Plastic vs Steel

[markie61]

I guess it's DocHerb who frolicks.....sorry Bird! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

If you are buying a tractor to last get steel. Plastic WILL become brittle and once it rots it cannot be repaired like steel and must be replaced. This will become an issue on down the road as the current plastic tractors are to be restored and plastic parts may be impossible to find or very expensive. That is of course assuming the current crop of CUT's wit a lot of aluminum and plastic in them last long enough to be restored. Time will tell...

 

[PhilNH5]

Mark,
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll bite and probably learn something: )</font>

I wasn''t trolling. I am just curious about others opinions. In reading the Kubota forums there are a lot of comparisons between the 2200 and the JD2210. Recently someone mentioned they preferred the JD due to the plastic and they would not have to worry about rust.

It struck me as odd because I prefer the steel. I never thought others would prefer plastic. So I posted this question just for fun to see what others think or feel.

Phil

 

[sendero]

I'm pretty sure the fenders on my DK35 are fiberglass, not plastic. I could be wrong, but it sure felt like it.

I prefer fiberglass over plastic or steel in certain bodypart applications. It's tough, it won't rust or rot, it's light.

I'll have to double check, maybe they are just plastic but they didn't feel like it.

One more thing, plastic that is painted will probably last a lot longer than unpainted, that should arrest UV damage I think.

 

[looch]

I like steel. Malleable, weldable, paintable, durable (and user repairable if not durable enough).

And...

It's Chalkey cup friendly /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.

 

[MossRoad]

Steel! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The plastic on older units that spend lots of time in the sun seem to fade and get those spider looking cracks in the paint.

In the case of the Power Tracs it should be sheet metal VS plate steel. The whole thing is welded steel plate, no sheet metal. One tough customer. Which is probably good for me, as I have taken it through some pretty heavy brush that would have messed up plastic or sheet metal very easily.

 

[JerryG]

And...

It's Chalkey cup friendly .

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Heath]

The only thing that I've broken on my 4110 in its short 28 hour life is the METAL grill. I ran into a pile of brush when I was using the FEL and a stick poked into the front of the tractor. The front of the tractor is about 40% "plastic" and 60% metal. There were several light smudges on the plastic portion and several small dents and one puncture in the metal portion.
I buffed the plastic back to new and bent the grill back as best I could, but the hole is still there.
The plastic portion came out on top in this case.

 

[wisconsinguy]

One thing I do like is the black plastic floor area on the 2210, if it was metal it would be all scratched up from my feet and carring a chain around on it. The plastic just washes off and looks like new.

later
Phil

 

[r0GuE]

I feel pretty strongly about this, but I understand others viewpoints and respect their decision.
That said (my favorite caveat line)...
I believe there is one and only one reason that manufacturers are moving to pla$tic. Care to Gue$$ what it i$?

RIGHT!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Plastic may hold up (less visual blemishes) better in the short run. But in the long run, I think steel is the better alternative. In a world where SO much is cheapened to lower the price in to the mass-market range. Or cheapened just to raise corporate profits, I really appreciate an option of the old fashioned steel. By the way, I was originally moved in to thinking BX because the G and lower lines were plastic hoods. WHY OH WHY do they feel the need to make the hood look aerodynamic. I doubt that at 7 MPH, there is much of an advantage. If your looking for MPG, don't forget to crouch down in a tuck (like a jockey!!).
The fact is that big and square leaves more room for what's inside to be laid out for a logical and easy to service design rather than a tight and compact design.
I do believe that one day I will dent the hood with something falling out of the loader. I also believe that in 20 years, all of these plastic parts will be cracked or broken or already replaced. That statement assumes some relatively heavy use. The same usage that will result in my dent. When I do dent my hood, I'll either leave it or replace it though (if possible). I'm not much of a body man (sissy hand engineer, I think it was... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )