Tractor purchase

Clarke · Mar 3, 2004

I am new to compact tractors. I am considering buying a Century 2028 with C50 loader. I have work for a tractor this size since I am building a large garage and doing a lot of landscaping. After these projects are complete the unit will mostly be used for light work and mowing 2 acres with a 60" finish mower. A friend with a B21 Kubota told me I would not be happy with this tractor using it for mowing because of the weight even with turf tires it will tear up my lawn. Would like to hear from folks with experience using this type of equipment.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2004

I would strongly suggest you look at a tractor with a hydrostatic transmission for both of the 2 tasks you are describing. Both loader work and mowing are more quickly and easily accomplished with tractors that use hydrostatic transmissions. As for tractor size, I have a 30hp Kubota B2910 with a FEL, which is a class II tractor, and I consider it too large for mowing on my property. I have about 12 acres which is very hilly with a lot of trees. The two tractors that get most of our mowing chores done are a Cub Cadet garden tractor and a NH TC24D (class I) tractor. The New Holland can get into 90+% of the places the Cub Cadet can get into, but there is no way the larger Kubota can get into those spots.

Also, if you are planning on using your tractor as a mowing machine after the garage is built, you might want to seriously consider a mid mount finish mower (MMM) instead of a rear mounted 3pt mouted finish mower (RFM). My New Holland TC24D is equiped with a 3pt finish mower, and I can say that if I did not also have the Cub Cadet the only way I could mow in some areas of my lawn was if I had a MMM because of the way we have our landscaping laid out.

I won't speak to the specifics of the Century tractor, it might be a great machine at a great price, I've never used one so I don't know. I do know what it takes to mow a lawn and I do know that a smaller tractor is a heck of a lot faster at mowing than a larger one if you have to work around trees, shrubs, flower beds, the house, etc. For field mowing it is tough to beat a big tractor with a big mower. But if you are talking about 2 acres, I would recommend you consider a small frame tractor with a FEL, probably something in the 24 / 25 hp range. Look for a tight turning radius. Look for a quick detatch FEL. Look for a mower deck that will work with the FEL frame still mounted on the tractor (some won't raise fully!).

And since you are new, I STRONGLY recommend only buying a tractor with a hydrostatic transmission. You need a gear machine for plowing fields, but you don't sound like you will be doing that. HST transmissions are simply faster, easier and safer for mowing, FEL work, etc.

thcri · Mar 3, 2004

( I am new to compact tractors. I am considering buying a Century 2028 with C50 loader. A friend with a B21 Kubota told me I would not be happy with this tractor using it for mowing because of the weight even with turf tires it will tear up my lawn. Would like to hear from folks with experience using this type of equipment. )

I have a New Holland TC29D. Weighs in somewhere around 2600lbs with R4's. Your Century weighs in around 3700 lbs. I have two acres to mow, I do use my tractor for other things also, mostly loader work. When mowing I do have to be careful to not leave ruts. I only mow when it is dry out and even then it takes a day to get rid of my marks at times. The Century tractor is a good tractor, but a real workhorse and built that way. A sub-compact is what you really want for your mowing but yet it may be too small for your initial needs.

If I was you and I am not, but I would probably get the sub-compact with the loader and mower and use it for most of your work and then if you did have some realy major stuff on an occasion you could rent a larger one. That is just a thought. I started out with a TC21D and found it wasn't big enough, moved up to the TC29D and now that I have all my major landscaping done I really could get by with a sub-compact. If I could sell my TC29D at a good price I would do it, but it is only a year old.

murph

megotatractor · Mar 3, 2004

and IF you were to part with that TC29 what would you ask?

blackwell · Mar 3, 2004

( I am new to compact tractors. I am considering buying a Century 2028 with C50 loader. I have work for a tractor this size since I am building a large garage and doing a lot of landscaping. After these projects are complete the unit will mostly be used for light work and mowing 2 acres with a 60" finish mower. A friend with a B21 Kubota told me I would not be happy with this tractor using it for mowing because of the weight even with turf tires it will tear up my lawn. Would like to hear from folks with experience using this type of equipment. )

I have had good success using Power Trac articulated machines in landscaping as well as around our house. The articulated machine does the least damage to turf, in steering, the wheels roll instead of twist, in fact doing less damage than walking on the turf. They have both gas and diesel, 4WD with loader arms standard, over 40 front mounted attachments to do most jobs around the home, and the best prices in town. The Quick Attach allows the operator to change attachments in seconds without leaving the seat.
Check it out at www.power-trac.com. Good luck in finding what you need.
EB

rockyridgefarm · Mar 3, 2004

Shouldn't dealers buy an ad?

blackwell · Mar 3, 2004

( Shouldn't dealers buy an ad?

)

I am not a dealer. Power Trac does not have dealers and does not pay me anything to post this. Some like Fords, some like Chevys, etc. I just like Power Tracs and believe others will, if they will try them.

Hypernix · Mar 3, 2004

( Shouldn't dealers buy an ad?
)

I just couldn't resist to reply! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Interresting question! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DavesTractor · Mar 3, 2004

Clark,

Bob Skurka has some experience in this area and does not recommend finish mowing with his B2910. The B2910 is a real powerful machine for it's size, so if any 30HP tractor would be good for finish mowing, that would be the one. The Century/Branson 28HP is almost double the weight of a B2910, so I would agree it's a little big for finish mowing. I mow 7 acres (orchard) with a 2810 and it does fine, but everything is in neat rows and I don't care about some tire marks.

HST vs gear? A personal preference. I own and sell both. For mowing yards and doing loader work the HST is really slick. For extended ground engaging activity (plowing, etc) I prefer the gear.

MossRoad · Mar 4, 2004

Ahh, the old testimonial for Power Trac. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'll have to agree that our Power Trac is perfect for our needs, too. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Click on my little tractor signature below and see ours in action.