What makes a good tractor good?

[narcnh]

Feels good.

Works hard.

Doesn't complain.

Easy maintenance.


Found it in my tractor, a B7800. Just wish I could find it in a wife.

 

[JDgreen227]

If you could find those qualities in a wife, odds are you couldn't afford her AND your B7800. Life isn't fair.....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Lazy]

Hi
I think its the operator that makes the tractor good or bad. I'm not a good operator so I break a lot of stuff and keeps me busy fixing things which makes it look like I have a bad tractor. But I'm having fun

charlie

All tractors are created equal (aren't they) or is that something else I'm thinking about?

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color="red">You forgot price </font>

I know I didn't forget price. that is far more important BEFORE buying than later. A Good tractor will make you forget that there was SOMETHING else a little cheaper... Who cares?!!

 

[NIXON]

I think that if you buy the machine YOU want ,and it does what you expect it to do ( within reason ) . It is a big plus towards a good tractor . Getting it at a price you are comfortable with is also a plus . Finding a good dealer is probably the biggest plus in the long run .
Any of the above points that are missing go a LONG way towards making a tractor a BAD choice .
For the most part I believe that most folks buy a GOOD tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It just takes some looking and research to find it .
If you go through the various tractor forums , there a very few " I hate my machine, I'm selling it " type posts .
While it tends to get into some brands wars , it's not out of dislike for other brands for the most part . It's out of loyalty to a machine that has performed well for the poster . And he wants you to be a satisfied with your machine as He is with his . Hence , We all have GOOD tractors . John

 

[cag]

Well, I'll buy a good tractor if you send me the difference! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mundamanu]

All of these responses have been interesting. However, based on what's been posted, one could make the assumption that there is no such thing as a bad tractor, as such, but rather that tractor quality is relative to any given owner's or operator's experience of any particular tractor. Given the opinionated posts regarding tractor brands that I've read on the board--that go beyond the simple brand loyalty that Cerberus points out--I find it hard to believe that most people do not have more specific opinions regarding tractor quality.

For example, I read a post in which somebody argued that the heavier weight of a Mahindra is not a positive feature as what the heavier weight really reflects is the manufacturers need to use more steel because the steel used is of poor quality. Further, it seems that many people hold the opinion that gray market tractors are not good tractors, and not only because of a lack of dealer support and parts availability.

If all tractors are potentially good tractors (depending upon the experience of any given operator/owner) then why do so many people spend more money to buy one of the big three? Is it only dealer support and parts availability? If dealer support and parts availability were equal across the board, would most people consider the Big Three, Mahindra, Case, Agco-Allis, Massey Ferguson, Kioti, McCormick, Century-Branson, etc. equally potentially good tractors? If not, why not?

Since my original post did not generate as much interest as I expected, I realize that I may be pushing people's patience with this follow-up, but I am very curious about this.

 

[NIXON]

If all tractors are potentially good tractors (depending upon the experience of any given operator/owner) then why do so many people spend more money to buy one of the big three? Is it only dealer support and parts availability? If dealer support and parts availability were equal across the board, would most people consider the Big Three, Mahindra, Case, Agco-Allis, Massey Ferguson, Kioti, McCormick, Century-Branson, etc. equally potentially good tractors? If not, why not?


I bought a kubota . It came down to availability of the model , hst, dealer presents ( i wanted a reasonably local dealer ) and dealer attitude .
I looked at Kioti , Branson , Mahindra , NH , and JD .
At some dealers the particular model I was looking for in their range wasn't available to look at .. Some makes didn't have HST ( and it was a prefferance for me ). A couple of dealers ( one was a Kubota ) hardly acknowledged I was in the store .Or bad mouthed other brands . So, dealers aren't equal even within brands . As to parts availability.... My concern came back to dealer attitude . If the guy doesn't care when I buy , He's not likely to be all that nice when a repair is on his dime !
I didn't find any Glaring quality differences on any of the machines . what I did find was each machine felt different when I was in the seat . And for me the Kubota just seemed to "fit ". You can ask questions ,and opinions till the cows come home .And you'll get a good idea of what to look for in a tractor . But the only way to find YOUR good tractor is to sit in a lot of different seats . John

 

[Soundguy]

I think a good tractor is on ethat is matched to its work, and its owners needs.

If that is a 3400$ jinma.. and it does the work the owner needs.. so be it. If it is a NH TN 55.. same..

Too many buy a lighter duty tractor like a jinma.. and want it to be a bulldozer.. break it.. and then think it was a bad tractor.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[MikeInIdaho]

Well yes, if the tractor works and keeps working and is comfortable then it is a good tractor. Tractors are more similar than different. I bought a JD and I am happy with it. I knew almost nothing about tractors, but I knew that JD was a good brand, the dealer was close and the price seemed reasonable. Actually, I didn't look at any other makes. One nice thing about buying a popular brand of tractor is that there are more accesories availible (like cabs).