Is 25hp enough?

[Botajames]

I currently have an old L2650, 29hp, and long story short I’m looking at getting rid of it and buying new. I’m not sure if I should get something else around 30hp again or if I would be okay with 25hp. I use it for mowing, fixing 1000ft of flat driveway with a 5ft box blade, removing snow, and moving firewood/logs. I mow with a 54” flail mower that is rated to min 22pto hp, it can handle light brush, but usually I don’t do more than 8” weeds and grass occasionally. I also have access to a 4ft rotary if needed. Most 25hp have around 19pto, I’m not sure if that will be enough to use my flail for the cutting what I do or my other chores without issues. My options for new (all with loader) in my price range are 30-35hp ish, 25 with backhoe or belly mower and sell the flail, Or just a 25 with loader and use what I have. Backhoe is not needed but could come in handy for cleaning up the edge of my pond, small stump removal, and what ever else. I don’t have space to store a 0-turn and tractor. I’m sure a 25 can do it but should it? How much should wheel size be considered? Thank you.

 

[RalphVa]

25 hp should be fine.

 

[Yander]

I can say for a fact that a 25hp will be enough, the question is, do you feel it would be enough. You are used to a 29hp that weighs #3k lb. If you do go with a 25hp, get at least a #2,500 lb. one, load the tires and make it heavy. You don't describe your property other than a 1,000 food driveway so it is a little hard to know about the backhoe. That long a drive is not easy to plow in the snow, I assume you have snow since you don't mention anything about it and your location isn't apparent.

 

[leonz]

I currently have an old L2650, 29hp, and long story short I’m looking at getting rid of it and buying new. I’m not sure if I should get something else around 30hp again or if I would be okay with 25hp. I use it for mowing, fixing 1000ft of flat driveway with a 5ft box blade, removing snow, and moving firewood/logs. I mow with a 54” flail mower that is rated to min 22pto hp, it can handle light brush, but usually I don’t do more than 8” weeds and grass occasionally. I also have access to a 4ft rotary if needed. Most 25hp have around 19pto, I’m not sure if that will be enough to use my flail for the cutting what I do or my other chores without issues. My options for new (all with loader) in my price range are 30-35hp ish, 25 with backhoe or belly mower and sell the flail, Or just a 25 with loader and use what I have. Backhoe is not needed but could come in handy for cleaning up the edge of my pond, small stump removal, and what ever else. I don’t have space to store a 0-turn and tractor. I’m sure a 25 can do it but should it? How much should wheel size be considered? Thank you.

You should hold on to the L2650 as the new mules have the pollution control crap that you do not want or need.

You should also keep the flail mower as belly mowers are a real pain to own and work on.

Renting instead of buying and owning a backhoe when needed will save you money and the small track drive
backhoes are much more stable than tractor mounted back hoes because they have a lower center of gravity.

 

[sea2summit]

Weight does work not HP. HP just decides how fast you can do the work.

I would say 25 is enough for what you describe depending on the BH. On a B series I think you’d be okay but slow, on a. l I think it would be painfully slow. FWIW when I upgraded to my MX it was mostly because I had a bunch of farmed tree stumps on my new land. Took nearly an hour to dig one out with the BX having to dig down about 3’ before I could break it loose. MX would average 10 stumps an hour digging the same 3’ and pulling them out. All about hydraulic flow rates with BH work.

 

[repete]

I have no issues doing what you are suggesting with my L2550DT with 6300 hours so likely it is now 25 or maybe less HP.
Why are you abandoning the 2650?

 

[jeff9366]

Kubota L2650​

1990 - 1993 L50 Series Compact Utility tractor

Kubota L2650 Weight
2WD :	2,380 lbs 1079 kg
4WD :	2,600 lbs 1179 kg
GST :	2,655 lbs 1204 kg

New tractor prices are extremely high in 2022. All brands.

Stricter Tier IV off-road diesel engine emission reduction standards phased in dealer tractor inventory during 2009 - 2012, impacting tractor prices.

Tier IV emission standards require tractor manufacturers to add or revise pollution reduction technology on new tractors generating over 19 kW power = 25.4794 horsepower.

If you buy over 25.4794 horsepower the tractor will have somewhat complex, Tier IV emission controls which you will pay for. That may be fine.

It is your tractor PTO power applications that should tip this decision. I favor a little more, over de minimIs horsepower.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR​

 

[2manyrocks]

HST eats up some of the available HP so keep that in mind when choosing transmissions.

 

[jeff9366]

How much should wheel size be considered?

If you remain in the Compact Tractor category, wheel size offered by the factories will be proportional to bare tractor weight.

So your real question is, perhaps, ~~~ am I considering a heavy enough tractor?

 

[2manyrocks]

The "moving firewood/logs" caught my attention because it's so easy to underestimate the weight of a log. One of the members here recently posted that he keeps a weight estimator chart handy when using his grapple. It's worthwhile to take a look at the chart and then consider the tractor's capacity to handle the loads that are expected in terms of lift capacity and in terms of the tractor's overall weight itself to handle those loads. Green Log Weight Charts & Calculator | Sherrilltree

 

[Botajames]

All great replies, thank you. My current tractor is great, looking to sell it to finish paying off the ex, then get monthly payments on something else, otherwise I don’t want to get rid of it. I originally got it to clear out land to build my house. I live in CT on a few acres, basically flat, 1/2 acre bass pond, about 1.5 acres “lawn” to mow. For snow, typically there is 8-12” a few times a year, maybe every 8 years 2+feet. So my house is still fairly new and I got lots of outdoor projects I want to do that i think I would actually get to with a BH, but it would also make sense if on a smaller tractor it doesn’t do much.

There weight of the tractor is not something I really considered, let alone how much it affects evening. I would say I move a couple large trees a year, and keep things looking good. I’m decently not a tractor expert, but once I got one I found it to be the best tool I have.

 

[jeff9366]

I live in CT on a few acres, basically flat.

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in residential or hobby farm applications on one to ten flat acres.

 

[2manyrocks]

Given the pricing of new tractors, emissions on those above 25 hp, I'd suggest that you explore some way to keep what you have. Bank loan, extra hours at work, second job, borrow from family. I don't know what other options you have open to you, but overall, wouldn't a new purchase cost you more to have less tractor than you already own?

 

[4570Man]

This doesn’t seem like a good financial strategy unless it’s the absolute last ditch effort. New tractors probably cost 50 percent more than you paid for that one plus they’re underpowered if you get a 25hp one or saddled with emissions crap.

 

[jeff9366]

If your L2650 has 4-WD you should be able to drag ~ 1,700 pounds over flat ground with chains attached to your rear/center drawbar.

You have to be cautious the towed load does not encounter a block, which can upend the tractor on its rear wheels. Pull at a walking pace with patience.

 

[Raul-02]

Is 25hp enough?​

I ordered a 25 HP tractor. The dealer had a 47 HP on the lot So I bought that.
I am So glad I did. the 25 would not have kept up with my demands.

 

[diesel85]

^^ Same here. I know I put my little BX2200 to it's max.

It has never failed me. But I also maintain it very well. I recognize that I need to replace things earlier because of this. But that is to be expected.

I had a chance to operate a L4701HST a few months ago, and I fell in love with it especially for mowing operations.

 

[Golden Rocket]

I currently have an old L2650, 29hp, and long story short I’m looking at getting rid of it and buying new. I’m not sure if I should get something else around 30hp again or if I would be okay with 25hp. I use it for mowing, fixing 1000ft of flat driveway with a 5ft box blade, removing snow, and moving firewood/logs. I mow with a 54” flail mower that is rated to min 22pto hp, it can handle light brush, but usually I don’t do more than 8” weeds and grass occasionally. I also have access to a 4ft rotary if needed. Most 25hp have around 19pto, I’m not sure if that will be enough to use my flail for the cutting what I do or my other chores without issues. My options for new (all with loader) in my price range are 30-35hp ish, 25 with backhoe or belly mower and sell the flail, Or just a 25 with loader and use what I have. Backhoe is not needed but could come in handy for cleaning up the edge of my pond, small stump removal, and what ever else. I don’t have space to store a 0-turn and tractor. I’m sure a 25 can do it but should it? How much should wheel size be considered? Thank you.

I run a 60 inch flail on my T1510 (27 PTO HP, if I recall correctly, and 30 Eng HP - my neighbor has a 1025 (don't remember the specs right off, but definitely smaller than what I am running - the 1025 runs it like a dream, and this is trail grooming trails that were first cut over the last 2 yrs, so some really good hard work!!
But what I can't get over, is why you would be getting rid of a perfectly good tractor that fits the bill for ya, unless there is additional plans you are considering - but that's just me - but in your buy, there is the emission side of things you might want to consider - actually consider avoiding - here there is a 30 Eng HP and lower not having to have emission systems installed - and regardless of what anybody tries to tell ya, you WILL encounter problems with an emission system, REGARDLESS of which style, I do not mean right away, but there are loads of errors known to have occurred well BEFORE the 500hr mark. REGARDLESS of hours on the machine, emission systems will give you problems.
All the best with this project of determining replacement - cheers

 

[nyone]

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in residential or hobby farm applications on one to ten flat acres.

Tractor weight does mean something but so does HP.

I have a little b8200 19hp machine that moves around on flat ground real easily. Then I went to move a load of stone up a steep driveway and I would almost have to shift into low gear. This may not seam like a big deal but moving 10ton of stone 700ft in low gear would easily take 2x as long..or else I would have to shift in/out of low every trip up the hill.

I now have a 40hp machine.

 

[crashz]

My 25Hp machine is great for loader work. It has enough power to spin the loaded tires in low, and enough grunt to move itself and load pretty quickly up scary steep hills (as fast as I care to go).

Where it lacks is PTO power. She bogs down in heavy grass with a five ft rotary brush cutter or six ft finish mower. These are oversized by the numbers, but overall it works. And If I were to upgrade, I'd go all the way and get a much larger cab tractor. The cab is more of priority than other options to me now.

Also note that my property is about 3 acres of fairly flat, mostly grassed areas. Home chores are exceptionally easy with this rig. But I mow small fields as a side business and the tractor gets a real workout on other properties.