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.

MossRoad · Mar 4, 2004

Welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 4, 2004

I should say that the reason I don't think the B2910 is a good mowing machine is based on a couple of things, and if those things do not exist, it can be a very good mower.

In my case, I have lots of trees and landscaping to mow around, plus I have some compound hills to mow, the B2910 is simply too big to fit into many areas where I mow. I own about 12 acres, and some of it is flat and open, but not much of it is that way, if I had an open field to mow, the B2910 would be fine, the FEL would be able to stay on and mowing would not be a problem, but I don't have too much open space.

The question from the original post said there is a 2 acre lot to be mowed and maintained after the garage is built. I would suspect that a heavy tractor on a 2 acres, which will eventually be landscaped, would tear up the yard, leave ruts, and probably will fall into the same problem I have in that once the landscaping is set, it will be hard to get the tractor into some of the places that need to be mowed.

I still maintain that small frame tractor might be the best compramise for this size lot. Perhaps a Kubota 7500? or a NH TC21 or TC24? Or at least that SIZE of machine. They are small enough to be good (not great) mowing machines, and they are typically large enough to do plenty of work.

I think many people find they want a big tractor when they are CONSTRUCTING things but they need a small tractor when they are MAINTAINING them after the construction is done.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 4, 2004

By the way, I think the posts about the Power-Trac machines are worth considering. We are talking about 2 acres, not a farm. The PT machines, especially the smaller units (18 & 22hp) have some limitation in Loader Lift Height, but other than that they appear to be excellent landscape construction machines, and probably much better mowing machines than traditional tractors.

I don't know how the P-T machines would be for grading and working on the garage construction project the original poster talked about, but I really think he would save money and be happier overall if he rented equipment for construction and then bought a P-T or a compact, or a sub-compact tractor for the landscape construction and maintainence.

Glenn9643 · Mar 4, 2004

Suggest you look at the Massey Ferguson GC2300 series, along with comparable size other brands with good dealers near you. You can get a lot done with these small tractors, but it will often take more time. It sounds to me like most of what you will need to do will be done BETTER by this size tractor than a larger, heavier one. As mentioned earlier you can rent a larger tractor if necessary for temporary needs and you'll probably be happier down the road. Good luck with your purchase.

MossRoad · Mar 4, 2004

I think many people find they want a big tractor when they are CONSTRUCTING things but they need a small tractor when they are MAINTAINING them after the construction is done. 

Very good analysis, Bob. That was the case for me, so I downsized to the PT425 when I was done with the big projects.

DAP · Mar 5, 2004

Bob, that some **** good advice. I'll augment it one step further and add, do what I did - buy a good lawn tractor with a hydro tranny!

Lastly, lately I'd been thinking I made a mistake by getting the lawn tractor and not a Zero turn machine. Truth is, I use the large lawn tractor for a lot more than just cutting grass, even though it has no loader or 3pt hitch. My machine can easily haul a 1/2 ton wagon full of firewood, pull a leaf-vac, etc. I realize the CUT can do these also, but hey, sometimes it's a easier when one has a lot of small tasks as opposed to a few large ones. I'm betting that's why you got the 24D.

dos centavos de mio

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 5, 2004

Doug . . . the TC24D is mostly a mowing tractor. It is also the snowblowing tractor with a new rear mount 60" blower. I find I am using it for ditch work, or I should say I WAS using it for ditch work because I think that is pretty much done, and it has become the PHD machine too, largly becuase I put a PAT's Easy Change on it. I love the size of the TC24D, it more clearance than the Sub-Compacts and a real Cat 1, 3pt hitch so it will trade implements with a larger machine. If I had gotten a loader, I could easily get rid of the B2910, but I own that in partnership with my neighbor, so I am not pressed to sell him my share, and since getting the TC24D, I think the B2910 has spent more time on his lot than on mine (besides, it doesn't fit in my garage anymore now that the little NH is parked in there. I still have one major job for the backhoe on the B2910, this spring I have to dig out one side of the swimming pool and make some repairs, but after that I don't have any other big projects planned.

I really would like to upgrade the Cub Cadet, which does the mowing up close to the house and under the trees on some areas of the property (the TC24D's ROPS hits the branches on many small trees and the B2910's ROPS is even taller). If it were not for the hills I have, I'd look at a Zero Turn mower to replace the Cub. As it is, I think either a Power-Trac or a Steiner articulated unit would be the ticket to mowing. What I don't like about either is their overall length with the mower decks attached. I have all my implements, 2 tractors, assorted scooters, bikes, toys and 2 cars in a 3.5 car garage and it is CRAMPED. . . (time for a barn /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif but the wife is resistant to that.

I learend when I moved out to the country and decided to do things on my own that it really takes the right tool for the right job. A big tractor is fun, but not always practical. Sometimes you buy what you THINK you need as opposed to what you REALLY need.

Clarke · Mar 6, 2004

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I am taking a ride to Tazwell to check out the PT. I'm taking along a trailer may bring one home will let everyone know.