Metal or plastic body?

[cmkh3]

Does anyone have thoughts on;

What is the plus or minus to metal versus plastic body's on tractors?

Best
Chris

 

[k0ua]

Does anyone have thoughts on;

What is the plus or minus to metal versus plastic body's on tractors?

Best
Chris

There was a thread about this a while back, There are two camps, those that believe the plastic is fine, and those that prefer metal..I am in the metal camp, but I have had a tractor with plastic fenders, and it was fine for the time I owned it although some have cracked. My lawn mower (JD) has a plastic hood, and so far so good.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have no problem with fiberglass components but don't like plastic. I had a JD 332 and it had fiberglass hood and rear fenders/body molding (one piece) and it was good. I had a 1992 Oldsmobile that all the body was either fiberglass or aluminum (doors F.G.: hood and trunk, aluminum) Plastic is becoming the norm for automobiles and tractors it seems but they are hard/impossible to repair and most of them are joining into the replace when damaged category rather than enabling any kind of repair. I guess that wouldn't be too bad if the cost was low, but that isn't the case.
I would prefer steel for a tractor as you aren't trying to save weight and it can be pounded back into shape, welded etc.

I also don't understand why a tractor mfg would make axle housing of cast aluminum, again you don't want to save weight, you want heavier. With the prices charged, they could put some good old fashioned cast steel in them.

 

[Cherokee140]

Metal....one of the key reasons I did not buy a JD 1 series machine. I have plastic hoods on some of my other JD lawn mowers and they have cracked....no reason to expect their larger machine would be any different.

Yes I can see the it won't rust, but I don't really care...I take care of it and will fix it if I scratch it.

 

[charleyfarmall]

I prefer metal, but I have had both and have green plastic at the moment and it is absolutely fine.

 

[KennyG]

Metal....one of the key reasons I did not buy a JD 1 series machine. I have plastic hoods on some of my other JD lawn mowers and they have cracked....no reason to expect their larger machine would be any different.

Yes I can see the it won't rust, but I don't really care...I take care of it and will fix it if I scratch it.

That's the two sides of the coin. I like my plastic because I know I would dent and scratch sheet metal and it would never get fixed. It's a tractor after all.

 

[yabb]

Manufacturer's only make plastic parts because it's cheaper than metal and they don't care about quality anymore!!..Just don't plan on keeping your tractor parked outside in the sun too long if it's plastic because it will eventually fade and look like crap!!

 

[Cherokee140]

Manufacturer's only make plastic parts because it's cheaper than metal and they don't care about quality anymore!!..Just don't plan on keeping your tractor parked outside in the sun too long if it's plastic because it will eventually fade and look like crap!!

And get hard and crack. I also have JD plastic and mounting tabs are already busted off.

 

[kcflhrc]

The metal can fade just as quick as the plastic if not taken care of. You cant expect to leave them outside in the elements and the paint not to fade. My neighbor just bought a new left over TYM Cab Tractor, the loader is so faded it looks pink instead of red. This is a tractor that has never been used, just sitting at the dealer. It's cheap paint, not plastic vs metal, that causes the fading.

 

[s219]

Having owned, and currently own, both, I much prefer metal.

When I have gotten damage to my Deere's plastic parts, they crack leaving jagged sharp edges that are downright ugly and dangerous. You have to replace it (or remove permanently) from a safety standpoint, regardless of how you think it looks. The Deere replacement plastic body parts are pricey too, enough to make me pucker up.

In similar situations, metal scratches or dents. You can leave it alone, touchup the paint, bang it out, or replace it. More options, and the damaged part is not a ugly jagged shark-tooth eyesore waiting to hurt someone.

To me, fading/weathering is a secondary issue. I don't think plastic or painted metal are real different in that regard.

 

[gphil12873]

I like metal....just seems more manly and heavy...what a tractor needs.

 

[peterc38]

I like metal....just seems more manly and heavy...what a tractor needs.

Amen to that

Count me firmly in the metal camp.

 

[Cherokee140]

One of the reason the Kubota came home and the JD 1 series stayed at the dealer is the plastic. Just based on the plastic that I have on my JD mower (why would the plastic be different) The hood has cracked and is now held on with duct tape....you have to use extreme care when opening it to change the oil and expect to clean and re tape the stupid thing each time....you don't even want to check the oil in the machine anymore....that stupid plastic hood will just fall off.

And the price for the plastic hood....I bet if it was made out of SR-71 left overs it would not cost more. Forget that.

Plastic has its place...it is NOT on a tractor. And you know it costs John Deere about $3 to make that hood, but they charge $300 for it....screw you.

 

[fieldman12]

I'm a metal man.If a guy takes half way good care of a metal hood it will out last his life time. If you don't believe me just look at how many sixty year old tractors are still going with metal hoods. Then look at machines with 10 year old plastic hoods and see which has better results lasting. The plastic hoods are flimsy and eventually get brittle and crack. I think the fiberglass hoods are not too bad. At least you can repair them.

 

[jaotguy]

two words .... "Heavy Metal"
nuff said .

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Metal. There's only one reason that tractor manufacturers use plastic - to save cost and drive up their profit margins. No thanks.

 

[Cherokee140]

Metal. There's only one reason that tractor manufacturers use plastic - to save cost and drive up their profit margins. No thanks.

That is it...it is not to save weight and get better MPG...heck with tractors we want it to be heavy. It is for one reason and one reason alone COSTS. Everything else anyone tells you is a smoke screen that the marketing people have come up with. I will take some photos of my little JD lawn mower with all but 3 tabs busted off of it to prove it to you...yet the metal hood on my JD 300 is still hard as a rock and strong as it was the day it came out of the factory. Ticks me off a bit.

 

[coobie]

Metal for me also.My 2011 JD X740 has plastic hood and fenders they are fine so far.My 1996 Ingersoll 4020 is all metal,prefer that over plastic

 

[boblibido]

Metal.

Was a deciding factor on my first tractor.

 

[streamin]

definitely metal for all the above reasons