Will a Branson handle this job?

[fhfarms]

First, let me thank everyone on this forum for their contirbutions. It has been a most valuable research tool! I am developing a 100 acre parcel into 10 acre equestrian "farmsteads" in north Florida ( Tallahassee). The property is an old cattle farm, and has all of the features one might expect to find on an old farm ( overgrown pastures, old fencing, piles of rusted implements, dead trees, brick piles, etc.).

I am hesitiant to call in the heavy equipment any more ( tracked vehicles) as I don't want to damage the land any further. The lay of the land is 80 acres of rolling pasture and 20 acres of slopes, ponds, sinkholes, big oaks and brush. I'm looking for a good all around tractor to do clean-up, basic road work, cutting and future maintainance.

I'll also be keeping 20 acres for long term investment , so I'll be mowing pasture for at least one year.

I'm looking at the Branson 4720/FEL, 6' cutter, 6' box blade, boom pole, post hole digger ( pto auger), and a 18" dual axle trailer. Price quote was $23,000 and change, which was about 10K cheaper than a similar Deere.

Will this be enough tractor/package to do the job? I have had most of the debris removed and the field bush-hogged already, so much of the heaviest work is done.

Are there other brands I should look at? Sorry to bombard the forum with so many questions, but this is my first tractor ( woooooo-hooooooo!!!!) and I don't want to make a mistake.

 

[leaddog]

Yes that tractor WILL do the job. I would suggest that you get the ag tires for the jobs that you want to do.
I have the Century 3045 (40pto hp) and love it. I use it to plant large food plots and use 2-14 bottem plow, 12ft disk and also haul firewood from a very wet forest. I have the industral tires and although I like them for loader use and they don't cut up the lawn they do'nt have the tracton and mud cleaning that the ag tires do. That is a heavy tractor and you will be very happy with it. The extra wt for what you want to do will be a big plus.
Also I brushhog alot of tall grass and brush (up to 2in) with a 6ft cutter and it handles it very good. I use the 1000 rpm pto and run my tractor rpm at 1500 and have no trouble so the noise level and wear and tear is less on the tractor. CAUTION: if you do this you must be VERY sure you do not raise the engine RPM higher as you WILL over speed the cutter and you may blow the blades out and KILL someone. But if you use your head it is another plus for these tractors.
Leaddog

 

[Big_Lug]

If it's in your budget you might want to consider the Branson 6530, it's cab, A/C, etc. My dealer said it was not going to be much more than $25,000.

 

[fhfarms]

I am concerend about the ag tires, I've ordered it with the industrials, since I don't want to chew up the bahaia pasture any more than I have to. I figure my heavier dozier/ grading/dragging work will be done within the first 2 months, then I'll be mainly mowing. Will the industrial tires let me down with the heavy work, and will the 4wd compensate for the lack of traction?

 

[FrankenmuthTom]

We have very few complaints with the Industrial Tires on the tractors that we sell here in Okeechobee. The problem with AG tires is that many of them are NOT rated for the loader. Will not stand the load that the loader places on them. Better to stay with the heavy industrial tires.

Tractor Tom

 

[GEB]

Leaddog, I've been very temped to do the same with my 4720
As a matter of fact I just got done running my 6tf finish mower
and it worked out very well!
1000 setting @ 1400rpm's 2nd gear on the axle 4th on the trans.
Mix of weeds and grass...about 8in tall.
Ran through it like nothing.
I never used my 4720 for mowing, always a 1953 Jubilee.
Besides the back-hole is always on the Branson.
The Jubilee may get a rest for awhile /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You are so right, theres no need to run rpm's so high with
the 540 setting when using a mower or bush hog.
Good thing is I still got 3 acres to cut...tomorrow /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The Branson 4720 is the big bang for the buck!
Gene

 

[Big_Lug]

Can you also run a tiller on the 1000 pto setting or is it not good to do?

 

[GEB]

A tiller is gonna need more power than a mower.
If the tiller calls for 540 then thats what I would do.
These tractors make peak power at 2400 rpm's...I think..
Which I think is where the 540 comes in at....close.
Thing is with the 4720 we have twice the power needed to run
a 6ft mower. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So 1/2 that would be around 1500 rpms...a dyno chart would
be nice to see.
Reguardless of what your doin, you dont want to lugg the
motor much.
If your not sure maybe stick with owners manuel.
Gene

 

[anthonyk]

Leaddog, I never thought about that!
Are you saying that I can take my Brushhog SQ600 which I normally run in the 540 pto mode at 2600 rpms, and instead set the pto in the 1000 rpm mode, and drop the engine speed to about 1400 and that's still safe?
All I'm doing is cutting light brush and tall grass.
wouldn't that use less fuel?

thanks, anthony

 

[leaddog]

Yes, with the engine rpm at 1400 the pto speed will be about 540 in the 1000pto speed gear. Just be sure you don't speed up the engine as then the pto speed will increase also and over speed the mower, tiller, blower or what ever attachment you have connected. I do it all the time with most of my attachments and haven't had any power problems but I have the 48hp eng and alot of my equipment is small. If I start to lug I just slow down or put it into 540rpm gear. Just remember This is a safety issue if you speed up the engine and if you can't leave the engine speed alone DON"T do it.