Hobby Farm Options

zcollins · May 25, 2006

Just bought the Massey 1533 sync shuttle w 1525 fel for 15,535. Dealer will be delivering tomorrow.
Can hardly wait! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

zcollins · May 25, 2006

Just bought the Massey 1533 sync shuttle w 1525 fel for 15,535. Dealer will be delivering tomorrow.
Can hardly wait! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BungeeII · May 25, 2006

Holy cow, Z, that's an awesome price. Man alive, if I could land the same deal here I wouldn't give it a second thought.

The heft of the 3 point hookup on those Grand L's is pretty impressive. The lower arms of the Massey is just hanging from an ear in the casting of the axle housings. The Kubota is anchored in there a bit more solid. (Neither compare to the Ford 800 I have.) Perhaps I'm focusing on something that I shouldn't, but it's something that came up in conversation with the FIL. I believe his brother (ag repair tech) has commented to him about those things breaking. For all I know, that could be on a 1970 something or other tractor, though. My 320' trench dug 5' deep into clay is done now, and the frustration of a tractor stalling every 15 minutes has worn out. So, now that the heat is off, I'll slip into my ever-familiar mode of analysis paralysis and hope a good deal will come along to get me off of the pot.

BungeeII · May 25, 2006

Holy cow, Z, that's an awesome price. Man alive, if I could land the same deal here I wouldn't give it a second thought.

The heft of the 3 point hookup on those Grand L's is pretty impressive. The lower arms of the Massey is just hanging from an ear in the casting of the axle housings. The Kubota is anchored in there a bit more solid. (Neither compare to the Ford 800 I have.) Perhaps I'm focusing on something that I shouldn't, but it's something that came up in conversation with the FIL. I believe his brother (ag repair tech) has commented to him about those things breaking. For all I know, that could be on a 1970 something or other tractor, though. My 320' trench dug 5' deep into clay is done now, and the frustration of a tractor stalling every 15 minutes has worn out. So, now that the heat is off, I'll slip into my ever-familiar mode of analysis paralysis and hope a good deal will come along to get me off of the pot.

LeadPoison · May 26, 2006

Whatever you do... get telescopic arms for the 3PH!!!

A big plus in my book!!!

LeadPoison · May 26, 2006

Whatever you do... get telescopic arms for the 3PH!!!

A big plus in my book!!!

SCDolphin · May 26, 2006

Have you a Cat dealer in the area. I just looked at the series that is same as the MF, probably built at the same factory but in my town the MF dealer is a real hay seed operation where as the Challenger series by Catepillar is a multimillion dollar business. The Challenger 3 point has that same rinky-dink 3 point as the MF but it has more lift than the Kubota 4630. The Cat salesperson was really great to talk with.
I started out like you looking at the 3130 but gradually creeped to the 4330 and higher because of 853 loader. I have looked at everything on the planet including Kubota, Kioti, JD, NH and now Challenger by Cat. I still think the Kubota is like a Toyota as far as fit and finish.
Unfortunately I still can't make up my mind. I even have the wife's blessing!!!

SCDolphin · May 26, 2006

Have you a Cat dealer in the area. I just looked at the series that is same as the MF, probably built at the same factory but in my town the MF dealer is a real hay seed operation where as the Challenger series by Catepillar is a multimillion dollar business. The Challenger 3 point has that same rinky-dink 3 point as the MF but it has more lift than the Kubota 4630. The Cat salesperson was really great to talk with.
I started out like you looking at the 3130 but gradually creeped to the 4330 and higher because of 853 loader. I have looked at everything on the planet including Kubota, Kioti, JD, NH and now Challenger by Cat. I still think the Kubota is like a Toyota as far as fit and finish.
Unfortunately I still can't make up my mind. I even have the wife's blessing!!!

BungeeII · May 26, 2006

That's funny.

The owner of the local Massey dealer was just at the local vocational school a couple of weeks ago. He was there to donate and help auction off various items that the school would use for their barn project this summer.

After being introduced, the first thing he said was "I am convinced that women buy tractors!" He went on to talk about how guys come in and look things over, but eventually they end up at home with their wives encouraging them to buy it. He said if he sees a guy come in with his wife, he knows he has a sale. It was all tounge-in-cheek, but it's obvious there's a lot of truth to it.

BungeeII · May 26, 2006

That's funny.

The owner of the local Massey dealer was just at the local vocational school a couple of weeks ago. He was there to donate and help auction off various items that the school would use for their barn project this summer.

After being introduced, the first thing he said was "I am convinced that women buy tractors!" He went on to talk about how guys come in and look things over, but eventually they end up at home with their wives encouraging them to buy it. He said if he sees a guy come in with his wife, he knows he has a sale. It was all tounge-in-cheek, but it's obvious there's a lot of truth to it.

fish_wisperer · May 26, 2006

do you have a mahindra dealer in your area? they are worth looking at, especially if your going with a bigger one. i ended up with one cause they were as good as any but lower priced.

fish_wisperer · May 26, 2006

do you have a mahindra dealer in your area? they are worth looking at, especially if your going with a bigger one. i ended up with one cause they were as good as any but lower priced.

BungeeII · May 26, 2006

No, sir. No Cat, no Mahindra, no nothing. There used to be a Kioti dealer, but they've gotten out of the tractor biz and focus on lawn care stuff. (They might even be out of business as I think about it.)

Inside of a 35 minute drive window I can visit;

3 NH dealers
3 Kubota dealers
1 Cub Cadet dealer
4+ John Deere dealers
1 Massey dealer

That's just off the top of my head. There are more dealers for various tractors as you head toward Saginaw / Bay City, but service is too big of an issue for me to want to drive 90+ minutes for a dealer.

BungeeII · May 26, 2006

No, sir. No Cat, no Mahindra, no nothing. There used to be a Kioti dealer, but they've gotten out of the tractor biz and focus on lawn care stuff. (They might even be out of business as I think about it.)

Inside of a 35 minute drive window I can visit;

3 NH dealers
3 Kubota dealers
1 Cub Cadet dealer
4+ John Deere dealers
1 Massey dealer

That's just off the top of my head. There are more dealers for various tractors as you head toward Saginaw / Bay City, but service is too big of an issue for me to want to drive 90+ minutes for a dealer.

hockeyhead · May 26, 2006

BungeeII, your in Michigan, you won't get anywhere that price. Don't ask me why??
Buy out of state, save a couple grand.
pay the taxes.

in 2003 I bought a TC-30, 7308fel out of state ,$2500 cheaper than I could in state. and the local dealers knew I was doing it and wouldn't even attempt to come close.

good luck

hockeyhead · May 26, 2006

BungeeII, your in Michigan, you won't get anywhere that price. Don't ask me why??
Buy out of state, save a couple grand.
pay the taxes.

in 2003 I bought a TC-30, 7308fel out of state ,$2500 cheaper than I could in state. and the local dealers knew I was doing it and wouldn't even attempt to come close.

good luck

BungeeII · May 27, 2006

SCDolphin, I have been trying to find info on a Cat tractor and have not. Thats because Challenger is an Agco tractor brand name. Your Cat dealer is obviously a Challenger dealer as well. There are numerous Challenger items that wear a Cat logo on them, though. The M265B is the same as the ST34A is the same as the 1533. The M265B is the hands down winner in appearance. Assuming all things are equal, I would go with it if there was a local dealer. I did do a bit more searching..... Add an Agco and 1 more NH dealer to the count. The Agco is the closest thing to an off-brand we have around here.

BungeeII · May 27, 2006

SCDolphin, I have been trying to find info on a Cat tractor and have not. Thats because Challenger is an Agco tractor brand name. Your Cat dealer is obviously a Challenger dealer as well. There are numerous Challenger items that wear a Cat logo on them, though. The M265B is the same as the ST34A is the same as the 1533. The M265B is the hands down winner in appearance. Assuming all things are equal, I would go with it if there was a local dealer. I did do a bit more searching..... Add an Agco and 1 more NH dealer to the count. The Agco is the closest thing to an off-brand we have around here.

slaveToHorses · May 28, 2006

FYI: you can order telescopic 3pt drag links (lower arms) for any of the JD 3x20 or 4x20 tractors. I have them on my 3720.

4x4 is a gotta have

don't discount the beauty of hydrostatic without trying it out! For loader work it is absolutely wonderful. The JD E-Hydro is amazing. Seems to be very reliable also.

I totally agree with the comment about choosing the service department first, then the brand.

slaveToHorses · May 28, 2006

FYI: you can order telescopic 3pt drag links (lower arms) for any of the JD 3x20 or 4x20 tractors. I have them on my 3720.

4x4 is a gotta have

don't discount the beauty of hydrostatic without trying it out! For loader work it is absolutely wonderful. The JD E-Hydro is amazing. Seems to be very reliable also.

I totally agree with the comment about choosing the service department first, then the brand.