new to forum and a question

[LMan1967]

Hello, Im new here and have been reading the 'Hello Im new here' posts to gain wisdom.

I have just bought a place w 49 acres, ~ 10 open and the rest wooded...there are some slopes but not terribly so. the previous owner cut the open part with a ZTM and let the rest go, but I am looking at doing some small-scale clearing for a pistol range and other projects, plus there is a perimeter trail that would need to be cleared every few weeks with a bushhog or cutter. So, Im thinking a FEL and a BH/cutter are requirements, but not sure on a backhoe (prob not). I have seen the advice that a tractor set up with a FEL and so on is too heavy to cut grass. True?

My budget is ~ 15k. Is the above too much for a BX- style tractor to handle?

Also, is there such a thing as a wood-splitter attachment for such a tractor?

Thanks, glad to be here.

 

[TripleR]

Welcome to the forum.

I truly love my BX2660, but would not try that with any BX, my minimum would be one of the B Series, I like the B2630/B3030/B3000, but you get good results with the Bxx20 Series and they are cheaper.

When I need a back hoe, I just rent a mini excavator.

I mow with my BX 2660 without a FEL and usually take the FEL off my L5030 HSTC to bush hog. Most models have easily removable FEL's.

You can mow with the L3240 as it is available with a MMM, but the price is going to be really steep.

John Deere, Kioti/Bobcat, Cub Cadet, Massey Ferguson etc. all make comparable models to look at, I am just not as familiar with their models. Give consideration to all before buying. Good luck.

My preference for this size parcel would be two machines, but that may not be economically possible, so you have to look for the closest compromise for all of your tasks.

 

[LMan1967]

Thanks, I wasn't sure how hard it was to remove/reinstall a FEL. I have seen that there are PHD attachments available also, which I like since I have a lot of fencing to do. Is there a min HP that will run an auger?

Also, is there a reason to get either gasser or diesel, or is that the same argument as between a gasser/diesel pickup truck?

Thanks

 

[TripleR]

Kubota FEL are very easy to remove, but be sure any tractor you buy has an easily removable FEL as not all do, especially the TLB models. The FEL on our older model MF requires a kid and two trained monkeys to get off, so it stays on. Our Case CX80 was little better.

We have a PTO operated post hole auger, but they make hydraulic ones. The HP requirements will be listed with them.

I am not a mechanic, but my brothers are and recommend diesels. We do have three old gasser Fords my brothers use, but just for running cutters and light bb use.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...130105-tractor-performance-diesel-vs-gas.html

 

[loghouse511]

Welcome Lman 1967

Well, you know what they say Live and learn.

I have just learned something new.

You shouldn't bush hog with FEL attached?? Is this true and why??

 

[nybirdman]

I have done 700-800hrs of brush-hogging on my property,I never take the FEL off.I use it too much when BHing .Remove rocks and some of my brush I just pop it out and stack it.The bucket also protects the front of the tractor.

 

[Soundguy]

unless you get an older tractor.. you will be getting a diesel.. the last gasser I know of was a cub cadet model back in the late 90's.. and before that if you wanted a gasser it was an lp model.. otherwise most gassers died out in t he 80's or sooner.

For trail cutting you can't get too big.. say.. 26 hp ish.. IE.. a smallish CUT.. or large SCUT.

loader will make it harder to maneuver.. but just get a detachable bucket or loader.. no big deal.. loaders are quite usefull.

soudnguy

 

[bigbull338]

we have a 33yr old tractor with fel,an the fel hasnt been off the tractor 5 times.i use the loader to push stuff over so i can shredd it.the fel has yet tobe taken off the MX5100 HST,an i dont plan on taking it off.

 

[TripleR]

Someone else may have said not to mow with a FEL, but I think I have been pretty consistent in saying sometimes I mow with a FEL and sometimes I don't. Well, we very rarely MMM mow with our BX, but with rotary cutter, it is on about 50/50.

I get a much smoother ride without the FEL and my 2660 and L5030 "feels" much more stable mowing across slopes, but mowing up and down I keep the FEL on. Our M8540 feels rock steady either way.

I use a FEL in new situations as a "feeler" for stumps etc. and to get me out of a washout.

Kubota offers a KSR for the M8540, but not the others for a smoother ride.

I also find the tractor much more maneuverable sans FEL with much better visibility.

 

[flusher]

Hello, Im new here and have been reading the 'Hello Im new here' posts to gain wisdom.

I have just bought a place w 49 acres, ~ 10 open and the rest wooded...there are some slopes but not terribly so. the previous owner cut the open part with a ZTM and let the rest go, but I am looking at doing some small-scale clearing for a pistol range and other projects, plus there is a perimeter trail that would need to be cleared every few weeks with a bushhog or cutter. So, Im thinking a FEL and a BH/cutter are requirements, but not sure on a backhoe (prob not). I have seen the advice that a tractor set up with a FEL and so on is too heavy to cut grass. True?

My budget is ~ 15k. Is the above too much for a BX- style tractor to handle?

Also, is there such a thing as a wood-splitter attachment for such a tractor?

Thanks, glad to be here.

A $15K budget for a new tractor with FEL puts you in the 20-30 hp range assuming you can find a decent deal from a local dealer.

With that much acreage I'd be looking for a pre-owned tractor in the 40-50 hp range with FEL that's 5-10 years old and in good condition. Something like a Kubota L4400 would do nicely.

With 49 acres to maintain, you need to think ahead 5 years or so to identify the tasks you want your tractor to handle and make your $15K budget match your requirements.

 

[Gary Fowler]

As said by others, with FEL on you have to be aware that it sticks out in front a bit and makes your tractor a little longer. I would say that if you are bushhogging in a place so tight that the FEL is a problem, you should probably be using something else to mow that area with. The FEL is so useful to push over bushes, move stuff when mowing, even good for laying over high weeds to keep the trash out of your radiator. I wouldnt run a bush hog without my loader on. For working gardens or something small or confined with a tiller or disc, maybe it is easier to remove it, but those chores usually take just a few minutes. For me I can usually raise it up to clear fences etc easier than removing it. I rarely go out with my tractors that I dont need to use the FEL for something unplanned, therefore they stay on.

 

[Soundguy]

A $15K budget for a new tractor with FEL puts you in the 20-30 hp range assuming you can find a decent deal from a local dealer.

With that much acreage I'd be looking for a pre-owned tractor in the 40-50 hp range with FEL that's 5-10 years old and in good condition. Something like a Kubota L4400 would do nicely.

With 49 acres to maintain, you need to think ahead 5 years or so to identify the tasks you want your tractor to handle and make your $15K budget match your requirements.

he'll have a hard time cutting trails on a 50hp monster.

I'd get a large scut / small cut decked out.. AND a large late model just for grunt work. very doable on his budget.. especially if he don't need the large one right now to work that forested land.

soundguy

 

[TripleR]

Just a couple of the many posts on FEL removal.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ating/197412-who-removes-their-front-end.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/173790-practice-removing-your-front-end.html

 

[LMan1967]

he'll have a hard time cutting trails on a 50hp monster.

I'd get a large scut / small cut decked out.. AND a large late model just for grunt work. very doable on his budget.. especially if he don't need the large one right now to work that forested land.

soundguy

I do plan to leave the wooded part mostly wooded for the near term...except for the trails part and maybe light clearing for a shop building.

When you say 'large late model,' to what exactly do you refer?

 

[Soundguy]

I do plan to leave the wooded part mostly wooded for the near term...except for the trails part and maybe light clearing for a shop building.

When you say 'large late model,' to what exactly do you refer?

new and newish CUT's hold their value quite well.. anything about 35-40hp and down, especially loader and HST models.. while that are 0-10 ys old.. they stay about the same price you bought them for.

Ont he other hand.. the 50-100 hp machines that are getting to be 15-30+ ys old.. drastically drop to pennies on the dollar. For many thing they are just too big.. etc. so their value goes and you end up getting between a ford 5000 at 70hp to a 105hp ford 8000 for 6000$

soundguy

 

[bigbull338]

but you have to remember buying them 70 to 105hp tractors thats 20 to 30yrs old,they wont look pretty an shiney like a newer tractor.

 

[Soundguy]

that's a few weeks of buffing, body work.. pressure washin and degreasin, and a couple gallons of paint and a noisy air compressor for a few hours, lotsa masking tape and paper and some new decals.. that's all that is...


soundguy

 

[LMan1967]

OK, thanks I understand now.

There's a Massey 1540 with FEL and backhoe for sale near me for 16.5k. It has 240 hours on it, its a 2005 model. I dont know if that model has a HST or not. Does that sound worth pursuing? It has 40 HP, and appears a bit bigger than what I originally had in mind, but the price sounds attractive (even though its a little bit above my threshold). What do you think?

 

[Soundguy]

a TLB.. that's alot of machine.. the backhoe is usually worth at least 4000$ for something that size.. keep in mind the BH has to come off to mow.. if it's a subframe you will be dinking with that.

check it out.

price don't sound bad.. just look at what you will be getting into. I don't know if you intend to do alot of BH work or not.. if so.. that's likely a cheap way to get one and a beefy tractor.

soundguy

 

[Kyle241]

OK, thanks I understand now.

There's a Massey 1540 with FEL and backhoe for sale near me for 16.5k. It has 240 hours on it, its a 2005 model. I dont know if that model has a HST or not. Does that sound worth pursuing? It has 40 HP, and appears a bit bigger than what I originally had in mind, but the price sounds attractive (even though its a little bit above my threshold). What do you think?

MF are good machines and 240hrs is nothing. A BH is very useful when first starting a property as there are a lot of tasks involved to get to the 'maintenance mode'. A 40hp will have plenty of power for what you are looking to do and what is important is the PTO will have enough for a bushhog, snowblower, etc. The only drawback may be it's size/weight with the BH - do you have a garage/barn big enough? Do you plan on driving on your lawn with it? These are not critical, just something to think about as going bigger sometimes has its drawbacks however the dollars sound decent and a good second-hand machine is hard to come by. I would check it out and look for any leaks, tire wear (should be minimal), check all electrics work, get a feel for what the machine was used for (was it worked hard or not, e.g. commercial work). Good luck!