Considering a Satoh Beaver S-370D 4wd purchase

[jase]

Hi, just joined today as this seems to be *the place* for info on tractors. I'm a new homeowner considering a small tractor for general utility use -- dragging smallish logs, moving firewood, loading soil/compost, etc.

I've been conversing with the seller of a 1986 Mitsubishi Satoh Beaver S-370D 4wd. Looks like a really solid little tractor in good condition, but comes with no implements. He's asking $2000 -- fair?

How's the availability of implements for this tractor? Like I said, I'm new to this, so I don't really understand how compatibility of implements across brands / sizes of tractors work. Can anyone point me to a good reference on this topic?

I'm hoping I'd be able to find a bucket loader, and ideally a small backhoe also. What's out there that would work with this tractor?

General comments on this tractor? A good purchase for someone with light needs and no experience? Thanks in advance!

 

[Mundy]

Does it have lift arms for the 3 point and if so what catagory?

Also what direction does the PTO spin?

I have a 370D that has been upgraded to Cat 1 3 point and the PTO spins clockwise. It is a very hard worker and handles a 4' box blade with not problems.

If the PTO spins CCW you will be limited to non PTO implements unless you stumble on one made for these tractors. But for most things around the property short of mowing or post hole digging you will not need the PTO.

$2000 may be a little high without implements but if its in good running order and ready for implements it may be a good buy. They are very very well made and powerful for the size.

I have never been disappointed by mine

 

[BTackett]

I had a MT372 2wd and and a Beaver 370 4wd and really like both of them. There is more than enough power/torque for a 4'box and or blade. I used a single plow and modified a set of the Sears cat 0 disc and it worked fine. The PTO should turn Clockwise on both as mine did and I used Cat I box on both of them. The Beaver lift arms will not spread as wide as my MT372 did so I moved the pins on the inside and they worked fine. Parts are a little pricey compared to my Yanmar 1700 that I have now.

Just my .02

Bill

 

[eightksi]

Price is maybe just a little high. Not much, though. Not sure what the hours are, but the condition looks pretty good, based on the pictures. The tires look very good. Paint and decals indicate it's been pretty well taken care of. Know the hours yet?

To help you with a reference point, I bought a Satoh Buck, S470d last year with a heavy 5' finish mower for $2600. It is a little larger, and has a 3-cylinder 18.5 Diesel motor. Hour meter read 540 hrs., but I can't tell if that is 540, or if it's 1540, since there's no thousand hour meter marker.

I think I'd look at a couple things: the PTO should be the corect spline, clockwise rotation, I believe. If it's the smaller, CCW rotation, implements will be much harder to find. See if anything, ANYTHING needs to be replaced parts-wise. These tractors are made extremely well, but parts are more expensive to buy. You'll have to order them. A backhoe or loader, I think, would be kind of expensive, but I think others may be able to answer that question more specifically than I can..I don't have either of those.

I like the tractor a lot. Plenty of power, steers really nice. Get a nice seat!

 

[jase]

Thanks for the replies. Heard back from the seller that it is a CCW rotation PTO. Bad news, right? Also started checking out what implements would be, and seems like too much hassle/cost to try to find them and make them work. A bucket loader is what I'm most interested in, and seems like I'd be better off just waiting to find a tractor that comes with one...

Plus... my girlfriend wasn't exactly psyched about the idea. Sure, I don't *need* a tractor, but I'd use it if I had it...

No hour meter on it, but the Seller says he's the 3rd owner and knows the other two owners. Probably pretty gently used.

Can anyone point me to a reference on how tractors and implements are matched up. I'm *sort of* starting to understand 3pt hitches (this would be Cat zero, right), but is that all there is to it? Are all Cat zero implements compatible with all Cat zero hitches?

What about front-mounted implements like buckets? Any standards there?

 

[jase]

Seller reports that the 3pt hitch has lift arms, and is a Limited Category 1. That means limited in terms of how high it can lift? Again, sorry, I don't have any experience with how all this stuff works together.

What's the significant difference between a "compact tractor" like this and a standard lawn tractor? Just that lawn tractors generally don't have PTO, 3pt hitches, and hydraulics? Or are there other significant differences that set a "compact tractor" apart from a "lawn tractor"?

Obviously most/all lawn tractors are gasoline while this is a diesel, but does that make a huge functional difference?

 

[alvanko]

jase,
where are you located? I have an MT372D that I am thinking about selling that would do what you want. All standard PTO and 3-point with Woods belly mower.

 

[jase]

Bolton, VT -- a long way from Ohio.

 

[wushaw]

Seller reports that the 3pt hitch has lift arms, and is a Limited Category 1. That means limited in terms of how high it can lift? Again, sorry, I don't have any experience with how all this stuff works together.

What's the significant difference between a "compact tractor" like this and a standard lawn tractor? Just that lawn tractors generally don't have PTO, 3pt hitches, and hydraulics? Or are there other significant differences that set a "compact tractor" apart from a "lawn tractor"?

Obviously most/all lawn tractors are gasoline while this is a diesel, but does that make a huge functional difference?

Besides the 3pt there is the robust differences between a compact tractor and a garden tractor.

Cat 1 hitch is 26" spacing and 7/8" pins, height is not part of it.

A compact tractor can do more than just cut the grass.
I bushhog, till, carry water to trees and move trailers around with my 372.

 

[techwrtr2]

That CCW pto makes it pretty difficult to mount attachments back there. Haven't seen one for sale in years.

Now of somebody near central PA is looking for a CCW Woods mower, I have one to sell. Got lucky when I bought it (didn't realize at the time there was a difference.)