All that's left to do is decide which tractor..

[bandit67]

All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

Well, it didn't take a whole lot of effort on my part to talk my wife into "accepting" my idea of buying a new Sub CUT. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif We recently purchased an old house on an acre, and are moving from a new house on 1/4 acre, so all I had was a 20" push mower.

I expected a whole lot more resistance to the tractor idea, especially since I can get a riding mower for $1500 - I figured a machine in the $14-15K range would send her over the edge. I only started working on her a few weeks ago, and then Saturday evening, she made me drive her over to the dealer so we could look through the fence at the machines. Then I get "Well, what are you waiting for?" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

My wife got my 3 year old daughter a pedal tractor with bucket loader and dump trailer at a garage sale this weekend, so I guess she figures now it's my turn.

I'm leaning toward the BX2230 with FEL, MMM, tiller, and possibly a post hole digger (if I can't find a rental to hook up to mine). But the Kubota dealer is also a NH dealer, so I figure I also need to get on the TZ24DA and see what I think of it. Nice thing is that my neighbor has a BX22, so I can use his for backhoe work the few times I'll need it. He's already eyeing my rear attachment wish list, as he's only got a MMM. This should work out quite well.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

First, I do a lot of implement sharing with my neighbor and it works out really well for both of us. A 3rd neighbor now is joining in, and between the 3 of us we pretty much everything we need, but not everything we WANT. I encourage you to work with your neighbor to share implements.

Second there is another thread where someone is considering both the BX and the NH TZ. You might want to look at this and see what has alread been writting about both by people are are familiar with one, the other, or both. . .

Thread asking about the BX versus the TZ

 

[bandit67]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

Yeah, I've already read through that thread. I'm stopping by the dealer later today to take both machines out for a test ride.

I'm leaning toward the Kubota (always wanted a Kubota), but I want to see if I like the NH better to justify spending a little extra on it. What will make the difference for me will be operator comfort, and hood and loader visibility, which the NH supposedly has the advantage in. I used to have a '91 14hp Yanmar 4x4 with the boxy hood and dog-leg FEL, and it didn't bother me, so I don't know if that will be much of an issue for me. Had to get rid of the Yanmar when I made a cross-country move, and if not for that, I'd still have it, as it was a great little machine. So I'm sure either of these 2 more modern machines would be great.

 

[Henro]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

THe one thing I don't like about my BX2200 is that the 3PH is on the small side. I have another tractor so it doesn't matter too much, but still it would be nicer if my smaller tractor could use standard implements easily.

So I would say take a good look at the blue tractor, especially at the 3PH, and in the end buy what feels best to YOU.

I am not sure about the NH mower deck, but I would bet it would do pretty well. THe BX does a pretty good mowing job.

I have a NH dealer less than a mile from my house, but they turned me off so bad I did not even consider blue, when I bought my second tractor (bx). And that was even when my Kubota dealer had another dealership sellng blue!

Those blue tractors sure look pretty good. Give both a good look and follow your gut feeling...

Buying a real tractor will save you money in the long run, buy the way. They last and last and last...

 

[RonR]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

The 3PH size is a consideration for me as well (BX2200). I got a tiller, box blade, and a PHD new with the BX. I was able to turn the pins in and that made them all almost the same width.

Then I put Pat's system on and really found out I needed the pins almost the same width to make Pat's work easily.

Then in a brain faded moment, I bought a used rear blade--guess what, it was a cheap KK and no way to turn the pins in. So now I have to weld on some new brackets to allow it to fits the Pat's.

Since I don't have anyone to share with, it's not a big deal. If sharing was an option, I'd make that one of my decision factors.

Best wishes,
ron

 

[HOGAN]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

BANDIT---BUY THE KUBOTA-- BUT THEN AGAIN I MAY BE PARTIAL!! SHARING IS OK UNTIL SOMETHING GETS BROKE. I LIKE TO HAVE ALL MY OWN TOYS SO I CAN PLAY WHEN I WANT AND AS LONG AS I WANT,BUT I ALSO PLAY ON ALMOST 1500 ACRES---FOR A LIVING. A COUPLE OF GROWERS AND I DO BORROW EQUIPMENT FROM TIME TO TIME BUT I AM ALWAYS WORRIED UNTIL THE EQUIPMENT IS RETURNED. GOOD LUCK /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif <font color="orange"> </font>

 

[bandit67]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

So what exactly is the issue with the 3PH on the Kubota BX series? I keep hearing references to it being small.

Both machines are nice. The only things I really noticed in the time I was at the dealer last night was the NH has better visibility over the hood, and the engine is a little bit quieter. But the NH sucks air into the motor from the front whereas the Kubota sucks it in from the back, which is to cut down on the amount of engine heat blowing on the operator - that's a nice feature.

The NH comes in $850 higher than the BX for the machine, loader and 54" MMM. It's a new machine to the market, and the one I rode on was the first one the dealer's seen so far. They have a lot more experience with the BX's in the last 4 years. Because of the air intake direction, price, and quantity of units the dealer has run through their facility, the Kubota seems like a better choice.

However, I'm not sure I really like the price on either one. See THIS post for what I was quoted.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

The BX series uses a 3pt hitch that doesn't lift as high and the lower links don't spread as wide as a "standard category 1" 3pt hitch. What this means is that some implements simply won't fit. Some implements will fit just fine. Some implements will have to be modified to fit. And then, once you get them hooked up, some won't rotate (blades & rakes come to mind) all the way around because of clearance issues, and some will only have minimal ground clearance. Becuase of these issues, Woods Implements introduced their "estate series" implements. They are scaled down to fit the BX series tractors, but all Woods implements are high priced, (most are worth it) and many dealers don't stock the "estate series" implements which makes them a special order. Also, regardless of brand, the implements tend to run a bit more expensive because they are non-standard.

In reality, none of that is a major issue if you don't use many implements. And most standard implements will fit a BX with a bit of futzing around. Given the competition that the BX has now, I am surprised they don't fix this issue and upgrade their 3pt. Many of us consider it to be a serious weakness with the machine. The NH and the Massey both have far superior 3pt set ups. I don't know about the JD 2210, but I suspect they opted to put a standard Cat 1 hitch on theirs. That sort of makes the BX's 3pt sound a lot like an Edsel to me. It works fine, but not a lot of people really want it.

 

[RonR]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

Bob, not that I need any more projects (I'd like to build a homemade bobcat that looks as good as was recently posted), but I suppose what is to keep us from finding some salvage 3PT arms, modifying them as required, and fitting them to our BX's.

I mean this isn't rocket science, like drilling holes in your ROPS and such. I know you would lower the amount of weight you could lift since it was farther out, but most of our implements aren't near the max anyway. Of course, if you've already whacked off your PTO shaft to fit your BX, now your PTO shafts would be too short.
Am I all wet?

Ron

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

RonR, I am not sure that adding longer arms to the 3pt would be the answer unless they were "doglegged" to bend around your tires too. Longer arms to accomodate a standard spread Cat 1 implement might just end up rubbing both rear tires???

And then there are the issues about shortened PTO shafts.

And then there is the issue of weight transfer that, with a heavy implement, would make your front end lift off the ground.

I think it is do-able, but it is one of those things that you'd have to study and play around with to get just right. At least I think so. I'd say there are better designers and engineers on this site than I am, I sell candy to kids so that doesn't take a lot of brain power and I never claim to be smart enough to figure all this stuff out. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[RonR]

Re: All that\'s left to do is decide which tractor..

Good input Bob!

My biggest shock with the CUT was that you had to turn almost 180* to see the implement, especially my PHD. I was used to having the PHD a LONG ways behind the tractor. This one was so close, I had trouble with perspective on straightness. Guess I'm gettin' old..........

Ron