New land... need a tractor!!

[airbiscuit]

How about an update?

How are you getting along with your tractor? I see from your posts, you've had a few problems starting and a few problems stopping. How is everything in between?

 

[docsfarm]

Re: How about an update?

Thanks for the question. I really like the tractor actually.
Stopping- I think the actual reason was not having the rpms up high enough. And perhaps low transmission/hydraulic fluid from a smal leak. Investigation pending.
Starting is strange- investigation pending here. I'm suspicious of fuel line or perhaps a bad seal in the hand pump housing. Otherwise, size, power and handling are really perfect for my farm. If anything, I'd go maybe to a 60hp. But not much larger. Once these annoyances are worked out, I will be quite happy.
Looking now for a nice 7-8' maybe 10' at most brush hog to help trail clearing.

 

[airbiscuit]

Re: How about an update?

You have a steady outlook on things. Isn't it amazing what CUTs will do, how much you can find to do with them, and how much fun it all is?

 

[glorybonilla]

Re: How about an update?

This is really nice...

 

[docsfarm]

I thought I'd come back with the update.
The starting issue was due to bad fuel lines. Apparently Mahindra had some bad lines on tractors for a year or so and mine was affected. The good news is that it appears to be a warranty issue The small hydraulic leak became much bigger and 2 new hoses later, I'm back in business.
I also had the tired filled with rimguard.... This was fantastic. I love the way it handles now!!

 

[94BULLITT]

Thanks for the update. I'm glad they got you all fixed up.

 

[BigBearDBIII]

I have read ALOT of threads & posts but with so many opinions & particular type of land it is hard to get the right info. I need before purchasing a tractor. I recently purchased 18 acres that is basically a mtn. in NE Alabama (in AL it is considered a mtn. to others it might be referred to as a hill). I had the top (50 yds. wide) & the front side dozed with four horizontal terraces cut in about 100 yards apart & now I need a tractor that I can spread seed with as well as bush hog once grass grows & dig the dirt out of the terrace grooves from the rain pushing it down. My question is since the steeper areas are +/-25 degrees I need to know what "tractor" (not interested in the front end mower on steroids) is best for me. I have read posts that describe: 1. the heavier the better, 2. the lower profile the better, 3. 4x4 better than 2x4, 4. liquid filled rear tires, 5. Rear tire axles that allow to move tires in & out & can add spacers, 6. dually rear tires, etc... I have looked at numerous tractors but having problems deciding which would be the safest, less likely to tip, etc... I have found: 1. 2000 year Agco Allis 5650, 4x4 that has a bucket (800 hrs), 4500 lbs., 50 hp, AG tires; 2. 2010 Mahindra 3316 HST 4x4 with a bucket & 16" backhoe attachment, 2,566 lbs., 30 hp, AG tires; 3. as well as numerous 4x4 compact or subcompact that weigh less the the previous two. Therefore, I need to know what are the most important things I need to be focusing on (weight, height, 4x4, whether the rear axles will allow tires to move, rear axles accept dual tires, etc...) I have attached several pics of the land from the bottom looking up to towards the top & vice-versa.

 

[ovrszd]

Pictures are so deceiving. To reflect the steepness of a grade, stand at one end of the opening about halfway up the grade and shoot horizontally across the face. Try to get a tree in the pic and turn the camera until the tree is vertical in the view finder.

25 degrees is pretty steep. I'm in steep timber land a LOT with my tractors. Don't have an angle finder onboard so can't confirm any of my slopes.

My 95hp Utility Kubota M9540 is pretty stable for it's size.

My 47hp Utility Ford 3910 is much more stable with lower center of gravity.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have read ALOT of threads & posts but with so many opinions & particular type of land it is hard to get the right info. I need before purchasing a tractor. I recently purchased 18 acres that is basically a mtn. in NE Alabama (in AL it is considered a mtn. to others it might be referred to as a hill). I had the top (50 yds. wide) & the front side dozed with four horizontal terraces cut in about 100 yards apart & now I need a tractor that I can spread seed with as well as bush hog once grass grows & dig the dirt out of the terrace grooves from the rain pushing it down. My question is since the steeper areas are +/-25 degrees I need to know what "tractor" (not interested in the front end mower on steroids) is best for me. I have read posts that describe: 1. the heavier the better, 2. the lower profile the better, 3. 4x4 better than 2x4, 4. liquid filled rear tires, 5. Rear tire axles that allow to move tires in & out & can add spacers, 6. dually rear tires, etc... I have looked at numerous tractors but having problems deciding which would be the safest, less likely to tip, etc... I have found: 1. 2000 year Agco Allis 5650, 4x4 that has a bucket (800 hrs), 4500 lbs., 50 hp, AG tires; 2. 2010 Mahindra 3316 HST 4x4 with a bucket & 16" backhoe attachment, 2,566 lbs., 30 hp, AG tires; 3. as well as numerous 4x4 compact or subcompact that weigh less the the previous two. Therefore, I need to know what are the most important things I need to be focusing on (weight, height, 4x4, whether the rear axles will allow tires to move, rear axles accept dual tires, etc...) I have attached several pics of the land from the bottom looking up to towards the top & vice-versa.>

I honestly don't see any 25 degree slopes in the photos. Looks pretty much like the hill I mow which I measure as about 12-13 degrees with an inclinometer. That said, my sphincter meter goes off at about 10 degrees on a slope with hard to see holes and bumps. I simply mow up and down which simplifies matters greatly and allows faster and safer speeds.

If I really needed to mow 25 degree slopes, I'd get an articulated tractor rather than a big CUT. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to mow the land in your photos with my Kioti DK40se which is just a bit bigger than the Mahindra you listed and smaller than the Allis.

You do have a lot of rocks! Must be in the northeast if I remember my geography. Those pictures could pass for New Hampshire or Massachusetts given all the rocks.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Perhaps you meant 25%? That's 1 in 4 or about 14deg. MUCH more manageable with a big CUT.

25deg is closer to 1:2. That's a one foot rise for every 2 horizontal feet.

25% still feels pretty steep especially on a tractor...

 

[BigBearDBIII]

Perhaps you meant 25%? That's 1 in 4 or about 14deg. MUCH more manageable with a big CUT.

25deg is closer to 1:2. That's a one foot rise for every 2 horizontal feet.

25% still feels pretty steep especially on a tractor...

Yeah, maybe it's 25% not 25 degrees. My dozer operator told me 2 months ago or so & I know he said 25(something?). Regardless, with all the rocks on the steepest parts I need to know what the most stable option would be. In comparing the older tractors (4K+ lbs., which is what I grew up bush hogging with on flat farm land NOT on steep property) to the majority of 2000 year models & up tractors have 4x4 but only weigh +/-2,000 lbs. & a lot of them have front tires that look to be very small.

 

[BigBearDBIII]

I honestly don't see any 25 degree slopes in the photos. Looks pretty much like the hill I mow which I measure as about 12-13 degrees with an inclinometer. That said, my sphincter meter goes off at about 10 degrees on a slope with hard to see holes and bumps. I simply mow up and down which simplifies matters greatly and allows faster and safer speeds.

If I really needed to mow 25 degree slopes, I'd get an articulated tractor rather than a big CUT. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to mow the land in your photos with my Kioti DK40se which is just a bit bigger than the Mahindra you listed and smaller than the Allis.

You do have a lot of rocks! Must be in the northeast if I remember my geography. Those pictures could pass for New Hampshire or Massachusetts given all the rocks.

Island tractor,
is your Kioti 2x4 or 4x4?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Remember, weight is important for traction but center of gravity is what largely determines rollover point (along with pivot point- why wider is better). So I'm not sure curb weight tells you much.

You can and will add weight down low by ballasting tires, adding wheel weights and buying heavy 3pt equipment.

You will improve pivot point by changing how you operate the machine (when not to side slope/turn/front wheels that can turn/etc) and by widening the wheels (aftermarket spacers or hubs/rims that are adjustable).

Since you are looking at used tractors, I would post some pictures of potential tractors and let some of the more experienced guys on here comments on which has the better COG.

A cabbed 10,000 pound utility tractor with big ag tires (high profile) will have a much higher COG and be easier to roll than a Large 5,000 pound open-station CUT with R4 tires. IMO.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

BTW, pictures can be very deceiving but all of that looks mowable with my setup too.

 

[IslandTractor]

Island tractor, is your Kioti 2x4 or 4x4?

4x4. Other than true agricultural work I cannot think of a reason to have 4x2.

 

[BigBearDBIII]

Here's some pictures: 1. Agco Allis 5650 48hp 4x4 w/loader , 2. Belarus 825 100hp 4x4 loader , 3. Yanmar YM3110 loader 2x4 40hp , 4. 2010 Mahindra 3316 4x4 hydrostatic loader & backhoe attachment , 5. Belarus 250AS 2x4 bushhog , 6. 1996 Massey 253 loader 2x4 , 7. Kubota L3000 4x4 loader 35hp 185hrs , 8. Ford 4000 2x4 loader .

These are some I've found within driving distance that I am considering. But again, I am open to suggestions based on lower COG, wheel width, HP, 4x4, loader, etc... i'm not opposed to looking at newer used tractors but have looked & all I see is subcompact (1,000-2,500 lbs.) and I, knowing nothing about them would think they would be more likely to tip/flip than a heavier tractor but maybe I'm just use to driving an old Ford 4000 that weighs a ton!

What tractor manufacturer & model offers the lowest COG & widest stance in 4x4 that allow for widening the wheels (aftermarket spacers or hubs/rims that are adjustable)?

 

[ovrszd]

I would suggest 4x4 if intending to use an FEL.

I would seriously investigate parts/dealership availability if buying used.

CNH offers one of the most comprehensive parts availability system out there. Great internet support. Easy ordering.

Kubota also offers good support with easy online ordering.

Just understand that whatever brand of tractor you buy is going to require parts eventually.

 

[varmint]

For stability, for a given tractor, nothing beats a wide stance. Many rear wheels are reversible, or if not, spacers could be available. For example, the rears on my L3400 Kubota are not reversible, but with 1.75" spacers, things are greatly improved. That, and keeping any loader weight LOW when traveling.

 

[BigBearDBIII]

I am REALLY needing some assistance as soon as possible because I need to purchase a tractor so, I can get the property ready to seed as soon as possible! What tractor manufacturer & model offers the lowest COG & widest stance in 4x4 that allow for widening the wheels (aftermarket spacers or hubs/rims that are adjustable)? Please refer to my previous posts with pics of the property & pics of the tractors I'm currently looking at. Thanks

 

[IslandTractor]

I am REALLY needing some assistance as soon as possible because I need to purchase a tractor so, I can get the property ready to seed as soon as possible! What tractor manufacturer & model offers the lowest COG & widest stance in 4x4 that allow for widening the wheels (aftermarket spacers or hubs/rims that are adjustable)? Please refer to my previous posts with pics of the property & pics of the tractors I'm currently looking at. Thanks

The reason you haven't gotten many specific replies is that most CUTs of a given size are pretty equivalent with regard to COG and wheel distance. Wheel spacers are probably more easily obtained for JD and Kubota based on volume but you'll find that other brands often use Kubota or JD standards on wheels anyways.

Most of us wouldn't buy a compact utility tractor based on COG as the major determinant. Get a good tractor and set it up with appropriate ballast and maybe spacers. Then do your work up and down the hilly bits instead of across the slope.