Got to say thanks to all you tractor guys out there for the informative posts. I've read a bunch of them during my decision process and appreciate your honesty.
I bought my first used tractor a couple of years ago, a 1994 John Deere lawn tractor and it took me around 6.5 hours to mow my almost three acres of grass. Still runs though.
Stepped up to a Jinma 200 with a worksaver 60" rear finishing mower (nice mower). Honestly, for $3600 with power steering, turf tires and 3 cyl engine a bargain. Put 100 hours on it and had some problems, but nothing significant. You had just better be good with a wrench. Made rather cheap as all Chinese things are (great example: Chinese tools at WalMart) and everyday I worried about it blowing up - it never did though and always started except when really cold, forget it. Basically, worthless if a major repair needs to be done was my thought. Sold it, guy loves it.
Now after driving myself nuts and test driving everything 30 hp down I decided on an L2800 with Manual trans, turf tires, 4wd and the coveted Kubota Loader. I drove the BX 1500, the BX2230 and the B7510. But honestly just big lawn tractors. I sat on the 2800, fired it up and was blown away. Bigger than I need, but just sooo nice! The shuttle shift is really neat and pnuematic seat will do my hems wonders. I just don't care for the the Hydo setup and really prefer the manual so bought it. The price was not much more than the BX and less than the B7510 with the works on it! $14,000 with loader. Heck, the little 2 cyl BX 1500 is $10000 on sale so my thought was go for it. I will use it with the 60" rear deck, a 48" grader blade and Leinbach 12" Auger which incidentally works terrific unless you hit a rock.
Looked at Mahindra and nice machines, but I had a Mitsubishi Car once and wasn't a good experience. Mits oil rings were a big problem as were the trannys so decided to not purchase another of their products. They are not real good at fixing defects.
Looked at NH but too expensive. Massey and Case are same thing as NH. Thought about a Kioti, but almost as much as the Kubota. They tried the old same tractor, look at the axles, Dongdung,etc. thing. Go figure.
JD 2305 are made out of tupperware, er space age plastic. That is what they told me about my lawn tractor and it all cracked and fell apart. Especially the hood. Every old JD with a plastic space age hood cracked and fell apart. JD won't honor the defects and over $250 for new one. Ask the dealer, they order ton's of them. 790 is a dinosaur. Nothing else in the line I could afford.
The Kubotas are not more expensive if you shop around. Some of the dealers really marke them up, some don't. Lots of difference in price from one to another - really, a bunch.
They have a great reputation and resale is outstanding so all in all, no other choice for me. The Honda of tractors. I can't wait until next week when this baby is delivered.
Thanks again,
Mow Howard
I bought my first used tractor a couple of years ago, a 1994 John Deere lawn tractor and it took me around 6.5 hours to mow my almost three acres of grass. Still runs though.
Stepped up to a Jinma 200 with a worksaver 60" rear finishing mower (nice mower). Honestly, for $3600 with power steering, turf tires and 3 cyl engine a bargain. Put 100 hours on it and had some problems, but nothing significant. You had just better be good with a wrench. Made rather cheap as all Chinese things are (great example: Chinese tools at WalMart) and everyday I worried about it blowing up - it never did though and always started except when really cold, forget it. Basically, worthless if a major repair needs to be done was my thought. Sold it, guy loves it.
Now after driving myself nuts and test driving everything 30 hp down I decided on an L2800 with Manual trans, turf tires, 4wd and the coveted Kubota Loader. I drove the BX 1500, the BX2230 and the B7510. But honestly just big lawn tractors. I sat on the 2800, fired it up and was blown away. Bigger than I need, but just sooo nice! The shuttle shift is really neat and pnuematic seat will do my hems wonders. I just don't care for the the Hydo setup and really prefer the manual so bought it. The price was not much more than the BX and less than the B7510 with the works on it! $14,000 with loader. Heck, the little 2 cyl BX 1500 is $10000 on sale so my thought was go for it. I will use it with the 60" rear deck, a 48" grader blade and Leinbach 12" Auger which incidentally works terrific unless you hit a rock.
Looked at Mahindra and nice machines, but I had a Mitsubishi Car once and wasn't a good experience. Mits oil rings were a big problem as were the trannys so decided to not purchase another of their products. They are not real good at fixing defects.
Looked at NH but too expensive. Massey and Case are same thing as NH. Thought about a Kioti, but almost as much as the Kubota. They tried the old same tractor, look at the axles, Dongdung,etc. thing. Go figure.
JD 2305 are made out of tupperware, er space age plastic. That is what they told me about my lawn tractor and it all cracked and fell apart. Especially the hood. Every old JD with a plastic space age hood cracked and fell apart. JD won't honor the defects and over $250 for new one. Ask the dealer, they order ton's of them. 790 is a dinosaur. Nothing else in the line I could afford.
The Kubotas are not more expensive if you shop around. Some of the dealers really marke them up, some don't. Lots of difference in price from one to another - really, a bunch.
They have a great reputation and resale is outstanding so all in all, no other choice for me. The Honda of tractors. I can't wait until next week when this baby is delivered.
Thanks again,
Mow Howard
