5103 Reviews and Advice

[CWP37]

I am really close to pulling the trigger on a 5103 before the end of the year. The 4x20s are awesome, but it's hard for met to justify the jump up in price for as much as I'll be using the tractor. I have read lots of good about the 03s on this board. My questions are:

-Anybody have anything negative to say about the 5103?

-Would anybody change the way they have their 03 set up?

-Would it be worth another year's wait and $8-10 grand to get a 4520?

-Is the collar shift tranny really an issue when it comes to mowing and loader work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ShookFarm]

As a new owner of a 5103 (16.5 hours so far), I have to say. It depends.

My use is for rotary cutting and blade work as well as pulling a 14' trailer. I have no muck or soft soil to contend with (didn't need MFWD). So far, I've been very pleased. Everyone who has driven my tractor likes the way it works, operator station, etc. There is plenty of power and it doesn't dog at all when pulling my trailer up and down our hilly gravel roads with a good load onboard.

If you plan to use a loader, you will hate the collarshift transmission. You can live with it, but you won't do much work very fast. Lots of loader work would make me want a different tranny. I did not buy the 5103 with intentions of a host of loader work so it's not that important to me. (Heck, I didn't even buy the bucket yet!)

5103 = good bang for the buck. But, and that's a big but, you have to buy it knowing what your uses are and will be.

Hope this helps! Happy hunting!

 

[tarscraper]

Initially I was not a big fan of the collar shift at all. I have 30 hrs of seat time now and I have to say I don't mind it at all. I have really learned how to use the foot throttle in combination with the hand throttle to set speed correctly. I can now get the action I need for loader work.

Agreed it isn't the best option for loader work but once you get in the groove its not that bad at all. I actually think it makes you work a little safer by demanding you come to a stop before a direction change.

 

[wolc123]

If you are going to be working much ground with the tractor, the 2wd will use more fuel because a lot of power is wasted pushing a "dead" axle thru tilled or soft ground. If you operate mainly on hard ground and do little tillage then you will be ok with the 2wd provided you dont need a loader. For front loader work, the capability of a 4wd of equal weight and power is almost double that of a 2wd. There are a lot of good older 2wd tractors available and I would suggest one of these over the 5103 as you will be able to sell it for more than you paid for when and if you decide you need a 4wd. Good, used 4wd's are difficult to come by. To me it seems that today there are more good reasons to buy a new 4wd than 2wd. I have only had a 4wd (4120) for about a year and I dont know how I ever got by without one. My soil is mucky and poorly drained and it was always a struggle to get the ground ready for spring planting. The new tractor has many nice features, but the best feature by far is the 4wd. I can litteraly get more spring plowing done in a day than I could in a week with a 2wd of comparable hp.

 

[HillbillyFarmer]

Heavy duty mowing like with an MX6 bush hog?
Loader work?
Let go of a few more thousand and go with a 5205.
I am so very glad I didn't buy a 5103 like I first intended.

BTW: You "pull the trigger" on a Winchester or Ruger. You "turn the key" on a John Deere.

 

[CWP37]

I thought about stepping up to a 5105 for those very reasons, but to get a MFWD 5105 with loader is about $4-5k more than a 5103. That would cut back most of my "optional" but desired implements. I think if I was going to spend that, I'd get a 4120.

In reality, I only have 13 acres to shred 3-5 times per year. I'll need to blade my crushed granite drive (1/4 mile) once or twice a year depending on rain. Then it's the usual land maintenance with the loader.

****, sounds like I need a 4120 or 3720 or 990 or...

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

My brother has a 5103 with a loader and he absolutely loves it. The collar shift is easy to use (He went to a 5103 from a 1952 Farmall M). I have used it and like it as well. I don't particularly like the European fenders and the narrow tires though, but that is only cosmetic. My other brother has a 5105, which I prefer. It has 1 less gear and 4 x 4. You can also see over the fenders and it has larger tires.

 

[CWP37]

It seems like the 5103 is a better "deal" and will be plenty of tractor for my needs. Plus, I can get more implements than I could if I bought a more expensive tractor. I just haven't seen or heard much about the 05 series, good or bad.

 

[brandon07]

I have the 990 MFWD with the 300cx loader and it has the collar shift transmission and you will get used to it. I almost bought the 5103 but my dealer wanted to much for one. The collar shift really doesn't bother me at all and I do quite a bit of loader work.