MF1455, JD-5105 or TC-48

scudbait · Mar 16, 2004

I have looking at tractors for a while and am currently evaluating the following tractors in MFD. Does any one have any experience with any of them. I currently own about 48 acres in south east Texas and need a tractor to do some mowing aroung the houes, brush cutting / clearing some heavily wooded areas, box blade work and a small amount of hay making. Previous research on TBN has lead me to think that I need a 4WD tractor w/ 40 to 50 PTO HP.

I have visited several dealers and have been throughly confused through my tractor evaluation. Can anyone out there provide me with information concerning the following;

1. Differences between the 3 machines that affect my intended use, and budget ($25K for tractor plus impements)

2. Differences between 3 cylinder and 4 cylinder tractor engines, in terms of reliability and maintenance

3. Differences between wet cylinder liners, dry cylinders and cast in block cylinder liners.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Scudbait

Bird · Mar 16, 2004

( a small amount of hay making )

I don't have any good answers for your questions, but hope you've researched enough because a tractor that small really will do no more than a "small amount of hay making", if that.

JerryG · Mar 16, 2004

1. Differences between the 3 machines that affect my intended use, and budget ($25K for tractor plus impements) 
The JD is a utility, the MF and NH are compacts. If you want a utility in a NH look at the TN series. For the MF look at the 400 series or left over 243's or 263's.

2. Differences between 3 cylinder and 4 cylinder tractor engines, in terms of reliability and maintenance 
As far as your use there should be no difference.

3. Differences between wet cylinder liners, dry cylinders and cast in block cylinder liners. 
The liners are easier to rebuild, but it should not make any difference.

scudbait · Mar 16, 2004

What is the applicable differances between utility and compact with the same or greater PTO horsepower or engine size.

As far as cyliners go, which ones would require rebuilding the fastest.

Thanks

JerryG · Mar 16, 2004

Utilities are heavier and heavier duty. They usually have a larger cubic inch engine that will lug down better.
There should be no difference in the time required till the first rebuild as far as the different type of cylinders are concerned.

Ledgemere Farm · Mar 16, 2004

My brother has a 5105 w/ (I think) 521 loader. It is MFWD and pulls a small New Holland baler without any trouble. It is 2 years old with about 200 hours on it and has had (knock on wood) no troubles so far.

rockyridgefarm · Mar 16, 2004

need a tractor to do some mowing aroung the houes, 

My lawn is by no means manicured. But none of those are anything that would get even close to being an "around the house mower" Can you say "compaction"?

yellowsocks93 · Mar 16, 2004

I've used my 4300 with 60'' deck in the yard more than a couple of times with no compaction at all. It's very sandy soil but are you guys in more rich black dirt? I always have to use a garden tractor to do the trim work around the trees though.

KiotiJohn · Mar 17, 2004

( I need a 4WD tractor w/ 40 to 50 PTO HP. ) You may just want to check out the higher powered Kioti DK55C (cab) if you want to some a little haying. Also, the DK65C. You can get a lot of extra features that would be options on other tractors, and be within your budget while getting more power. John

EquipmentJunkie · Mar 17, 2004

I, like you, are in that "gray area" of needs between compact and utility tractors. After running a few utility tractors and larger compacts in the last year or two, I have come to a conclusion. Just like pickup trucks, utility tractors are becoming much easier to live with these days without sacreficing the heritage of hard work and durability.
Utility tractors are VERY appealing to me for several reasons:
1) Nothing beats mass/weight for durability.
2) Nothing beats cubic inches for torque / lugging ability.
3) Utility tractors seem less clumsy than they used to be.
4) Lower noise of new utilities. (Compare an older New Holland 3930 with a newer TN65.)
5) Value. Utility tractors hold their value well.
I agree with JerryG regarding his recommendations on other utilities to look at: MF 400-series, NH TN-series, and the JD 5000-series.

scudbait · Mar 18, 2004

Thanks

I appreciate the information. I guess my concern is weather I really need a utility tractor. My main tractor chore will be cutting brush, back blade work and finish mowing around the house, I'll probably make hay in the future too. The old saying is that you can never buy too much tractor. But I'm concerned is the getting a reliable tractor that is not too small or too big as to be impractical for simple yard work.

When I talk to dealers I here stories like;

1. The 1455 is all the tractor you will ever need, it has more HP than the JD or the NH tractors in ite class, the 451 is too much tractor for what you say that you need, but it has the most reliable engine ever made.
2. The JD5105 can't be compared to a TN-60/65, just compare the specifications such as weight, lifting power in the rear. It will compare more to a TC-48 or TC-55
3. The JD5105 is a JD and will be more reliable and have more resale value than any of the others. Additionally the JD5105 has wet cylinder liners which will make rebuild more economical years down the road when the time comes
4. Four cylinder tractor engines run smoother and will last longer than 3 cylinder engines due to less vibration. 3 cylinder tractor engines will out last 4 cylinders because they have fewer moving parts
5. Wet cylinder liners are more prone to leak coolent into the cylinders than dry cylinders liners or cast in block liners which have to be overbored or honed to be rebuilt
6. Stick with one of the Big 3 (Kubota, JD or NH), they will always be around.
7. Make sure to get 4WD and shuttle shift if you are going to be doing loader work.

I'm so confused and TBN members like yourself I am learning alot.

Thanks

JayC · Mar 18, 2004

( Four cylinder tractor engines run smoother and will last longer than 3 cylinder engines due to less vibration. 3 cylinder tractor engines will out last 4 cylinders because they have fewer moving parts.)

That don't make sense. That sounds like it is contradicting itself. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Woodbeef · Mar 18, 2004

Hey Scudbait,

I'd be interested in where you are getting your info from on the generalisation that just because the 5105 is a Deere it will be more reliable than the other brands........ Is this just from one dealer,or more?

yellowsocks93 · Mar 18, 2004

In my experience a 4 cyl. idles and runs smoother than a 3 cyl. Comparing my dad's 5320(3 cyl. turbo) to my 990(4 cyl). My boss also told me that would be the case also. I don't know about the other stuff you heard but the Deere will last forever for sure! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KiotiJohn · Mar 18, 2004

( 6. Stick with one of the Big 3 (Kubota, JD or NH), they will always be around.) Go back in time to the 70s. "Stick to the big two, like JD and MF, they will always be around." Make sense? I don't make hay, but don't you need a lot of tractor for that? Get you a large tractor, and a riding mower for the yard work. I don't cut my lawn with my CK20HST, but I could. I still use my HST lawnmower. I use the Kioti for the bigger jobs. John

CMunger · Mar 18, 2004

A Zetor/Century with a Kukje built engine has replaceable wet sleeves, this has been a little reported feature, but is a industry first in the compact utility line. No others tractors in the compact category have this feature. This may be the difference, down the road, when you have a problem, where it is still , the most economical way to repair instead of replacing the tractor. It is no suprise that Cummins chose this engine to use as there smaller
"A Series" engines, and this may be one of the reasons.
Chuck M.

CMunger · Mar 18, 2004

I think a 5105 has a Yanmar transmission/Differential with a John Deere engine and sheet metal.
5320 has a JD engine, JD 990 has a Yanmar engine, not a good comparison.
Chuck M.

yellowsocks93 · Mar 18, 2004

Ones a 4 and ones a 3. There is a difference. Ok, fine I'll compare a bigger JD 7720 which I just drove to my the 5320 wow the 6 cyl 7720 idles really smooth! Since in the operating of the engine in the power stroke I guess you would call it 3 cyls are up and 3 are down. In a 3 cyl motor 2 are up 1 is down. Not as balanced as having a 6 or 4 cyl. where everything is equal in operation.

scudbait · Mar 18, 2004

I have been to 2 JD dealers and they tell me that JD are the standards in which all other tractor in the HP range I'm looking at are measured

CMunger · Mar 18, 2004

A 3 cylinder is naturaly balanced in the manner that it fires, a four cylinder is not, and that is why balancing shafts are use on 4 cylinders., 6 cylinders are also naturaly balanced.
Chuck M.