Ranking tractor brands from most reliable, to least, & ...

[attract her]

"Asking who makes the best tractor is a useless endeavor, in my opinion." f1 #19

I concur with your reasoning but not your conclusion. You are right that we'll have to read between the lines. And if there were 5,000 posts all saying brand X2B5 is the worst piece of $#@! in the omniverse, it's something to bear in mind.

I'm about to spend $tens of $thousands, and I'd just like to avoid any obvious pit-falls, if possible. But so far I do get the idea there aren't any horrid brands among tractors, the way Yugo was among cars.

 

[grm61]

If you don't want the emissions BS, and you want over 25hp, find something used, low hours, like new, 2013 or earlier MFG date, like mine

Not for sale

 

[goeduck]

But so far I do get the idea there aren't any horrid brands among tractors, the way Yugo was among cars.

I would not go quite that far, yes the major brands are mostly decent. There are some off brands that I would stay away from. I am not here to bash any particular one so I will leave it at that.

 

[deserteagle71]

Bonus question:
Is it true the new model Kioti's don't do re-gen cycles?

There are several brands/models that don't do regen "cycles". When I was doing my research, I learned that the New Holland T4.75 tractor uses the "Particulate Matter Catalyst" system to clean the exhaust rather than a DPF (diesel particulate filter). But what it really amounts to is - the particulate matter catalyst is doing a constant regeneration, whereas the diesel particulate filter does periodic regenerations. Both systems require the engines to be run at high rpms, to keep the exhaust system hot and so help keep it clean.

It depends on the brand - and the particular model within a brand - as to which system, PM catalyst or DPF, a tractor uses. Do your research - all that information is available on line. Neither system is much of a problem as long as operating protocol is followed.

And do not fear the regen process! I did! But I got a great buy on this used Kubota I bought so I took a chance. And found out it's not that much of a problem as long as you operate the tractor the way the manual tells you to. Just put 20+ hours on the Kubota mowing. I saw the regen light come on in the dash once in that time. It stayed on for 11 minutes...I was bored so I timed it...and then went off. No change in how the tractor ran, nothing I had to do because the regen was going on.

 

[kthompson]

I have had four different tractors in last 24 years. Each to me was a good tractor. The first was a Case not sure the number but about 44 hp. Std farm tractor, two wheel drive. No loader. Used it for rough cut mower, disc and planters. Replaced it in 99 with M6800 Kubota. More HP (68), quieter the Case. Still have it and while been a good tractor I have had two repairs in transmission with failed gear. Still enjoy the tractor and use it often. Bought used Kubota B2710, with 27 hp and hydro transmission. Been good small tractor for mowing lawn, 52 inch rough cut mower and 60 gallon sprayer. Basically that is the jobs it is used for. It also have four wheel drive. It pulls great for it's hp and weight. Lift range of the arms is not great. Did use it in garden and it was hard to lift cultivator plows clear. Last one is JD5525. Has front end loader, four wheel drive and cab. Really enjoy the cab even in our milder winter and really in our hot summer weather.

I have found each to be dependable and would have no issue buying anyone again. If there was one disappointed with has been the M6800 due to the two gear failures. One could be credited to hyd oil dropping low due to leaking cylinder on a disk. The four wheel drive on the Kubota B2710 and the JD 5525 both work great and are great in poor pulling conditions.

For it's price the Case probably was best buy. Of course was first tractor so some bias no doubt. In my experience the Kubotas (both from the late 90's) have issue with rust of the sheet metal and roll bars. The M6800 transmission is not fully synchronized. To me the JD is a better machine. It seems to be more stable even sitting higher than on the others due to the cab. At same time it is larger tractor, 91 hp compared to the Kubota 68.

My brother in law bought a 3000 series JD two years ago and I have used it some last year and it felt stable. No cab. But fel and 4 wheel drive. I did not like the location of fel lever location on that tractor when you rotate in the seat to your right your leg hits the fel level enough to move the loader.

I priced a 4000 series JD with fel, cab and four wheel drive with 40 hp and was quoted $44,000. With in about $2,000 of 75 hp Case with same options except the JD had hydro transmission.

Never had any real experience with any other brand except Ford and that was old machines. From friends who have owned two tractor dealerships Kioto was brand they had issues with. One had a Kioti dealership and sold to ND dealership who like to never sell the few units they bought. Don't have any real details on them. One suggestion is try to be sure you are looking at a brand with real support.

 

[grm61]

The only way that **** is not going to bite you in the *** eventually is to get one without it..all I am going to say.

 

[attract her]

"If you like your Ford why don’t you add a cab?
Ford 132, 152, 162 Tractor Cabs and Cab Enclosures - Sims Cab Depot" G #18

I wish I had an answer as intelligent as your question.
Perhaps it's at least in part due to the way, in cold, cranking the engine spews out raw, atomized diesel fuel. A 65 year old man shouldn't be breathing that.

My 1520 is a fabulous Summer workhorse. But in Summer it's a convenience. In Winter it's life or death. If I get snowed in, it could be curtains. And at least some of these slick-talking tractor salesmen have told me these current model tractors start much more easily, even at zeroF.

BUT !!

I haven't ruled out the -put a cab on it- solution.

 

[grm61]

I wish I had an answer as intelligent as your question.
Perhaps it's at least in part due to the way, in cold, cranking the engine spews out raw, atomized diesel fuel. A 65 year old man shouldn't be breathing that.

My 1520 is a fabulous Summer workhorse. But in Summer it's a convenience. In Winter it's life or death. If I get snowed in, it could be curtains. And at least some of these slick-talking tractor salesmen have told me these current model tractors start much more easily, even at zeroF.

BUT !!

I haven't ruled out the -put a cab on it- solution.

My kioti fires right up..2revolutuins at 0 with one glow plug cycle... I don't smell any diesel stink from it unless it is running in the shop...I run 5/40 rottella t6 synthetic year round,,makes a huge difference starting in the winter....it doesn't even blubber, it just starts up. The hydraulics might sound a little cranky for a couple minutes, I have found after startup, when very cold, lightly raise and lower the loader makes the cranky noises go away. Good Luck


I use Howes lubricator in my fuel year round....never had a problem with gelling, nor did my Dad who used it for 25 years...it is cheap and readily available


Remember my machine is a 2013 mfg date, it has a throttle cable and a muffler...mechanically injected and governed, and does not represent the newer electronic machines and all of there goodness



FYI that is outside. no battery tender or block heater.

 

[Rock Crawler]

When I was searching around as a first time buyer, I saw one brand stuck out at me with many owners fighting various issues from electrical to mechanical to broken welds/structures. That was Mahindra.

I live 8 miles from a Mahindra dealership. Most other brands are concentrated around 45 miles away. I went the 45-ish miles and bought a Kubota after STRONGLY considering Kioti as my other player. I did court Massey Ferguson as well, but I never fell in love with it. The Kioti/Kubota decision was a really hard one, both Kioti and Kubota make extremely fine machines, I made the choice about dealer (Kubota 45 miles and Kioti 60+ miles) and salesperson.... Sean Huegel at M&R Power Equipment (Kubota dealer in Butler, Pa) was very much "my people", not that the family run Kioti dealer was not.... but Sean hit me as someone I could be buddies with and hang at the bar with. That has worked to my advantage since he makes sure to this day that when I call or walk in... I am given a red carpet treatment. I know.... lame. But it feels good!

I really wanted to buy from the 8 mile away Mahindra shop, but I couldn't get passed the many problematic posts across multiple forums where Mahindra was a common theme.

I went to look at an LS. I drove an hour and a half north.... The fellow walked out with me to show the machine and he opened the hood, showed the service points... shut the hood and the hood emblem flew off and landed at my feet. I test drove it and left. I wouldn't buy a car/truck that when you shut the hood at the dealer, parts fell off. I did not buy a tractor because of the same.

Green.... it's the Apple IPhone of the tractor world to me. I have not, nor will I ever buy an Apple phone. I will not pay an artificially inflated price for your phone or tractor because it is a fad or talked about in country songs.

In the end, 1.5 years and 350 engine hours later... my Kubota has been a beast and trouble free. Yea, I wish I bought a bigger L series with twice the loader power. I wish I had 2 times the HP when mowing. But for the price and height of the machine I got, it works super hard every day and it punches outside of it's weight class (1800 lb bare weight tractor). So I am very satisfied with the compromises.

 

[coobie]

I concur with your reasoning but not your conclusion. You are right that we'll have to read between the lines. And if there were 5,000 posts all saying brand X2B5 is the worst piece of $#@! in the omniverse, it's something to bear in mind.

I'm about to spend $tens of $thousands, and I'd just like to avoid any obvious pit-falls, if possible. But so far I do get the idea there aren't any horrid brands among tractors, the way Yugo was among cars.

IMHO like anything you purchase its a crap shoot.You can get a bad one or good one NO matter what brand you decide to purchase.