bought, so they weren't under consideration.

Way back in the '70's or early '80's Yanmar had a dealer on the interstate I passed on the way to work............first of the foreign badge to show up around here..........."quality survives the test of time". Been making tractors for a long time and engines for a lot of other folks.

On shuttle shifting and a clutch, my Branson 6530 is clutch assisted. I don't know what mechanical/reliability difference there is in the two types. Mine works fine and my foot moves as fast as my arm. Don't even notice it and shifting is smooth as silk.