Kubota B2650 vs Mahindra Max 26XL ... Which is the better buy?

[Fiziksgeek]

So in your opinion which is the best "B" for my needs? the B2601 or the B2620?

If it's between those two, I'd buy the B2601 for the newer upgrades.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

So in your opinion which is the best "B" for my needs? the B2601 or the B2620?

If it's between those two, I'd buy the B2601 for the newer upgrades.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

If it's between those two, I'd buy the B2601 for the newer upgrades.

Me too . . . unless the price difference was compelling. The B2601 just has a lot of goodies the B2620 did not.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings Archwood,

I think your timing may be exceptional whether you know it or not.

In your sizing considerations . . You have more options than you might have had just 30 or 60 days ago. I'd be thinking about engine/system builders as a priority. To me . . that means kubota, yanmar, and iseki because these three EACH have decades of engine building AND they also construct the transmissions and primary components of their tractors. This sets them apart in my thinking . . especially when you're looking at a tractor driver who is a bit bigger than average in one or more dimensions. (Operating layout/sizing).

You've mentioned the kubota choices . . But what about the new Yanmar 221/324/424 choices? And while I chose a Massey (iseki) GC1715 , I understand Massey has now decided recently not to discontinue at least some of the 1500 series format (1523, 1526, and possibly the 1529 also) . . And then there's the new Massey 1700 series as well. With the 3 different groupings . . it puts Massey in a good position for scut thru cut needs.

My point is NONE of of the Yanmars or Masseys is old and dated product. The Yanmars came out in late 2013 and the Massey GC1700s and 1700s are later 2013 and newer and the 1500s first showed in late 2011.

Expect all three brands have full concept designs . . not just a good engine and a box of oem parts. Also they have great warranties and dealer networks and several design similarities.

 

[archwoodholding]

Greetings Archwood,

I think your timing may be exceptional whether you know it or not.

In your sizing considerations . . You have more options than you might have had just 30 or 60 days ago. I'd be thinking about engine/system builders as a priority. To me . . that means kubota, yanmar, and iseki because these three EACH have decades of engine building AND they also construct the transmissions and primary components of their tractors. This sets them apart in my thinking . . especially when you're looking at a tractor driver who is a bit bigger than average in one or more dimensions. (Operating layout/sizing).

You've mentioned the kubota choices . . But what about the new Yanmar 221/324/424 choices? And while I chose a Massey (iseki) GC1715 , I understand Massey has now decided recently not to discontinue at least some of the 1500 series format (1523, 1526, and possibly the 1529 also) . . And then there's the new Massey 1700 series as well. With the 3 different groupings . . it puts Massey in a good position for scut thru cut needs.

My point is NONE of of the Yanmars or Masseys is old and dated product. The Yanmars came out in late 2013 and the Massey GC1700s and 1700s are later 2013 and newer and the 1500s first showed in late 2011.

Expect all three brands have full concept designs . . not just a good engine and a box of oem parts. Also they have great warranties and dealer networks and several design similarities.

AXELHUB, I stopped by MF dealer and they had GC's and 1726E's but no 1500's ... Even their website doesn't show them. I'm kindof in that weird size area right on the fringe of the SCUT's and CUT's. I think I'd really like MF if I could find something just slightly larger than the GC1715 but smaller than the 1726E (this is a full frame tractor with large dimensions I'd say like a large B or smaller L series in Kubota. The MF's seemed to be very strongly built and quality machines.

I'm not familiar with Yanmar's except when their engines were JD's main diesel powerplant, but I will look into them further. Thank you very much!!!

 

[AxleHub]

AXELHUB, I stopped by MF dealer and they had GC's and 1726E's but no 1500's ... Even their website doesn't show them. I'm kindof in that weird size area right on the fringe of the SCUT's and CUT's. I think I'd really like MF if I could find something just slightly larger than the GC1715 but smaller than the 1726E (this is a full frame tractor with large dimensions I'd say like a large B or smaller L series in Kubota. The MF's seemed to be very strongly built and quality machines.

I'm not familiar with Yanmar's except when their engines were JD's main diesel powerplant, but I will look into them further. Thank you very much!!!

The Yanmar 324 and 424 are very pleasant appearing and logically designed full featured units. Previously they made a great scut in the sc2400 up thru 2013 model year and some customer desired cuts sx2900 and sx3100.

But as I mentioned . Massey appears to be "re-offering" some of the 1500 series to fill a small void in their lineup. A couple of people in different parts of the country just saw new units being delivered and sat on them. The 1500 series was a wide series when it came out just a few years ago ( 2011 ???). It went from 22 hp to 59 hp and 3 or 4 frame sizes. What I understand from others . . Is that just a few sizes will be "re-continued" (apparently the 1st frame size 1522 1526 and 1529 ????).

But a few had just started trickling into the dealer channel with more coming. It doesn't surprise me your dealer said they were discontinued . . because they were. The 1700 series is the new and impoved line for many of the sizes. But the GC1700s don't go quite large enough and the 1700s don't go quite small enough . . so Massey re-thought the fact that tier 4 ready product that fills the gap . . was needed and they already had it and was only a few years ago introduced and then discontinued . . . so . . . re continue part of the series.

What is interesting to me is how the model year changes for manufacturers in late 2013 really effected several of the largest producers (yanmar and massey and a smaller wxtent kubota). 2013 model year saw various series as the last production year that kept selling into early 2015 and new model series come out the very end of 2013 just to get going into 2014 and 2015 sales cycles.

Note: I have personally not seen the newly offered Massey1500 series in my area . . but I've heard from 2 othe spots in the country of their arrival . . both in Southern locations and in both situations they were the small frame sizes being available.

 

[Tompet]

I read through your thread and reasonably close to you Massey dealers are White's, Lowe & Young, Maibach's (with Sterling Kubota close by). And in Medina there was Keifer that used to be a Massey dealer, but now has Mahindra's...and quite a few of them. Down the road from them is Medina Tractor Sales that deals in Kioti and commercial mowers.

I agree with your take on Mahindra on the particular model you looked at, but a drive to Medina may be worth your time to see the smallest cut Kioti.

Anyway, I like Massey's and the 1523 Massey was replaced by the 1526 which sounds like the size you are describing. You can see some new old stock ones on tractorhouse. But axlehub wrote these are somehow being "recontinued"...where was this reference? I agree that something in this size between their scut and larger cut in their current line would be nice, just see any reference to it.

You originally mentioned the B2650 as a size reference and the B2601 was mentioned as a choice. In this size frame etc., I think these may be your best choice with being readily available. TYM has a couple models in this size range with Yanmar engines, but close dealer would be a problem.

 

[AxleHub]

TYM has a couple models in this size range with Yanmar engines, but close dealer would be a problem.

Tompet,

I don't know what stretch of the country you are referring to . . But if they have a Cabela's then there are equipment options available as well as full service and warranty repair. (Cabelas Tractors are made by TYM for Cabela's.

 

[whizdbiz2]

If you are talking tier4 and want 20+ years, I would consider the R&D budget/expertice/time difference. Kubota has orders of magnitude greater resources to put into these new, complex systems.

I wouldn't exactly say orders of magnitude... 2014 revenue for Kubota and Mahindra are $14.7 B and $11.0 B respectively. Mahindra sold over 200,000 tractor units worldwide last year and are a more diversified operation, being in the truck and auto markets. I'd venture to say that there is little more complicated in the moving vehicle world than a modern automobile. So I'd say that they are equally capable of complex control systems as any other industrial firm.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I wouldn't exactly say orders of magnitude... 2014 revenue for Kubota and Mahindra are $14.7 B and $11.0 B respectively. Mahindra sold over 200,000 tractor units worldwide last year and are a more diversified operation, being in the truck and auto markets. I'd venture to say that there is little more complicated in the moving vehicle world than a modern automobile. So I'd say that they are equally capable of complex control systems as any other industrial firm.

I completely agree they are capable. But in this instance you have to look at investment just for the US market. (as these are American EPA regulations) So I think if you look at US revenue then Kubota dwarfs everyone but Deere. Kubota relies heavily on their US market share and sales. I can't imagine Mahindra does. (Although I'm sure they want to grow it.)
By no means is any of this hard evidence that the Kubota systems are better. Just gave me a little more confidence.