Buying Advice Need/want a new tractor

[ArmyDoc]

Tractor maintenance is simple.
Changing fluids on a tractor is easier than doing it on modern cars. For one thing you don't need to jack it up to get under it. The only thing that I didn't already have from working on cars was a large drain pan to handle 10 gallons of transmission fluid. The HST filter on my Branson is large but I had a filter wrench that fit. The other maintenance is greasing the loader and center pivot and cleaning the air filter. Those need to be done often so the owner needs to do them.

I can handle that. Did it for the cars when I was younger and couldn't afford to take them in. Will need to find out where to dispose of the fluids...

 

[ArmyDoc]

I would agree about buying the dealer, not the paint color. I think any of those brands will do just fine, but dealer support is what you're really paying for when you buy new. I would visit each dealer personally, walk around, talk to the service guys, do they stock a lot of parts, filters, belts, hoses, etc. Try to get some feedback from neighbors on their experience with dealer support. How hard is it to get a service tech to come out to your field if something happens and your tractor is sitting dead in the grass?

I would also look at getting a FEL with SSQA feature. Makes it much less complicated when you're searching for attachments like grapples and the like.

Thanks. What is SSQA?

 

[Tractorable]

Thanks. What is SSQA?

Skid Steer Quick Attach. The standard connection style that most of the industry has moved to, except for John Deere. However, JD does offer an adaptor to connect from JD to SSQA. SSQA means that pretty much every loader attachment made will fit to your loader.

 

[Phillip w]

Most everyone around here is running case-ih or John Deere. Most every one is happy with the.(I took all the 60 and less hp tractors out of the mix). As far as convene and easy of operation of tractor for modern tractors I only have experience with a John Deere 8320. It is a real horse way way way over a 100 hp. It is nice, comfortable, got some sort of noise reduction cab thing going makes it a lot quieter inside the cab. An 8320 is if I remember right about 300 hp or so. Way more than you need, but I think the comforts and ease of operation would be compatible to a new 75-100 hp Deere. You want to go used and kind of can find a used ih,case, case-ih,John Deere tractor in good shape that is an option. A loader and 4 wheel drive are nice, but loader on a 2 wheel drive tractor works, but you want to weight down the back of the tractor if you want to do much with the loader.( A big round bale works well). While John Deere and case-ih tractors tend to be good reliable tractors, if some goes cuput the are expensive to get fixed. Another problem is these tractor manufacturers don't want to stand behind their tractor. Yeah they other a warranty, but when it is time to cash in on their warranty they want to wiggle every which way. Dealers want to hide behind their corporate conglomerate. They all nice and promise you the world. You buy their tractor, something goes wrong and your fault not their tractor.(it is a joke). At the end of the day I'd go with John Deere or case-ih. I'm out here in the heart of the farm belt where I see guys turning 1000 (s) of acres. I see their tractors, what their tractor are called upon to do and how well their tractors are withh dependability and reliability. "Weekend warrior" tractors don't cut it out here, I made that mistake. Go John Deere or case-ih is my recommendation.

 

[Phillip w]

I guess that 8320 is only about 250 hp, but still a lot of tractor.

 

[Phillip w]

Ps. The instructor seat we jokingly call the "bankers chair" banker come out to see what going , look at your crop and figure out if your gonna have trouble making you farm payment. They are nice, that 8320 had one and my wife would tag along.

 

[rusty842]

Most everyone around here is running case-ih or John Deere. Most every one is happy with the.(I took all the 60 and less hp tractors out of the mix). As far as convene and easy of operation of tractor for modern tractors I only have experience with a John Deere 8320. It is a real horse way way way over a 100 hp. It is nice, comfortable, got some sort of noise reduction cab thing going makes it a lot quieter inside the cab. An 8320 is if I remember right about 300 hp or so. Way more than you need, but I think the comforts and ease of operation would be compatible to a new 75-100 hp Deere. You want to go used and kind of can find a used ih,case, case-ih,John Deere tractor in good shape that is an option. A loader and 4 wheel drive are nice, but loader on a 2 wheel drive tractor works, but you want to weight down the back of the tractor if you want to do much with the loader.( A big round bale works well). While John Deere and case-ih tractors tend to be good reliable tractors, if some goes cuput the are expensive to get fixed. Another problem is these tractor manufacturers don't want to stand behind their tractor. Yeah they other a warranty, but when it is time to cash in on their warranty they want to wiggle every which way. Dealers want to hide behind their corporate conglomerate. They all nice and promise you the world. You buy their tractor, something goes wrong and your fault not their tractor.(it is a joke). At the end of the day I'd go with John Deere or case-ih. I'm out here in the heart of the farm belt where I see guys turning 1000 (s) of acres. I see their tractors, what their tractor are called upon to do and how well their tractors are withh dependability and reliability. "Weekend warrior" tractors don't cut it out here, I made that mistake. Go John Deere or case-ih is my recommendation.

I agree with what your saying to an extent. The large JD & Case tractors are great but IMO the smaller John Deere's and Case tractors are no where near the quality of the large at tractors. The "Farmall" line is made by LS in India and the 50E Series JD are made in India as well. You comparing oranges to grapes when you compare a 250hp tractor to a 75hp utility tractor.

 

[varmint]

My personal experience is that dealers don't matter: I have purchased 3 used Kubotas, and never have any of them needed anything I couldn't (and wanted to) do myself, such as changing fluids and filters. I often don't need a tractor for weeks on end, and my 10 year old L3400 always works without any issues when I do need it.

The advice about SSQA is spot on, and I think getting one or two rear aux. hydraulics is a good idea. Most of what a third loader function control will do can be done with the rears, as well.

A Grand L Kubota should please you after some familiarity is acquired it is loaded with great features that most users come to love having. Whether the dealer is 15 or 30 miles away seems insignificant, compared to your "sense" of the the dealer's people you would be interacting with after the initial sale. Most likely, nothing would require a trip back. A tooth bar is handy for pulling/ripping roots and brush, but that's pretty much bolt-on. Be sure the auger works with whatever cab setup you get.

 

[Phillip w]

My personal experience is that dealers don't matter: I have purchased 3 used Kubotas, and never have any of them needed anything I couldn't (and wanted to) do myself, such as changing fluids and filters. I often don't need a tractor for weeks on end, and my 10 year old L3400 always works without any issues when I do need it.

The advice about SSQA is spot on, and I think getting one or two rear aux. hydraulics is a good idea. Most of what a third loader function control will do can be done with the rears, as well.

A Grand L Kubota should please you after some familiarity is acquired it is loaded with great features that most users come to love having. Whether the dealer is 15 or 30 miles away seems insignificant, compared to your "sense" of the the dealer's people you would be interacting with after the initial sale. Most likely, nothing would require a trip back. A tooth bar is handy for pulling/ripping roots and brush, but that's pretty much bolt-on. Be sure the auger works with whatever cab setup you get.

My father had about a 30 hp Kubota maybe 20-25 years ago. It dependability and reliability did not stand up on the farm. He traded it for a Deere. You say sometimes you don't need you tractor for weeks. This is what I'm I am warning tractor owners about. A guy has a small acreage and needs a 30-40 hp tractor. These little tractor are perfect for that. They will not hold up to to the daily riggers of farm life. Yes, access to a dealer is essential in the farm belt. If it is not your tractor broke down, it your baler or your combine or always something so it seems. Even if you do your own repair you still need parts. They come the dealer. My allis Chalmers has 14000 yes 14000 hours of service on the farm and near daily use. Guys tell me how good their tractor is and you bring it out to the farm or same similar model and it won't hold up. I got one of those tractors right now. Trying to figure out which way to go. Just learned small Deere and case-ih are using foreign venders to make their smaller tractors. You see Kubota tractors close to town, but they pretty few and far between out here in the farm belt.

 

[newbury]

<snip>

Good to know about fluids... what are zerks?

Zerks are the fittings you attach a grease gun to about every 10 hours of use. Best done using a Lockn'Lube coupler.