New TYM 2515R review

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Back in '06, I bought a new T233 with a loader. It was a decent little tractor. It's still on the farm, but now my brother owns it. The fit and finish was a little crude, but not bad. The controls were easy to use and the tractor itself was/is very efficient in performing pretty much any task it was capable of.

Fast forward to now, I just bought a new 2515R with a loader and while some of the controls aren't nearly as ergonomic (the 4wd lever is very awkward and hard to reach, and the e-brake could be easier to reach, too), the overall design and fit and finish seem to be superior. Of course, you'd expect that given it's been almost 20 years since I bought the 233.

I like the look of it, but the two biggest reasons to buy this tractor are 1)no DEF or DPF and 2)the loader is outstanding. This will fill a gap in our capabilities on the farm, where we have the 233 and the JD 850s on the small side and the MF 4707 and JD 410 on the big side. The '53 Ford Jubilee TLB still gets used occasionally, but that's really a niche piece of equipment at this point.

So, to provide a quick recap, here are the 2515's PROs and CONs:

PROs:

Loader is incredible for this size tractor. Powerful, well built, and smooth hydraulics
Very little in the way of emissions equipment on it, including no DEF or DPF
The seat is fairly comfortable with lots of adjustment and the back is tilt-able too
4x3 transmission has a gear for everything and the shifters work fairly well
It has both a well-placed tool box and a legitimately useful cupholder

CONs:

Engine has a good sound to it, but it's a little loud
If you get R4s, they're a little on the small side, especially in the rear
The 4wd lever is a slightly challenging to operate
The E-brake lever is a little better, but not optimum
The long undercarriage structure for the loader is only 9.5" off the ground

Overall, I'm happy with it so far, but then again, I've only put a couple of hours on it.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Nice write up, I hope you enjoy the 2515, it's a real beast. I'm curious though, why did you go with the manual over the hydrostatic?

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Good question. The hydro on the little 233 is pretty good and neither I nor my brother have had any issues with it whatsoever, but honestly I'm more of a "gear" guy and a reverser makes a gear transmission awesome, even when you have to use the clutch.

Another reason that more or less cemented the decision to go with the R instead of the H is we might be using this tractor to pull our 7' finish mower and 5' brush hog. In both instances, the R would be superior, IMO.

 

[ptsg]

The 2515 does get smaller tires than the bigger brothers, hence the lower ground clearance.

My F36Rn is equivalent to the 3515R and I do agree, the shuttle is just so nice and easy to use.

 

[TractorTYMe]

The 2515 is the best value for the dollar on the 25Hp category indeed. With a gear selector transmission, is better than an HST in this low HP cat.

 

[DynamicD]

Great review! I will mention you can get the same tires as the larger 15 series. The 3515 and 4215 have the 420/70 I think. Its cost more money but is an option from TYM.
Next question will be weather a dealer has those sitting around to put on the 2515..... kinda unlikely but you never know.

 

[stoyan79]

Don't forget 2515 and 3515 power train is identical, you just need to turn up the fuel.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

The 2515 is a legacy Branson model, and yes, it is a beast for a 25hp unit. It has the ground level refueling too, which most 25hp units do not have. I hope you continue to enjoy it!