I expected the head to crack on my Branson because it sit not running in a field. I have the good luck to have a brother who is diesel man He got it started and I drove it around 2 years before head cracked, brother told me to order heads, thermostat, radiator, gaskets, new belts , water pump and fan. He said do it now because if I didn’t these would fail. I ordered and he replaced them. Next hydraulic pump went out, that was nightmare brother helped me take old one off, I put new one on and it blew bolts out, at over 600 I couldn’t afford to buy another, I tapped and died put in steel coils, not helicoils, I put it back on and it has
not had issue, then I couldn’t get hydraulics to work, brother said air inline, I decided to change hydraulic oil and filters, that is when I discovered strainer behind big hydraulic filter, cleaned and changed hydraulic oil for 3rd time, but hydraulics worked. I took loader rods to machine shop had them rebuilt. It was all worthwhile, I now have planar fracture and can’t operate it for awhile, so no gardening this year. I understand what you’re going through, happy tractor time to you!
Oh had to replace back tire by the time it was mounted it was right at $400, had already replaced front tires, and I haven’t had chance to replace seat, but bought new seat.
The little 2910i Branson is worth it.