Comparison Went to dealers, asked a LOT of questions...think my list is down to 2

[Sapper50]

Massey vs Kubota -> Went to dealers, asked a LOT of questions

Follow up to my first post on tractors and what I am looking to do and need - settling in the 50-55hp target (mostly dirt work)

Got out and checked the dealers I have available in my area (within an hour of the house)
Mahindra 2555 HST
Kubota MX5200 HST
Massey 2706E HST

Asked a TON of questions at each.
Looked at how they were built, how wires/hoses etc were routed, what was exposed, what was protected from brush and use, ground clearance and what could get snagged, how fitting were set, controls, welds, axle sizes, grease fittings and locations, oil change ease, service ease, common part access ....all that stuff, manufacturing shortcuts visible etc.
Long day but a good day.

All good rigs, no question or they wouldn't be in the market.
All that said, if Im looking at $35k+ for a rig, I will set my personal 'qualifications' for a rig and go with that, not my first rodeo.

The Mahindra IMO was not at the same quality of build, assembly, components etc as the other two. VERY clear.
Was that bad?
Not necessarily (so no Im not bashing Mahindra) and I KNOW that owners love em, but in my comparison and reading 'issues' here on this great forum and my 'gut' today in direct comparison to what I saw and touched (after 30+ years around heavy junk) the Mahindra was removed from my list.

Left me with the MF and the Kubota
Both builds and quality were IMO pretty equal, very high quality and attention to manufacturing and assembling detail and the component quality used.

The Massey on paper has a leg up on some of the performance measures, hyd flow, lift capability on both ends, already set with a single Hyd set to the rear at the 3-point, no DPF on the engine and while its not a deal killer the regen frequency with the DPF (depends on your usage) is something that would be nice to avoid. Yes Understand its only 15 min when it kicks in...still, a consideration with the rigs being so close.
I do like the hydraulic line routing on the Massey up front inside the bucket arms.
The flat deck on the Massey was nice, Im tall at 6'3" so getting up into it was a bit slicker without the bump, not a deal killer, but something on the list.

We have two personal friends that own Kubota's and have nothing but praise (which confirms what I read here on these forums)
I don't know anyone with the Massey, but I have read the reviews and complaints and complaints are VERY low and no systemic issues that I can find anywhere, on any forum or post.

Kubota, very strong dealer network locally, didn't have a chance to talk to the MF maintenance folks on parts availability, lead time etc, I know the Kubota's are lock solid in that arena, but I have not read anything anywhere that Massey parts are an issue.

Price is within $500-1000 max between the two with the implements I want OTD (PTO tiller and box blade), not enough honestly to quibble over with either rigs.

Now with the initial cut list done with my regional availability, next is tighter price checks then set up times for saddle rub test drives and see if one pushes me over the fence there.

Wish there was a 'Red Pill / Orange Pill' I could take to help me decide!! good thing is I don't think I would or could be unhappy with EITHER rig at the fort.

Any Massey owners still awake after this gum bumping want to tell me to run or you would buy it again??
Kubota owners want to let me go to school on your shot?

Thanx all, great forum and people that make it what it is!

Scott

 

[Citydude]

Well for starters, this is the best example of someone "kicking the tires" while shopping for a new rig. Which dealer did you feel most comfortable with as far as being part of the "team"? You have nailed everything else.

 

[Code54]

Dealer would make a difference for sure. I ran MF for a bunch of years at work and liked the machines and had few problems. I personally own 3 Kubota's and they all have been excellent. I have the MX5100 (no emission stuff) and have been impressed with its abilities. Also have found they seem to underrate their machines a bit.
Either I would expect to be good machines. Also check for online availability of parts as it can be very handy. I rebuilt an older Kubota a few years ago and some parts online were a good deal cheaper for some reason....

Good luck on your decision

 

[Goose69]

I have the MF 2706e and would absolutely buy it again.. in my case it was $1000s less than the comparable Kubota ( which is a fine tractor as well, )
The cost savings, no DPF, and the fact that my local MF dealer is awesome is what led me to buying mine.. I've been using it hard since I bought it, land clearing, haying, food plotting, lots of dirt and rock work. Etc. has been flawless so far.

 

[oosik]

Honestly - I don't think you would ever be unhappy with the Kubota. I have no knowledge of Massey.

I think you should give strong consideration to the strengths of the dealership and their service folks. Its a good feeling to know that they have the knowledge, the ability and will back you up - should you ever need service.

 

[2458n]

Okay the only area you have not mentioned Is how much value does each tractor keep at trade in time? I would look at tractor house to see what used are worth.

 

[kthompson]

What you will be using them for may come into my point: My brother has a MF not sure the model but about 80 hp tractor and I have Kubota with 27 and another with 68 all engine hp. My 27 hp Kubota has been great. Had very little issue with is in the about 13 years have owned it. Used mostly with sprayer, rear mower both finish and rough cut and landscaping rake. My 68 hp has lost a gear in the transmission twice, both times following hours of disking with a disk it could pulled with no problem in second gear high range. Have had discussion with a used tractor dealer who without knowing my experience brought up the transmission on at least some Kubota's were not as strong as they needed to be, which I agree. But no other issue with the tractor with right at 1200 hours on it bought new in 1999. Well other than turn signals and flashers have stopped and have failed to find that issue. My brother's MF I have used some and it is more HP than my Kubota by about 15 and much heavier. He bought it used from a friend and has had a couple of issues with it, one running hot but think that was due to maintenance of cooling system my guess and now it looks like real issues with the clutch and probably has to be replaced. It was slipping some last time I used it which was a few years back. What am I saying, consider what you will be using it for, check out their weakness and strengths there.

I do like 2468n suggestion.

 

[pburchett]

You are in the same boat I was in. I looked at all three of those tractors and the NewHolland. My dealer did not have a hydrostatic Massey so I went with the Kubota. My MX5200HST has been good so far. 200 hours on it as of today and no problems. You will just have to go and drive them both around to choose.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

You indicated that you would be doing a lot of loader work. I assume you are looking at HST models then? Remember on the Kubota that your heel and toe don't both sit on the treadle pedal at the same time. The treadle really shines ergonomically when reversing and you are twisted in the seat.

Another hard to define features is front end loader valve FEEL and function. Not all loader valve are created equal. The ability of the valve(s) to variably 'multifunction' (e.g. lift and dump) varies. I recently tried to use a friends 2series John Deere that IMO felt like clunky junk and seemed to be less time efficient. (IMO, but you probably get used to anything).

I have 450hrs of mostly hard loader work on my MX4800 (same tractor frame and loader/3pt capacity as the mx5200). I could not be more pleased. I have really asked a lot of this machine.

I bought Kubota because of the dealer so I don't know much about the Massy to compare but it would be on my radar if the dealer was really good. I do know from reading this forum that I would not buy a Mahindra.

:2cents:

 

[plowhog]

My Massey GC1710 is excellent, doing everything I want and expected on my small property. For a larger property I bought a MF 1758 cab model and am equally pleased. I considered a Kubota BX25 before buying the GC1710, and considered a Kubota L6060 before buying the MF 1758. I'm sure either would have been fine choices also.

If you use your tractor for profit making activities, then nearby dealer support is more important than if you do not. In that case, if the tractor is down needing repair, you are losing money from the interruption of a profit making business. I don't use mine for that-- personal or hobby use only. I have two Massey dealers within an hour or two drive and each has been great.

I was new to tractors when I bought these two, and in many ways I am still new. I wound up matching machine performance to my needs, which has worked out for me.

 

[sea2summit]

Re: Massey vs Kubota -> Went to dealers, asked a LOT of questions

Follow up to my first post on tractors and what I am looking to do and need - settling in the 50-55hp target (mostly dirt work)

Got out and checked the dealers I have available in my area (within an hour of the house)
Mahindra 2555 HST
Kubota MX5200 HST
Massey 2706E HST

Asked a TON of questions at each.
Looked at how they were built, how wires/hoses etc were routed, what was exposed, what was protected from brush and use, ground clearance and what could get snagged, how fitting were set, controls, welds, axle sizes, grease fittings and locations, oil change ease, service ease, common part access ....all that stuff, manufacturing shortcuts visible etc.
Long day but a good day.

All good rigs, no question or they wouldn't be in the market.
All that said, if Im looking at $35k+ for a rig, I will set my personal 'qualifications' for a rig and go with that, not my first rodeo.

The Mahindra IMO was not at the same quality of build, assembly, components etc as the other two. VERY clear.
Was that bad?
Not necessarily (so no Im not bashing Mahindra) and I KNOW that owners love em, but in my comparison and reading 'issues' here on this great forum and my 'gut' today in direct comparison to what I saw and touched (after 30+ years around heavy junk) the Mahindra was removed from my list.

Left me with the MF and the Kubota
Both builds and quality were IMO pretty equal, very high quality and attention to manufacturing and assembling detail and the component quality used.

The Massey on paper has a leg up on some of the performance measures, hyd flow, lift capability on both ends, already set with a single Hyd set to the rear at the 3-point, no DPF on the engine and while its not a deal killer the regen frequency with the DPF (depends on your usage) is something that would be nice to avoid. Yes Understand its only 15 min when it kicks in...still, a consideration with the rigs being so close.
I do like the hydraulic line routing on the Massey up front inside the bucket arms.
The flat deck on the Massey was nice, Im tall at 6'3" so getting up into it was a bit slicker without the bump, not a deal killer, but something on the list.

We have two personal friends that own Kubota's and have nothing but praise (which confirms what I read here on these forums)
I don't know anyone with the Massey, but I have read the reviews and complaints and complaints are VERY low and no systemic issues that I can find anywhere, on any forum or post.

Kubota, very strong dealer network locally, didn't have a chance to talk to the MF maintenance folks on parts availability, lead time etc, I know the Kubota's are lock solid in that arena, but I have not read anything anywhere that Massey parts are an issue.

Price is within $500-1000 max between the two with the implements I want OTD (PTO tiller and box blade), not enough honestly to quibble over with either rigs.

Now with the initial cut list done with my regional availability, next is tighter price checks then set up times for saddle rub test drives and see if one pushes me over the fence there.

Wish there was a 'Red Pill / Orange Pill' I could take to help me decide!! good thing is I don't think I would or could be unhappy with EITHER rig at the fort.

Any Massey owners still awake after this gum bumping want to tell me to run or you would buy it again??
Kubota owners want to let me go to school on your shot?

Thanx all, great forum and people that make it what it is!

Scott

Did you goto J&I in Yelm or Olympia? Greg (think he's the owners son?) at the Yelm location sold me my first tractor years ago, told me I was buying to small and gave very honest and candid feedback which at the time I figured was salesmanship...a year later I bought the tractor he initially recommended Ended up having a very good relationship with them and the other products they offer.

I've moved to bigger land and the MX5800 now. I'm closing in on 300 hours and I can only recall 1 or 2 regens where I had to change how I was opperating the tractor to support the regen and I don't think it ever took 15 minutes, more like 4-5 once you're at temp. I love my 5800 and have abused it but the things I don't like are the three point bottom bracket bolts (I have a BH so I'm constantly taking them on and off), seems like they will eventually thread out but if you wont be taking them off/on a lot that is 0 concern. I don't like the Kubota front hydro switch, seems like crap is constantly getting caught in there and it gets sticky and I wish it was sealed. Those are my only complaints, other than that it's pulled hundreds of stumps, prepped a lot of soil, mowed a lot of grass and now doing a lot of work in the woods.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I was really strong on getting a MF tractor and was looking at a 1652 IIRC but when sitting in the seat, nothing seemed to fit me ergonomically. On paper they looked good though. I ended up with my much larger LS P7010 which is very well laid out for operation. I know you didn't list LS as a prospective but maybe you should be looking at them also.
I love my little Kubota B26 and especially like the treadle pedal for the HST (lots of folks don't) but it is very fast to switch from F to R and not as awkward as my brother in law New Holland with dual pedals which sometime keep creeping when released.

I looked at Kubota when I purchased the LS but the dealer wasn't too interested in selling me a tractor (wouldn't return my phone calls) and didn't have time to talk to me when I was at the dealer because he was prepping another sale (supposedly) so he and I both missed out on that sale. Around here the Kubota brand is all owned by one guy within 70 miles of my house and they sell all the tractors that they can get so they aren't very customer oriented. I don't know how they are in your area so your mileage may vary but I think they have great tractors. I have not had any problems with my used B26 with almost 500 hours on it.

 

[LouNY]

I have no knowledge of those models, but you mention the Massy has a flat floor and the kubota has a hump?
If it is what we always used to call a straddle tractor where you are sitting on the transmission housing with your
feet lower then the transmission and your legs next to the housing. If so, they gt quite hot when used for several hours
especially in hot weather and also the older I get the more I like flat deck platforms.

 

[art]

Just looking at the comment about the hydraulic lines the Kubota also runs it's hydraulic lines in the arms of the loader....

 

[RedNeckRacin]

You indicated that you would be doing a lot of loader work. I assume you are looking at HST models then? Remember on the Kubota that your heel and toe don't both sit on the treadle pedal at the same time. The treadle really shines ergonomically when reversing and you are twisted in the seat.

.......

:2cents:

It sure helps when you have big enough feet to just rock your foot forward and backward to run the treadle. I wouldn't have a HST any other way after using the L3400 treadle. I can actually drive around loading manure into the spreader faster than the loader hydraulics can keep up. (raising and lowering from pile to dump point)

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Just as a heads up and I have no idea how wide spread the issue is, but several newer Masseys have been reported to really only be able to work in low range with the HST. This was with the 1700 series machines if I remember correctly. I would definitely see if the machines will spin the tires when locked into 4x4 mode in mid range if it were me.

Good luck with your choice.