Looking at JD 4100

SuesApples · Jun 30, 2001

I went to look at JD tractors yesterday and am leaning toward the 4100. I've never owned a tractor so I'm not sure whether it will do what I need it to and/or what attachments I'll need. I could use some advice from "seasoned" tractor users.

I have 6-8 acres of apple orchard to cut. Waist high grass, briars and small locust trees (1 inch around). I need to be able to mow the terraced rows and clear out the brush under and between the trees.

treeboone · Jun 30, 2001

a common mistake is to buy too small a tractor. I think a 4100 would be an excellent pick to cut small brush to restore a neglected orchard. It would also manage a sprayer nicely, and apples need spraying alot. However, it might be a bit on the small side to handle a disc, which is a good implement to maintain the orchard. You will also want a chipper to handle the prunings that apple trees produce in quantity, while the 4100 will run it, you won't have much to spare. I don't know how you plan to harvest apples, by the box or bin, but someday it will be a concern. If by bin, you will want to be able to lift the bins with a forklift attachment, and you can be sure the 4100 is not what you want. I am not saying the 4100 is not a good tractor, but if you can only afford one, you may want something bigger.

rf33 · Jun 30, 2001

If you are looking at tractors for an orchard, you might want to consider the N series of tractors from John Deere. The N stands for Narrow which might help to get between the rows of an apple orchard. Bear in mind however, that the narrower ones might be a little more prone to tipping over if you are mowing hills. The Deere 5320N is an excellent choice if you are in the market for a somewhat larger tractor, or perhaps the 4100N if you want to stay with something smaller.

rf33

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DFB · Jun 30, 2001

SuesApples,

Attached is a pic of my 4100 with a JD 413 4 foot rotary cutter. This would be the type of setup you would want to do the cutting you've described.

I guess you can say it's "outstanding in its field". /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I have the hydrostatic transmission (HST). Infinite ground speed and real handy when you need to make a lot of direction changes. The 4100 narrow model is a collarshift gear trans only.

The standard ROPS height on the 4100 is listed at 76.7" with R1 tires. Deere doesn't list a folding ROPS as an option on the 4100 but there is one shown in the parts catalog for the Europeon model. Having a folding ROPS might be something else you may want to consider around all those trees.

DFB

crown · Jun 30, 2001

I don't own a Deere but I do have a B-7500 Kubota with a Howse brush hog my land is very similar to what you described( a retired apple orchard 6 acres) it does the job very well and at least in my area the Kubota ran about 2000 dolllars less. My unit cost 12,800 for the tractor, foldable ROPS front weights, a Woods 6000 RD finish mower and the Howse 4 ft Bush Hog. The Woods mower was 1550 of the total. Just my 2 cents worth.

SuesApples · Jul 1, 2001

Thanks for the advice. Luckily we will not be doing the harvesting, so I don't think we'll need a bigger tractor. We went and looked at Massey Ferguson today. The 1225 4WD with R4, Hydro with 42" bush hog looks sturdier to me, however I question having to manually bleed the fuel system. I also read something in the JD literature about the rear differential. If one wheel is spinning you can kick the switch and have the differential spread between the two rear wheels. Is that specific to JD, or will MF and Kubota be the same? Price is about $2000 less and 24 hp engine vs. JD's 20hp on the 4100.

Any more insight?

jyoutz · Jul 1, 2001

I have a 4100 with a 410 loader and other attachments. I think that the 4100 would do everything that you need to do in your small orchard. A 4 foot cutter would work fine with the 4100, a 5 footer would be a little too big for a 4100. I use a 52" rototiller to till with and I think that something like that would be ideal for an orchard. Just cultivate by setting the tiller skidshoes to only dig down a couple of inches. The 410 loader has a lift capacity of 880 pounds, so a forklift would lift a lot of apples (be sure to have adequate ballast for lifting that kind of weight). Yes the 4100 is a small tractor, but it will do anything the larger models will do, as long as you use an implement that is sized to your tractor. No it won't operate a 6' cutter, but if a 4 footer is okay for your use, then the 4100 will work just fine for you. Having said that, I too have looked at the MF compacts, and really think they are a nice tractor at a reasonable price, and I would go that route if a comparable unit is $2000 less than JD. One last comment, if you can use a standard model, don't buy an orchard (narrow) tractor. You can't install a loader on a narrow tractor, and stability on slopes is greatly reduced with an orchard model. Heck the 4100 with R4 tires is only 48" wide. Apple trees should be spaced a lot farther than that. My 2 cents.

Anonymous Poster · Jul 1, 2001

Compare any tractor using PTO HP for a fairer, more honest comparison. {Don't use engine gross or net hp ratings}

The Massey has about 1 1/2 more PTO HP, both have the differential lock, and don't run out of fuel and the self-bleeding feature is moot...

In this case, I agree, I think the Massey 1225 has more meat on its bones compared to the JD 4100... but I think I would want to try each on site...

The non-folding rops may become a bigger issue in an orchard environment.

glennmac · Jul 1, 2001

Tractor buying is difficult. There are no obvious answers.

Assuming the JD 4100 and the Massey 1225 are about the right size for you, you should also check the offerings from Kubota and New Holland. Specifically, look at the Kubota B7500 and the B2410. For New Holland, look at the TC21 and the TC21D.

Kubota leads in sales in this size tractor market with NH second. Deere is third and Massey maybe a distant fourth. At least that's what I understand to be the case. There are reasons for this pattern of customer demand.

If 2 or 3 tractors are "tied" in you mind as about equal in functionality and reliability and price, go with the dealer who you feel most comfortable with and who you believe will give you the best service after the sale.

kerr · Jul 1, 2001

My 2-cents.Went to buy a2400 kubota,loved the 4100 j.d.,brought home a 4200 j.d.,F.E.L.is a must.The J.D. has a much more solid feel to it.For a lifetime investment a couple hundred dollars diff.in price didnt make any diff.Have fun drive em all!Get the one that puts the biggest smile on yer face!