New Holland BOOMER30 Reviews
Boomer 30
Model Year: 0
Worked tractor very hard moving topsoil, rocks, and using a brush hog. Everything worked great. Only con I have is tractor is very tipsy on uneven ground and side hills.
Pros: Plenty of power. Very easy to operate.
Cons: Tipsy on side hills and uneven ground.
Model Year: 0
Worked tractor very hard moving topsoil, rocks, and using a brush hog. Everything worked great. Only con I have is tractor is very tipsy on uneven ground and side hills.
Pros: Plenty of power. Very easy to operate.
Cons: Tipsy on side hills and uneven ground.
Boomer 30
Model Year: 2013
It took some getting use to the hydro-static drive but then it proved to be quite a nice little tractor. We have the tractor with a front loader which takes weight off the rear wheels so driving it up any hill it needs to be in 4 wheel drive. The hitch is fairly straight forward and works well. I have used it with a brush hog and mainly use it to move round bales. We used it to pull down some old trees and to level off the ground some. The one thing I don't like about it is the parking brake. It's right under your leg and it makes it a pain to put on and take off. With the loader the headlights are useless and you need to add another set of lights.
Pros: Good power and maneuverability.
Cons: My feet get stuck in the brake pedal getting on and off.
Model Year: 2013
It took some getting use to the hydro-static drive but then it proved to be quite a nice little tractor. We have the tractor with a front loader which takes weight off the rear wheels so driving it up any hill it needs to be in 4 wheel drive. The hitch is fairly straight forward and works well. I have used it with a brush hog and mainly use it to move round bales. We used it to pull down some old trees and to level off the ground some. The one thing I don't like about it is the parking brake. It's right under your leg and it makes it a pain to put on and take off. With the loader the headlights are useless and you need to add another set of lights.
Pros: Good power and maneuverability.
Cons: My feet get stuck in the brake pedal getting on and off.
Boomer 30 w/Bucket Loader
Model Year: 2011
It's only been 60 hrs., so the real test as in all the ratings will come as time goes by. To be honest, what caught my eye was the New Holland blue, then looking at all the features versus price point in comparison at a dealer within 15 mins. from where I live. This tractor has a 5 year warranty. I installed a Cozy Cab, made a snow blade adapter for the bucket loader and pushed snow without snow chains, just the tires where loaded. I use a rear finish mower. Now, I wouldn't think of a belly mower, first off never big fan of installing and uninstalling them and, if you get into deep mud and need to raise mower to get unstuck sometimes cant raise it high enough . As for my use, mowing 3 acres, snow removal, back blading, the uses are really endless.
Pros: Features , value, build quality.
Cons: At 60 hours, none so far.
Photo Uploads:
Model Year: 2011
It's only been 60 hrs., so the real test as in all the ratings will come as time goes by. To be honest, what caught my eye was the New Holland blue, then looking at all the features versus price point in comparison at a dealer within 15 mins. from where I live. This tractor has a 5 year warranty. I installed a Cozy Cab, made a snow blade adapter for the bucket loader and pushed snow without snow chains, just the tires where loaded. I use a rear finish mower. Now, I wouldn't think of a belly mower, first off never big fan of installing and uninstalling them and, if you get into deep mud and need to raise mower to get unstuck sometimes cant raise it high enough . As for my use, mowing 3 acres, snow removal, back blading, the uses are really endless.
Pros: Features , value, build quality.
Cons: At 60 hours, none so far.
Photo Uploads:
2012 Boomer 30
Model Year: 0
Was a great asset following the May 2013 tornado. I would like to see the hydraulic lines protected on the front-end loader. The fitting on the rear hydraulic hoses are weak and have cracked. Also the grease fittings on the front-end loader easily break. Other than that, the tractor has been tough considering HP & weight. We used it extensively cleaning up our land from tornado debris. I would not have made it without it!
Pros: Starts everytime.
Cons: A little too light weight and under horsepowered.
Model Year: 0
Was a great asset following the May 2013 tornado. I would like to see the hydraulic lines protected on the front-end loader. The fitting on the rear hydraulic hoses are weak and have cracked. Also the grease fittings on the front-end loader easily break. Other than that, the tractor has been tough considering HP & weight. We used it extensively cleaning up our land from tornado debris. I would not have made it without it!
Pros: Starts everytime.
Cons: A little too light weight and under horsepowered.
New Boomer 30
Model Year: 2013
Bought a Boomer 30 with a front end loader a few months ago. First day out, a pine limb hit the right rear wheel valve, popping off the top of the valve. I quickly loaded it on my trailer and zoomed to the dealer. He fixed it for free. Second day out a small pine limb popped up under the right side of the tractor between the hood and the loader. Right, it broke the filter out flow diesel line to the motor and bent the metal mounting bracket. It took a couple of hours to get a make-do filter on and flush the lines, pump and injector lines. Third time out, limb popped up from the ground and broke the right light cover. The tractor runs great and performs well, as long as I can keep it running. The biggest problem is where they put the filter. It's on the right side next to the fire wall. Really hard to get to with a loader attached. I went in to buy a Kubota, but the salesman talked me into the New Holland. I'm not sure if the Kubota is built with components exposed to anything you run over or not. I have a 20 year old Belarus 250AS. Over the 20 years I've had the Belarus, I've only broken a hydraulic lift bar. They don't make tractors like they use to. Too much exposed components.
Pros: Runs great, performs well.
Cons: Too many exposed components that can be broken by limbs. Drivers seat too close and low for long legged drivers. New Holland parts are twice as expensive as the Kubota.
Photo Uploads:
Model Year: 2013
Bought a Boomer 30 with a front end loader a few months ago. First day out, a pine limb hit the right rear wheel valve, popping off the top of the valve. I quickly loaded it on my trailer and zoomed to the dealer. He fixed it for free. Second day out a small pine limb popped up under the right side of the tractor between the hood and the loader. Right, it broke the filter out flow diesel line to the motor and bent the metal mounting bracket. It took a couple of hours to get a make-do filter on and flush the lines, pump and injector lines. Third time out, limb popped up from the ground and broke the right light cover. The tractor runs great and performs well, as long as I can keep it running. The biggest problem is where they put the filter. It's on the right side next to the fire wall. Really hard to get to with a loader attached. I went in to buy a Kubota, but the salesman talked me into the New Holland. I'm not sure if the Kubota is built with components exposed to anything you run over or not. I have a 20 year old Belarus 250AS. Over the 20 years I've had the Belarus, I've only broken a hydraulic lift bar. They don't make tractors like they use to. Too much exposed components.
Pros: Runs great, performs well.
Cons: Too many exposed components that can be broken by limbs. Drivers seat too close and low for long legged drivers. New Holland parts are twice as expensive as the Kubota.
Photo Uploads:
Johnnblue
Model Year: 2011
Bought a Boomer 30 with belly mower deck; replaced 1988 Kubota 1550. Tractor works well, but trouble with belly mower. Wheel spindles bend. The had special spindles made to stop the bending. Now the lift arms are bending. Used mower deck one year. Anyone else seen this problem?
Pros: Power is just right.
Cons: Mower deck poor design, need to add weight to rear tires.
Model Year: 2011
Bought a Boomer 30 with belly mower deck; replaced 1988 Kubota 1550. Tractor works well, but trouble with belly mower. Wheel spindles bend. The had special spindles made to stop the bending. Now the lift arms are bending. Used mower deck one year. Anyone else seen this problem?
Pros: Power is just right.
Cons: Mower deck poor design, need to add weight to rear tires.
Good Enough Tractor
Model Year: 2012
Bought this tractor to replace older CNH TC30. Got the unit with 3x4 Shuttle shift, 4x4, FEL, belly mower, backhoe; already had box blade, L.P. 60" pull behind mower, quick hitch rear attachment. Quick comparison to TC30: the Boomer is 2 HP less, but weighs almost 1000# more, so its a little difficult to make a heads up comparison in performance. I will say the TC had noticeably more torque at lower RPM (where I almost always worked it)but the Boomer is smoother above 1600, so I guess that's a trade. The housing castings, front and rear are much heavier than the TC or comparable competitive tractors. The new adjustable life arms are a great improvement over the old turnbuckles except I broke a adjustment link (that replaced the turnbuckle) when backing the pull behind mower (I think CNH buys these from the land of the Mahindra). The electric PTO switch is a heck of a lot easier than the mechanical lever on the TC. Also I like the positioning of the control lever for the FEL. I liked the mechanical hour meter on the TC a lot better than the electric clock on the Boomer. I don't use any more rpm than necessary, and I think the mechanical meter gives a better picture of how much the unit has been worked. Removing or changing implements can eat up a good bit of time on the clock but the engine is only idling to enable hydraulics. repositioning the tractor with the auger takes time but this is "no load" time. but when I get rid of the tractor the hours will be a big factor in what I can get for it. The FEL can lift and carry a full load of wet clay or rock easily, but without a lot of counterweight keep the load as low as possible as the tractor gets light in the rear (the bucket is way out in front so it's quite a lever) Right from the git-go this tractor has leaked hydraulic fluid from the attaching end (not the seal end) of the steering cylinder. The dealer picked up the unit yesterday to fix this problem. The transmission does make some squirrely noises back up under my seat, especially in reverse, but the TC did (to a much lesser extent) and with no problems in 5 years with the TC, I'm not going to worry about it (unit has a 5 year powertrain warranty). One other comment: I bought the tractor in June but the backhoe arrived to the dealer the end of September. CNH was unresponsive to the dealer and myself about delivery. No mention of a delay like this at time of purchase, and therefore I assumed one would be shipped from factory or another dealer, but this did not happen. The project I needed it for most is gone now. The belly mower was also slow but did get to the dealer before the backhoe. I have not gotten either installed yet. If you buy the tractor make sure of the availability/delivery of the attachments from CNH. I would definitely recommend this tractor to anyone needing more than a subcompact but not a high horsepower tractor. It has many features of bigger units and can do about as much work, just not as fast. I think it is, except for the quirks mentioned, well engineered machine. I am a mechanical engineer who also does civil work and some of the serviceability issues are no doubt due to engineering the requisites into a smaller tractor. They can do better, but they have come a long way from the tractor I bought 5 years ago from CNH. I worked the old TC hard, very hard, pulling, pushing, and mowing. In 5 years I had one and only one problem: I bent a lower lift arm. Absolutely no problem of any sort whatsoever with anything else. The TC certainly exceeded my expectations for reliability and workability. I think the reliability of the Boomer is going to be just as good and I am satisfied that it is going to be overall in the long run a better buy than competitive units (I have owned JD and AC before buying my first CNH).
Pros: Strong, heavy castings for the drivetrain, especially for a 3000+ tractor; good visibility from seat; adjustable steering column; good controls positioning; adjustable lift arm links and arms; respectable power to weight; engine is smooth at higher RPMs (PTO speeds); good selection of speeds with 3x4 SS; SS is synchronized.
Cons: With FEL the dipstick is not easily reached and is way too short (for my hands); the oil filter is very difficult to access/remove; there is no shut-off of fuel to the filter when changing same and the line was really too short to "pinch" as the manual suggests...a lot of fuel on the ground is inevitable; the position of the fuel fill is just plain difficult unless you use a pump/hose for fueling; with FEL the tilt-up hood gives very limited access to the engine. to do any real service is going to be difficult; no matter which shoes/boots I wear I have a problem with my foot slipping off to the outside of the clutch pedal.
Model Year: 2012
Bought this tractor to replace older CNH TC30. Got the unit with 3x4 Shuttle shift, 4x4, FEL, belly mower, backhoe; already had box blade, L.P. 60" pull behind mower, quick hitch rear attachment. Quick comparison to TC30: the Boomer is 2 HP less, but weighs almost 1000# more, so its a little difficult to make a heads up comparison in performance. I will say the TC had noticeably more torque at lower RPM (where I almost always worked it)but the Boomer is smoother above 1600, so I guess that's a trade. The housing castings, front and rear are much heavier than the TC or comparable competitive tractors. The new adjustable life arms are a great improvement over the old turnbuckles except I broke a adjustment link (that replaced the turnbuckle) when backing the pull behind mower (I think CNH buys these from the land of the Mahindra). The electric PTO switch is a heck of a lot easier than the mechanical lever on the TC. Also I like the positioning of the control lever for the FEL. I liked the mechanical hour meter on the TC a lot better than the electric clock on the Boomer. I don't use any more rpm than necessary, and I think the mechanical meter gives a better picture of how much the unit has been worked. Removing or changing implements can eat up a good bit of time on the clock but the engine is only idling to enable hydraulics. repositioning the tractor with the auger takes time but this is "no load" time. but when I get rid of the tractor the hours will be a big factor in what I can get for it. The FEL can lift and carry a full load of wet clay or rock easily, but without a lot of counterweight keep the load as low as possible as the tractor gets light in the rear (the bucket is way out in front so it's quite a lever) Right from the git-go this tractor has leaked hydraulic fluid from the attaching end (not the seal end) of the steering cylinder. The dealer picked up the unit yesterday to fix this problem. The transmission does make some squirrely noises back up under my seat, especially in reverse, but the TC did (to a much lesser extent) and with no problems in 5 years with the TC, I'm not going to worry about it (unit has a 5 year powertrain warranty). One other comment: I bought the tractor in June but the backhoe arrived to the dealer the end of September. CNH was unresponsive to the dealer and myself about delivery. No mention of a delay like this at time of purchase, and therefore I assumed one would be shipped from factory or another dealer, but this did not happen. The project I needed it for most is gone now. The belly mower was also slow but did get to the dealer before the backhoe. I have not gotten either installed yet. If you buy the tractor make sure of the availability/delivery of the attachments from CNH. I would definitely recommend this tractor to anyone needing more than a subcompact but not a high horsepower tractor. It has many features of bigger units and can do about as much work, just not as fast. I think it is, except for the quirks mentioned, well engineered machine. I am a mechanical engineer who also does civil work and some of the serviceability issues are no doubt due to engineering the requisites into a smaller tractor. They can do better, but they have come a long way from the tractor I bought 5 years ago from CNH. I worked the old TC hard, very hard, pulling, pushing, and mowing. In 5 years I had one and only one problem: I bent a lower lift arm. Absolutely no problem of any sort whatsoever with anything else. The TC certainly exceeded my expectations for reliability and workability. I think the reliability of the Boomer is going to be just as good and I am satisfied that it is going to be overall in the long run a better buy than competitive units (I have owned JD and AC before buying my first CNH).
Pros: Strong, heavy castings for the drivetrain, especially for a 3000+ tractor; good visibility from seat; adjustable steering column; good controls positioning; adjustable lift arm links and arms; respectable power to weight; engine is smooth at higher RPMs (PTO speeds); good selection of speeds with 3x4 SS; SS is synchronized.
Cons: With FEL the dipstick is not easily reached and is way too short (for my hands); the oil filter is very difficult to access/remove; there is no shut-off of fuel to the filter when changing same and the line was really too short to "pinch" as the manual suggests...a lot of fuel on the ground is inevitable; the position of the fuel fill is just plain difficult unless you use a pump/hose for fueling; with FEL the tilt-up hood gives very limited access to the engine. to do any real service is going to be difficult; no matter which shoes/boots I wear I have a problem with my foot slipping off to the outside of the clutch pedal.
Boomer 30 w/Fel
Model Year: 2011
I stopped by a dealer while traveling (hard to get past new tractors on display). I got an unbelievable promotional price on a Boomer 30 with the New Holland loader. Basically the loader was "free". Now I keep a good eye on tractor pricing, this was a good deal. 4 speed 3 range with a shuttle shift reverser. 4wd, rim guard in the tires, and about all options,except I think the mid PTO. Compared to my trusty JD790 there is no comparison as far as seat and ride and room. Not a power to weight monster like the little JD though- but I believe enough for my needs. I really haven't used it enough yet to get a feel for it.
Pros: Love the telescoping 3 pt arms, heavier front axle set up than the JD, controls well laid out.
Cons: Plastic canopy ($500 option), very thin skinned decking and sheet metal, hydraulic manifold hangs very low on this tractor.Had to immediately bypass the seat kill switch, way too sensitive.
Model Year: 2011
I stopped by a dealer while traveling (hard to get past new tractors on display). I got an unbelievable promotional price on a Boomer 30 with the New Holland loader. Basically the loader was "free". Now I keep a good eye on tractor pricing, this was a good deal. 4 speed 3 range with a shuttle shift reverser. 4wd, rim guard in the tires, and about all options,except I think the mid PTO. Compared to my trusty JD790 there is no comparison as far as seat and ride and room. Not a power to weight monster like the little JD though- but I believe enough for my needs. I really haven't used it enough yet to get a feel for it.
Pros: Love the telescoping 3 pt arms, heavier front axle set up than the JD, controls well laid out.
Cons: Plastic canopy ($500 option), very thin skinned decking and sheet metal, hydraulic manifold hangs very low on this tractor.Had to immediately bypass the seat kill switch, way too sensitive.
Boomer 30, Love It
Model Year: 2011
Almost bought the Mahindra which would have appreciated also. Was surprised I am happy with the gear drive and don't need or want the hydrostatic which based on research was the way I decided to go. The gear is fine. Does have the shuttle shifter which is more friendly than I expected and I saved money as well. Good tractor. Plenty of power, size, weight, etc. And mostly the dealer is excellent. That counts.
Pros: Heavy, reliable, convenient.
Cons: None so far.
Model Year: 2011
Almost bought the Mahindra which would have appreciated also. Was surprised I am happy with the gear drive and don't need or want the hydrostatic which based on research was the way I decided to go. The gear is fine. Does have the shuttle shifter which is more friendly than I expected and I saved money as well. Good tractor. Plenty of power, size, weight, etc. And mostly the dealer is excellent. That counts.
Pros: Heavy, reliable, convenient.
Cons: None so far.
Boomer 30 Review
Model Year: 2011
Since there was no review and I just went through the buying experience I offer these thoughts for the next potential buyer. I will start off by stating I was raised on a farm and worked construction equipment for 20 years. I think operating various tractors, dozers, loaders, graders, etc. qualifies my attempt at reviewing this tractor. I mention this not to be pretentious but, in my feeble attempt, to convey that I’m not distracted by shiny paint, I am familiar with tractors, and working hydraulic attachments. I was looking for a 30 HP tractor (I know the Boomer 30 is rated at 28 HP) to mow, garden, maintain a driveway and landscaping projects at a second home. I have no allegiance to any particular brand and tried to maintain an open mind. I will admit that I did not consider Mahindra because there are no close dealers. I purchased the Boomer 30 based on my comparison of specifications and cost. I wholeheartedly believe the Case/Farmall 31 is the better tractor – hydraulics, lifting capacity, and HP but the Case/Farmall dealers would not or could not move to what I felt was a fair price. Having said that I feel the Boomer 30 is a capable platform. I purchased the tractor with synchronized shuttle shift, R4 tires, and front end loader. The dealer threw in 4 sixty-pound weights for free. He did not include the bracket but I am capable of fabricating one and I did not think it was worth the $300 the dealer wanted. In the short week and a half I was able to work the tractor, I graded and reshaped my ditch line, fixed my driveway, mowed almost 2 acres of yard, piled brush, moved a couple of dirt piles, moved some felled trees onto a trailer in order to get them to a sawmill, and other tasks. Although 15 hours is not a lot, the tractor was exercised during this time. What everyone wants to know – I paid in the low $15s for the tractor and FEL. I don’t know how much money I left on the table, but I felt the deal was fair and the dealer has a good service reputation. I would have preferred to have a slightly used tractor but I live almost 700 miles from where the tractor is located. I ran across a couple of deals but the logistics of working a deal from a distance just wasn’t worth the hassle to me. Impressions – With the FEL attached, checking the engine oil is not as easy as it should be. The dipstick is not brightly colored and is located beside some cables. Compounding the oil checking process is the dipstick handle. It’s too short. I plan on adding some length to mine – and painting the handle a bright color. Visibility is good from the seat. The operator area is as accessible as any other compact tractor. I’m 6’1”, an honest 270 plus, and wear a 13 boot. The tractor comes with one step on the left side of the operator but is low enough that I could enter the seat from the right side. I will honestly say that if I had bought the Case/Farmall I would have reworked the loader handle. When I sat in a comfortable position in the seat my leg would press against the loader handle. Controls are easily reached. I will say the foot throttle is a plastic pedal that I will have to replace; I’m sure, in the future. I found my left foot would slide to the outside of the clutch. Seems to me that the pedal should be turned just a little more toward the operator and the surface would have a more aggressive surface. I have a habit of riding my hand on the gear selector. While working the loader I would attempt to move the selector lever and realized I needed to move my hand to the loader controls. Maybe it’s just me but I’m throwing it out there. The loader controls are a little to the right of the gear selector and in a comfortable location. I will say it beats reaching for the bucket controls especially when working the bucket for long periods. The dash- with the right lighting you can see numerous indicators. What I was disappointed to learn was that most of these indicators are not an option for the Boomer 30. For instance, there is an indicator for 4X4. When the 4X4 is engaged there is no indication on the dash. By contrast the PTO has an indicator light. One would think that an operator would know when the PTO is running but may forget to take the tractor out of 4X4. Other than wanting some of these indicators to function, the dash is easy to read. The brake release – why in the world is this thing located so low? I admit I don’t have a 36 inch waist and things get a little bunched up when I bend over. The brake lever is inside your left leg. After repeated starting and stopping and getting on and off the tractor, it gets a little old to reach down for that lever. Maybe after some more use it will fall down when I push in the brake. Lights- they are adequate. The rear light is an option but I did not choose it. I will add my own later. What I do not like is you can leave the front lights on and not know it. I did it but turned them off before the battery ran down. At least the battery is at the very front under the hood. ROPS- folds and stores easily. Returns to the upright position just as easily. 4X4 engages and disengages easily. You can tell the difference when the 4X4 is engaged. You have to be aggressive to find its limits. I worked the tractor in a low area that remains wet. The tractor would spin when I overloaded it but by reducing the load a little it continued to move whatever I was after. The same goes for the box blade work and loader work. Range selection- you need to be stopped or barely rolling to change ranges. Gear selection- works smooth for a tractor. I did find myself looking for reverse. Forward/reverse selector- after getting reacquainted with a forward/reverse selector, I had no issues. I did not find the shuttle shift cumbersome. There are a couple of tight areas on my place where it would be nice to have had the hydro transmission but if you are undecided give the shuttle a try. Tires- I was a little concerned about the R4 tires but I wasn’t going to use the tractor in a field full time or mow grass so I was sort of stuck with the R4s by default. I did notice that R4s are a little different from one manufacturer to another. The edges on the Boomer tires are not as sharp as others I have seen. I found them to be easy on the grassy areas (unless you turn real sharp and with a little speed or in 4X4). I got the opportunity to do this on both wet and dry grass. The loader- Don’t buy a tractor without one. Most “give” them away with a tractor. Man! What a back saver. How did I get by without it? The mounting and dismounting of the FEL is easy and quick. Just do it on level ground! The loader will pick up a full load of wet ¾ inch gravel mixed with dirt, easily. I did notice the tractor was a little light on the back end with a loaded bucket. I did have a 5 foot finish mower on the back but it needed a little more weight on the back. One drawback on the loader is the lower grease fittings at the tractor mount. You cannot grease them when the loader is mounted and locked. I greased them when dismounted. The problem can be easily rectified. I will use a die grinder to massage the opening. Not a big deal but still a pain. All other grease fittings are easily reached. Fueling- unless you have a means of pumping you will be using a fuel can. The fuel tank is located behind the operator. It is easily accessed but you will be lifting a 5 gallon can at shoulder height. I found that if you run the tank down below half, you can empty a full 5 gallon can into the tank. I mention this only for information. I was pleased to learn that buy doing this I don’t have to worry about overfilling the tank and spilling fuel. Overall, I am pleased with the tractor. If you are the type of person that has to have the bigger horse you may need to step up to a larger tractor or brand. If you are in the process of buying a tractor, consider what you will be doing with the tractor. If you are going to garden, will you need a three bottom plow or will a one bottom meet your needs? Do you need to pull a 10 ft cultivator? If you do then you are looking at the wrong tractor. What are you lifting (on both ends of the tractor)? Do you need auxiliary hydraulic lines at the rear of the tractor? Not trying to be mean. I’m trying to stress that the Boomer 30 IS a tractor but it is a small one. It simply doesn’t generate enough HP to run a 6ft Harley rake or a baler, at least not effectively. Well folks, that’s one guy’s opinion. I gave the tractor a 4 only because it is new. I would like to see another owner with a hundred hours or more post for comparison. I gave the dealer a 5 because he did exactly what he said he would and I got free delivery 45 miles away. I also get a free haul for my first service call and 50 hour service (if I choose to let the dealer do it). I must clarify that I get free hauling not free services. I have a truck and trailer capable of hauling the tractor but I don’t have to. I hope my review helps someone going through the buying process. I have attached a picture for reference.
Pros: Easy to operate.
Cons: Maintenace access with loader attached/no tool box.
Model Year: 2011
Since there was no review and I just went through the buying experience I offer these thoughts for the next potential buyer. I will start off by stating I was raised on a farm and worked construction equipment for 20 years. I think operating various tractors, dozers, loaders, graders, etc. qualifies my attempt at reviewing this tractor. I mention this not to be pretentious but, in my feeble attempt, to convey that I’m not distracted by shiny paint, I am familiar with tractors, and working hydraulic attachments. I was looking for a 30 HP tractor (I know the Boomer 30 is rated at 28 HP) to mow, garden, maintain a driveway and landscaping projects at a second home. I have no allegiance to any particular brand and tried to maintain an open mind. I will admit that I did not consider Mahindra because there are no close dealers. I purchased the Boomer 30 based on my comparison of specifications and cost. I wholeheartedly believe the Case/Farmall 31 is the better tractor – hydraulics, lifting capacity, and HP but the Case/Farmall dealers would not or could not move to what I felt was a fair price. Having said that I feel the Boomer 30 is a capable platform. I purchased the tractor with synchronized shuttle shift, R4 tires, and front end loader. The dealer threw in 4 sixty-pound weights for free. He did not include the bracket but I am capable of fabricating one and I did not think it was worth the $300 the dealer wanted. In the short week and a half I was able to work the tractor, I graded and reshaped my ditch line, fixed my driveway, mowed almost 2 acres of yard, piled brush, moved a couple of dirt piles, moved some felled trees onto a trailer in order to get them to a sawmill, and other tasks. Although 15 hours is not a lot, the tractor was exercised during this time. What everyone wants to know – I paid in the low $15s for the tractor and FEL. I don’t know how much money I left on the table, but I felt the deal was fair and the dealer has a good service reputation. I would have preferred to have a slightly used tractor but I live almost 700 miles from where the tractor is located. I ran across a couple of deals but the logistics of working a deal from a distance just wasn’t worth the hassle to me. Impressions – With the FEL attached, checking the engine oil is not as easy as it should be. The dipstick is not brightly colored and is located beside some cables. Compounding the oil checking process is the dipstick handle. It’s too short. I plan on adding some length to mine – and painting the handle a bright color. Visibility is good from the seat. The operator area is as accessible as any other compact tractor. I’m 6’1”, an honest 270 plus, and wear a 13 boot. The tractor comes with one step on the left side of the operator but is low enough that I could enter the seat from the right side. I will honestly say that if I had bought the Case/Farmall I would have reworked the loader handle. When I sat in a comfortable position in the seat my leg would press against the loader handle. Controls are easily reached. I will say the foot throttle is a plastic pedal that I will have to replace; I’m sure, in the future. I found my left foot would slide to the outside of the clutch. Seems to me that the pedal should be turned just a little more toward the operator and the surface would have a more aggressive surface. I have a habit of riding my hand on the gear selector. While working the loader I would attempt to move the selector lever and realized I needed to move my hand to the loader controls. Maybe it’s just me but I’m throwing it out there. The loader controls are a little to the right of the gear selector and in a comfortable location. I will say it beats reaching for the bucket controls especially when working the bucket for long periods. The dash- with the right lighting you can see numerous indicators. What I was disappointed to learn was that most of these indicators are not an option for the Boomer 30. For instance, there is an indicator for 4X4. When the 4X4 is engaged there is no indication on the dash. By contrast the PTO has an indicator light. One would think that an operator would know when the PTO is running but may forget to take the tractor out of 4X4. Other than wanting some of these indicators to function, the dash is easy to read. The brake release – why in the world is this thing located so low? I admit I don’t have a 36 inch waist and things get a little bunched up when I bend over. The brake lever is inside your left leg. After repeated starting and stopping and getting on and off the tractor, it gets a little old to reach down for that lever. Maybe after some more use it will fall down when I push in the brake. Lights- they are adequate. The rear light is an option but I did not choose it. I will add my own later. What I do not like is you can leave the front lights on and not know it. I did it but turned them off before the battery ran down. At least the battery is at the very front under the hood. ROPS- folds and stores easily. Returns to the upright position just as easily. 4X4 engages and disengages easily. You can tell the difference when the 4X4 is engaged. You have to be aggressive to find its limits. I worked the tractor in a low area that remains wet. The tractor would spin when I overloaded it but by reducing the load a little it continued to move whatever I was after. The same goes for the box blade work and loader work. Range selection- you need to be stopped or barely rolling to change ranges. Gear selection- works smooth for a tractor. I did find myself looking for reverse. Forward/reverse selector- after getting reacquainted with a forward/reverse selector, I had no issues. I did not find the shuttle shift cumbersome. There are a couple of tight areas on my place where it would be nice to have had the hydro transmission but if you are undecided give the shuttle a try. Tires- I was a little concerned about the R4 tires but I wasn’t going to use the tractor in a field full time or mow grass so I was sort of stuck with the R4s by default. I did notice that R4s are a little different from one manufacturer to another. The edges on the Boomer tires are not as sharp as others I have seen. I found them to be easy on the grassy areas (unless you turn real sharp and with a little speed or in 4X4). I got the opportunity to do this on both wet and dry grass. The loader- Don’t buy a tractor without one. Most “give” them away with a tractor. Man! What a back saver. How did I get by without it? The mounting and dismounting of the FEL is easy and quick. Just do it on level ground! The loader will pick up a full load of wet ¾ inch gravel mixed with dirt, easily. I did notice the tractor was a little light on the back end with a loaded bucket. I did have a 5 foot finish mower on the back but it needed a little more weight on the back. One drawback on the loader is the lower grease fittings at the tractor mount. You cannot grease them when the loader is mounted and locked. I greased them when dismounted. The problem can be easily rectified. I will use a die grinder to massage the opening. Not a big deal but still a pain. All other grease fittings are easily reached. Fueling- unless you have a means of pumping you will be using a fuel can. The fuel tank is located behind the operator. It is easily accessed but you will be lifting a 5 gallon can at shoulder height. I found that if you run the tank down below half, you can empty a full 5 gallon can into the tank. I mention this only for information. I was pleased to learn that buy doing this I don’t have to worry about overfilling the tank and spilling fuel. Overall, I am pleased with the tractor. If you are the type of person that has to have the bigger horse you may need to step up to a larger tractor or brand. If you are in the process of buying a tractor, consider what you will be doing with the tractor. If you are going to garden, will you need a three bottom plow or will a one bottom meet your needs? Do you need to pull a 10 ft cultivator? If you do then you are looking at the wrong tractor. What are you lifting (on both ends of the tractor)? Do you need auxiliary hydraulic lines at the rear of the tractor? Not trying to be mean. I’m trying to stress that the Boomer 30 IS a tractor but it is a small one. It simply doesn’t generate enough HP to run a 6ft Harley rake or a baler, at least not effectively. Well folks, that’s one guy’s opinion. I gave the tractor a 4 only because it is new. I would like to see another owner with a hundred hours or more post for comparison. I gave the dealer a 5 because he did exactly what he said he would and I got free delivery 45 miles away. I also get a free haul for my first service call and 50 hour service (if I choose to let the dealer do it). I must clarify that I get free hauling not free services. I have a truck and trailer capable of hauling the tractor but I don’t have to. I hope my review helps someone going through the buying process. I have attached a picture for reference.
Pros: Easy to operate.
Cons: Maintenace access with loader attached/no tool box.