New Tractor Guidance

Maka · Sep 21, 2005

No problem Eric. I would call the guys at Scandanavian Forrestry and ask him about the winch. His name is Anders and he used to be the Farmi distributor as I understand it.

I know that several of the Tajfun winch users here have personally spoken to Anders and he is knowlegable. I have not had one single complaint or problem with the Tajfun.

It is extremely well built, lots of features and more afforadable than most.

Best of luck to you in the search process.

Maka

Dargo · Sep 21, 2005

Hey, talk about coincidence. A neighbor of mine just scrapped his old 10k fork truck. He took all "toxic" things off of it and drained all fluids. He took it to Dumas recycling to cash in on the scrap steel. Afterall, even after being stripped, this thing weighed over 8000 pounds. Apparently he didn't get get squat for it. The "weight" used as counter weight on fork trucks is is apparently made of poor quality. When he asked Dumas where they sell the "junk" steel, you know what the answer was? "It goes overseas and some 3rd world companies make tractors with it." /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

No kidding. Before you get all fired up at me, I'm only relating what was told to me, and nobody mentioned what country used the steel. I just thought it was timely to the comments here about the quality of steel. I didn't know the counter weights on fork trucks were made of "junk" steel. Did you?

Varmintmist · Sep 21, 2005

I'm not fired up. It is the norm here for folks to take unsupported swipes at "other than big 3" brands. No big deal. Kind of amusing in a sad way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif JD folks took swipes at Kubota for years, and Deere ignored the small tractor market. My color choice has Kubota and Deere combined beat in their home market, so what?. I am happy with mine after having run other tractors and a lot of different equipment in my life. However this is a big "so what" as it relates to the question asked.

No, I didnt know that forktruks used junk steel as counterweight, though it is a good idea. Why spend more on just weight? He figured on .35 or whatever a lb and they took off for the work it will take to break it down. If you look at the scrap prices it mostly is listed as ".30/lb for engine block" not for dried out truck.

I also just talked to a guy. He is unimpressed by his new 990 4wd with loader. He says that he cant keep the front end on the ground pulling a blade or the manure spreader up hill. Anecdotal evidence, better than your anecdotal evidence since it is only second hand, yet anecdotal nonetheless. Which is why I didnt bring it up because it really doesnt have anything to do with skidding logs with a 990 since I have no idea if this guy was having a real problem, full of it, or just incompetant.

Just a question, what country does Deere buy its steel from? They arent buying all that steel out of Pittsburgh. Not that it matters since the country of origin, per the Deere site, is Japan for the 990 and it is a rebadged Yanmar. { Manufacturer Yanmar 4TNE84 , Country of Origin Japan 990 site }

Soundguy is probably more correct in pointing out that it is more in the way it is made. Kind of a Ruger vs Smith and Wesson thing. Rugers are investment cast, bigger, stronger and cheaper. S&W are more refined, lighter and prettier. They also wont hold up to the same pressures a Ruger will but carrying a Ruger in your pants is no fun. Doesnt mean a S&W is bad or a Ruger is bad, they are different with a different approach to manufacture.

Back to my point. To skid, you need weight for traction and so that you can horse logs around if you need to. What is wrong with that statement? I cant and wont tell the guy that the 990 wont work. I stated that I thought it would and gave my experiance doing the same type of work he is stating that he is going to do. I dont care if it is red, green, burnt orange with pink polka dots, it needs weight. That weight can be from old wheel weights as long as its there.

Dargo · Sep 21, 2005

Uh, yup. And I'm sure that Jennings and Davis firearms use the exact same quality steel, tooling, manufacturing tolerances and quality control as Kimber and H&K. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Just sometimes, you get what you pay for.

Bob_Skurka · Sep 21, 2005

Just for the record, the 2 biggest users by % of recycled steel to virgin steel are China and Korea. Recycled steel is typically much lower grade; typically lower grade metal must be cast heavier to achieve similar strength. I have no idea if the tractor producers in those nations use virgin, recycled or a combination of those.

Also for the record, a JD 990 is not a badge engineered Yanmar. It is a proprietary design made by Yanmar for JD under contract. There is a difference between badge engineering and proprietary design, and that does not mean that some parts are not common, it just means that the 990 is built to JD design and built to JD quality control specs.

Now I don't have a horse in this race as I don't own a Chinese, a Korean or a JD tractor, but I figured I'd set the records straight. By the way, given the choice, I'd prefer than criminals use guns like a Jennings instead of a quality gun. . . the odds of them hitting me would be greatly reduced! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Dargo · Sep 21, 2005

( Now I don't have a horse in this race as I don't own a Chinese, a Korean or a JD tractor, )

Well, I don't own any of those either, but my tractor is one of the heavier tractors for it's HP range. How did that happen?! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Deerlope · Sep 21, 2005

M-6800 Kubota would be happy to help you with all those chores plus it woud have some exerciseing room on that 105 acres. 4- 18" dia would be just about right for it. You don't want to work it real hard.

Varmintmist · Sep 22, 2005

So where does Yanmar buy their steel /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Made by Yanmar is made by Yanmar. Deere may have speced it out, but it is a Yanmar made tractor. NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

If you think there is as much difference in a Mahindra and Deere as there is in Jennings and Kimber, you have never looked at a Mahindra or a Kimber. I've got a Kimber, and I had a Deere and now have a Mahindra and I like Rugers. Think Ruger vs S&W. Both well made, different take on how to get there.

Prove your statement that all but the big 3 are made of low quality steel. And that if they are using a lower grade of steel, explain how, since they are built heavier, the tractor is any less strong for the job they are built for. Otherwise it is smoke.

mike223 · Sep 22, 2005

Varmintmist,
I'm new to this forum, and am looking to buy a compact tractor for 70 ac in middle TN. It has 55 ac of timber, and 15 in pasture. I was considering a New Holland, Kubota or Yanmar in the 30-40 HP range, but a buddy of mine mentioned the Mahindra, and I have never heard of it, and I see that you own one. I'm assuming it's made in India or somewhere else in the "developing" world, at least from the previous posts. I would be using this tractor primarily for bushhogging, with some timber work and plowing/planting of a large vegetable garden, as well as food plots for deer. How does it stack up to the previous mentioned brands, how is the dealer support, ease of maintenance, and parts availability, especially consumables such as filters etc. Thanks for the help.

Dargo · Sep 22, 2005

( Prove your statement that all but the big 3 are made of low quality steel. And that if they are using a lower grade of steel, explain how, since they are built heavier, the tractor is any less strong for the job they are built for. Otherwise it is smoke. )

Gee, you either must have difficulty interpreting the written word, or you have me confused with someone else. I just don't recall saying anywhere that "all but the big 3 are made of low quality steel." Hmm, speaking of smoke...