Massey 1526????????????

[bill74sweetman]

I am in the market for a small tractor to mainly blow snow (we get atleast 5 or 6 feet of snow in my drive that measures about 250 feet by 25-30 feet wide , blacktop) and mow 2 and a 1/2 acres of lawn that is mostly flat and open except around the edges.

I have settled on a kubota or a massey, mainly because of their proximity and the gut feeling I have about them. ( oh yeah their rep. is really good too!)................a bx 2380 with 2 rear remotes a 54" mmm, FEL and a 60" snowmaxx blower fully hydraulique for 28000 tax-in. Or a Massey Fergusson 1526, 2 rear remotes, a FEL , a 60" Woods rear discharge finish mower and a 60" Eco-nor fully hydralique snow blowerfor 35500 bucks tax-in. Both have a block heater and loaded tires. The John Deere dealer was CRAZY and must think his tractors are made of gold or he is on some serious drugs.........LOL!!! The kioti dealer too but not quite as bad. LS's MSRP was good BUT maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaany hidden costs, atleast here,after all was said and done a mt125 was within 500 bucks of the bx.

My brother has a bx25d and loves it! I CANNOT find an indepth review on the 1526 so tell me is it any good?? Pricing?? Etc.

Thanx Bill

 

[kenmbz]

Welcome to TBN Bill. I hope one of the other Massey owners chimes in to help.
Been very happy and problem free so far, but so has my neighbor with his Kubota.
I use a pusher plow on my 700 feet x 10 foot wide driveway, but that was with about 9" or so. Blower would be nice.

 

[cglaser104]

The 1526 is a relatively new machine as it hasnt been in production as long as a Kubota BX has for continuous years. The 1526 is also larger than the BX series and more evenly equates a B2601 series tractor in terms of size and power.

Platform equality is this;
Kubota BX series = MF GC17xx series
Kubota B series = MF 1526

The 1526 is made by Iseki of Japan and the build quality is absolutely on par with that of a Kubota. The AGCO(MF parent company) and Iseki partnership is over 25 years old and going strong so you'll get support with either brand long term. Iseki does make their own machine but I don't believe they are distributed in north america. You don't see a lot of info on 1526 because most people buy either a GC17xx or a 1700E series tractor from Massey Ferguson. I didn't look at a 1526 myself because I wanted a backhoe (I got a GC1710 which is similar to a BX2380) and they don't have a backhoe available for a 1526.

Given the quality of my Iseki made GC1710 I wouldn't hesitate for a second to get another Iseki made machine like the 1526.

 

[seville009]

when you say 5 or 6 feet of snow, do you mean at one time (such as drifting), or is that a seasonal total?

I had a Kubota B7500 (hst) with a front blower when i first purchased my house; 600’ long driveway and about 50’x40’ parking in front of the garage. We get about 120” on average for the season. It was reliable mechanically and worked fine.

Upgraded to a MF 1545 (hst) when I bought more land and needed something bigger for brush hogging. Used a 3 pt blower with it;FEL on the front. Also was mechanically reliable and moved the snow fine.

My neck/back/body couldn’t handle blowing backwards for hours though. I have a heated skidsteer with a blower; very quick and easy on the body. Still have the MF1545 as a back up though in the winter.

So.....my opinion is the both the Kubota and MF brands are good.

 

[bill74sweetman]

I am sorry I forgot to mention that I know the 1526 is more machine than the bx. I just don't like the gc series, sorry I mean no disrespect.
And yes drifting is a large problem for us here (we live on an open hilltop with farmer's fields on 3 sides and a huge parking lot in front) so yeah 5-6 foot drifts are common. We probably get around 8 feet of just fallen snow per season. A typical storm is a tad less than a foot.

 

[seville009]

with that much snow, i guaranty that, while you’re working your way through one of those drifts, that you will be wishing that you had something a bit bigger and more powerful. You can never go wrong with having too much power (within reason, of course). Don’t know your budget, but maybe see if the larger equipment is something you could afford to do.

 

[cglaser104]

I agree. With snow moving and removal weight and power are your friend and that's the 1526 between the options you laid out.

I would only add that depending on tire options you want turf tires instead industrial for snow. Traction is superior.

 

[seville009]

I agree. With snow moving and removal weight and power are your friend and that's the 1526 between the options you laid out.

I would only add that depending on tire options you want turf tires instead industrial for snow. Traction is superior.

Good point.....I always had tire chains on the rear tires; youæ±*e definitely going to want chains when youæ±*e dealing with deep snow.

 

[Paystar]

Wow, have prices ever gotten crazy now! I'm in Canada too and when I bought my B2620 in 2013 I got it with loader, 60 inch mid mount drive over deck, rear remote, snow blower with hydraulic rotation, bigger alternator, work lights and a 60 inch Land Pride box blade for $25,000.

The BX is a good tractor but I would go either the 1526 or B2601. Both are easier to service and work on than the BX.

I like both Massey and Kubota. Can't go wrong either way. I was actually really wanting a Massey when I bought, but in this size class the Kubota just had more and nicer features than the MF1526. And I like having the individual steering brakes on my Kubota.

Just remember....a good dealer is your best friend. So if you feel better about one more than the other, that's the way I would go.

 

[bill74sweetman]

Yeah I get ya!! My cousin removes snow commercially and 1 of his tools is an Agco 4x4 with 80ish hp on his pto and when he can he uses the side-chute, wow can it really spit out the snow. He can remove the bulk (Not the little jiggy crap) of snow in my drive on a good day in about 10 minutes. On a bad day no more than a half hour. but his small 50 hp tractor is still waaaaaaaaaaaaaay to big for my needs!

in response to seville009`s second post......................................................................oops `my bad!!

 

[Paystar]

Well, did you buy the 1526? We need to see more of them on here.

 

[cglaser104]

Well, did you buy the 1526? We need to see more of them on here.

I agree. Inquiring minds want to know! ...and see tractor ****!

 

[Randy Gann]

I purchased a used 1528 with 400+ hours 2 years ago. Great little tractor. If my memory is good it is a 2005 model. Pull a 5 foot brush hog. Have a 6 ft box scrape that can bog down in 2wd but pulls good in 4wd. I am in North Carolina so have not had chance to move any snow since purchased.

 

[bill74sweetman]

I did not buy yet I'm getting all the info I can before pulling the perverbial trigger!! I am tempted to buy the Massey because I like the bang for your buck you get with the Massey dealer's after-market brands for all the attachments and implements I want. Whatever I decide on I'll post pics !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cool2:

 

[M J S]

I did not buy yet I'm getting all the info I can before pulling the perverbial trigger!! I am tempted to buy the Massey because I like the bang for your buck you get with the Massey dealer's after-market brands for all the attachments and implements I want. Whatever I decide on I'll post pics !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cool2:

Hello Sir; I have a MF 1526, purchased new (May 2019) and have 560 +hrs on it.... home owner....Have FEL and rear blade for snow and a mmm 60" for lawn care....had a MF GC series (2015 new FEL/BH/MMM) great machine, but as time went on I found the tractor wasn't big enough...frame size for my needs..The weight and size makes it a very comfortable driving/ working machine for my needs. The folding ROPS on the 1526 is a poor design (leans forward when up position) and hooks on tree branches pulling then down toward you. Majority of the owners end up removing the ROPS. Take care and enjoy....

 

[mguitas]

i have a 1423 massey, an as you see you can get a wallenstein hoe for my tractor , an 1526 also could get one.

 

[can do]

Sorry I just noticed this thread , I own a 2018 M-F 1526 & it's been a really great tractor& I do not have the mid mount PTO I just use the front loader & a Woods scrapper blade on the rear & the weight helps on the rear also & I do not see a need for a mid PTO & it's optional & I would rather buy another implement for the extra cost of a mid PTO to me the rear PTO is enough There are a few reviews here on TBN & it has highest rating you can get 5 *star & I would still rate mine a 5 star & the 1526 is easy to do your P M's on. The new 2021 is known as a 1526H & comes with quick disconnect for the loader would I buy one again YES!!!! & welcome to TBN ! If you want more info on the 1526H Check out videos on You Tube & a dealer called Vahrenberg/ Implements they have about 4 videos on the 1526 ,Also you can get a backhoe with the 1526 Thru AGCO & it's a partnership with Woods implements, But it will add allot to the cost of the tractor & I believe close to $ 8,000 US If You have not gotten a tractor yet feel free to reply & over all the 1526 is cheaper in price than the other tractors & Iseki has been making implements since 1920 that's where they got there start & AGCO has a great after market supply chain & I can still get parts for my 1959 M-F 50.

 

[can do]

Hello Sir; I have a MF 1526, purchased new (May 2019) and have 560 +hrs on it.... home owner....Have FEL and rear blade for snow and a mmm 60" for lawn care....had a MF GC series (2015 new FEL/BH/MMM) great machine, but as time went on I found the tractor wasn't big enough...frame size for my needs..The weight and size makes it a very comfortable driving/ working machine for my needs. The folding ROPS on the 1526 is a poor design (leans forward when up position) and hooks on tree branches pulling then down toward you. Majority of the owners end up removing the ROPS. Take care and enjoy....

A pole saw will fix the limbs hanging down & is safer than removing the ROPS SAFETY 1st

 

[can do]

I agree. Inquiring minds want to know! ...and see tractor ****!

Here's your tractor ****!

 

[can do]

The M-F 1526 is available with a backhoe thru AGCO partnership with Woods Implements as I did inquired when I bought my M-F 1526 in 2018 ,But I think it's cost prohibiting at a cost of around $8,000 & if you want to wait for the warranty to expire there is a company called Betstco/inplements who manufacture a backhoe for compact tractors & they have there own internal hydraulic pump with a spin on filter that works off the PTO & I've seen similar Iseki tractors same size tractor (Blue) using this same set up without issues & best part about these backhoes is they work off the 3 point & are shaft driven which is included in the price & it's not one of those dangerous PTO pumps that hook directly to the PTO where the lines can get pinched or the pump could come off & they do come with a warranty & a extended one also & the price is around $5,000 . So you owners of of older 1500 series tractors if you need a backhoe they are available.