Need guidance in selecting Mower vs Yard Tractor

[airbiscuit]

I would suggest you go and give your finalists a good Test Drive. Don't buy with your first test drive, but start getting moire hands on time. You will learn much.

 

[dodge man]

A couple of my thoughts. Mid mount vs rear 3 point mower. The rear mount is usually easier to take off and put back on. If you yard is mostly open and you don't have a lot of stuff to mow around, they work well. Like mentioned, when you turn with a rear mower, it swings into things. You can get used to it but it takes some practice. They are also cheaper.

Mid mount mower. Easier to mow around things and makes the tractor work a lot more like a riding mower. Probably has a slightly better cut but not a good as a high dollar zero turn. They are harder to mount but thats not always the case. They have auto connect and driver over decks that make hooking them up easier. Of course this costs more.

Adding a loader later? I have a Kubota BX2350. My dealer orders all their BX tractors set up for loader. This includes the joy stick (loader valve) and all the hook ups. I purchased my loader just a few months after I bought my tractor. I should have just bought it with the tractor, it might have saved me a little bit. I did put the loader together and mount it up myself. If the tractor is setup for a loader, adding it is easier. I can't remeber what Kubota charges for setting a BX up for a loader, its not much, less than a $100 I think if done when the tractor is built. To add all the stuff later its several hundred dollars.

Good luck with your search.

 

[piercedtiger]

For my massey, I drop the 3PT/deck, pull 3 pins to release the deck, disconnect the PTO shaft, lift the front end up with the loader, and swing the deck to one side. I have an asphalt driveway so it rolls easily out of the way. Doing so on grass or dirt would be harder. Either way, it's MUCH easier that taking the deck off my previous riding mower for sharpening the blades or cleaning the grass build up. Not as easy as the JD drive-over deck, but I thought I'd read/heard some complaints about that not being perfect. I don't know much about it myself, but since I have to fiddle with the PTO teeth lining up when putting mine back on I would think that could be a similar issue on the drive-over ones.

 

[paulfun9]

FWIW, I don't bother taking my mower off to use the loader. If I'm lifting things with forks, cleaning out the barn, or dumping compost on the garden I don't leave the lawn or driveway so clearance is not an issue. What IS an issue is weight with a full loader so I will routinely hook up the ballast box or my tiller for counterweight. Depending on the weight of the 3pt mower that might do the trick, but a box is shorter so watching the loader swing around can take focus. (I know I'm constantly looking around with my rear blade, and I assume a mower sticks out about the same.)

As for the deck, the Massey's have a height adjustment for the deck. Spin the knob all the way up and it locks the deck from dropping with the 3PT. The deck also drops further than the 3PT, so you can lower the deck and still have the 3PT implement off the ground (and lift it a few inches before the deck lifts with it).

Edit: There's also a 3pt lowering speed adjustment knob. Tightened all the way prevents the 3pt from dropping. So it can be raised part way or all the way and "locked" in place while the mower is dropped.

Every ones use is different and not all machines have the same options. Me personally I have used the loader and left the deck on but never had anything on the 3 point when the mowers were attached but then again my property isn't all perfect and my use of the 3 point is usually for real work and plain and simple even at its highest setting the mower was always a hindrance when playing in the dirt. leaving it on when trying to plow snow was almost always a sure fire way to get yourself stuck. Also none of my tractors would lock the deck up and let the 3 point drop, simple adjustment to lock the deck would also lock the 3 point up.

 

[dnmccoy]

So apparently the $14100 price I was quoted on the GC1715 does not include the belly mower. The drive over 60" MMM at an extra $2300

 

[airbiscuit]

Have you physically operated all these choices? How it "feels" to you is important, You should add tractor/loader/mower out the door prices and monthly finance costs to your spreadsheet. They are all kind of equivalent. Here are some differentiators that may or may not make a difference to you:

• Ease of removing loader (Hydraulic quicl detach couplings)
• SSQA bucket (skid steer quick attach)
• Telescoping 3 point ends (easier to hook up attachments)
• Pin type 3 point stabilizers vs turnbuckles
• Cruise Control (nice but not necessary)
• 2 vs 3 Hydro ranges
• Size / Height of tires (TRACTION)

It is kind of nice to have one additional hydraulic remote if it doesn't break the budget. Once you a close to signing the papers, ask them if they will throw in a rear blade.

I would suggest you go and give your finalists a good Test Drive. Don't buy with your first test drive, but start getting moire hands on time. You will learn much.

So apparently the $14100 price I was quoted on the GC1715 does not include the belly mower. The drive over 60" MMM at an extra $2300

Confirm your quotes and then GET ON THE TRACTORS! It's time to try and touch and feel, then try and touch and feel again. You will learn much Grasshopper.

 

[JK22]

So apparently the $14100 price I was quoted on the GC1715 does not include the belly mower. The drive over 60" MMM at an extra $2300

Don't be afraid of the non-drive over mower. They really aren't that difficult to install and take off. On most SCUTs the drive-over mower requires an additional sub-frame that reduces your ground clearance when the mower is removed.

 

[dnmccoy]

Trust me, I fully plan to test em out. I'm just getting prices before I drive in every other direction to the different dealers. Got a quote for a JD1225R @ 18,000, apparently they do 60 month financing

 

[WVH1977]

TractorHouse.com | 216 MASSEY-FERGUSON 1526 For Sale

This tractor is located Minster, Ohio. It says you can get 0% interest in leu of cash discount. Like I said before, don't be afraid to drive out farther than you might want to. Before I bought my tractor I drove to every dealership within two to three hours of my house, and ended up buying it six hours away. I got on and operated every single tractor I could get my hands on. First one I test drove was a SCUT. It was awesome. After talking with the dealer for a while and telling him about my property and what I was doing on it, he asked if I wanted to test some of the bigger tractors. That is when I realized I wanted a bigger tractor. Once I got on that bigger tractor, I did not want anything smaller. But my situation was different from yours. I had no need for a lawnmower at that time so I was not worried about a cutter to go with it. I just got the loader and grader box. For your situation I really see no problem with the 1710 Massey. Everyone I know loves them. They are a quality tractor. I also know a farmer down the road from me who has a 300 acre farm. He has a 1025r he uses around his barns. He told me he loves it and uses it all the time. I got my tractor for 0% and paid on it for four years. Biggest single payment I ever had at that time. I hated making that big payment, but it was worth every penny and then some. It is now paid for and I have solid piece of equipment.

I have been a tractor owner for 11 years. When I bought my place (6 acres) I did not have everything I needed. It took those 11 years to build up my attachments, lawnmowers, and other equipment for use around my house. I split wood for 5 years with a maul. Told myself I could do it faster without dealing with the log splitter. Guess what, I now have a log splitter and love it. My BACK thanks me also. Point is you do not have to get every thing you need all at once. I almost bought a push mower to mow my three acres because "it would be a good workout" and was cheap. I am so glad I actually listened to my Dad for once and bought a zero-turn instead. I am still adding attachments. Just ordered a rotary cutter and used this site for info about what size to get.

You have received excellent advice all the way around. Good luck in your decision. It will be a long term decision.

 

[WVH1977]

dnmccoy I forgot one last thing. If you don't have a weed eater you are going to need one.