Buying Advice MX4700 vs MX5100

[72chevyblazer]

Howdy all. I'm a new member of the forum but have been looking for info here for several years. We are getting ready to get our first tractor and think we have it narrowed down to the MX4700HST, but I am wondering if there are any real advantages to going with the MX5100HST. I know the 5100 has a little more power due to the turbo, but don't see much else.
We have a little over 1200 acres, but don't live there at this point. We plan to use the tractor to maintain some roads/paths that we had cleared a few years ago by a dozer. Now they are growing back so need some attention. There are also some areas where we need to do some smoothing/leveling and some clearing of some mesquite and cedar.
Any help/advice will be appreciated
Thanks

 

[crazyal]

I remember hearing that the lower 3pt arms are adjustable.

 

[72chevyblazer]

Thanks. Looking in the brochure, it does say the 5100 has the telescopic lower arms. How big of a difference does that make? To start we will have a 6' rough cut mower. Not sure what else we will attach to the back.

 

[Code54]

Correct - the telescopic arms are worth the cost alone. The nice thing about the 5100 is that you gain a few more HP that really offset what you lose in having an HST tranny.
When I was looking I was able to get the 5100 for literally a few hundred dollars more so in my case it was a no brainer. Never heard anyone complain they had too much HP

 

[k0ua]

Yes the 3pt links are adjustable and it has the telescoping side adjusters also of course. And if you had to buy them to put on the 4700.. well lets just say it would shock you. Now this is just my opinion but the non adjustable links like I have on my L3400HST in a word they suck. I had to have some sort of a quick hitch. I got the carters, and they work well. A lot of the guys use the Pat's or one of the full size quick hitch's like Speco, harbor freight, or JD or Landpride. But if I had the adjustable lower links and telescoping adjusters, I don't see much need for a quick hitch. I had that with a NH I had many years ago, and it was quick and easy. The non adjustable ones, without some sort of quick hitch, well all they do is increase your swear word vocabulary. Again this is just opinion, but I think the telescoping lower links and side adjusters are the main reason to buy the 5100 over the 4700. Of course some more horses never hurts either.

James K0UA

 

[72chevyblazer]

So is the issue trying to get the hitch aligned with the implement if it's not sitting level? Having never tried to connect something to a 3 pt hitch, I don't really know what to expect.
And Thanks! The info so far has been great.

 

[deere5105]

It gives you more flexibility when connecting attachment, whether forward or back or slightly up or down. Well worth their cost and worth moving up the 5100, in my opinion.

 

[k0ua]

So is the issue trying to get the hitch aligned with the implement if it's not sitting level? Having never tried to connect something to a 3 pt hitch, I don't really know what to expect.
And Thanks! The info so far has been great.

Yes in a nutshell. Um how can I say this..it is very difficult to back up your tractor and get the alignment exactly right with the fixed 3 point arms you loosen the turnbuckles and try to back up to the pins as accurately as you can, then you get off and take a large digging bar or stick of wood or something and and pry your heavy a**ed implement around to try to get that first pin in the hitch ball. Then you pry around and kick and cuss, and strain your guts to get the second pin in the ball socket. Then you extend the top link till you can get it hooked up. then you raise the implement and kick and push and check side to side sway to minimise it leaving just a little with your turnbuckles. Then you check the attack angle of your implement with the toplink adjustment. for a rotary cutter you want the rear to be a little higher than the front usually. then you check the side height alingment and adjust the right side sidelink adjustment to make sure the edges of the mower are level. So now your foot is sore from kicking He** out of the mower and you mouth is dry from all that cursing, it is now time to go take a nap and mow later. and we didnt even hook up the PTO yet!:laughing: Oh now I make is sound worse than it is. sorta. Anything that can take some of the pain out of hooking up is a good thing.. With the extendable links you set your side adjusters wide, and just get close to the pins when you back up.. get off and slide the extendable links back and easily slip it on the pin on both sides.. get back on and back up about 2 inches, and they click in auto-magic-ley. then adjust the side sway by dropping the pin in the hole that is the close to where you need to be in sidesway. then hook up the toplink. (the easy part) and check your side level adjustment (generally only have to do this once. unless you have a blade). Anyway you get the idea.. the adjustable links and side adjusters make life a heck of a lot easier. Not quite a quick hitch, but way way better than the non telescoping lower links/ turnbuckles..espeicially if you are old and fat like me. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

James K0UA

 

[Code54]

I have a set of PATs quick hitches (That I loved on my last tractor) sitting in my garage right now that I have not put on my 5100. Why - because the Adj links are that easy!

 

[k0ua]

I have a set of PATs quick hitches (That I loved on my last tractor) sitting in my garage right now that I have not put on my 5100. Why - because the Adj links are that easy!

Well that was what I was thinking too, from what I remembered when I had the New Holland with the Telescoping links. It has been over 10 years ago, but from what I remembered it was easy. I had the B7500 for about 8 years and struggled with it every time I hooked up, and cursed and kicked every time. I was to stupid (wasnt on TBN yet) to even know about quick hitches of any kind so I just suffered with it. But do I think the extendable links are worth it?.. Yeah I do.

James K0UA