Quality ranking of compact tractor brands

[presnewt]

I am looking at compact tractors in the 50-60 hp range. I have used internet reviews and this forum to narrow down my choices to four manufacturers. I think they are all quality tractors so I probably won't go wrong with any of them. A couple have dealers very close to me and the others are within a couple hours drive. Price is important but quality and reliability are #1 concern. The four I am looking at are below and in the order it seems to me people feel about them quality wise. Please let me know how you would rank them. These would be HST Cab tractors (Yanmar is the hybrid trans).

1- Yanmar
2- Massey Ferguson
3- Kioti
4- TYM

I suspect the first three are pretty close in reliability and maybe the TYM is a rung below them. Thanks.

 

[jeff9366]

Operator prudence is the #1 factor governing tractor reliability.

Prudence in operation. Prudence in maintenance.

Have you operated a tractor in the past?
Are you going to purchase a tractor with sufficient capacity for the applications you foresee?

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.​

After operator prudence, the quality of the tractor distributor's service department is #2.


A couple have dealers very close to me and the others are within a couple hours drive.

If the dealer will transport your tractor two (2) hours for service, figure on a transportation charge of $500 or more for the four (4) transport increments involved, totaling eight (8) hours of driver/mechanc time.

 

[presnewt]

Thanks for the quick reply jeff9366. I grew up on a cattle and chicken farm so I have operated them in the past and currently have a 25 hp subcompact tractor for slope mowing and wet ground mowing. My job list would mainly include pulling bushog for pasture mowing and using a land plane for gravel drive work. I think the 50-60 hp will be sufficient for my needs. Any advice would certainly be appreciated.

 

[jeff9366]

A 50-horsepower tractor weighs around 4,000 pounds bare. It should be ample for your applications on 25 acres of cleared land.

A 60 horsepower tractor weighsaround 4,000 or 5,000+ pounds bare.
A 4,000 pound tractor should be ample for your applications on 25 acres of cleared land.
A 5,000 pound tractor will be heavier built. A 5,000 pound tractor should be ample for your applications on 40 acres of cleared land. The 5,000 pound bare weight tractor will be more stable but slightly less maneuverable.

Tractor Sizing - TRACTOR WEIGHT as ONE (1) CRITERION in TRACTOR SELECTION

TRACTOR WEIGHT as ONE CRITERION in TRACTOR SELECTION This thread has evolved since February 2, 2018 under former title of GUIDE: Shopping/Sizing A Tractor. T-B-N members have contributed 413 replies to this focused thread, commencing its third iteration. I thank them. My opinions developed...

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BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR


Following 4,000 vs 5,000 pounds bare weight.

 

[EddieWalker]

If your ranking is just based on those four tractors, and not any other brands like Kubota and Deere, then I would think that you could be right with your ranking, or you could flip the first two around, and flip the last two around. Yanmar and Massey are both good tractors that I would be happy to own. I have a 2022 Massey 4707, so that's what I chose when I was looking for what I thought was the best tractor out there for my farm. I looked at all four brands listed at a used tractor auction yard and from what I saw, Yanmar and Massey both held up very well for the hours on them. The other two brands did not impress me.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Yeah, surely this won't turn into a troll fest thread.

Lol.

 

[aesanders]

I’d rate your top 2 close and at top. That would be the 2800m series and YT Yanmar. Both tops of the line compacts. Both made in Japan and are about as reliable as can be for feature rich machines.

They both would rate quite abit higher, but also cost quite a bit more than the other two Korean tractor makes.

For Kioti, you have options DX, NS NX, maybe some more. For TYM, you get the 20 series and the Tym 3 series like TYM T574. The TYM will be the value leader by far.

I think all are nice machines, but if money were not a worry, the two Japanese machines would be my choice. Of the Korean tractors, probably get the NS model. That’s a nice machine, but hard to pass the value of the TYM.

 

[presnewt]

I’d rate your top 2 close and at top. That would be the 2800m series and YT Yanmar. Both tops of the line compacts. Both made in Japan and are about as reliable as can be for feature rich machines.

They both would rate quite abit higher, but also cost quite a bit more than the other two Korean tractor makes.

For Kioti, you have options DX, NS NX, maybe some more. For TYM, you get the 20 series and the Tym 3 series like TYM T574. The TYM will be the value leader by far.

I think all are nice machines, but if money were not a worry, the two Japanese machines would be my choice. Of the Korean tractors, probably get the NS model. That’s a nice machine, but hard to pass the value of the TYM.

You read my mind completely. Thanks very much.

 

[WVH1977]

I have driven both Massey and Yanmar premium tractors. Both are excellent machines but I have to say that the Yanmar really impressed me the most. I am eventually going to buy a new tractor and Yanmar is defintely at the top of the list.

I dont know know enought about the other two to give an opinion one way or the other.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Have you ruled out LS? I have a Farmtrac 360 DTC that was built by them that's 18 year's old and has never been back to the shop, and I believe they offer a lot of things standard that many consider add on's $

 

[presnewt]

Have you ruled out LS? I have a Farmtrac 360 DTC that was built by them that's 18 year's old and has never been back to the shop, and I believe they offer a lot of things standard that many consider add on's $

I dont have any LS dealers near me so I dont really know much about them. I do have a case dealer near me and I believe those compact tractors are LS but they are more expensive than the non rebranded LS.

 

[Hay Dude]

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I dont have any LS dealers near me so I dont really know much about them. I do have a case dealer near me and I believe those compact tractors are LS but they are more expensive than the non rebranded LS.

I understand totally, a good dealer or strong dealer network is highly desirable especially if you have problems and when you need parts, good luck in your search.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

TYM won for me because of the fact it has no error codes or limp modes. Just mechanical injection. Many issues I’ve seen are emissions or sensor related

 

[presnewt]

TYM won for me because of the fact it has no error codes or limp modes. Just mechanical injection. Many issues I’ve seen are emissions or sensor related

Is that true for both the TYM models and the "branson" models? also, is it safe to say the tym and branson are of equal quality, and that the tym models have a few more options?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Is that true for both the TYM models and the "branson" models? also, is it safe to say the tym and branson are of equal quality, and that the tym models have a few more options?

Yes, on engines and build quality for the most part. The Branson has some heavier castings, especially in the rear. Same weight, in a smaller package than the TYM.
I personally thought the fit and finish on the Branson was better, but I bought a pre TYM model… so I’m not sure if anything has changed besides some paint colors.
TYM comes with a couple, literally, more standard features. I drove both, he had a 494 on the lot, and I still ordered and waited for the 4820. Others are very happy with their TYMs though

 

[ptsg]

Yes, on engines and build quality for the most part. The Branson has some heavier castings, especially in the rear. Same weight, in a smaller package than the TYM.
I personally thought the fit and finish on the Branson was better, but I bought a pre TYM model… so I’m not sure if anything has changed besides some paint colors.
TYM comes with a couple, literally, more standard features. I drove both, he had a 494 on the lot, and I still ordered and waited for the 4820. Others are very happy with their TYMs though

Agree. Also the Branson come with some minor details that sure makes life easier, little things like a short piece of chain holding the pin on the stabilizer so it doesn't get lost. Stuff like that.

Also makes me wonder, we have yet to see a new TYM model post merger. It'll be interesting to see what they come up with between the two brands.

 

[tradosaurus]

If you are buying new consider the difference in total cost with 0% financing offered by some brands versus, say, 6% interest.
A tractor can be a purchase for a lifetime so I would expand your brands in your search, get seat time in each, and read posts from the brands sections of this forum.

 

[YanmarFever]

Whatever tractor you find that makes you happy, be sure to buy the next size up in HP.
Almost everyone whishes they had more HP after a year of owning their machine...

 

[presnewt]

Whatever tractor you find that makes you happy, be sure to buy the next size up in HP.
Almost everyone whishes they had more HP after a year of owning their machine...

Whatever tractor you find that makes you happy, be sure to buy the next size up in HP.
Almost everyone whishes they had more HP after a year of owning their machine...

Good point, that is one reason I included TYM on my list. Their 55 hp tractors are less expensive than other brands, 50 and 47 hp models.