Buying Advice What size?

[airbiscuit]

I looked at an online loan calculator $16,000 @ 5% interest for 5 years - $301/mo

 

[Phillip w]

Why dont you think it will handle it.

I mow 250-300 acres per year commercially. And bits of everything. Ankle high grass from accounts that get mowed monthly to lots that havent been touched in 10+ years and everything in between. Did that for 5+ years with a L3400 kubota and a 6' Bushhog 306. Handled it just fine.

So I have a very hard time believing a 1531 wont handle even a 5' cutter.

How fast are you trying to mow? Because until you run out of power in your lowest gear....claiming that "it wont handle it" is a load of bull. SLOW DOWN.

Hear it on hear all the time and it gets pretty old. Why people seem to think that IF a tractor cant pull a bushhog through untouched 5-year old CRP ground at 5 MPH, then it "cant handle it".......thats nonsense. Learn how to utilize the equipment properly.

Well well well. The little massey can't handle slew grass, Johnson grass or cat tails. It was always over heating and not because the screen was plugged. Have seen threads of other guys having over heating troubles will mowing heavy stuff. Power, what power, that tractor is a gutless wonder. Not even built strong enough to shear the factory shear pin on a 5 ft king litter brush hog. Had to have pto rebuilt twice. Don't even want to get into the loader and front axle issues. A 1531 massey ferguson tractor on a farm is basically a disposable throw away tractor. Finally have totally gave up on this little hunk of junk and bought a bigger brush hog and put behind my 70-80 hp allis Chalmers. I don't worry about that tractor. It is old and beefy. It can handle a lot. It is just built solid even when you stack up against modern tractors of similar size. All your axles, housings, draw bar, 3 pt arms etc are so much more beefy. Of course that tractor will tip the scale at 10000 lbs or so. I'll take the extra weight in exchange for something beefy that won't fall apart.

 

[LD1]

Ok. It's clear you didn't like your 1531. Maybe you got a piece of crap???? Maybe the whole model line is junk? Or maybe there are valid reasons? Like plugged radiator even though the screen was clean... . Because the screen don't get it all. Gotta blow out the radiator. And not enough power to shear the pin....power isn't what shears it, it's impact/shock loading. And perhaps it wasn't a proper grade 2 bolt??

Not gonna speculate further. You didn't like your Massey? Fine. But touting that a 30hp tractor is too small for a 5' mower is TERRIBLE info. Info like that is what I am trying to dispell.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Bigger than what you need but .... (Fayetteville CL)
View attachment 522388

That is a scam for sure. Note the price $16,004!!! The scammers always have an oddball number at the end, No way is a $50K tractor with 414 hours going to sell for $16K.

 

[bspeedy]

Well well well. The little massey can't handle slew grass, Johnson grass or cat tails. It was always over heating and not because the screen was plugged. Have seen threads of other guys having over heating troubles will mowing heavy stuff. Power, what power, that tractor is a gutless wonder. Not even built strong enough to shear the factory shear pin on a 5 ft king litter brush hog. Had to have pto rebuilt twice. Don't even want to get into the loader and front axle issues. A 1531 massey ferguson tractor on a farm is basically a disposable throw away tractor. Finally have totally gave up on this little hunk of junk and bought a bigger brush hog and put behind my 70-80 hp allis Chalmers. I don't worry about that tractor. It is old and beefy. It can handle a lot. It is just built solid even when you stack up against modern tractors of similar size. All your axles, housings, draw bar, 3 pt arms etc are so much more beefy. Of course that tractor will tip the scale at 10000 lbs or so. I'll take the extra weight in exchange for something beefy that won't fall apart.

Hi, Philip. I don't know you, so please don't take this personally. I've been on several threads where you make it clear you don't like your 1531 and that it's a piece of crap with no power and the bucket fell apart, etc. In one thread, you showed a picture of the bucket which is rusted out and ruined. Please post some pictures of your 1531 from head to toe. I'd like to see the looks of this tractor that hasn't met your expectations. Is it in nice shape, well cared for, greased, kept inside? My guess - and it's just a guess - is that this thing will look like it's been beat to death.

No dog in this fight for me. I'm not a Massey fanboy - although I did have a 1533 that was really nice. I'm not trying to convice anyone about anything. I just don't think it's reasonable that you keep giving people advice based upon your 1531. Other 30 hp tractors can be more than adequate for lots of work.

 

[LukeDuke30]

Why dont you think it will handle it.

I mow 250-300 acres per year commercially. And bits of everything. Ankle high grass from accounts that get mowed monthly to lots that havent been touched in 10+ years and everything in between. Did that for 5+ years with a L3400 kubota and a 6' Bushhog 306. Handled it just fine.

So I have a very hard time believing a 1531 wont handle even a 5' cutter.

How fast are you trying to mow? Because until you run out of power in your lowest gear....claiming that "it wont handle it" is a load of bull. SLOW DOWN.

Hear it on hear all the time and it gets pretty old. Why people seem to think that IF a tractor cant pull a bushhog through untouched 5-year old CRP ground at 5 MPH, then it "cant handle it".......thats nonsense. Learn how to utilize the equipment properly.

Agreed - I have a Massey 1734e and run a Woods RC6 with it. It has no problems, even with thick grass/weeds that are 4 ft tall.

 

[LD1]

Giving advise, good or bad, based on ones experience I don't have an issue with.

Giving BAD advise, because one don't know how to operate equipment causing them to have machine issues......THAT is what I have a problem with

 

[Phillip w]

Well, maybe I drew a lemon , but it is what it is. Like I've said before, this little tractor maybe great on 5-10 acres but use it nearly daily on 250 acres and it won't stand up. Dad had a Kubota about 25 five years ago and was having problems and traded it for a John Deere. He has been a John Deere every sense. I'm in the heart of the farm belt. If all the tractors are so good, how come none of these farmers have one. In the northern half of the county, I don't know anyone that owns a modern massey ferguson, kubota, mahindra, kioti and so forth. I do know a couple guys with new Holland tractors. Now it you get closer to the city, say Wichita, kansas city, topeka, etc, you start seeing these 30 hp tractors that are not John Deere or case-ih. However, you are back to guys with 5-10 acres plots. As far as operating eqipment, I have been around tractors and all types of implement and machinery all my life. How come I'm not having trouble out of my other tractors and machinery? I don't foresee any of the neighbors that farm buying a massey ferguson, kubota, mahindra, kioti,etc any time soon. Imagine that.

 

[Streetcar]

I had a friend who had a small Kubota b tractor. He used it to move rock every day. The tractor was dead at 1000 hours because he beat the tractor hard. He needed small tractor for clearance. Do not judge all tractors based on the life of one tractor

 

[timswi]

Well, maybe I drew a lemon , but it is what it is. Like I've said before, this little tractor maybe great on 5-10 acres but use it nearly daily on 250 acres and it won't stand up. Dad had a Kubota about 25 five years ago and was having problems and traded it for a John Deere. He has been a John Deere every sense. I'm in the heart of the farm belt. If all the tractors are so good, how come none of these farmers have one. In the northern half of the county, I don't know anyone that owns a modern massey ferguson, kubota, mahindra, kioti and so forth. I do know a couple guys with new Holland tractors. Now it you get closer to the city, say Wichita, kansas city, topeka, etc, you start seeing these 30 hp tractors that are not John Deere or case-ih. However, you are back to guys with 5-10 acres plots. As far as operating eqipment, I have been around tractors and all types of implement and machinery all my life. How come I'm not having trouble out of my other tractors and machinery? I don't foresee any of the neighbors that farm buying a massey ferguson, kubota, mahindra, kioti,etc any time soon. Imagine that.

I see more red and orange tractors on farms around here than green nowadays..Too many generalizations in your comments. No offense, just sayin.

 

[LD1]

No one is asking about a tractor for daily use on 250 acres. Just because you use yours that way and it hasn't lived up to your expectations, has nothing at all to do with what the OP is asking. He wants a tractor for 15 acres of mowing a few times a year. And honestly, you lost all credibility with me when you said a 30hp tractor was too small and underpowered for a 30 hp tractor. So that calls everything else you say into question....at least for me

 

[timswi]

No one is asking about a tractor for daily use on 250 acres. Just because you use yours that way and it hasn't lived up to your expectations, has nothing at all to do with what the OP is asking. He wants a tractor for 15 acres of mowing a few times a year. And honestly, you lost all credibility with me when you said a 30hp tractor was too small and underpowered for a 30 hp tractor. So that calls everything else you say into question....at least for me

:drink:

 

[Phillip w]

Here is what I'm saying, these guys are turning 1000 (s) of acres of ground. We are in the "bread basket" of the world. Kansas known for wheat ( lot of corn and beans now) Nebraska and Iowa known for corn. Kubota does not even make a tractor big enough to do the job as far as I know. Massey ferguson makes a tractor thars pushing 300 hp , but I don't know anybody that one. New Holland makes large tractors, and I know a couple guy that have them about 100 hp or so, but not the big stuff. My point is if a guy has a 300+ hp John Deere or case-ih and he is happy with it and decides he wants a. 100-150 hp tractor, he is not going for Kubota or massey ferguson or some other tractor. He is going to stay with John Deere or case-ih. Maybe people don't quite understand were I'm at, but when it comes to.tractor's some of these guys break out the "big boys". As far ar my little massey ferguson, yes I have had a lot of trouble with it and I am not pleased with the tractor or agco. What my opinion is keep that tractor in town. If you had 5-10 acres on the edge of time, it would probably work out nicely. Bring I out to the farm ( at least 160 + acres) and that tractor doesby perform well and has reliability dependabiltt and just pure ruggedness. Ps my double check that red paint job. They could be case-ih or massey ferguson. I will say guys around here are pretty stubborn and die hard on brand names. (Pick-ups, tractors, combines etc.)

 

[Phillip w]

No one is asking about a tractor for daily use on 250 acres. Just because you use yours that way and it hasn't lived up to your expectations, has nothing at all to do with what the OP is asking. He wants a tractor for 15 acres of mowing a few times a year. And honestly, you lost all credibility with me when you said a 30hp tractor was too small and underpowered for a 30 hp tractor. So that calls everything else you say into question....at least for me

Well, I can tell from experien've it will not handle heavy Johnson grass, slew grass, cat tails and large sunflowers. While a dealer will tell you virtually anything to close a sale, it is just a sales pitch and may not be factual. I purchased a 5 ft king kutter brush hog only to get to the truth the hard way. I have taken photos to show that king kutter recommends a 40 hp tractor for their 5 ft brush hog.

 

[DK35vince]

Well, I can tell from experien've it will not handle heavy Johnson grass, slew grass, cat tails and large sunflowers. While a dealer will tell you virtually anything to close a sale, it is just a sales pitch and may not be factual. I purchased a 5 ft king kutterView attachment 522444View attachment 522445View attachment 522446 brush hog only to get to the truth the hard way. I have taken photos to show that king kutter recommends a 40 hp tractor for their 5 ft brush hog.

Where does it say it requires 40 HP ?
All I see is a 40 HP maximum gearbox rating
I run a 6' King Kutter brush mower on my 34 HP (28.5 PTO HP) just fine

 

[Phillip w]

My point is everyone in this challenge pretty much has acreage of 20 acres or less. They're not mowing 6 ft slew grass. They're mot mowing 5-6 ft cat tails. They're not mowing an old feed lot full of sunflowers and cocka-burs. That stuff is harder to cut than small tree sprouts. Every one says you need to go slower. With hydrostatic drive to slow down or stop the tractor is pretty simple. I won't ever try to pull a brush hog like this witgout at least a 40 hp tractor. For light stuff 6-12 inches tall it is fine. When.i bought this tractor a needed either a 7 ft mower minimum of a light little utility tractor. Turns out I bought both cause little massey can't do the job. I put that 7 ft brush hog on my allis Chalmers and it walks right through it. I'm extending an.open invitatiom: anyone who think the got a tough little tractor, bring it on out and will see how it does. I'm not saying that this tractor will not do a good job on small acreage close to town It very well might and maybe that is what it was made for. Did I draw a lemon? Maybe. Is it like I say a small acreage tractor and not built rugged enough to the riggers of the farm? At this point, it is what it is and I am not an agco fan. I in the process of replacing this little tractor. Considering a case-ih with about 40-45 hp.

 

[DK35vince]

Considering a case-ih with about 40-45 hp.

My opinion.
If you undersized so severely with the 33 HP tractor, why only 40-45.
Go bigger of be disappointed again.

 

[Phillip w]

I got the big stuff, but can't scoop out barns cause they are to big to get in the barn and and scpop with. These tractors are clumsy awkward and cumbersome in certain applications. I will give you an example of my thoughts on tractor hp. People will tell you and dealers too that you need 35-40 hp to pull a square baler. Ther is always some guy claiming he pulled a baler with a 25 hp tractor. Maybe he did bale a little 5 acre field with light hay. That is a big difference than baling 300-400 acres of heavily fertilized brome. I pull my swather and baler with a 70-80 hp tractor. My experience I won't put any thing less than 50-60 hp on a swather and baler. My hauling tractor almost plays with my swatherand baler. I really learned from that massey (which I already knew) go 10 to 25 hp more than required hp and things go better. A little more tractor giddy up goes.a long way.

 

[LD1]

Here is what I'm saying, these guys are turning 1000 (s) of acres of ground. We are in the "bread basket" of the world. Kansas known for wheat ( lot of corn and beans now) Nebraska and Iowa known for corn. Kubota does not even make a tractor big enough to do the job as far as I know. Massey ferguson makes a tractor thars pushing 300 hp , but I don't know anybody that one. New Holland makes large tractors, and I know a couple guy that have them about 100 hp or so, but not the big stuff. My point is if a guy has a 300+ hp John Deere or case-ih and he is happy with it and decides he wants a. 100-150 hp tractor, he is not going for Kubota or massey ferguson or some other tractor. He is going to stay with John Deere or case-ih. Maybe people don't quite understand were I'm at, but when it comes to.tractor's some of these guys break out the "big boys". As far ar my little massey ferguson, yes I have had a lot of trouble with it and I am not pleased with the tractor or agco. What my opinion is keep that tractor in town. If you had 5-10 acres on the edge of time, it would probably work out nicely. Bring I out to the farm ( at least 160 + acres) and that tractor doesby perform well and has reliability dependabiltt and just pure ruggedness. Ps my double check that red paint job. They could be case-ih or massey ferguson. I will say guys around here are pretty stubborn and die hard on brand names. (Pick-ups, tractors, combines etc.)

You just keep making my point for me.

You are talking about thousand + acre farms. You are talking about you personally using your little ~30 HP tractor on a 160-250 acre farm. DUH.....

The OP is asking about a tractor to brushhog a mere 15 acres a few times a year. So everything you say about the large farms may indeed be true.....how is that at all relevant to this thread???????????????????????????????????

And who cares what brand of 500HP tractors the 5000acre farm guys run in your area......again, not relevant.

What you are saying is like Someone wanting a small truck like a nissan or toyota and you saying they are junk because the guys towing 20k are using ford/chevy/dodge and that nissan and toyota dont even make a truck that big. AGAIN.....NOT RELEVANT.

WHY do you INSIST on comparing someone maintaining 15 acres to someone farming thousands of acres. If you dont have experience with small acreage with small tractors....then stop giving bad advise.

Well, I can tell from experien've it will not handle heavy Johnson grass, slew grass, cat tails and large sunflowers. While a dealer will tell you virtually anything to close a sale, it is just a sales pitch and may not be factual. I purchased a 5 ft king kutterView attachment 522444View attachment 522445View attachment 522446 brush hog only to get to the truth the hard way. I have taken photos to show that king kutter recommends a 40 hp tractor for their 5 ft brush hog.

WRONG. 40HP gearbox. Thats the MAX. Nowhere does it recommend a 40 HP tractor.

6' cattails, 6' slew grass.....BLAH BLAH BLAH. You keep dodging the question as to how fast you are mowing? Because if its anything faster than 1st gear on your tractor....then your claim that the tractor is under powered for the mower is a great big load of BULL-sheet.

Maybe your tractor is a lemon. Maybe you have never cleaned your air filter or fuel filter and the thing only makes 15 HP. Maybe you are trying to mow it at 1.5" high. Whatever, who cares. Claiming a 30 HP tractor is too small for a 5' mower is BAD advise PERIOD. And when you keep making claims like that, and talking about what all these big farmers do with their monster 300-500 HP tractors....you loose all credibility. You wanna brag about your several hundred acres (while most of us here probably fall in the 5-25 acre range).....good for you. Go break your arm patting yourself on the back. I run a commercial mowing business. Not big but I mow 250-300 acres a year. Which is probably more than 99.9% of members here and most likely alot more than you. And all I can say is you are totally full of horse dung.

 

[Phillip w]

Here is why that big ag tractor has relevance. These guys also need utility tractors and light utility tractors. For their 30-50 hp tractors the are staying with John Deere and case-ih. Now I have heard guys say that the ag tractors are better quality than the utility size tractors. The fact is they are holding up very well out here. Nearly everybody I know who tried to take a short cut, even me on these light weight tractors ran into trouble. Guys have trird kubota, mahindra, kioti,massey ferguson and the tractor does not perform well. Now if I lived close to town, had 10-15 acres and needed a tractor then my firat thought would be which 35 hp tractor will stand up on the farm. If a 35 hp tractor performs well on the farm, then I have a little better assurance of how that tractor will do on 10-15 acres. If a light little utility tractor does not perform well on the farm, I'm not going to so eager to buy one for my 10-15 acres of ground. It is not about farming and big tractors as much as brand reliabilty, performance, dependability and ruggedness. For what it's worth my little massey shelled the pto pulling a five foot brush hog. It cost me 5500 dollars to have it rebuilt. Was some bearing going bad? Was the little slide collar screwed up? Don't know. What I do know is most tractors will shear a pin before gutting pto. It is pretty rare to shell a pto in a tractor. That is my first and I have operated quite a few tractors over the years. My mind is pretty well settled on this massey and were just playing hot potato.