New Branson 2610h just arrived. Initial impressions.

dfkrug · Apr 17, 2022

Last fall, I went looking for a CUT with HST for my neighbor. Something fairly new and low hours in the 2000-3000 pound weight class (naked) with loader. Slim pickens in the local used market.

So I got a quotation from the Branson dealer 100 miles from here, and got a price for a 2610h with FEL, BB, mower, and forks.

Here it is, delivered this week.

Runs quietly and drives very smoothly. Since this CUT only makes 24hp, no DPF or DEF. Simple mechanical FI, with heated intake. Beautiful red paint on steel fenders and hood.

Surprisingly, the 2610 has old-fashioned foot clutch and forward-mounted FEL joystick. And no split brakes.

The safety nannies do allow the tractor to be started in gear, which is a plus. The seat presence switch kills the engine if you use the brakes while the PTO is engaged. That has to go.

K5lwq · Apr 17, 2022

Looks good! Congratulations to your neighbor.

Branson Bob · Apr 19, 2022

I'm not familiar with that model. Thanks for sharing.

jyoutz · Apr 19, 2022

Nice small tractor

oldnslo · Apr 19, 2022

applying the brake causes the engine to quit sounds like a wiring error to me. On my 2400H applying the brake just activates the tail - stop lights. No interface with the seat switch that I have ever noticed. The seat switch was super sensitive on mine so jumper wire solved that problem on a permanent basis.

dfkrug · Apr 19, 2022

I have yet to find a service manual for this tractor. (!)

Seat presence switch problem is due to when you push on brake pedal, your a55 rises up and kills engine when PTO is on. Not a problem if you are well-fed and larger than I am. I had the same problem with my new Bobcat CT230. Even worse, the Bobcat's PTO did not have to be on. Push brake hard and engine dies.

Most CUTs have parking brake integrated with the foot brake, making this kind of safety switch problem worse. The Branson uses an automotive-style hand-operated lever for the parking brake.

Seat switch on the CT230 had to be immediately jumpered to use the tractor.

Slowpoke Slim · Apr 19, 2022

Hmmm. That's interesting that there's so much difference between models in the same brand.

My 3725 has no safety or nanny switches on it at all. You can freely get up and out of the cab with the engine running, even with HST in gear, and with the PTO running.

I think I would also be looking to bypass that switch if it shuts off when you use the brakes.

Very strange.

Reminds me of a kind of funny story when I worked at the Bobcat factory we got in some new Doosan forklifts (to use in the factory) and one of our lead welders was small enough he couldn't keep the seat safety switch engaged. We kept teasing him about eating more at lunch, or he'd come back from break and we'd set a cinder block on his seat (he was also a bit on the short side).

oldnslo · Apr 19, 2022

Sounds like my 2400H swivel in the seat to look over shoulder while backing up and would kill the engine. Mine was a simple two wire switch so just made a jumper wire for connecting plug. That way if grand kids run it can easily plug the switch back in

dfkrug · Apr 19, 2022

oldnslo said:
Sounds like my 2400H swivel in the seat to look over shoulder while backing up and would kill the engine.

Yeah, it did that for me as well. I and the new owner were testing out the mower when I discovered the seat switch issue. If I was not really careful how I rotated to look behind me, the seat would come up enough to kill the engine.

And I am not THAT light. 142# wet; maybe 150-155 fully geared up for working. My Kioti seat has adjustable suspension, and no seat switch, thankfully.

dfkrug · Apr 20, 2022

For you long-time Branson owners: do your tractors also not have split brakes? And the auto-style parking brake?

Back in '04, I decided to get a new tractor, and costs were such that I was going to get a Korean CUT. I could buy a new Kioti, Mahindra, TYM, or Branson for the price of a recent used Kubota L3130. Branson did not have any HSTs at that time. I bought the Kioti CK30, and have been very happy with it (1000 hours now).

scaredychicken · Apr 20, 2022

i love all tractors

ericm979 · Apr 20, 2022

dfkrug said:
For you long-time Branson owners: do your tractors also not have split brakes? And the auto-style parking brake?

My 3725 has split brakes and a parking brake which just locks the main brakes in place.

The 25 series was basically the same as the 20 series with a few additions.

herm0016 · Apr 20, 2022

my 4720h has split brakes and a manual auto style parking brake.

DGZRT · Apr 20, 2022

Nice Tractor ! how do you like the Titan Implement Rotary Mower ?

ptsg · Apr 20, 2022

The Auto style hand brake lever is a requirement for the European market. Not sure why that style would end up on the 2610 being that model is a US only model.

As far as the split brakes, the bigger 15 and 20 series have them for the Shuttle shift transmission at least.

dfkrug · Apr 21, 2022

ptsg said:
The Auto style hand brake lever is a requirement for the European market. Not sure why that style would end up on the 2610 being that model is a US only model.

As far as the split brakes, the bigger 15 and 20 series have them for the Shuttle shift transmission at least.

The only other tractor I recall using much with a handbrake for parking was an older 80s Bolens G274, which is an Iseki. Could have been others.

You reminded me of Euro requirements. I should have noted that the Branson has a working horn, which I think is required in Europe. True?

It works great, and I love a horn. I added one to my Kioti, but it does not have the cool trumpet image on the button. Good for when working with others.

dfkrug · Apr 21, 2022

DGZRT said:
...how do you like the Titan Implement Rotary Mower ?

Thumbs up on the Titan rotary mower. The stump-jumper seems a little small, unlike the 60" I bought years ago from TSC. I do like the rubber stone guards it comes with, and the carcass construction looks stout. Often these units have no stone guard at all, with optional chain guard.
I did change the toplink over to a chain from fixed.

I do not do any mowing myself as I live on 19 forested acres. I have set them up for others and operated and fixed them numerous times.

ptsg · Apr 21, 2022

dfkrug said:
The only other tractor I recall using much with a handbrake for parking was an older 80s Bolens G274, which is an Iseki. Could have been others.

You reminded me of Euro requirements. I should have noted that the Branson has a working horn, which I think is required in Europe. True?

It works great, and I love a horn. I added one to my Kioti, but it does not have the cool trumpet image on the button. Good for when working with others.

Yes, true for the horn and also low/high beams, indicators and maybe some other stuff that I'm forgetting right now.

Branson Bob · Apr 22, 2022

My 2016 3520H (hydrostat) has split brakes.

LouNY · May 2, 2022

Quite a few tractors use a separate brake for parking, going back into the 70's the IH 574 had one.
Many of the newer New Holland and CIH also have one.
My Branson 8050 has one and the switch in the parking brake will hold out the Power Shuttle also.