Those are exactly the models from my research that I have narrowed to for those makes...add to them...LS MT 347H, Kioti DK4710 SE, TYM T494H, Kubota 4760HST, Case IH Farmall 45C, and New Holland Boomer 45T4B, the Branson is specifically the 4820H.
I am interested in what pushed you to MF? They seem to be losing dealers around me. The nearest one on their locator was 40 miles away and they now sell NH only. The next closest is 52 miles away. In total 2 of the 5 dealers within 70 miles of me (according to MF website) do not even carry MF any longer. I don't mind the drive, but I don't want to go 50+ miles away and then they drop MF, too. (the one 52 miles away also carries NH)
I really wanted the Branson due to the cost and I liked the mechanical fuel injection/passive dpf system (easy to delete in the future). It is a well built tractor upon first hand inspection.
The Branson’s shortcomings for us were:
- The dealer felt temporary. They were a high volume dealer with a good reputation but they had focused on selling horse trailers before selling tractors. The sales building is a single wide and the service building was a couple small metal pole barns. I might have taken a chance on a less expensive model. They offer a lifetime power train warranty.
- Kukje builds Branson and TYM just bought Kukje. I’m not sure what that means for Branson. Also the Branson website is out of date again giving me some pause.
- Ingress/Egress is somewhat tight.(Something we didn’t notice until checking out the MF)
- No removable clean out screens like the MF
- No air ride seat(wife has bad back)/not enough adjustment for wife to reach pedals
JD4052R: I really wanted the John Deere as it was in stock and we had just sold our 1120 which was great to us. The dealer seemed to have good service though the sales department seemed uninterested in selling us a UTV earlier in the year so we bought a Can Am.
The JD had some neat features like a really customizable hydro trans control scheme . Great PTO hp. Also neat was the ability to move the tractor and operate the 3 point while outside for easy hookups.
The JD had some flaws:
- All 3 examples had door seals falling off on the dealer lot. This didn’t bode well for long term ownership
- some plastic was already fading on the lot
- JD bucket attach, not ssqa
-most expensive
- no door strut on right side(even the Branson had on both sides)
- just didn’t feel as well made as other tractors we looked at.
Big wins for the Massey:
- air ride seat/wife can reach
- clean out screens for radiator
- good warranty and cheap extended warranty
- simplified version of adjustable hydro trans
-speedometer (helpful for mowing consistently and efficiently on my property)
- struts on both doors.
- easier to use cruise control
We looked at Kubota but we don’t like treadles.
Kioti was too far away, but decent
NH was out of stock.
RK had faded tractors and no real support center