First-time Buyer Questions!!

NIXON · Feb 19, 2004

Bill what you are saying makes sense . I own a kub. . And i will tell new posters to look at the other offerings so that they can make an informed purchase ( on the KUB Forum ). I won't however Come down to another brands forum and suggest buying orange . That is just not the right thing to do in my mind . It sure won't win you any freinds . And there might come a time when you need an answer to a question and you won't get it . John

KubotaSteve · Feb 19, 2004

I could care less what forum I was on, if someone could reccomend a machine that was what I was looking for. He was asked earlier in the thread if he was set on a color and he stated that he was not but did not know much about the other types of machines. I thought the purpose of this site was to assist people in their tractor machines. I mean how many times does a thread start in one direction and then branch out in 50 other directions. So give me a break and quit whining when another brand tractor is brought up. I was just trying to help the guy with his question.

BillG_in_TX · Feb 19, 2004

Steve,

Not to belabor the point (well, I guess I am) the poster did not express any interest in looking at other brands until you had twice recommended he might do that.

I did not intend to indict anyone in particular, just observing that if someone asks for help in a brand-specific forum, it's generally bad form to suggest that he look elsewhere.

I'm sure I have been guilty of the same "offense", or a similar one - like hijacking this thread. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

rockyridgefarm · Feb 19, 2004

Obviously, I don't speak for anyone but me. I re-read the posts and I don't think kubotasteve (apart from a horrible handle /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif - just kidding!) is out of line. His real point is that even though there are some very similar machines, you might get a better match in another color.

But I tthink what the responses about stay in your own forum are for the powertracuberalles posts. Am I wrong?

NIXON · Feb 19, 2004

Steve , Sorry that you took offense to my post ,or thought I was whining . All the best , John

KubotaSteve · Feb 19, 2004

Maybe my previous post was a little strong. I apologize for that.
I wasn't singling you out directly John, yours was just the last post so I replied to that one. I just think someone who is searching for a machine should have all their options presented. I was never able to have my options presented, due to the Deere dealer not being helpful (just my experience with the Deere dealer in my area), therefore my options were limited.
Bill, I would think you would want to help people get the most bang for the buck as well as the most qualified machine. I'm not a salesman, just trying to merely provide assistance.
Anyway with all of that out of the way, lets get back to help mrwood spend some money on a nice machine.

del · Feb 19, 2004

I also hate to take things on and off, especially if I had
to do it every week to mow.

What I found and I am surprised I didn't realize it before
buying a MMM, is that if you have ANY aversion to grass
particles, a MMM is not the way to go, bent over with your
face near that thing.

The BX I had the MMM for is long gone for other reasons (nice
tractor but too small for my uses). Now I have a rear mount
mower which comes off and on much easier. The MMM have improved
a great deal but the one or two times I wrestled with the
driveline I knew I'd made a mistake, and that was with an
unused mower.

For "nice" mowing I'm happy with my JD GT235, for "not-so-nice"
my JD4210 with the rotary will be fine.

If you have a lot of nice lawn and you have trees nothing
beats one of those front-mower ZTR's for nice cut and fast
task completion. You might have to take a motion sickness
pill though, I've seen guys that have experience on those
doing their lawns spinning around like they are in the "coffe-cups"
at Disneyland.

And usually with a big -eating grin on their faces!

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BillG_in_TX · Feb 19, 2004

( Anyway with all of that out of the way, lets get back to help mrwood spend some money on a nice machine. )

Amen! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bob_In_MN · Feb 19, 2004

MWood,

I had to leave for an appointment so I didn't get to finish my post.

For my property the Rear Mower wouldn't have worked because of the extra length it added to my tractor and how that would affect where I could mow.

While I own 2 other tractors (small riding mowers) they don't get used for mowing lawn. I use my 4010 and the grass trimmer for mowing lawn--that's it.

So--if you have the inclination (and money) to have a CUT and a zero turn mower, I say good for you. Two people I know have gone that route, except they didn't buy a new CUT--they bought older used tractors.

I have to admit at first I was hesitant to start a project when the mower needed to come off if I was close to a lawn cutting day. But once I got the hang of removing the mower, it wasn't a big deal. Now I really enjoy a Saturday when I can grade the driveway in the morning, cut the lawn mid-day, till up the neighbors garden and move some rock that evening. It really justifies my purchase when I can do a ton of work with one machine.

So--find a dealer you're comfortable with and test what he sells. If it's green, I think you'll be happy, but there are other good machines in different colors.

Bob

cowboydoc · Feb 19, 2004

TBN, all of it, should be about sharing knowledge, not reinforcing dogma!!

It has nothing to do with reinforcing dogma. This particular forum is specifically for talking about john deere. If it's general tractor recommendations then it should be in the buying/pricing forum.

yellowsocks93 · Feb 19, 2004

Hi Mwood,

I used to have a 790 with the 60'' deck and it took 3 minutes to remove it! It's real easy. Just pop out the pins to hold the two side deck supports to the tractor, the front harness, and mid pto shaft. That's it!! The 790 would be good for you if you don't mind shifting with a non syncro transmission. It has a very good turning radius but the 4300 I have comes dang close to it and it's a bigger machine. Any JD midmount is going to be easy to remove and involve the same steps I stated above. JD makes the BEST mowers in my opinion. If you get the brush guard on a 4000 series tractor the front mower harness gets in the way so that is a little pain but it still goes on and off fast and easy. A 4115 with 24 hp might be the right fit for you small chassis but good power and HST. If I need a small chassis tractor that's what I would buy. Good luck!

Hypernix · Feb 19, 2004

mwood,

( 2. How well does something in the 4110 range (or 790 for that matter) handle a MMM. Also... how hard are they to get off? I know people have said that their 4310 mows great. But since I'm going to do a lot of brush hogging and FEL work, i'm going to have to take off the MMM every week when I am done. )

The 60" MMM is actually suspended, so normally the wheels should not have to touch the ground. The "ride" on the 4110 with turf tires is just excellent. I find that's is't like going from a small Samurai (Suzuki (garden tractor)) to a big Chevy or Ford (JD4110) pickup! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The ride is just smooth!
Like the others said removing the MMM is a 5 minutes or less job. If you get the 60" MMM, the turf tires and want to remove it, get the FEL also! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I have no idea how I could remove my 60" MMM without jacking up the front of the tractor with the FEL! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif The distance between the rear wheels and the front wheels is just not large enought to let the MMM pass between.

Hyp3rnix

FOURTEEN · Feb 19, 2004

.

"" How would PowerTracians feel if the conventional tractor crowd hounded people who posted in the Power Trac forum about buying a conventional tractor? ""

Hopefully, the PT folks would be mature enough to appreciate a different point of view, and realize that the JD was just being enthusiastic about JD, and wanted to pose another option that might work better for a particular person in a particular situation! But perhaps some PT would be so territorial that he couldn't stand to hear about anything but PT - poor ostrich!! Perhaps ignorance is indeed bliss!!

When I read a newspaper, I skim through it, reading only about the things that I find of interest. I do not demand that the publisher only print items which I will find of interest and reinforce my point of view!!

Knowledge is like yeast - if will expand the world around it, but too much hot air will kill it!

Sorry I tried to help! In the future I will be more careful!! Meanwhile, enjoy the JD sand!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PS: Maybe the inquisitor could be converted with patiently applied knowledge, rather than vitriol!!

.

del · Feb 19, 2004

FOURTEEN.

Please...DON'T be careful about posting in the future. These
threads always get off subject and your post was polite.

I agree with the fellow that says TBN is not about enforcing
dogma. Dogma and other blatant power trip rules belong with
the rest of the dog droppings in the hole I dug with the
backhoe.

Some places besides TBN you see people go off and get nasty
just because they (I guess) are just terminal losers.

Someone may post on the JD forum that their backhoe does such
and such when they are doing this and that. I may post something
that I hope is helpful even though I have a Kubota backhoe and a
Ford backhoe. Sorry my JD doesn't have one, two's more than
I need. I might even mention a brand. It doesn't
suggest mine is better than yours etc.

Yes wouldn't that be WONDERFUL (not) if all the forum were
so tightly regulated that no one could speak of fuel additive
while posting in the NH forum. Most of us try to post in the
"appropriate" forum but think of this as three guys standing
beside a tractor stuck in the mud beside the road talking.

Do you really tell one of the other guys to just zip his mouth until
you ask him about HIS tractor?

Now back to the fellow looking for a tractor, I hope he
takes my advice and spends some hours on the prospective
tractor(s). It really can save you a BIG MISTAKE. There are
so many things that are just so NOT apparent until you are
on the tractor bouncing around on YOUR property doing YOUR
tasks.

Been there / Done that and saved myself some grief.

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keeney · Feb 19, 2004

If you get the 60" MMM, the turf tires and want to remove it, get the FEL also! I have no idea how I could remove my 60" MMM without jacking up the front of the tractor with the FEL! The distance between the rear wheels and the front wheels is just not large enought to let the MMM pass between. 

I have the 4100 with the 60" MMM and I am not sure if the wheelbase is the same as the 4110 or not, but most of the time I put it on and off, I don't have the FEL mounted. The front wheels need to be turned a bit to one side (I forget which way without actually doing it), and there is kind of a learning curve to sliding it out from unde the tractor.

I do agree that you will likely get slightly dirty reaching under the tractor to connect/disconnect the mid PTO.

The biggest pain with the 60" deck is that it is fairly heavy and if you want to move it any significant distance to store it, after it is off the tractor, its much easier with a hard surface to roll it on. If you are just going to dump it where it comes off, then its not sucha a big deal.

I would say that removing the FEL and putting on the MMM is not something the wife would be able to if she had to mow the lawn and the tractor didn't already have the MMM on.

My 4100 with MMM mower does a great job of mowing. Its quick, has a fairly decent cut, and with the HST, manuevering in tight spots is not a problem (just keep an eye out for backing the 3-point arms into something like the garage).

I take off the FEL when mowing as well as the ballast block from the three-point. I leave the rear wheel weights on. No problems with ruts.

keeney · Feb 19, 2004

My opinion on what is appropriate in a branded-buying/pricing forum:

The idea here is that the reader base of the forum will be a bit more knowledgable about that specific brand. So, it makes sense for them to talk from their personal experience about what they like/dislike about the specific brand in question.

Many times, a prospective buyer asks the question in a particular forum to get an answer about a model or brand they are considering that can only come from somebody who has owned that exact brand and model. These answers cannot be obtained from the dealer, literature, web site, etc. Only from an honest opinion by an existing owner. It doesn't mean they are set on that brand, they just want to confirm what they think they know about it.

I think it also makes sense to discuss comparisons with other brands, assuming one side of the comparison is the brand that is the subject of the forum.

It is only polite that if somebody wants to say "raw-raw for my brand" in a forum for another brand that they include at least one smiley and have at least some direct point of comparison to make vs the forum's subject brand/models.

It is polite to limit off-topic discussion so as not to make every forum a free for all.

- Rick

Tractors4u · Feb 19, 2004

( I may post something
that I hope is helpful even though I have a Kubota backhoe and a Ford backhoe. )

I would say it is appropriate in you posting something about how you use your Kubota or Ford backhoe when the question is about backhoes even in the Deere forum. What I don't think is appropriate is a guy asks a question in the John Deere forum about buying a John Deere and someone comes in recommending another brand. That type of recommendation should be reserved for the non brand specific Buying/Pricing Forum. If I saw a question about buying a PowerTrac in the PowerTrac forum I wouldn't butt in and start singing the praises of John Deere. I would naturally assume that this person has asked the question in that particular forum because that is what he/she is interested in, not what I think they should have.

blackwell · Feb 19, 2004

Sorry guys, I meant no harm. I am new at this and don't know all the correct ways to post my thoughts. I grew up on a farm and my dad only used JD. I was just excited about finding this forum and wanted to tell others about finding Power Trac and my experences with them.
I'll but out now. Sorry!!
EB

del · Feb 20, 2004

But he wasn't just posting about another brand, he was
posting about another way of doing things, like suggesting
the fellow look at a skid steer or a little track loader.
(neither of which he needs, just making a point)

If I"m reading the Kubota forum and some guy is asking
whether or not he should get a B2410 or a B2910 to push out
10 acres of 2 foot stumps with, I would suggest renting
a 25,000+ pound Cat track hoe. That doesn't mean I'm knocking
Kubota, just offering a different solution to a problem.

I see a lot of posts about all kinds of things on here
about tractors or implements or doing something and someone
will throw out something COMPLETELY askew of the original
post. Sometimes that causes a light to turn on in someone's
head as they see another option. I know there's been times
when I've read stuff on here and had someone totally reverse
my thinking on a project or topic/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif; or at least make me
question the basis for my own reasons.

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Tractors4u · Feb 20, 2004

( But he wasn't just posting about another brand, he was
posting about another way of doing things, like suggesting
the fellow look at a skid steer or a little track loader.
(neither of which he needs, just making a point)
)

( I sold my JD & NH and now have 5 Power Tracs with over 25 attachments. You can do a lot more for a lot less money. Check it out at www.power-trac.com. I have over 90 acres, 3 yards, a barn and horse barn. Do it all, from fencing to mowing and scooping manure. Best value in a tractor.
)

I don't see any reference to a skid steer or track loader in his original post. In his next post he mentions that he sold his skid steer and dozer. The funny thing is that on the PowerTrac board he mentions his friend that sold his skid steer and dozer. Del I don't have any problem with the exchange of ideas and recommendations but here recently there have been 2 or 3 people that came in touting the PT's and it looked a little suspicious like they were baiting for controversey. They were also new members.