What do you thing of this approach?

KRiley · Feb 20, 2004

Hello everyone. I have been watching the forum for about a year now and have learned alot. I have been trying to decied on the best way to go on the purchase of a new tractor.

For some back ground, I have a 5 acre home sit that I have been working on for about 4 years. I'm about half way through cleaning it up with 2.5 acres mowing. I have about 35 acres of pasture to bush hog 3 or 4 times a summer and my parents have a 4 acre yard which I am going to need to mow once a week. And last but not least, I have an acre garden to tend to.

I presently have a Massey 231 and 35 Special with the assortment of implements such as bush hog, disk, post hole digger, box blade, grator blade and scoop.

I'm pushing 50 and not as entergetic as I use to be /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. I usually work alone since the kids are grown and I hate a shovel.

Now for my question? After following the discussions over the year, and visiting some dealers, I have about determined that my best option is to sell or trade my 231 in for a NH TC40D or TC40DA with a 84" MMM, Super Steer, FEL, 3 Rear Remotes, back hoe and top and tilt.

Please tell me your thoughts as they will be greatly appreciated.

thcri · Feb 20, 2004

KRiley,

I will just give you some of my opinions and they may or may not apply to you but will give you something to think about.

1. While 2.5 acres is a lot to mow and I am assuming fininish mowing the TC40 is a big tractor for finish mowing? With turf tires maybe ok but industrial may not be as good.

2. If your 2.5 acres is open ground and you don't have a lot of trees to go around I would reconsider the Super-Steer option. Super-steer is nice for getting around things but with the loader it is not so good.

3. A MMM is nice for finish mowing especially if you have to get around trees, but is not as nice as a RFM for taking off and putting back on. That 84" may be a tough one for a 50 year old to take off on his own. If you have the Super-Steer option you may have to have the loader on to take the mower on and off. I have a TC29D w/Super-Steer and a 72" MMM and have to have the loader on to raise the front wheels to get the mower out from underneath the tractor. I can't slide mine out the side like the manual says I can.

Just some things to think about that's all. Your problem is you have big task to do and little tasks to do. Your delema is buy for big or buy for the smaller task. I could not find any information on the 231 but if you could keep that one for certain tasks and buy for the other tasks that would be great. Talk to Henro about having two tractors.

murph

JerryG · Feb 20, 2004

Keep the MF 231 for the real work and buy something smaller for the mowing.

MikePA · Feb 20, 2004

For the money you'll pay for the mmm, I'd vote for buying a garden tractor for the mowing duties.

thcri · Feb 20, 2004

( For the money you'll pay for the mmm, I'd vote for buying a garden tractor for the mowing duties. )

That 84" MMM runs some where around $2,750.00. Yes you can get a pretty good riding mower for that, but it would be a bit small for 2.5 acres. Can someone post what the HP of that MF 231 is. The tractordata page isn't working to find out. But if the 231 is big enough to handle the larger work then I would look at getting a sub-compact for the smaller stuff. You could even get a loader for the 231 I believe.

Just thinking here that is all or do like Henro and get a brand new one for each!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Well the thought was good.

murph

DocHeb · Feb 20, 2004

I agree, although a ZTR (Zero-Turn-Radius) mower would be a bit more than the garden tractor, but quite a bit higher on the "cool" scale.

BillG_in_TX · Feb 20, 2004

Here's a MF 231 up for auction on eBay. Looking at that front axle, I don't think it would be a good idea to add a FEL - if his is a 2wd like this one.

DUMBDOG · Feb 21, 2004

Some of us make take offense of a 84 inch MMM is to big to take off by ourselves. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

thcri · Feb 21, 2004

( Some of us make take offense of a 84 inch MMM is to big to take off by ourselves. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

I guess I could only ask if you have ever taken one off and put back on by yourself. Your profile doesn't show that you have a 84" MMM. Yes they are heavy but more so is getting the pins lined back up and trying to manuever the big deck around. If things line up it is ok, but if they don't a guy can do a bunch of swearing before he will get it back on. Like I said, I have the 72" and would never want to mess around with a 84" especially with super-steer if it is like mine that has to go out the front of the tractor and can't go out the side. And you sure don't want to be dragging that deck around trying to loader work and even brush hoggin. I am only giving him some things to think about.

murph /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

KRiley · Feb 23, 2004

Thanks everyone for the input. You have brought up some intresting points.

I think it will help if I clarify some points. As for as the mowing is concerned, I'll have about 9 acres to mow in all. The land has alot of trees on it. In fact, I'll have to cut some trees just to get a 72" or 84" deck between them.

As far as bush hoggin goes, I presently bush hog about 30 acres to bush hog about 4 times a year. I use the 231 and a 6 foot bush hog. I was hoping that with the TC45D that I might beable to push up to a 8 foot bush hog. I know that this will be at the limits based on the 5 HP per foot rule of thumb,
but it's my understanding that the TC45 will not allow for a mid pto. So my thinking was to drop back down to the TC45D or DA and stay in the 6 foot bush hog range.

As for as a subcompact goes, I have considered the BX22 or 23 but feel that the loader capacity may not be enough. I would rather not put a FEL on the 231 mainly because it has pretty pour hydraulic capacity, about 4 gpm.

thcri has brought up a very good point about the MMM. I certainly don't want to have to mow with the FEL on because even with the tighter turn radius, it would be hard to get in, out and around the trees and I sure don't want to have to fight installing and removal of the deck( Don't have the patience I us to have /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). A RFM would be allright but would that detrack from the Super Steer?

I also have another concern with the Super Steer. How much trouble do you guys think it would be unloading a sided trailer with 76 inchs between the sides using a 72 inch bucket on a FEL with Super Steer?

If I keep the 231 for bush hogging and road maintance, what would you folks recommend for the mowing, FEL and backhoe work? I'm not set on anything and would consider any other possibilities.

Thanks again for the input, it is very much appreciated.