Any underpowered tractors??
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755inNY
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How much time do you have?
Not for the answer but for doing the job. The tractors out there are well matched to the implements specified. So if you think a 72" mower would be allow to mow your acreage faster than the 60" your tractor is rated for, then you might find the tractor underpowered. If the FEL is rated for 1,000 pounds and you want to lift 1500 at one time, you might find the tractor underpowered. So instead of doing the job in one big bite, you may need to take a few smaller bites. But you still get the job done. That's were the "how much time do you have?" comes in.
Of course at the other end of the balance scale from "how much time do you have?" is "how much money to you have?"
The trick to not being underpowered is to understand what jobs you need to do with the tractor, how much time you have to do those jobs, how much money you are willing to spend and then make your selection accordingly.
I usually run out of traction before I run out of power for most of the things I do. I sure would like a tractor with more horsepower but that is because I want to take bigger bites of the job not because mine is underpowered.
Jeff
Not for the answer but for doing the job. The tractors out there are well matched to the implements specified. So if you think a 72" mower would be allow to mow your acreage faster than the 60" your tractor is rated for, then you might find the tractor underpowered. If the FEL is rated for 1,000 pounds and you want to lift 1500 at one time, you might find the tractor underpowered. So instead of doing the job in one big bite, you may need to take a few smaller bites. But you still get the job done. That's were the "how much time do you have?" comes in.
Of course at the other end of the balance scale from "how much time do you have?" is "how much money to you have?"
The trick to not being underpowered is to understand what jobs you need to do with the tractor, how much time you have to do those jobs, how much money you are willing to spend and then make your selection accordingly.
I usually run out of traction before I run out of power for most of the things I do. I sure would like a tractor with more horsepower but that is because I want to take bigger bites of the job not because mine is underpowered.
Jeff
slowzuki
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Underpowered and undersized are two distinct things.
My lawnmower tractor is underpowered. It needs power to cut grass.
My neighbours tractor is undersized for certain jobs, and it is an ag tractor. It weighs 8000 lb or so and it is still to light to do some stuff.
Like the fellow above says match power to requirments of pto driven implements. Match weight to drawbar loads and loader work.
Loader and 3 point specs could be argued as many have capabilities well above what an average operator should be using.
Everyone likes pushing limits though! Play safe.
My lawnmower tractor is underpowered. It needs power to cut grass.
My neighbours tractor is undersized for certain jobs, and it is an ag tractor. It weighs 8000 lb or so and it is still to light to do some stuff.
Like the fellow above says match power to requirments of pto driven implements. Match weight to drawbar loads and loader work.
Loader and 3 point specs could be argued as many have capabilities well above what an average operator should be using.
Everyone likes pushing limits though! Play safe.
longway5
Silver Member
Like others have said, it depends on what you are trying to do with the tractor. On the other hand, and this is based solely on my experience with the three pieces of equipment at work with loaders, some equipment does feel underpowered.
We have a Kubota BX2200 w/ bar tires, a Kubota L2850 w/ 4wd and bar tires, and a Case 580M with 4wd. We got the BX because of its small size, allowing us to use the loader in tight areas, mostly for snow removal. Since we have it though, we use it quite a bit, whenever we need a loader. Most of the people who use it feel it is underpowered. We've found it is difficult to dig into loam piles that have been sitting for a while. The L2850 has much less difficulty with its larger bucket, and the Case will just about push the pile over if you wanted it to. There are also times when you can load the bucket of the BX2200 full of material, and it isn't able to lift it much past half its total lift. The L2850 has no such problems with the same material and a full bucket, and the seemingly overpowered Case also has no problems.
We do tend to be hard on equipment, and its clear that the BX2200 isn't really the tractor we should be using, as it really isn't designed for what we use it for. But just based on its ability to use a loader, I'd have to say it seems underpowered, or at least not quite matched right.
We have a Kubota BX2200 w/ bar tires, a Kubota L2850 w/ 4wd and bar tires, and a Case 580M with 4wd. We got the BX because of its small size, allowing us to use the loader in tight areas, mostly for snow removal. Since we have it though, we use it quite a bit, whenever we need a loader. Most of the people who use it feel it is underpowered. We've found it is difficult to dig into loam piles that have been sitting for a while. The L2850 has much less difficulty with its larger bucket, and the Case will just about push the pile over if you wanted it to. There are also times when you can load the bucket of the BX2200 full of material, and it isn't able to lift it much past half its total lift. The L2850 has no such problems with the same material and a full bucket, and the seemingly overpowered Case also has no problems.
We do tend to be hard on equipment, and its clear that the BX2200 isn't really the tractor we should be using, as it really isn't designed for what we use it for. But just based on its ability to use a loader, I'd have to say it seems underpowered, or at least not quite matched right.
art
Super Member
Underpowered tractors? I can think of many that have been over ballasted that turned out short of power. Were they underpowered to start,no! There are things that are built to a job and they can do it well but sometimes we make them so in one way they ae great and for other purposes they are less then desirable.
Slamfire
Veteran Member
My Wheel Horse was underpowered when it was given to me. Then I replaced the engine, with a like one that had NOT thrown a rod through the case, and all was well again. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
centex
Gold Member
I have a 48HP JD 4700 and it is underpowered for the 72" FEL that it came with. It bogs down the engine quite easily. It is also not capable of climbing much of any incline in the high speed range without bogging the engine down and for that matter it bogs down in mid-range too on an incline. I consider this tractor to be underpowered but it is also quite small so not a lot can be expected of it. I would not buy another compact tractor unless I did not have much real work to do with it. They are fine for mowing but kind of expensive for that purpose.
Tractors4u
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By chance is your JD 4700 a hydrostatic tractor? I had a JD 855 that was hydrostatic and thought it was awfully weak for use with a loader. I am not trying to start a hydro vs gear war, but everyone that has hydrostatic tractors talks about how great they are and if you are going to do loader work that is the way to go. I reading through the brochures I have, I haven't seen that stated. In particular the brochure I have for the Kubota Grand L 30 series and my JD book for the 4000 Ten series both recommend there shuttle shift tractors for loader work.
jackd
Bronze Member
I had a 4400 that seemed to be matched perfectly, but wanted a little more "pull" (trees out of woods, etc.), so traded for a year old 4600 --which was a real dog...power problems with loader, etc., poor hydraulic performance, etc. and back & forth to the dealer -- so we made a deal on a new 4710. (I kept the same 72", high volume bucket that I used with the 4600). This is a different machine...no power loss (esp. with the power match on /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) on the loader, good performance with any attachment I've used, etc. These were all hydros -- I think my problem was with the individual machine rather than the model.
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AndyMA
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In the New Holland line, many consider the TN55 to be underpowered. The TN65,70 and 75 have lots of power for their weight. The TN55 while good for some chores, was also just discontinued by New Holland in favor of more powerful models. I think in each series of tractors built on the same chassis, you need to be careful and think about your application if you buy the lowest powered model. It may not be suitable for all tasks that the tractor chassis size can handle. I always go for the largest engine in what ever size chassis I'm buying at the time.
Andy
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