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Post by Oatking on Jun 19, 2022 8:07:23 GMT -6
Any thoughts on the best make and model of garden tractor for the farm yard. A tractor that is decent size to mow hills and hook a tiller on. Just wondered what others preference was for a tractor.
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Post by northernfarmer on Jun 19, 2022 9:48:27 GMT -6
Is this in the compact series of tractors so for example, a belly ( mid mount ) mower that would be in that 60 to 72 inch range for example and engine hp in the mid 20's at least, turf tires but four wheel drive with ranges and without a doubt hydrostatic, diesel engine of course, power steering, and can get fancy with a glass cab with heater and air conditioning if one wants to go that far in the size range they have those options. Three point hitch, multi speed pto etc etc. Not saying other brands are not as good but I personally lean towards John Deere or Kubota because of not only the offerings but the service/parts years down the road. Depending on what plans one has for such a tractor, front end loader, front mount snow blower, front mount hydraulic angle blade, rototiller, mini backhoe ( one thing is for sure, money can be spent buying these tractors and the attachment toys ! )
I am surprised sometimes how its not realized by some buyers that the hydrostatic transmission is the only way to go for a mowing yard tractor, and how the four wheel drive and diff locker get used every so often even for mowing if doing anything on slopes or in ditches, never mind if one has a front end loader or a blower on the front as a rear wheel drive tractor becomes useless. Do I wish I had power steering on my old kubota, its a workout to mow grass due to that lacking. JD is famous for having economy versions of a tractor and then the deluxe, the basic model always misses so many things such as a good suspension under the seat and so on.
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Post by Oatking on Jun 19, 2022 10:36:54 GMT -6
I have had trouble with my simplicity broadmore tuff torque transmission. I have read on other forums Jd tuff torque transmissions fail as well. I do a lot of dike mowing and that is one problem people state ruining the transmissions. I thought it was a simple belt replacement which is not so simple to install but made it no difference. My simplicity is 6 years old and I felt like dumping it in the pond last weekend! May need a transmission now.
Any body have a kioti tractor and how do they compare to kabota. I like the fact kabota is teamed up with versatile tractors so they must be serious about tractors .
Is a zero turn mower the way to go if mowing is your only use. My dads old simplicity lasted almost 40 years and still runs and only needs a tune up or new carb. They make these new tractor so light , my uncle was mowing with his simplicity and the front wheel broke off and he almost upset on a hill.
What about cub cadet brand.
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bigal
Junior Member
Posts: 63
Likes: 42
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Post by bigal on Jun 19, 2022 14:08:11 GMT -6
I can't say as to which is the best all around tractor but I have a bit of experience with a Jd and a Kubota tractor of about 15 years of age(not new, I know) in the 25 horse range. The two points that stand out most in my mind are that Jd took all kinds of abuse and kept on ticking. It had a front end loader and was regularly called upon to lift things heavier than it was designed to lift. My employer had gone so far as to build an approximately 500lb counterweight for the 3pt, and we'd lift loads that were to the point where about 90% of the tractor's weight was on the front axle, but for all that, it somehow survived. As to the kubota, it has no front end loader, but has been a reliable mower and tilling tractor. My biggest beef with it is the hydraulic pump only puts out enough flow to raise the deck if you throttle it up. I'm told that's normal for kubotas, at least of that vintage. I don't know if you have a dealer nearby, but have you considered TYM? I don't have any experience with them myself, but I do hear good things about them. I'm told they can lift considerably more than a comparably sized deere. As to zero turns, I've run a few cub cadets(not of the commercial line, those may be better), and they have a slow top speed and rough ride, both largely due to their small drive tires. When it come's to zero turns, I'd recommend exmark. I've run a few exmarks, and they make a solid mower with good speed and ride. That's my $0.02 I guess.
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Post by skfarmboy on Jun 19, 2022 16:31:49 GMT -6
For mowing I would highly recommend a "commercial duty" zero turn mower. I have had a John Deere zero turn mower with a 60 inch 7 iron deck for many years and it has been almost trouble free. After reviewing several brands of mowers last year I purchased a Ferris ISX 2200. Our farmyard has rough areas and the Ferris has a very comfortable seat with suspension, independent front axle suspension, rear axle suspension and larger tires then the Deere mower, so it is a much smoother riding mower. As far as tractors go I have a Kubota L3240 (manufactured just before this size of engine was subject to tier 4 emissions) with a cab, loader, backhoe, tiller and 3pt hitch finishing mower. The zero turn mower will literally cut circles around the tractor mower, but the tractor is ok in wide open areas and the A/C and cab are nice for cutting grass on a hot dusty day. The tractor hardly ever gets used for mowing because the zero turn mowers are so much faster. The tractor does not have many hours on it but it has been trouble free. If you get a tractor a list of must haves are diesel motor, hydrostatic drive and MFWD. I would also want at least one hydraulic breakaway set on the rear of the tractor. Another consideration if you are looking at new or newer tractors is that the smaller diesel engines are not subject to the same emission standards as larger motors. I think the cutoff is somewhere around 25HP.
Edit: I forgot to mention that the finishing mower is a rear discharge not a side discharge. This helps to spread out the grass clippings and prevent windrowing if the grass gets to tall.
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Post by Oatking on Jun 19, 2022 18:57:08 GMT -6
Never tried a zero turn. What makes them so fast compared to a tractor. I understand the quick turn around motion but what else is so quick.
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Post by kevlar on Jun 19, 2022 19:11:50 GMT -6
You wouldn’t believe how much time you waste turning with a tractor style compared to a zero turn.
We have a Husqvarna zero turn, it’s alright but sure not made for rough terrain or wet conditions. We have another Husky tractor style with the same motor and cutting deck and it handles wet long grass a lot better for some reason. I also have an older Grasshopper mower and that thing will cut anything, just having charging issues right now. After running one like it, I wouldn’t call the husky a true zero turn.
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Post by northernfarmer on Jun 19, 2022 19:23:23 GMT -6
I think they simply gear them up, did a demo of a Kubota zero turn some years ago that had a 72 inch deck and can't recall the hp but was thinking it was around 30 and was a diesel. They are not meant to pull anything as far as I know or not like a tractor anyway ( not sure if some have more then one range or not ) and its that hp for their weight that allows them to cut grass and go fast doing it or relatively so as at some point we were doing a somewhat crappy job as we tried flying with it during the test. Not used to the unit but its sure easy with a higher hp unit to be spinning tires easy on the grass whipping around and that is operator error being too aggressive of course. Never tried it on a side hill but I sure can see in the wrong situation getting stuck/spinning out if doing ditch work and get into a tight spot nose down ( just like a two wheel drive tractor would have happen ) . Certainly very capable units to get around objects and turn on a dime to head off in another direction vs a typical tractor having to back up etc. I found it fatiguing in my arms though to have to constantly have both arms out there on those levers and manipulating them to go in a straight line but I see now some companies have a steering wheel option, not sure how that would feel but see some companies do make that now.
I can see in some types of grass landscapes that have sparse grass and dirt that can blow, any front mount mower is going to be worse if anything for the operator getting more dirt and the engine being back there getting crap on the rad screens in certain conditions. There are those rear wheel steering mowers as well ( again has the front mount mower ) and they can be had with four wheel drive and lend themselves to have a rotary sweeper, snow blower etc on the front and used a lot by snow removal contractors for sidewalks etc ( and with a cab, heat and air con ) . They are very costly items but sure have their place though.
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Post by skfarmboy on Jun 19, 2022 20:04:07 GMT -6
Oatking, Rosenort Motors are a Ferris mower dealer, maybe they have one you could demo.
The zero turn mower does take some getting used to. Most people look like drunken sailors weaving all over the place when they first use one. The handles need to be adjusted so that they are in the most comfortable position for the operator. Once you are comfortable with the steering they are just wonderful for mowing around stuff.
Again there is a huge performance difference between a residential and a commercial mower. Many years ago we went from a yellow deck (residential) Deere mower to a green 7 Iron (commercial) Deere mower, it was like a night and day difference in performance in tall grass.
We demoed a diesel Kubota front mount mower with rear wheel steering and a steering wheel last year, the hired man just said he considered it awkward compared to our Deere zero turn mower.
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Post by northernfarmer on Jun 19, 2022 20:33:02 GMT -6
skfarmboy brought up a comment about the commercial mowers doing way better in tall grass, from what I've been told in the past is that the deep ( tall ) mower decks have the ability to get the bulky tall grass kicked out where as the typical shallow mower decks of years ago or also on new small home owner type mowers tend to have too shallow a deck and they can not cope with tall grass worth shit. Also the cheaper home owner units tend to have thin mower decks and can't handle the years of abuse and crack vs the tougher commercial grade decks. It all comes down to how much grass one has to mow and if its trimming a lawn that is cut often or expecting it to also dive into tall mature grass.
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Post by kenmb on Jun 20, 2022 8:18:33 GMT -6
If you are looking for a mower unit then buy a mower. If looking for a utility tractor where mowing is 20% of its hours then there lots of options.
Have Kubota b2630 26hp with FEL and that often keeps the rototiller on as a counter weight. It will still lift and carry with the back wheels barely on the ground. The bucket is oversized and has a sticker "for light material use only" so of course the FEL is loaded to the point the back lifts up, then drop some material to lighten load and off I go. Rototiller and FEL work is what that tractor does, and pulls a water tank with PTO pump now and then. Wouldn't mind a 3pt hitch mower but that gets to next point.
Have an old JD 430 17hp 3 cyl diesel compact utility tractor with belly mower and rototiller. From about 1990. Hasn't run the mower for many years as I bought a used Toro Ground master 328 front mount 72" mower with Kubota 28 hp diesel. Now around 2500 hours.
You would never think of jumping on the JD compact utility tractor to mow grass when you have an actual lawn mower. The JD has their 7-iron deck, it took a lot of abuse. The Toro is most definitely a commercial grade mower, front axle is a Dana 44.
I like the steering wheel. One hand is free to pushes branches away and swat mosquitoes. Don't know if I would go to a zero turn after running a front mount with wheel. Though front mounts get pricey to buy vs zero turn.
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