Tractors, compact....... Discuss

All those concerns went out the window when the mortgage was paid off for me. Really could have used a tractor for the past 12yrs but resisted the urge and beat up my body instead.
The finance deals make it way to easy for people to make buyers remorse purchases

 

Contractor?go big & write it off

 

Here is my old Kubota and my logging winch w/hitch. I run single bar chains in the winter they sort of drop into the Ag tires but still do the job.

 

Please elaborate on regen, Im familiar with def fluid in newer diesel trucks..... but idk on tractors.

 

The have a "filter" on the exhaust, when its starts getting plugged the computer senses it, so it starts "regen", which is basically dumping some diesel fuel in there, lighting it up and burning it off. It tends to be a problematic system long term...and has caused many fires, especially on ag equipment.

 

To expand on what brenndatomu said, system also requires electrical and computers systems to monitor it which always last so long in the clean environment of a farm. Why farmers hate it.. Like first m tonic on saw.

 

I have no experience with anything under 80hp but Ive heard a lot of good about Massey Ferguson and where I live if you don't have green paint you're told to go home.

 

Same by me everything's green which always surprised me since Case is a se wi co.

 

i guess we all still be drivin model A Fords if it was up to you......

 

If the new emissions engines are so great why do the pre DEF and DPF models command top dollar on the used market?
Because those systems are nothing but trouble...

 

SKEETER McCLUSKEY, Most of our farmers are dairy, cow manure is acidic and corrosive, milk prices are low, most family farmers rather than large agri businesses. Granted it might skew my perspective.

 

The issues with tractor emissions reminds me of autos in the 80’s. They’ll figure it out eventually and I’m sure it’ll be great when they do. But we’re not there yet. It amazes me how these industries don’t seem to learn very much from each other. Diesel trucks followed cars and suffered a lot of similar growing pains, same with marine. Now it’s tractors. You’d think they’d try to learn what the other guys already know.

 

I think they have DPF figured out now. It had its problems initially. Ask anybody who bought a Kubota B3350. They couldn’t give those away for a while.

I think the pre tier 4 machines commanded a high price because of the many initial problems and the added cost. Not only at purchase but having a computer to go wrong down the road isn’t appealing to anybody.

When I upgrade to a larger tractor it will surely have a DPF as I will be going 50ish HP. I am not thrilled about the cost but it won’t deter me either. If I was around the 26-30HP range then the 26 would be a big pro but a lot of that would be the lower cost.

 

Growin up we always heard "if it ain't red leave it in the shed" Don't know how i ended up with a blue one.

 

My concern at this point is partly the cost of replacement parts for those systems when they need replacement. I ran a busy automotive shop in the 90’s and it was still very expensive to fix those systems when they failed. And I’ve been in a lot of truck shops and seen the same story play out, only on a larger scale. Warranties expire eventually. It’s a good thing to be fully aware of going in. And maybe it’s not bad on some models. I’m not that familiar with all of the technology being used currently. The B3350 just happened to be an up front failure and most of them take time, like the ones Canadian border VT was talking about. Extreme circumstances maybe, but not really for a farm tractor imho. Those kind of things make me cautious because you know they were aware long before it became a big issue.

 

I totally agree. The added parts (expensive ones at that) are the biggest deterrent. I just think that it is now a fact of life with tractors as it is cars. I am still on the fence of going to a 26HP from my 38HP instead of going to 50HP. I guess if af a 26HP could lift a round bale over 4’ then I would have a hard decision to make. I have a few more years before I am in a position to pull the trigger so I have time. Certainly is enticing to have a less complicated machine but if I need bigger than I don’t have any choice.

 

I’m with you also, sometimes you have no choice. Just ranting about how it’s handled the same time after time. Makes me think it’s more about money than anything else and that just pizzes me off. Consumers shouldn’t have to pay for all their mistakes over and over. We’re paying for it up front as it is. The guys at the top are still getting their bonuses though.

 

We went with the smallest of the M series to get a beefier front end for lifting round bales and driving with them over rough terrain (M5040). It is a pretty nice step up in ruggedness all the way around.

My biggest hesitation was an underslung fuel tank with essentially no shielding. So far so good. My biggest complaint now would be the 3pt lift max height leaves a lot to be desired.

At nearly 2000 hrs, the seat has a couple of tears, one loader hydraulic line replaced, and front tires replaced. Other than that, just filters and fluids. Could not be happier. Well, except for when they send me the 0% flyer with a picture of a larger cabbed tractor!

 

I grew up when emission control systems started being put on cars. Problematic or costly parts were soon eliminated being bypassed or modified. I clearly remember the legal disclaimers on parts for diagnostic purposes only......HA! Well as far as I know the EPA isn't coming out to sniff your tractor so I believe that if anyone has out of warranty issues with the systems that are unreasonable to resolve a bypass will be developed..........for diagnostic testing only of course........HA!

 

Hmm. I might know the Mahindra dealer you speak of. And most of the service guys and some of the sales guys at the Kubota place.