Comparing small tractors (long)

[Shawn T. W.]

I will say I really like my Massey Ferguson! In a tad over 3 years I've worked it VERY HARD! Had a faulty oil pressure switch, and a power steering hose sprung a leak, both covered under warranty!

My Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB is made by Iseki of Japan, in Indonesia ... who is owned by AGCO, who also owns Massey Ferguson ...

One thing about the Green & Orange Tax is your not just paying for a machine ... Will Mahindra or LS, or ITL who is making the Summit tractors sold a farm stores, still be selling parts for a 40+ year old tractor? John Deere and Kubota can still get you parts to keep going

Yeah, I know you said you plan on keeping it 10 years, but will you find a buyer that knows it can still get parts or service? Remember the Montana green tractors ... Who is buying the used ones of those today, if they still work!

If you go with the 1025R ... Check EVERY nut and bolt ... Mark them so you know if they loosen up ...

 

[DonE0929]

Good point about parts and what I like to call rebranded tractors. Yes they come and go. I still own a Satoh tractor ( mitsubishi ) from the early 80s. Parts are still out there but no longer affordable compared to the machines value.
I own a mahindra that is about 10 years old. Parts are still available.... impossible to get verbal ( on the phone ) help but I can order Parts online for the mitsubishi built tractor. I probably will never sell it, but there is a market for it today, although not as strong as the market for orange or green.
I'm thinking at this point I will go with Kubota or Deere ( never thought I'd say Deere ) and like you stated there will be a market for either of them if i take care for them.
In the past ( more than a decade ) I looked at Massey, but as I stated, the size I was looking at at that time I didn't care for it and really didn't care for the dealer/manager. Massey is a good brand and has a huge loyalist base, especially in the farming community. We are not farmers. We do a good size garden every year, I provide our neighbors with a large ( I till it for them ) garden space on our land, and another large garden area on our land that anyone in the general area is welcome to plant and maintain free of charge. The neighborhood spot was not utilized this year, so I made it into another food plot ( only two of those this summer ) which the deer appreciate.

I would like to thank everyone that has participated in this discussion. I will try to update the thread with which machine I buy.

 

[Fred in BC]

Kubota has good dealer support, parts available world wide (helps keep prices in line. You have choices if local prices go up).
That said, Kubota parts have always been very reasonable, compared to Yanmar and Volvo.
I haven't worked on the other brands, and have only worked on Kubota Diesels in boats, but I have found Kubota to be easy to work on, and lots of good instruction online.
Kubota, at least in Canada, brings top dollar when you sell.

 

[Carl_NH]

Make sure the Deere 1025 has the SSQA so you can connect your existing attachments. Typically, they have the JD system, but I know the SSQA is an option.

 

[jeepcoma]

We want the second machine with a loader because my wife spends hours in her garden that is a couple hundred from the house... she loads the tractor bucket and is gone until dark... so no tractor for me to load logs on the sawmill or .... well to do anything.

I guess the whole story is that yes the machine must cut grass, but all the other possibilities are the reason for a tractor and not just a grass cutter. We need the grass cutting, but we want the tractor.... so we are getting the tractor with MMM.

Given this, ... who gets the new tractor?? I'd say that person's input should be most important in terms of ergonomics and preference. If your wife is going to be using it so you can get your tractor back, you want her to be happy. If you wife is taking your tractor and this new one is your replacement, get what you prefer. If you are sharing them equally, then maybe prioritizing similarity of controls is more important, so they both have the same feel in terms of operation, pedals, how equipment hooks, up, etc.

The JDQA system is very nice for the types of equipment a 1025R can run, but it does seem like a con since you already have SSQA. But, you already have the big tractor for all those SSQA implements, so maybe it's not a big deal if you're just going to have a bucket and the load-an-go mower deck ever attached to the JD.

Obligatory plug for the 2025R, it's often overlooked compared to the 1025R but I think it's a better machine (it's more than just bigger tires). They really could have called it the 1525R, as it has more in common with the 1025R than the larger frame 2032R (which is about 50% more tractor weight and HP). Maybe take a look at My 2025R Thread for some inspiration.

 

[airbiscuit]

I will say I really like my Massey Ferguson! In a tad over 3 years I've worked it VERY HARD! Had a faulty oil pressure switch, and a power steering hose sprung a leak, both covered under warranty!

View attachment 3803369

My Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB is made by Iseki of Japan, in Indonesia ... who is owned by AGCO, who also owns Massey Ferguson ...

One thing about the Green & Orange Tax is your not just paying for a machine ... Will Mahindra or LS, or ITL who is making the Summit tractors sold a farm stores, still be selling parts for a 40+ year old tractor? John Deere and Kubota can still get you parts to keep going

Yeah, I know you said you plan on keeping it 10 years, but will you find a buyer that knows it can still get parts or service? Remember the Montana green tractors ... Who is buying the used ones of those today, if they still work!

If you go with the 1025R ... Check EVERY nut and bolt ... Mark them so you know if they loosen up ...

Some of the Massey Fergusons are dorky looking. Yours doesn't seem to be,

 

[anomad]

I must be just up the road from you, I'm in Jackson County NC. If you want to come drive my Kubota B2601 around, mow the field, scrape the driveway and load the scrap metal pile into the trailer... Buddy, do I have a "free" test drive waiting for you! Joking of course, but come on over and kick the tires. Mow a little. I'm game.

I'd go Kubota all day around here. Every man woman and child has one.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Some of the Massey Fergusons are dorky looking. Yours doesn't seem to be,

Yeah, some of the older ones are kinda "retro"! Mines a 2021 version ...

It's been an AWESOME little Swiss Army Knife Tractor!

 

[masseyrider]

Yeah, some of the older ones are kinda "retro"! Mines a 2021 version ...

View attachment 3804240


View attachment 3804241


It's been an AWESOME little Swiss Army Knife Tractor!

Here in Kanuckistan we aren't allowed to order them with gun wracks.
Actually the way it's going pretty soon we won't be allowed to have guns.

 

[Torvy]

Here in Kanuckistan we aren't allowed to order them with gun wracks.
Actually the way it's going pretty soon we won't be allowed to have guns.

Ouch. And you're not even in the part where people agree with you.

You can order a 'tool' rack and use that. I got one for my SxS that will easily work with power tools or varmint eliminators.