Tractor Sizing Tractor with FEL to lift 550-750lb round bales

jeff9366 · Feb 9, 2018

I am following your search with interest.

Difficult for me to believe Kubota sells tractors without ROPS anywhere.

freedomlives · Feb 9, 2018

What I read while researching the gray market Kubotas is that in Japan many of these smaller tractors are sold with roto-tillers for use in rice paddies in completely flat land, thus they don't get ROPS. Reading some more, I get the impression that in the US these tractors come with seat belts now as well?

jeff9366 · Feb 9, 2018

Yes. Always with seat belts and ROPS. Several individual states are still subsidizing the cost of adding ROPS to 1950s vintage tractors.

freedomlives · Feb 14, 2018

I made the trip, and saw two dealers in central Slovakia as well as one in Presov on the way back. The GL417 was nice, except for having very worn down tires. Which the seller tried to convince that the Japanese tires are better because they are harder and last longer, but I think its more like they aren't going to bite in to a muddy slope very well.

Most of all, one of the sellers in central Slovakia only had 3 tractors, but he has the connection to the Polish importer (who also checks out the tractors, cleans them up, and paints them). I am kind of leaning toward the Iseki 35 that he has (he claims the 35 is 35HP on the PTO, and the engine has 40, but who knows for sure). The lack of technical data is a downside, but it is the type with a faster driving speed of 30km/hr 19mph, which would be nice, given the distance to some of the fields. The only thing I found inconvenient on it is that it has the speed selector like a manual transmission car sticking up from the floor in between your legs, and that is also where you select the reverse gear. I'm pretty sure the Kubota with the F-N-R selector on the steering column would be much more convenient when using the FEL, especially for repetive tasks like scooping gravel or soil, but I'm not sure that the 2000€ extra for the Kubota is worth the convenience.

However, this one also told me that the Poles have another shipment coming in from Japan, with a Yanmar AF33. He is convinced that the Yanmars are the highest quality of them. Also an Iseki 6020-- 60HP, but can't find data how large it is.

The other downside of all of these is that the FEL attachments (new, Polish production) only reach about 2.2m to the pin. I did look at an Iseki 3200 today in Presov with the 3.2m FEL, but the amount of hydraulic fluid weeping from the cylinders was not confidence inspiring, though they offered that they can rebuild hydraulic cylinders. Maybe stacking bales 2 high is enough for now.

Oh, and there was a real nice Kubota GT8 with hydrostatic transmission, but that is only 27HP and pretty light too.

freedomlives · Feb 14, 2018

Malotraktor iseki - Namestovo, predam

This is the one I'm leaning toward. It seems to run fine-- I drove it back and forth in the driveway of the garage.

Though, I can only find one other page with an "Iseki 35". But the sticker is original (you can tell in person from all the cracks), somehow those Poles are able to get the stickers off, paint everything, then re-apply them.

It has as well rear hydraulic ports and a trailer hitch.

jeff9366 · Feb 14, 2018

It certainly looks like a tractor to me.

I am still following this thread with interest but I cannot furnish much help.

Good luck.

jeff9366

freedomlives · Feb 14, 2018

I think the only real help would be if someone fluent in Japanese could google search some of these tractors. I can search in English, German and some slavic languages, even read Cyrillic characters, but I haven't a clue with Asian languages!

TheMan419 · Feb 14, 2018

freedomlives said:
That's what I've found on there with a lot of these non-US market tractors-- there is no data about loaders or other accessories on that website. The truth I guess is hidden somewhere in Japanese, which is unfortunate as I have no hope of reading Japanese, though I did find some photos of a nice GL417 on a Japanese website with the cab option and FEL.

My wife talked to the company some more, and they said I should just come see, as they have several aftermarket FELs they could attach. Well, anyway, I'd be going to see it. However, they recommend waiting a couple of weeks, as they are in a colder, mountainous part of Slovakia, about 3 hours drive away.

translate.google.com will help you with the japanese. It may not get the translation exactly right but should give the general idea of what the FEL capacity is.

Just remember that is at the pins. When you lift you lose capacity FAST. You also have to understand counterweight on your 3 point and how important it is.

My tractor says the FEL capacity is 1000lbs. At full height I would be lucky to lift that 700 lb round.