New Massey 4608

JWR · Aug 28, 2015

Dewbie said:
Quick search on tractor house of 2014 and older 4608, m7040, m7060, 5075e..4608 had less used for sale..John Deere having the most so by your logic John Deere sucks worse than Massey or Kubota.

Can you point me in the direction to these claims of people having issues with the 4608? I searched and can't find anything. I've found pleanty on the 2600 series which made me not even look at Massey when I first started looking for a new tractor.

And Massey isn't cheaper than Kubota. To begin with Kubota was about 3k less than Massey. John Deere was about 4k more than Massey. I'd have to say the major brand where all within about a 5k price difference. I priced Kubota Massey case new Holland and John deere

Several points: I own a MF 2660 HD low-profile bought new in 2011. 1) The 2650/60/70 "HD" series was absolutely made in Brazil. Not India or somewhere else. 2) The 2660 had a horrible first 100 hours. Met every definition of a lemon. You name a type of problem and I'll describe in detail how it happened on my 2660. I was right on the edge of selling/trading it in 2014 when I got (I hope !!) the last few bugs out of the thing. Since then it has been great and one of the best tractors I've seen.
Back to the 4600 series: (1) The initial most frequent complaint that I found was weak steering. If you had a heavy bale on the front end trying to steer in mud it would not turn. Of course that COULD get bad with any tractor. However, I know one dealer who felt it was serious enough that he refused to accept any more from the factory until they resolved the issue. I hear that later serial numbers had something done for more robust steering. I also know one owner of an early 4608 who says "yeah, the steering should be a little stronger but just move a small amount before turning and it is no problem." (2) The power shuttle shifter on his 4608 would darn near tear up his implements and other things going fwd to rev to fwd. That was adjusted out of it by the dealer. Fixed. I have heard very little wrong/bad about the 4600 series. You probably know but there are several things better about your 4608 compared to the larger 2600 series made in Brazil. First: Bevel gear FWD is much more maneuverable (as is the Kubota.) Second: the power shuttle transmission SHOULD be great if it turns out to be reliable. Third: The wet clutch necessitated by the power shuttle SHOULD be better. Fourth: Made in Japan. I do not think you will soon see Brazilian made MF tractors sold in the USA after the debacle many had with the 2600 series. Things that never should have been let out of the factory. Fifth: You have a better choice of loaders (I hope you got the 931 or at least the DL260. I'm stuck with a DL250.) I'm really happy now with my 2660 but can tell many horror stories about getting to that point if anyone wants to hear them. Hope your 4608 is reliable and enjoyable. It should be !

JWR · Aug 28, 2015

jsftractors said:
The 2600s are built in India by an organization much bigger than Iseki. Granted the 2600s are basically a 60 year update of the Ford 8N, they are of better quality than the 4600s. In the 4600 case, you truly get what you pay for compared to the other manufacturers.

If I understand what you are saying (and maybe I don't) then I disagree on all counts. The smaller 2600's were made in Japan but the 2650/60/70/80 were built in Brazil. Says so on the machine and in the service manuals. Most MF dealers I talked to awaiting the 4600 series said that they were going to be made in the same facilities as the smaller MF tractors and that gave them hope that quality control and reliability would be better. I do not see any indication that the larger 2600 series (made in Brazil) were of any better quality than the newer 4600 series. Mine sure as **** was not. I had an incredible list of problems with my 2660 (some by stupid design and many by poor quality control and getting out of the factory in disastrous condition.) I've heard NONE of those stories on the 4600's. You seem to imply that the 4600 series is cheap and thus getting what you pay for. I've heard a heck of a lot more wrong with the JD 5000 series than the 4600's. Kubota if any of them, has a better reliability record but I'm not at all sure it is better than the 4600's. Time will tell.

bushhog28 · Aug 28, 2015

You get the jerky hitch syndrome with kubota. Op made best choice in my opinion.

JWR · Aug 28, 2015

bushhog28 said:
You get the jerky hitch syndrome with kubota. Op made best choice in my opinion.

Agree he made the best choice but you got my curiosity -- what is the "jerky hitch syndrome" or where can I readily look it up ?
Thanks.

bushhog28 · Aug 30, 2015

Tbn is a good place to start

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/268927-mx5100-jerky-3pt-hitch.html

My mx5100 did it as well. Also the 3 7060s i tried out.

JWR · Aug 30, 2015

bushhog28 said:
Tbn is a good place to start

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/268927-mx5100-jerky-3pt-hitch.html

My mx5100 did it as well. Also the 3 7060s i tried out.

From studying the posts on that jerky-3pt-hitch thread I think I understand that the 3pt lift just jerks in vertical increments (maybe as bad as one inch at a time) rather than being smooth lifting. Makes sense with the nickname and I understand. One of the postors at that thread you mentioned said he has a 7040 that does not have the disease. Does that mean that later/newer Kubotas do not have the jerky hitch ? The main one I was interested in was an M8560.

bushhog28 · Aug 30, 2015

I tried to buy a 7060 last year, all 3 on lot did it. Have dealer put 7 foot mower on one you want to buy, slowly feather up hitch from ground to full height in one continuous motion. I have seen them bounce so much youd think the rears were about to come off ground. I saw a deere with the issue on you tube, ill try to find it for you. One guy was sueing kubota over it.

http://youtu.be/jSTJrL6AwYg

Quick search, you get idea.

MinnesotaEric · Aug 31, 2015

bushhog28 said:
I tried to buy a 7060 last year, all 3 on lot did it. Have dealer put 7 foot mower on one you want to buy, slowly feather up hitch from ground to full height in one continuous motion. I have seen them bounce so much youd think the rears were about to come off ground. I saw a deere with the issue on you tube, ill try to find it for you. One guy was sueing kubota over it.

http://youtu.be/jSTJrL6AwYg

Quick search, you get idea.

Holy Smokes, I'd be up in arms!

JWR · Aug 31, 2015

Seems to me Kubota has no choice but to fix that ! The YouTube was mind boggling. Has to make you wonder if it is a design issue or a very common maintenance problem. With bushhog28 having seen it on three 7060's on a lot it almost has to be a design problem. Regardless, Kubota has no choice but to fix it. You'd think there would be a mass recall. The thing that probably astounds me most is: How can this sort of thing go on for a year, two years who knows how long in the tractor industry? In the automotive industry it would be front page news and affecting Wall Street. It is volume, strength in numbers and total $ I suppose.