Comparison Massey or Kubota

[oth]

G'day all - After 32 years I have just sold my great little MF148 with the intention of buying my first (& last) new tractor.
Having always been a Massey fan I went to my MF dealer first, who recommends a 2605 (4wd) - (made in India)
comes in with loader at $35k, & has Euro hitch, which would allow utilisation of my Landini Ghibli implements.
The only alternative (in my books) appears to be the Kubota MX5100, quote for $33k, or $35.5 with wheel weights,
mounting plate & hay spikes, (thus making the more comparable MF 2635 way over budget),
has more horses & a 6 year dealer warranty, but not the Euro hitch, though I can live with that.
Any experiences you'd like to pass on which might help sway my thinking?

 

[oosik]

Well, as a start, Welcome to TBN from Eastern Washington state. I currently have the bigger brother of the MX5100 and it is a sweet machine. One of the major reasons I went with Kubota, when I bought a new tractor five years ago, was I have dealt with this dealer for over 32 years. I've found that his advice is very good and he does not oversell anything. I looked at, sat on & operated the controls on - JD, Kioti, MF & Kubota. I simply liked the setup on the Kubota best - everything seemed to fit. You would hope the six year dealer warranty would never be needed but you never know.

I don't think you could go wrong choosing the Kubota and you already have years of experience with MF. I would suggest the unit that most closely matches the reasons you are upgrading your tractor. Like you said - you will be using this new tractor for a long time. Good luck

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:Get the Kubota if it fits ya.

 

[TSO]

The MX5100 is NOT in the same class as the Massey 2605. The 2605 is a Utility tractor. The MX5100 is a large framed CUT (compact utility tractor). Some people will try to argue that the MX4700/5100 is a utility tractor, but the size, weight, capabilities, etc ... put it exactly on par with the rest of the large framed CUT's in that series.

Now, regarding the 26xx series from Massey ... I have heard that it is not built to the same standards (quality/reliability) as the Japanese built MF tractors (sub-compacts, and mid-to-large compacts, 15xx - 17xx series), the Japanese built 46xx/56xx tractors, or the AGCO power built larger machines.

I have one of the large framed Japanese compacts (1648) and it is a fantastic tractor. I have over 400 trouble free hours on it. I think Kubota makes a nice tractor, and in certain series, Kubota offers more tech ... but I think the manufacturing quality of the Japanese MF tractors (built by Iseki) is right at the top.

With that said ... if you're looking at the MX5100, a direct comparison from MF would be a 1652/1754 (16xx is tier3, 17xx is tier4). I would go with the 1652 over the MX5100 all day.

 

[oosik]

I will not argue with you TSO, just present the facts.

Kubota MX5100 - - 52 engine Hp, 44 pto Hp, weight(4WD) - 3774 MF2605 - - 38 engine Hp, 32 pto Hp, weight(4WD) - 4530

These numbers come directly from the manufacturers web sites

 

[MAN IN BLACK]

As he said...heavier tractor, heavier frame.
Not the same class of machines...the 2605 is a big frame ag tractor.
Probably more power on the FEL also...even with less hp

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

I priced a 2615 loaded tires , 2 remotes, delivered for $33,000 out the door.
Just to be clear the Kubota is a smaller frame tractor with more hp. Not an apples to apples compare but if that's what your looking at then make sure to compare everything.
I ended up pricing a 4608 Massey for $36,000, 4x4 with loader and 12 speed tranny with hydraulic reverser, but that's in a whole different class again

 

[Thomas]

Have the tractor come to you by this I mean control and body comfort,also know about dealers back ground.

 

[davesl708]

If both tractors meet your requirements then it comes down to fit and feel. Either machine is of good quality.
Another point to consider. Warranty is based on the companies expected life span. The longer the warranty the more the company feels it will not incur repair cost during that time. You have already paid the expected warranty cost in the price you are paying.

 

[TSO]

It should also be pointed out and emphasized ... not only is the 26xx series a larger and non-comparable series to the MX5100, it's also more of an "old-school" farm/utility tractor. It's very basic, with less refinement, creature comforts, features, and a basic transmission.

If both tractors meet your requirements then it comes down to fit and feel. Either machine is of good quality.
Another point to consider. Warranty is based on the companies expected life span. The longer the warranty the more the company feels it will not incur repair cost during that time. You have already paid the expected warranty cost in the price you are paying.

I'm not sure this is accurate. For a long time, the industry standard warranty was 3 years (Kubota, NH, Massey, etc). Then Kioti came out with a 4 year warranty. Then LS began building for NH and the new "Boomer Guard" 5-yr warranty was rolled out, right along with the new kids, LS, TYM, Mahindra, etc ... who were all steppping it up with a 5-yr warranty. Now, Massey also upped their warranty to 5 years. This is a new change for the Tier4 tractors.

I highly doubt it has anything to do with their expected cost of repairs ... it's marketing. It's trying to make your product more appealing by extending the warranty. Stealing marketshare. Simply.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Meanwhile, 73hp Kioti is heavier and more powerful than everything discussed in this except for the Massey MF4608.

http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=8968057

Tractor shopping can be complicated.

 

[oth]

thank you all for your contributions - which have created more questions than answers!
But certainly of great assistance, & arms one with more queries of the dealer(s)

 

[TSO]

thank you all for your contributions - which have created more questions than answers!
But certainly of great assistance, & arms one with more queries of the dealer(s)

What exactly will you be doing with this tractor? How much property will you be working? That might help the community identify which particular tractors would be appropriate for you to be comparing. Also, will you be wanting a front end loader with the tractor? If so, what types of things will you be lifting with it?

 

[biodegraded]

Since the OP is in Australia, perhaps some of the brands are not as available?

 

[TSO]

Since the OP is in Australia, perhaps some of the brands are not as available?

Perhaps, but one thing at a time. Let's find out what his needs are first.

 

[oth]

1100 acres, undulating to a little steep; 250 acres virgin bush, running 450 sheep & 130 Hereford breeders. Main tasks are weed spraying with a 400L Hardie boom / handgun, running a hydraulic wood block splitter, slashing grass, bracken & sifton bush (if you haven't heard of it, be so very thankful), loading fertilizer into a 3 tonne spreader. I also have a Landini Ghibli 4wd 80 HP tractor, with FEL & forks, used for towing the super spreader, ploughing, slashing & loading round hay bales onto the ute for feeding out, so I'm looking for something similar to the 148 to do the jobs that don't need the Landini.
My concerns are reliability (Monday on the Mumbai assembly line), comparing like with like (as pointed out by some respondents), & value for money. Thanks for the suggestion TSO - cheers, Ian

 

[oth]

Quite true Bio - Google loves to point one to the USA, but asking the right question helps (eventually)
The MF 1648 looks good, but until I get to a dealer I'm thinking it will probably exceed my budget.

 

[TSO]

Sounds like you have a nice piece of property.

Couple Q's...

Which tractor dealerships are within your comfort zone for distance?

Regarding the 148 that you had sold, what were you hoping to replace it with, powerwise? Did you want something with more power? More features? Or just something new?

 

[TomSeller]

Of those two, I would recommend the Kubota. I would tend towards Japanese made over India made.

 

[oth]

I feel like I'm being psychoanalysed! - MF dealer is 15 mins away, Kubota 45 mins -
MF has proved (& Kubota seems) competent & reliable, with a country service attitude, so no dramas there.

The 148 was always good, apart from no power steering, & the brakes - apparently normal for the model (dry)
& proved hazardous when pulling 400 L of spray up a hill - brakes would only just hold
if you stamped hard enough to drain all the blood from your right leg. had to jackknife a trailer load of round bales
on a hill when the load was too great for the little girl & she started rolling backward.

Looking to replace with similar HP (& wet brakes) as I don't wish to be underpowered nor overpriced.
Features aren't a consideration unless they make attaching implements easier, so bells & whistles are unnecessary.
Yes, something new as I'm 66 & would like a new one that will see me out without major mechanical problems -
understanding that my reliability is likely to be dropping off faster than the tractor's.