Plastic versus Metal

[Boondox]

The only negative I saw was an encounter between a 4300 plastic fender and a branch at minus 25 degrees. The plastic shattered pretty badly. On the other hand, metal would have gotten scrunched...and in warmer climes the plastic probably would have come through with just a scratch.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[MChalkley]

Harv - If you look carefully at the pictures of the EF-5 in the "Goodbye Kubota, Hello EarthForce" thread, you'll notice that the fenders are plastic - thus the custom cup shelf I'm having D&E Mfg make, which caused the guy at D&E to write the poem. So, as you can see, there are some advantages to plastic fenders which aren't immediately apparent... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

When I first looked at the plastic fenders on the EF-5, my initial reaction was to plan to rip them off as soon as I get it and put some real metal ones on it. But, after thinking about it a while, I've decided to give them a chance. I'll leave 'em on until they get ripped off by wear and tear, then replace them with some plate steel ones. Who knows? Maybe they'll never have to be retired, if they're as tough as the JD owners say theirs are.

MarkC

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>the fenders are plastic - thus the custom cup shelf</font color=blue>

Sure, now you'll be constrained to carrying your cup in one specific place instead of anywhere on your tractor. Okay, so I usually carry mine on the same spot on the fender all the time, but it's knowing that I could stick it anywhere that makes the difference. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

What's that? I can stick it where? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

I'm sure a bunch of us are looking forward to your actual field tests with this [alleged] machine you've been bragging about. I guess the plastic parts will be of increased interest now. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I suppose you could always replace your cup magnets with a big wad o' chewing gum to get the same versatility you had before. If you really wanted to. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[JATO_RaT]

John, when your doing that kinda serious brush and bush hogging, I'm sure you need the plastic bush hog. Does Brown make a plastic version and if so, is it lighter, cheaper? Hehehe, Rat...

 

[MChalkley]

Harv - You can, and should, stick it where you always stick it. It has to go in the same place all the time so you can instinctively reach for it in emergency situations. Also, safety dictates that you not take your eyes off what you're doing in order to reach for it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

"Alleged" is a good word for the EF-5 - at this point, I have no evidence that they really exist, either. Well, I did drive one in SC, but I sure haven't seen mine...

MarkC

 

[GaryK]

Dents and dings are what add character.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Ah............. you have the Yanmar metal hood and fenders...

You are so right... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Space Age Materials...

Hi Mark...

First wanted to revive this interesting thread...

Then... wanted to see how you like your plastic/hi-tech fenders on the EarthForce... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Third... when is Kubota gonna join the crowd and go hi-tech plastic... {maybe that will get somebody's attention /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif}

 

[MChalkley]

Ever subtle as the proverbial flying mallet, eh John? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

So far, there's no problem with the plastic fenders on the EF-5. I don't like them, personally, but I can't say I have any valid basis for that feeling.

I'll be interested to watch Kubota's actions on the "Hi-Tech" materials front, too. Not to mention the reactions of the Kubota faithful. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Thomas]

I for one wouldn't want plastic fender,for zig zaging around trees it would be a matter of time before a crank started.
Remember when Kubota had the plastic hoods,and the sun etc.. faded the hoods kinda orangeish while the rest of the tractor stay its normal color. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[TresCrows]

John, Miller III, I prefer old tech metal fenders. The only advantage to plastic fenders is the lower manufacturing cost/time and the lower materials cost--they can sell it as high tech but I am not convinced.
Plastic does have some advantages though with people who run into things till it eventually cracks. Plastic parts also make sense in some places such as detail pieces etc but I prefer that major parts such as the fenders and hood etc remain good old steel. That is just me though and I reserve the right to change my mind as unlikely as that may be.
J

 

[cowboydoc]

I do agree I do not like the plastic fenders and such. That's about the only thing I don't like about the jd. My new gator broke a fender the first week I had it. Granted it hit a gate but with a metal fender you may have had a little dent that could have easily been fixed or left there and it still would have been functional. With the plastic the whole right side had to be replaced. Granted JD covered it under warranty but still I don't like them.

 

[Hillbilly]

Not all plastic is the same...Plastic with a rubber mix is more pliable..I would not want metal fenders,I have yet to have any problems with my JD,look at your plastic/rubber parts in cars and trucks they will bend before they break and a lot of times reflex to the original position. Yes it is true if you break a part you have to replace the whole thing,but on your tractor it is going to take a pretty hard whack to break it and the metal will bend..I guarantee plastic will out last a piece of metal(Depending on the grade and application)I looked at the AGCO tractors,I loved the tractors but they had metal fenders and to me that looked iferior to my JD.I have a plastic/rubber grill in my truck and I hit 3 deer this winter and I assure you that if I had metal or the old type of grills I would have spent big bucks for repairs....They can and do make plastic/rubber more strong than metal........

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>Not all plastic is the same</font color=blue>

You can say that again, Hillbilly!

Anybody been hearing about a new type of plastic which is not petroleum-based, but rather corn-based? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif A major production facility is already ramping up, and some production is being done as we speak. All of the clear plastic beverage cups for the winter olympics will be made from corn. Also shirts (synthetic corn-based fibers) and many other products.

Good news for farmers.

 

[Hillbilly]

Harv that is very interestring.........I remember stories about in during WWII when the were rationing metal and they made some license plates out of soybean,they say the cows loved em /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.
Check this out:
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kraton.com/generic/menu.asp?ID=1245>http://www.kraton.com/generic/menu.asp?ID=1245</A>
Shell invented this stuff then after they made there $$$ off of it they sold it to a billionaire...in a leveraged buyout.

 

[forestcreature]

the pliable plastic on your cars is soy oil based too.

 

[PitbullMidwest]

Hillbilly,

Interesting that you chose the JD over the AGCO based in part on the plastic over metal. The steel fenders and hood are a big reason I'm leaning towards the AGCO over JD and NH. Guess in the end it comes down to personnal preference.

Just courious, which AGCO model did you look at and what convinced you that the Deere was a better tractor?

 

[Hillbilly]

"Interesting" that I DID not pick a John Deere over and Agco...I was just looking at Agco's one day to look be looking,I had already bought my JDeere a year before,so I never even considered an Agco(I still like to look)..Now if you like metal go for it(Like you said its all personal preference)...The Agcos are NICE tractors,I just prefer the Deere and there are a lot more JD Dealers to service my John Deere. EOM

 

[TresCrows]

Plastics and similar polymers are composed of, at least at their root, of long chain hydrocarbon molecules. Of course that is very oversimplified especially with hybrid materials and other modern advances. Corn, soy, petroleum contain those building blocks, hydrogen and carbon. I know there is much more to it but obviously one could spend weeks reading about various plastics and rubbers and not get it all covered. We may eventually see plastic engines!!!!!!! but I still like good ol' iron, steel and aluminum. J

 

[JerryG]

Plastic engines are already in the works. About five or so years ago, Ford built a plastic engine. The only part that was steel was the crank shaft. The head, pistons, rods, water pump and everything else was plastic. It was a 1.9 litre and it put out 650 horsepower.