Yankee
Gold Member
I thought I'd post a few thoughts on things I thought mattered when shopping now that I've got a few weeks on the 7610.
Horsepower - was tempted by more, but 24 hp is plenty (more than enough) for my small acreage and the size of my implements (e.g., 4' box, 5' RFM). The only time I've felt a lack is mowing uphill in high, to my thinking more a range issue than HP. If and when I buy a larger property, I'm not even sure I'd necessarily want more.
Implement size - thought about a 6' mower as my "lawn" is treeless, but the reality is that where you're slowed down (like ditches, banks, turns, backing, etc.) matters more than the areas where you you're speeded up. Being slowed can eat up the advantages of speed and width. Same reason that hill climbers tend to win more long-distance bicycle races - the few minutes boost on the downhill side is wiped out by the hours of uphill slogging. I think this translates into 5' mower width being appropriate up to maybe 3-5 acres.
Tires - I considered turfs and bar turfs. I also considered not filling my tires. I went with the R4s the dealer recommended and filled them. I'm glad I went with both. No marking, turns or otherwise, except when very soft or soggy. I'd still consider going unfilled, though, as I'm a bit concerned about compaction. On the other hand, I don't worry too much about using the loader without the box hanging off the back. I really didn't like the test rides with ag tires. Felt like riding a washboard.
Quarter-inching valve vs. position control - Not that I'm much good with the box yet anyway, but I find the QI valve to be exactly what it's billed, a compromise. Better than up-and-down. Not as convenient as PC. I'd still prefer the PC.
The great HST pedal debate (treadle vs side-by-side, etc.). - A complete non-issue for me. I invested way too much thought on this one. The 7610 set-up took about 30 seconds to get used to, as I believe would have Deere's or anyone else's.
Loader Joystick location - I still like Kioti's better. The Kubota's mount also vibrates too much for my liking, which can't be good for it.
Cruise control - useless, as far as I'm concerned. Thought too much about this too.
HST vs. Gear - Really (really) thought I'd like a gear tractor. Tested them and liked 'em too. I LOVE having the HST. Love it, love it, love it. Given mowing dynamics on my property, I would never have gotten the efficiencies I have with gear. I still like driving them, though! On a separate note, the tractor will creep a bit on hills unless the parking brake is put on. I don't particularly like where the brake lever is on the 7610 (too low) and sometimes it takes a try or two to get it engaged. It pops right off with a touch of the pedals, though.
Ranges - Thought I wanted 3. The 7610 has 2. I'd still prefer 3. I mow in high and lose just a bit of power going up hills. A mid-range would keep the speed and power where I like it.
Seats - Thought it mattered more than it does for me. Reality is that I tend to sit forward somewhat anyway, and spend enough time peering around and looking back that I may as well be sitting on a board. That's an overstatement, obviously, but sitting back in a comfy position or tooling around around on on the dealer's (smooth) lot means next to nothing.
Toolboxes - I didn't really like the small 7610 toolbox and still don't. I'll need to build a bracket for the ROPS to get a bigger one and that will mean relocating lights as well. Oh well. Most people don't seem to like the factory boxes anyway.
Lights - I was concerned about lights, given the attention that supplementary lighting gets from many owners. I found it 100% justified in the case of rear lighting (I added a rear work light). You have to have at least some rear lighting to do anything at all at night. The factory front lighting is adequate, enough that I don't feel any great pressure to do anything about it for now, but will eventually.
Lift Capacities - I have more work capacity than I need. Agonizing over differences of a hundred pounds brand-to-brand (or whatever) wasn't worth the time, given that 90% of my need is mulch and dirt with the loader, and that I have implements sized to the tractor in the rear.
Hydraulic Flow - again, more than I need. The tractor is very responsive under full load or light. I spent way too much time worrying about this, too, thinking I just MIGHT want that hydraulic PHD some day ... And I'd actually prefer a slightly de-rated power steering set-up (i.e, the power steering is that good).
Checking fluids without lifting the hood - Can you believe what some people think about (and I was one)? It takes ONE SECOND to lift the hood!
RFM vs MMM - Thought through them both quite a bit and see advantages in both. I went with the RFM and am glad I did. Given the easy backing of the HST, and with ditches, odd corners, etc. I believe I can mow more with the RFM than I could with a MMM. Example - I can back the RFM right down into the ditch, across it, and up a ways on the sharper slope on the opposite side. Coupled with mowing along the roadside, that leaves just a 1.5' - 2' strip on the far slope to trim. I couldn't get close to doing that with a MMM. Another interesting switch in perspective: people tend to view the swing-out of a RFM as a negative, something I tried to think about when evaluating. I love it in practice (!) finding that I take advantage of it all the time. It adds sensitivity, helping mowing around objects, and I can just nail odd missed spots, hardly going out of my way in the process.
Quick hitches - Thought I wanted one and considered the Freedom Hitch. Honestly, since getting used to hitching and unhitching (which was pretty quick), I don't see the need. The first times were the worst times! Must have taken me 20 minutes or more to get that mower on or off. Takes me about 5 now after just a few weeks.
Turnbuckles, telescoping links, top link - Turnbuckles work easily and very well. Telescoping links would be a help, but it's not that big a deal to horse the implement a bit to make the second lower link hitch once in a while. The top link is easier and quicker to adjust than I thought it would be. I would definitely like at least a hydraulic top link some day, though. I can already see how it would help box blade use.
Block Heater - I can't give you tractor perspective on this, as I haven't gone through a winter yet with mine. But I got one because I've seen the need with my truck (which I can't start in the winter unless I use the BH). Get one - it's *cheap* and you'll never regret it.
Straddle vs. Flat Decks - believe it or not, I actually sort of like straddle set-ups, which seem more cockpit-like or something. I don't know, maybe they feel more secure, more traditionally tractor-like. In any event, given how much I hop off and on, I'd never get one! Like the HST, I LOVE that open, flat deck on the 7610!
Adjustable steering wheel - Thought one would be great. Don't need it, not one bit.
Fixed vs Folding ROPS - I got the fixed after finding that the folding was appreciably higher overall and that the height difference between the fixed and folding when folded wasn't as much as I thought. In any event, I park in the garage and height isn't an issue for me in that regard.
Mowing with and without the loader - Good Lord, take it off!!! What a ride difference!
Loader convenience - As so many others have mentioned, it has more uses than I could have imagined. I even used when I moved into the house, loading it with book boxes, running up the front walk, and lifting them to the level of the front porch (7 steps). Got mine with 3 hooks - the dealer didn't even charge me to add them. Wouldn't have a tractor without one.
Other loader stuff - Rollback and dump angles matter. The LA352 dump angle is excellent. The rollback is good, but could be a little better. Height matters - mine clears and dumps into my pickup. More would not matter to me. Less would be crippling. I spent too much time comparing operational times (raising/lowering/rollback, etc.). Waste of time.
Loader visibility - I liked NH's better. I still do, but in practice hasn't been much of an issue, though. IOW, this is worth considering, but don't over-weight it as a consideration.
Weight - "Less is more" as far as I'm concerned, for homeowner yard/landscaping usage. Heavy is better for heavy work. But with a mowing emphasis, I'm just as happy to have the 7610's weight - and, as I said previously, might even prefer unloaded tires because it it.
Ground clearance, Center of Gravity, 3PH - I went with the 7610 over a BX, in spite of smaller acreage, in part because of clearance. I have places where I'm glad I have the clearance, though I could certainly have dealt with those areas differently (if a bit less effectively) with the BX. My front slope is one place where I believe I might have preferred the BX because of its lower center of gravity. Finally, though, I really do like the extra 3PH room in the back of the 7610. I think on balance either would have worked well, but I'm happy with my choice of compromises and that's just how I view it.
Noise - I carefully evaluated tractor noise levels when comparing. The mower noise blows away any tractor noise considerations! Another waste of time!
Turning radius - I wanted the smallest available, of course! The reality is that tires, conditions, and scuffing are the limiting factors, not the machine's theoretical turning radius. I don't find myself using the 7610's minimum radius much, preferring gentler turns. If you're agonizing over this one, perhaps you should be looking into skid steers ...
Engine and PTO speeds - Tractors with higher rated engine speeds WERE noiser when I was looking. Having had a diesel truck for years, I believe lower RPMs are better in virtually every respect. Another B vs BX consideration, in this case one that mattered to me and still does. I wonder about Kubota's higher mid-PTO speeds (2500 vs most makers' 2100 or so), but this is theoretical to me as I don't have any implements that use the mid.
Fueling - non-issue for me, given the tractor's size (and mine). A can works fine. I can see where it would be an issue on another tractor, however. I got a new, ventless can - slow but it actually doesn't drip, the first can I've ever had that didn't.
Plastic vs Metal Fenders - I liked NH's use of plastic a lot (nice and heavy, too) when I was looking. I still do. While I don't worry too much about bumps and dings, given the openness of my property, I'd still prefer plastic fenders for rust reasons.
Fit and Finish - Familiarity and use trains the eye. I thought the Kubota fit and finish was excellent when looking and still do. Ditto for NH, Deere, and yes, Kioti. Some of the other brands I was considering look even rougher around the edges now, some considerably more so. That's not necessarily indicative of capability, but I like good F&F.
Last but not least, I'd REALLY like a cupholder, and the 7610 doesn't have one.
For what it's worth ...
Bill
Horsepower - was tempted by more, but 24 hp is plenty (more than enough) for my small acreage and the size of my implements (e.g., 4' box, 5' RFM). The only time I've felt a lack is mowing uphill in high, to my thinking more a range issue than HP. If and when I buy a larger property, I'm not even sure I'd necessarily want more.
Implement size - thought about a 6' mower as my "lawn" is treeless, but the reality is that where you're slowed down (like ditches, banks, turns, backing, etc.) matters more than the areas where you you're speeded up. Being slowed can eat up the advantages of speed and width. Same reason that hill climbers tend to win more long-distance bicycle races - the few minutes boost on the downhill side is wiped out by the hours of uphill slogging. I think this translates into 5' mower width being appropriate up to maybe 3-5 acres.
Tires - I considered turfs and bar turfs. I also considered not filling my tires. I went with the R4s the dealer recommended and filled them. I'm glad I went with both. No marking, turns or otherwise, except when very soft or soggy. I'd still consider going unfilled, though, as I'm a bit concerned about compaction. On the other hand, I don't worry too much about using the loader without the box hanging off the back. I really didn't like the test rides with ag tires. Felt like riding a washboard.
Quarter-inching valve vs. position control - Not that I'm much good with the box yet anyway, but I find the QI valve to be exactly what it's billed, a compromise. Better than up-and-down. Not as convenient as PC. I'd still prefer the PC.
The great HST pedal debate (treadle vs side-by-side, etc.). - A complete non-issue for me. I invested way too much thought on this one. The 7610 set-up took about 30 seconds to get used to, as I believe would have Deere's or anyone else's.
Loader Joystick location - I still like Kioti's better. The Kubota's mount also vibrates too much for my liking, which can't be good for it.
Cruise control - useless, as far as I'm concerned. Thought too much about this too.
HST vs. Gear - Really (really) thought I'd like a gear tractor. Tested them and liked 'em too. I LOVE having the HST. Love it, love it, love it. Given mowing dynamics on my property, I would never have gotten the efficiencies I have with gear. I still like driving them, though! On a separate note, the tractor will creep a bit on hills unless the parking brake is put on. I don't particularly like where the brake lever is on the 7610 (too low) and sometimes it takes a try or two to get it engaged. It pops right off with a touch of the pedals, though.
Ranges - Thought I wanted 3. The 7610 has 2. I'd still prefer 3. I mow in high and lose just a bit of power going up hills. A mid-range would keep the speed and power where I like it.
Seats - Thought it mattered more than it does for me. Reality is that I tend to sit forward somewhat anyway, and spend enough time peering around and looking back that I may as well be sitting on a board. That's an overstatement, obviously, but sitting back in a comfy position or tooling around around on on the dealer's (smooth) lot means next to nothing.
Toolboxes - I didn't really like the small 7610 toolbox and still don't. I'll need to build a bracket for the ROPS to get a bigger one and that will mean relocating lights as well. Oh well. Most people don't seem to like the factory boxes anyway.
Lights - I was concerned about lights, given the attention that supplementary lighting gets from many owners. I found it 100% justified in the case of rear lighting (I added a rear work light). You have to have at least some rear lighting to do anything at all at night. The factory front lighting is adequate, enough that I don't feel any great pressure to do anything about it for now, but will eventually.
Lift Capacities - I have more work capacity than I need. Agonizing over differences of a hundred pounds brand-to-brand (or whatever) wasn't worth the time, given that 90% of my need is mulch and dirt with the loader, and that I have implements sized to the tractor in the rear.
Hydraulic Flow - again, more than I need. The tractor is very responsive under full load or light. I spent way too much time worrying about this, too, thinking I just MIGHT want that hydraulic PHD some day ... And I'd actually prefer a slightly de-rated power steering set-up (i.e, the power steering is that good).
Checking fluids without lifting the hood - Can you believe what some people think about (and I was one)? It takes ONE SECOND to lift the hood!
RFM vs MMM - Thought through them both quite a bit and see advantages in both. I went with the RFM and am glad I did. Given the easy backing of the HST, and with ditches, odd corners, etc. I believe I can mow more with the RFM than I could with a MMM. Example - I can back the RFM right down into the ditch, across it, and up a ways on the sharper slope on the opposite side. Coupled with mowing along the roadside, that leaves just a 1.5' - 2' strip on the far slope to trim. I couldn't get close to doing that with a MMM. Another interesting switch in perspective: people tend to view the swing-out of a RFM as a negative, something I tried to think about when evaluating. I love it in practice (!) finding that I take advantage of it all the time. It adds sensitivity, helping mowing around objects, and I can just nail odd missed spots, hardly going out of my way in the process.
Quick hitches - Thought I wanted one and considered the Freedom Hitch. Honestly, since getting used to hitching and unhitching (which was pretty quick), I don't see the need. The first times were the worst times! Must have taken me 20 minutes or more to get that mower on or off. Takes me about 5 now after just a few weeks.
Turnbuckles, telescoping links, top link - Turnbuckles work easily and very well. Telescoping links would be a help, but it's not that big a deal to horse the implement a bit to make the second lower link hitch once in a while. The top link is easier and quicker to adjust than I thought it would be. I would definitely like at least a hydraulic top link some day, though. I can already see how it would help box blade use.
Block Heater - I can't give you tractor perspective on this, as I haven't gone through a winter yet with mine. But I got one because I've seen the need with my truck (which I can't start in the winter unless I use the BH). Get one - it's *cheap* and you'll never regret it.
Straddle vs. Flat Decks - believe it or not, I actually sort of like straddle set-ups, which seem more cockpit-like or something. I don't know, maybe they feel more secure, more traditionally tractor-like. In any event, given how much I hop off and on, I'd never get one! Like the HST, I LOVE that open, flat deck on the 7610!
Adjustable steering wheel - Thought one would be great. Don't need it, not one bit.
Fixed vs Folding ROPS - I got the fixed after finding that the folding was appreciably higher overall and that the height difference between the fixed and folding when folded wasn't as much as I thought. In any event, I park in the garage and height isn't an issue for me in that regard.
Mowing with and without the loader - Good Lord, take it off!!! What a ride difference!
Loader convenience - As so many others have mentioned, it has more uses than I could have imagined. I even used when I moved into the house, loading it with book boxes, running up the front walk, and lifting them to the level of the front porch (7 steps). Got mine with 3 hooks - the dealer didn't even charge me to add them. Wouldn't have a tractor without one.
Other loader stuff - Rollback and dump angles matter. The LA352 dump angle is excellent. The rollback is good, but could be a little better. Height matters - mine clears and dumps into my pickup. More would not matter to me. Less would be crippling. I spent too much time comparing operational times (raising/lowering/rollback, etc.). Waste of time.
Loader visibility - I liked NH's better. I still do, but in practice hasn't been much of an issue, though. IOW, this is worth considering, but don't over-weight it as a consideration.
Weight - "Less is more" as far as I'm concerned, for homeowner yard/landscaping usage. Heavy is better for heavy work. But with a mowing emphasis, I'm just as happy to have the 7610's weight - and, as I said previously, might even prefer unloaded tires because it it.
Ground clearance, Center of Gravity, 3PH - I went with the 7610 over a BX, in spite of smaller acreage, in part because of clearance. I have places where I'm glad I have the clearance, though I could certainly have dealt with those areas differently (if a bit less effectively) with the BX. My front slope is one place where I believe I might have preferred the BX because of its lower center of gravity. Finally, though, I really do like the extra 3PH room in the back of the 7610. I think on balance either would have worked well, but I'm happy with my choice of compromises and that's just how I view it.
Noise - I carefully evaluated tractor noise levels when comparing. The mower noise blows away any tractor noise considerations! Another waste of time!
Turning radius - I wanted the smallest available, of course! The reality is that tires, conditions, and scuffing are the limiting factors, not the machine's theoretical turning radius. I don't find myself using the 7610's minimum radius much, preferring gentler turns. If you're agonizing over this one, perhaps you should be looking into skid steers ...
Engine and PTO speeds - Tractors with higher rated engine speeds WERE noiser when I was looking. Having had a diesel truck for years, I believe lower RPMs are better in virtually every respect. Another B vs BX consideration, in this case one that mattered to me and still does. I wonder about Kubota's higher mid-PTO speeds (2500 vs most makers' 2100 or so), but this is theoretical to me as I don't have any implements that use the mid.
Fueling - non-issue for me, given the tractor's size (and mine). A can works fine. I can see where it would be an issue on another tractor, however. I got a new, ventless can - slow but it actually doesn't drip, the first can I've ever had that didn't.
Plastic vs Metal Fenders - I liked NH's use of plastic a lot (nice and heavy, too) when I was looking. I still do. While I don't worry too much about bumps and dings, given the openness of my property, I'd still prefer plastic fenders for rust reasons.
Fit and Finish - Familiarity and use trains the eye. I thought the Kubota fit and finish was excellent when looking and still do. Ditto for NH, Deere, and yes, Kioti. Some of the other brands I was considering look even rougher around the edges now, some considerably more so. That's not necessarily indicative of capability, but I like good F&F.
Last but not least, I'd REALLY like a cupholder, and the 7610 doesn't have one.
For what it's worth ...
Bill
