Buying Advice LS the old Landini?

[chas0218]

New to the forum but have spent a bunch of time lurking and driving various tractors over the years. I grew up driving an old Ford 9N and Ford 4000 Gas. Upgraded on our family farm to a kubota L series 2800 and now a bigger L series 5460. It is time in the next year to purchase a new tractor and I am looking at everything. Right now for the money the best bang for my buck is the XG3025 with backhoe by LS but now extremely hesitant. I drove the pre 2000s Landini's and worked on them more than I drove them. We used them for various tasks around the orchards where I worked and they had tons of issues some of which were hydraulic pump failures, very hot running machines (exhaust ran below your feet attached to the metal running board) and a bunch of other things like PTO clutch issues, and so on. These things were piles. We never had any issues with the engines they ran for over 7000 hours but the components of the tractor were what failed. Now these tractors were used every day for 8 to 10 hours a day not always at their peak 540 pto rpm but we never had a John Deere fail in the same places the Landini did. They have now transitioned to all John Deere but now their newer Deere are giving them issues. Not as much as the Landini did but still some issues. The maintenance schedule while I worked their and still is followed to a T. I get the idea if you use something it is going to wear out but I'm talking more about things wearing out prematurely. I will be using this as a homeowner that needs to dig out some small stumps, dig drainage around my home, build a new barn, and just everyday chores. I don't need a commercial tractor for the amount I'm going to use it and for what it's worth my father in laws 2015 3025E cost way too much for what he got. Now fast forward 12 years to today's tractors, is the LS as bad as the Landini used to be? Will the LS stack up to the Mahindra, John Deere, and Kubota of the tractor world?

I'm all ears for other brands but comparing all of the smaller compact tractors the LS seems to have the highest specs for the best price. I have also looked at Yanmar as the dealer is right down the street but again not impressed with their tractors. I just hate to invest $20k into a machine that I will need to be working on as much as I'll be using it.

 

[George2615]

LS has built and sold many tractors including Landini but I wouldn't judge or compare todays LS to yesterdays Landini. Here's a little history on LS. LS Tractors - Wikipedia

I had a Mahindra (NOT made by LS) for 10 years without too many issues other than glow plugs, timer and a loader valve. Have had an LS for 4 years that's never been back to the dealer and have only had to do routine maintenance.

 

[jeff9366]

PARAGRAPH
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a short part of a text that begins on a new line and consists of one or more sentences dealing with a single idea



New to the forum but I have spent a bunch of time lurking.

I grew up driving an old Ford 9N and Ford 4000 Gas. Upgraded on our family farm to a Kubota L series 2800 and now a bigger L series 5460. It is time to purchase a new tractor. I am looking at everything. The best bang for my buck is the LS/XG3025 with backhoe .

I drove the pre 2000 Landinis. We used Landinis around the orchards where I worked. They had tons of issues. The issues were hydraulic pump failures, very hot operating stations (exhaust ran below your feet attached to the metal running board) and PTO clutch issues. I worked on them more than I drove them. Components of the tractor failed. We never had issues with the engines. Engines ran for over 7000 hours.

The orchard has transitioned to John Deere. The newer Deere are having issues. Not as much as the Landini did but still issues. I understand when you use something it wears. I'm talking more about things wearing out prematurely.

I don't need a commercial tractor. I will use LS as a homeowner, for everyday chores. I need to dig out small stumps, dig drainage around my home and build a new barn. Fast forward 12 years to today. Is LS as bad as the Landini used to be? Will the LS stack up to the Mahindra, John Deere (??), and Kubota of the tractor world?

 

[mcfarmall]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[jeff9366]

You relate that Landini and Deere tractors used in commercial farming eight to ten hours per day, 2000+ engine hours per year, with multiple, employee operators, had "issues". I am not surprised.

You are considering an LS for homeowner use. The average residential tractor is used eighty engine hours per year, according to industry data cited here occasionally.

You are an experienced, opetator/maintainer, soon to be an owner/operator. Assuming you can access LS consumables and service, LS will serve you well. You will be dead before the tractor.

 

[chas0218]

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks, looking forward to bouncing ideas off everyone.

You relate that Landini and Deere tractors used in commercial farming eight to ten hours per day, 2000+ engine hours per year, with multiple, employee operators, had "issues". I am not surprised.

You are considering an LS for homeowner use. The average residential tractor is used eighty engine hours per year, according to industry data cited here occasionally.

You are an experienced, opetator/maintainer, soon to be an owner/operator. Assuming you can access LS consumables and service, LS will serve you well. You will be dead before the tractor.

Sorry about the missed punctuation, but all that aside.

My plan is to use the tractor year round I figure 100 hours a year which isn't a lot but still longevity is key for me. Not to mention easier to pitch it to my wife.

 

[K5lwq]

Welcome!! I hope you have success in your search!!

 

[jeff9366]

I plan to use the tractor year round. I figure 100 hours a year. Longevity is key for me, not to mention easy to pitch to my wife.

100 hours X 40 years = 4,000 hours.

An inside stored, carefully maintained LS tractor, with a prudent owner/operator at the controls should go 12,000 engine hours without an overhaul. You will be dead before the tractor.

You will need fuel, fluids, filters, hydraulic lines, tires, batteries occasionally.

My Kubota dealer does all my tractor service except fueling and greasing. I figure my Kubota L3560 tractor operating cost, including multiple implement depreciation, is $35/engine hour.

 

[airbiscuit]

....You will be dead before the tractor.

That is a cogent point, but it kind of hurts to see it in print. It reminds us we no longer have the invincibility of our youth.

 

[goeduck]

Do you still have the two Kubotas? Both are good models and highly regarded in their respective size classes. Do you need a third? Or are you after a backhoe?