Tractor Sizing Tractor Work Load Comparison

[grm61]

What started me on this is that my dedicated riding lawn mower checked out on me. It was a gift from my in-laws. Lasted me a good long time, 8-10 years. The JD 750 has about 1250 hours on it. It's starting to nickel and dime me. Except the last nickel and dime was worth $1,000.00. So, with that many hours I just don't know much longer it will stay with me. I live in an area where we get a good bit of snow off of Lake Erie. I have a long driveway. Then there is the driveway from the house/garage area that leads to the barn. The JD 750 has a, "single stage" clutch. I have a 60 inch Meteor PTO rear snow blower. Since I do not have a "two stage" clutch I have to raise the snowblower while still backing up to clean out the shoot. If I don't the shoot usually plugs up.

So, my thought was to buy something new that can do it all. I was going to get either the MT122 or the MT125 with the loader, cab, snow blower and belly mower. I figured a small sub-compact like that would help with respect to mowing my place.

Currently I have that 1988 JD 750 4X4 with loader, (no cab). 60 inch Meteor snowblower. JD 261 finish mower, ( needs work), and a 60 inch box scraper. Quite honestly I think the snowblower is just too big for the tractor. I think the owner bought it due to the large turf tires on the tractor. The tractor seems to handle the box scraper well enough. Paid 4500.00 for it all.

I think that covers it. So it was a matter of having one machine that can do it all. A new machine that will have few mechanical issues in the near future. And, a warm cab. Primarily I would be mowing, snow blowing and hauling firewood. Cut and split my own. 20 acres. Mostly standing hardwood. That JD 750 does haul a nice load of wood in my wood wagon!

What you folks are saying makes sense. Maybe what I need is simply a decent dedicated riding mower. I have a standard size walk behind mower that I have used since the rider died. Takes me 2 1/2 hours to mow everything. Sucked!

Thanks again,

Jim

Hi Jim, I think after owning the 750, I think you would be woefully disappointed with a sub compact
You are on the right track with a factory cab with heat and AC.....Little more tractor:thumbsup:

 

[Diggin It]

The 125 will mow fine with the 60" belly mower. I have to stay in Low and 4WD due to hills and slopes, so it makes for slow going. If your ground is level enough to stay in High, it will be a lot faster. My R4 tires are loaded with Rimguard which makes a harder, rougher ride on bumpy ground than you might feel with non-loaded turfs if you went that way. The 125 weighs 1433 pounds plus the belly mower of 200 or so, which will make it lighter on your lawn. 4WD with front R4s can dig in on tight turns, so that will take some caution.

 

[Jchonline]

Get a Zero Turn for the mowing and keep the JD.

 

[finn1]

I would strongly suggest separating the lawn mowing tasks from general tractor tasks.

I have never been a fan of the Swiss Army Knife approach that many subcompact tractor devotees espouse on this site.

Get a decent ztr mower to do the lawn, and eventually replace the Deerewith a compact tractor with cab and mid pto so you can upgrade to a front blower.

1250 hours on your current tractor isn’t extreme.

 

[CobyRupert]

....I know it's become cliche on TBN, but in general, weight determines traction, which determines how much work a tractor can do. Horsepower determines how fast you can do it.
Even though the LS may have more loader lift capacity, it won't be able to manage higher loads due to its lighter weight and short wheelbase. Plus, if you want to mow, moving down from 18 PTO hp to 15 PTO hp is going in the wrong direction.

Wow, people are getting it!

For me (IMHO), besides HP and weight, and lift capacity (and hydraulic pressure and flow rates), one of the things I demanded was an independent PTO clutch. I didn't want PTO operated off of clutch pedal (either as single stage or a 2 stage clutch). Although with a hydrostatic tractor that stops when you lift your foot, this isn't as big a factor as with a gear driven.

I also don't like the electronic PTO switches that SLAM PTO's on and snap shear bolts.

Regarding snow blowing with single stage clutch and a live pto: Can you throw tractor into neutral without using clutch (i.e. stop movement with PTO running)?

 

[jekyl]

Regarding snow blowing with single stage clutch and a live pto: Can you throw tractor into neutral without using clutch (i.e. stop movement with PTO running)?

I don't know. I have never tried that.

 

[jekyl]

Get a Zero Turn for the mowing and keep the JD.

I would love one. I have some steep hills. I was told to stay away from the zero turn due to my hills. So I am not sure.

 

[jekyl]

The 125 will mow fine with the 60" belly mower. I have to stay in Low and 4WD due to hills and slopes, so it makes for slow going. If your ground is level enough to stay in High, it will be a lot faster. My R4 tires are loaded with Rimguard which makes a harder, rougher ride on bumpy ground than you might feel with non-loaded turfs if you went that way. The 125 weighs 1433 pounds plus the belly mower of 200 or so, which will make it lighter on your lawn. 4WD with front R4s can dig in on tight turns, so that will take some caution.

I would have thought the 125 with a 60 inch mower would have crushed any lawn mowing. Interesting. I get a lot of snow too. My neighbor has a JD X738 I think. Definitely an X700 series. They mow and blow all day long with it. They love it.

 

[jekyl]

I would strongly suggest separating the lawn mowing tasks from general tractor tasks.

I have never been a fan of the Swiss Army Knife approach that many subcompact tractor devotees espouse on this site.

Get a decent ztr mower to do the lawn, and eventually replace the Deerewith a compact tractor with cab and mid pto so you can upgrade to a front blower.

1250 hours on your current tractor isn’t extreme.

Your Swiss army knife comment seems reasonable. Good point. Thanks

 

[jekyl]

Thanks everyone for your input. It was all taken into consideration. Good times.