Need advice - 15-20HP

[dodge man]

I’ve got a plastic hood on my JD, it holds up fine and looks new. I had a Kubota BX when they had plastic hoods. The paint was faded but it held up fine, the plastic surrounding the engine not so good. The newer ones are metal.

 

[etpm]

Whatever you get I would suggest you get a tractor with a Front End Loader, an FEL. Even though you may think you won't use one much it has been my experience that the FEL gets used a lot. They are remarkable labor saving devices. Not just for moving dirt. Moving rocks, moving trees or bushes in pots that need planting, moving brush, moving tree limbs from blow downs, moving garbage cans down to the end of a long driveway, all things that the FEL is really useful for. If it's heavy or bulky the FEL generally comes into play. I use the FEL on my Yanmar YM2310 way more than I thought I would.
Eric

 

[3inthedirt]

Not to mention the price of loaders has gone crazy over the last 5 years. Holding off is probably not a good idea.

It is clear that a new machine will not meet my budget. May need to re-evaluate.

So back to the old machine approach. I know it matters on how it was maintained and used. That being said, is there a threshold in hours I should try to stay under?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Depending on prior maintenance ... My current Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB I bought new in 2022 has over 730 hours and running strong, this summer I bought a Kubota L5030 HSTC which was owned by the State College and well maintained and it had 3900 hours on it, still running strong!

 

[gstrom99]

My JD 855 had 2,000 hours on it when I bought it, but it had been a county tractor so it had been maintained. I replaced the water pump (not leaking but a real loose shaft), fixed a metal hyd line, new rear tires with ballast, and new seat, but besides oil/fluid changes - that's it. FEL is a "must have", for use and resale value. Like mentioned, it gets used alot. I even used mine to carry the gun safe from the trailer to the house.

 

[3inthedirt]

I realize the search is in the early stages but this low hour unit gives me hope. I know it has no loader and mower.

I am renting an hour away.

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[Shawn T. W.]

With it being that new, and if you wanted to add a loader or mmm you probably could, but would probably be cheaper to buy it all together ... But you could go like I did, I found the tractor and bought it, then saved and bought the 90" mower ...

But if you "buy it cheap" because of lack of loader, and don't up grade, if you go to sell, it will be harder to find someone that's willing to buy it, and it will be also "sell it cheap" when you do eventually find a buyer ...

I plan to keep my no loader Kubota until I die, so I'm not worried about re-sale value, it my big lawn mower!

 

[JTKub]

I realize the search is in the early stages but this low hour unit gives me hope. I know it has no loader and mower.

I am renting an hour away.

Pardon Our Interruption

I've seen MMM's for sale for this series of JD, but not so much for FELs. A FEL alone for one of these is in the $4K range I'd imagine.

 

[3inthedirt]

I’m not worried resale for the same reason!!!

Not saying it’s a go. I was just a little surprised that I found one in the price range knowing that the extras would cost me

 

[3inthedirt]

Should I also be looking at Yanmar? Seems that they are reliable. After all, aren't they quite similar to Deere in many ways? How would parts availability be impacted on Yanmar vs Deere (obviously less dealers but are they easy to source)?

 

[etpm]

Yanmar did and does make excellent machines. Different older models have different parts availability. Ask about Yanmars is the Yanmar forum. My Yanmar is 45 years old and runs great. The only parts I have replaced were the brake shoes and the starter. It has a Bulldog 285 front end loader that gets tons of use. I even made a bucket extension that more than doubles its capacity so I can move more brush and other lightweight stuff like branches trimmed from trees that I cut down or that blew down.
Eric

 

[3inthedirt]

Gotta love the old stuff! It just runs. I had a '53 Olds for 18 years and it was a pleasure to work on.

I'm really torn on a new vs older machine. Guess the search will answer that for me.

 

[dodge man]

Yanmar was making the smaller John Deere tractors until about 7 years ago. The smaller JD’s do still use Yanmar engines.

 

[gstrom99]

Pardon Our Interruption

Without a mower or loader, it won't be at all useful. Mower is easily added, but not so (or cheaply) on a loader. I'd so a search w/in your location and budget, for any/all brands. Then widdle it down. Most all tractors are "pretty good" and will suit your needs well. Keep looking.

 

[3inthedirt]

Agreed!

 

[3inthedirt]

Does anyone make a MMM for a Kubota BX series or Deere 1 series subcompact instead of having to buy from them?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

If you mean an aftermarket mmm? No.

But sometimes you can find used ones, as people buy them with the new tractor, and realize they would rather cut there grass with a different setup ... I didn't get one with mine, as I planned on getting a Z-turn to cut my grass, but while I was saving my pennies for that, I used the brush hog to cut my lawn ... I currently have the Z-turn, brush hog for the SCUT, and a rear finish mower for my CUT ... They all cut the grass!

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/belly-mower-vs-3-point-finish-mower.624108/

 

[big bubba]

is your new purchase limited only to mmm & not 3ph mower? what hp models jump up to 3ph & pto? what are your plans for the future re: tractor use?

 

[3inthedirt]

For manueverabilty, I prefer a MMM. Just a little over an acre. I could get a pull bihind self-powered one for my several atvs. lol

 

[big bubba]

makes perfect sense. all the best in your purchase