Which SCUT? (complete newbie)

[Jolew0225]

Hello everybody. I tried to do some searching for info on these tractors before I came here to post yet another newbie "which to buy" post. I am looking at 2 local SCUTs both are <$5K and are close enough for me to pretty easily go pick up. I'm just looking for any insight/info/opinions/experience that you guys and gals have with these tractors and any recommendations you might have.

Tractor 1. Shibaura SU1140 4x4 16hp(?) 2 cylinder diesel w/ 4' tb box blade and fm 10k winch. $2500
Shibaura SU1140 Diesel 4x4 Sub Compact Tractor and 4 box blade


Tractor 2. Yanmar 1401D w/ rear tiller. $4000
YANMAR YM1401D Less than 40 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

The Shibaura has a great price and I LOVE the idea of the 10K winch. The seller says it's a parts match for a Ford 1300. Can anyone verify this? I couldn't. And if it is, would Ford 1300 attachments work for this SCUT like the 770 loader, 915 deck or 715 snowblower? Tractordata.com tells me those are available attachments for the 1300. If this is a 1300 match this may be my machine.

The Yanmar was just a machine I found last night on tractorhouse. I researched it a little and went over to the Yanmar owners board (which seemed like almost no help?) and learned what I could briefly last night. It seems very well reviewed but again I know little about it. What is the attachment market like for this SCUT? I've read on here that finding parts for this machine actually isn't so bad. Is the price a bit high on this machine? Any links for attachments?

I already checked tractordata.com and learned what I could there about these machines.

I would be using this machine primarily for duties that may require 4wd. Snow removal and off road log dragging/firewood collection specifically. For either of these SCUTS I would like to know what the attachment market looks like. I want a snowblower or at the very least a fm snow blade. I also would love a FEL and wonder about availability for these machines. Further down the wish list are a brushhog and tiller. I live in Northern MN so cold starting at 30-40 below is a likelihood and I have no heated storage but it would be garaged. How big of an issue is that?

So what do you guys think? My budget is limited to essentially $5k or less and my Tacoma can't tow my 16ft trailer plus a machine much larger than these SCUTs, so recommendations to go bigger aren't in my realm right now. And hey, if you wouldn't buy either of these tell me that too! Should I look further away and try to have something a little better shipped?

A complete newbie sure appreciates it!

Thanks,
Jonah

 

[dodge man]

I don't know much about either of them but I do have a couple of comments. The box blade behind the first one looks pretty light duty. I don't think it would hold up to any serious work. The Yanmar, and it could just be the photo, I'm not sure, looks almost like a narrow model. If it is a narrow model, it would be meant for special applications, like working in orhcards. If it is a narrow model, I would stay away from it, it would be too tippy for other uses.

 

[Grandad4]

Don't know these tractors specifically, but a couple of comments. The Shibura ad notes the tractor has a non-standard 2pt hitch. That probably means attachments will be harder to locate or cost more. You'd be on safer ground getting something with a standard 3 point hookup. Second, you are correct about hauling something with your Tacoma... I've got the same issue... you need something in the SCUT weight category. Finally, you just about have to see and drive these older tractors to know what you are getting into. You can't know if what is advertised is OK or all worn out unless you see for yourself. Condition of the unit is more important than what brand.

 

[Jolew0225]

Hey thanks guys.

Dodgeman: I completely agree about the box blade, it looks very light duty. I'm actually not that concerned with this however because I don't see using the box blade much. I might even turn around and try to sell it? Yeah and I don't know about the Yanmar being a narrow model. I may call them and try to find this out. I am a little concerned that neither model has ROPS but this seems like something I could add to either. Am I right?

Grandad: Good point about the 2 point. Is that convertable to a 3 point, again this is new ground to me? And I think my Taco (99 TRD 4x4 3.4v6 5spd) is rated to tow 5k. One of these machines, with attachments, plus my trailer would probably be in the 3750-4500# range which is definitely pushing it about as much as I want to and I'm not in the mood or market to move up to a 1/2ton (love the Taco too much!). Yeah and I wouldn't buy either without checking them out and taking a test drive.

Does anyone know about the Shiba/1300 relation? Or attachment availability for both?

Thanks again,
Jonah

 

[Grandad4]

A guy named Harry Ferguson invented the 3 point hitch in the 1940's, and it became the standard system everywhere. Before that, every tractor company had its own hitch setup, so if you had a Farmall tractor, you had to buy Farmall implements for it, but the manufacturers all changed over to the Ferguson 3 point system and most rear-mounted agricultural implements are now generic... they work on any modern tractor. Er, except for some oddballs, evidently like that one tractor you spotted. Dunno if its 2 point could be modified, but I'd doubt it... if it was a simple modification, why wouldn't they have made it a 3 pt. in the first place, so it would fit 99% of the implements people would use? You can get 3 pt. kits for vintage American tractors (Farmall, JD, Oliver, etc.), but the Shibura?

If it were me, I'd move on and try to find something a little more in the mainstream, so every repair or fix does not become a chicken chase trying to get a part. The Yanmar has possibilities, though.