TYM 494 or Branson 4820

[CloverKnollFarms]

They are quite similar, both share a power plant... my TYM dealers are further away, but seem much more established.

I have not been able to look over either tractor, so build quality is an enigma. Does the TYM have the same plastic hood as the RK?

 

[jyoutz]

I don’t know anything about TYM, but the Bransons that I’ve seen look like pretty solid machines.

 

[TractorTYMe]

TYM would have same hood as the RK indeed.

 

[JonnyRed]

I would base my decision on which dealer I felt would provide the best support. They are both fine machines.

 

[Boss 302]

I have a Branson and it's a great machine, I had a Mahindra 3510 (made by TYM) and it also was a great machine. Like said you can't go wrong with either.

 

[Torvy]

I am looking closely at both of these, most likely no will end up with one of them.

For me, it will come down to price when similarly equipped. If those are close, dealer will come into play. From what I can tell, the TYM has a few more standard features. TYM dealer is closer, but Branson dealer is one of their best.

 

[Boss 302]

Good luck with your decision and have fun.

 

[Cougsfan]

I had an opportunity to compare in actual use my 4720 to a TYM 494 a few years back when my neighbor bought a TYM. We traded tractors for a day just for the heck of it. See this post; TYM T454 cab vs Branson 4720ch
The bottom line is that the TYM is cushier and has more eye appealing features in the show room and did perform better in some respects. But the Branson was heavier, more sturdily built, considerably less complicated and much more "industrial". If you are a light duty user, the TYM might be the ticket. If you really need a tractor, get the Branson.

In the end my neighbor with the TYM traded it in after about a year and a half because of repeated mechanical and electrical problems.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I had an opportunity to compare in actual use my 4720 to a TYM 494 a few years back when my neighbor bought a TYM. We traded tractors for a day just for the heck of it. See this post; TYM T454 cab vs Branson 4720ch
The bottom line is that the TYM is cushier and has more eye appealing features in the show room and did perform better in some respects. But the Branson was heavier, more sturdily built, considerably less complicated and much more "industrial". If you are a light duty user, the TYM might be the ticket. If you really need a tractor, get the Branson.

In the end my neighbor with the TYM traded it in after about a year and a half because of repeated mechanical and electrical problems.

The draw to the Branson really is the lack of ECM engine control... I’m a member or a few brand specific forums, and daily there are posts about tractors being in limp mode, doing regens every 2 hours, etc.
I also hate that the TYM is really an RK tractor with a different motor (the 494 anyhow has the Kukje). Why? Because I drive by an RK regularly and the pink plastic hoods drive me nuts. Now, my tractor will be in an insulated pole barn... still. Maybe one day I’ll find a tractor to test drive... it’s just not that easy nowadays.

What did your neighbor replace it with?

 

[ericm979]

The new 20 series have the ability to run manual regens if needed. One of a number of improvements over the last generation of 20/25 series like mine. But the data recorder now controls more features. Gutting the DPF causes an error light on the dash and unplugging the data recorder disables some dash features. No one's yet figured out how to make everything work with the DPF gutted or removed.

TYM's Kukje engined machines may still be using the non regenable version. Which would not be good if you're in a cold part of the country or will be idling a lot. But if you can operate them so they get hot enough often enough the old non regenable models work fine.

The regen uses a valve in the tailpipe to raise DPF temps. It's pretty obvious, so you should be able to tell when you see the machines in person.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

The new 20 series have the ability to run manual regens if needed. One of a number of improvements over the last generation of 20/25 series like mine. But the data recorder now controls more features. Gutting the DPF causes an error light on the dash and unplugging the data recorder disables some dash features. No one's yet figured out how to make everything work with the DPF gutted or removed.

TYM's Kukje engined machines may still be using the non regenable version. Which would not be good if you're in a cold part of the country or will be idling a lot. But if you can operate them so they get hot enough often enough the old non regenable models work fine.

The regen uses a valve in the tailpipe to raise DPF temps. It's pretty obvious, so you should be able to tell when you see the machines in person.

I understand the manual REGEN on the Branson... I like that the engine computer doesn’t **** the engine down if it doesn’t like what it sees. The LS tractors seem to have a plethora of issues with DPF

 

[JM7500]

I have a 2021 4820R. No close dealers for TYM last spring. I love it. I've got over 100 hours and it has not done a regen. There's a button for it by the joystick. It's a simple, sturdy tractor.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I've got 190h on my TYM T474, and I have yet to need a regen. But I run mine always at 2k+ rpms. And in the winter with the snowblower it sees 2400rpm PTO speed most of the time for about two hours each heat cycle.

 

[Cougsfan]

The draw to the Branson really is the lack of ECM engine control... I’m a member or a few brand specific forums, and daily there are posts about tractors being in limp mode, doing regens every 2 hours, etc.
I also hate that the TYM is really an RK tractor with a different motor (the 494 anyhow has the Kukje). Why? Because I drive by an RK regularly and the pink plastic hoods drive me nuts. Now, my tractor will be in an insulated pole barn... still. Maybe one day I’ll find a tractor to test drive... it’s just not that easy nowadays.

What did your neighbor replace it with?

He replaced it with around a 50 hp John Deere cabbed tractor. Don't remember the exact model number, something like a 4250. It was used. He got it from his original TYM dealer (his long time buddy) who took the TYM back in trade.

 

[Texasmark]

P

They are quite similar, both share a power plant... my TYM dealers are further away, but seem much more established.

I have not been able to look over either tractor, so build quality is an enigma. Does the TYM have the same plastic hood as the RK?

On a plastic hood. I have a JD L110, regular 18 hp riding lawnmower that I retired from years of lawn mowing and made it into my "Gator" errand machine, removing the mower deck and installing all terrain, soft riding (2 ply ATV studded snow) tires....that was at least 15 years ago.

A new V twin engine went in at about 700 hrs with it currently having about 1300. Early in its life, while still used as a mower I got hung up on an old fence post stub and damaged the hydro drive. I took the transaxle apart (my first time into one), found the bad parts, contacted Tough Torque, got the parts and a free "gimmie" cap and so much for that problem.

In the conversion to a Gatorette, I installed a (large, high sided) metal bottom tray out of a freezer on top of the hood (covering the engine) using a couple of stiips of the plumbers roll of flat, punctured, metal tape and some sheet metal self tapping screws, screwed into the plastic hood.

Over the years, I've carried all sorts of items in and on that basket including at times a pair of 6x8x16 Cinder blocks and just yesterday my 12' step ladder.

I have had to reposition the mounting screws over the years but the bonnet is dirty, worn and ugly but at least 85-90% intact from when it was new. From my standpoint, the only reason I would be worried about a plastic hood on my tractor was if it was a hard freeze and for some reason I whacked it. Under that condition it might crack....I don't know.

HTH.

 

[Texasmark]

The draw to the Branson really is the lack of ECM engine control... I’m a member or a few brand specific forums, and daily there are posts about tractors being in limp mode, doing regens every 2 hours, etc.
I also hate that the TYM is really an RK tractor with a different motor (the 494 anyhow has the Kukje). Why? Because I drive by an RK regularly and the pink plastic hoods drive me nuts. Now, my tractor will be in an insulated pole barn... still. Maybe one day I’ll find a tractor to test drive... it’s just not that easy nowadays.

What did your neighbor replace it with?

"Why? Because I drive by an RK regularly and the pink plastic hoods drive me nuts."

Not being a smartass but just adding a comment: Driving down the interstate one day and passing a row of good looking red tractors sitting in front of a trailer dealer's trailers caught my attention....so I caught an exit, turned around and investigated.

It was September and I had been looking at all the local offerings the spring of 2007 wanting to buy a mid sized (for me) cabbed tractor full of whistles and bells, finding nothing that suited me so I had given up on the pursuit. That introduced me to Branson and you can see it in my lineup.....

So, passing things while driving could be a good experience too. But on colors, my red is beautiful. If I would have had a pink tractor my wife would have been the driver/user when she was alive.

 

[Torvy]

"Why? Because I drive by an RK regularly and the pink plastic hoods drive me nuts."

Not being a smartass but just adding a comment: Driving down the interstate one day and passing a row of good looking red tractors sitting in front of a trailer dealer's trailers caught my attention....so I caught an exit, turned around and investigated.

It was September and I had been looking at all the local offerings the spring of 2007 wanting to buy a mid sized (for me) cabbed tractor full of whistles and bells, finding nothing that suited me so I had given up on the pursuit. That introduced me to Branson and you can see it in my lineup.....

So, passing things while driving could be a good experience too. But on colors, my red is beautiful. If I would have had a pink tractor my wife would have been the driver/user when she was alive.

Not many RK tractors in North Texas. Nearest stores are 400+ miles away...and that is from our property. Over 500 from DFW.

 

[hornett22]

Not many RK tractors in North Texas. Nearest stores are 400+ miles away...and that is from our property. Over 500 from DFW.

Does that mean no Rural King stores? If so, you're not missing much. Free popcorn maybe.

I would trade all of our Rural Kings and Tractor Supply stores for one Murdoch's store.

 

[Torvy]

Neither RK nor Murdoch's are in Texas.

 

[jyoutz]

P

On a plastic hood. I have a JD L110, regular 18 hp riding lawnmower that I retired from years of lawn mowing and made it into my "Gator" errand machine, removing the mower deck and installing all terrain, soft riding (2 ply ATV studded snow) tires....that was at least 15 years ago.

A new V twin engine went in at about 700 hrs with it currently having about 1300. Early in its life, while still used as a mower I got hung up on an old fence post stub and damaged the hydro drive. I took the transaxle apart (my first time into one), found the bad parts, contacted Tough Torque, got the parts and a free "gimmie" cap and so much for that problem.

In the conversion to a Gatorette, I installed a (large, high sided) metal bottom tray out of a freezer on top of the hood (covering the engine) using a couple of stiips of the plumbers roll of flat, punctured, metal tape and some sheet metal self tapping screws, screwed into the plastic hood.

Over the years, I've carried all sorts of items in and on that basket including at times a pair of 6x8x16 Cinder blocks and just yesterday my 12' step ladder.

I have had to reposition the mounting screws over the years but the bonnet is dirty, worn and ugly but at least 85-90% intact from when it was new. From my standpoint, the only reason I would be worried about a plastic hood on my tractor was if it was a hard freeze and for some reason I whacked it. Under that condition it might crack....I don't know.

HTH.

Where I live at high elevation, UV light destroys all plastic.