EastTxZ
New member
Hello all. Looks like I will be taking delivery of a new XR4145 soon. I tested them all (within my price range anyway)- Mahindra 4550, 3540, 2555, Branson 4520R, TYM 454 and LS XR4150. The Mahindras were nice and seem well made and the warranty is great. I wasn't blown away by the Branson. I didn't dislike it, but it didn't wow me. The price and features really drew me to the TYM and LS. The closest dealer sells both so I was able to test them (twice) side by side. The tractors were essentially the same- features, price, etc. It really came down to personal preference. For me, the LS just fit better. Seemed more ergonomically laid out for my reach. Don't get me wrong, the TYM would be a good tractor and the dealer says they are tough as nails and he sees very few problems with them (been selling them since 2006). But there were a few little things that just didn't work as smooth as the LS. Like the shuttle shift lever being so close to my knee in reverse (I'm not exactly tall so with the seat moved up the lever was right there), no armrest, and I found the shuttle shifter a little difficult to tell when it was in reverse. I'm sure it's something I would get used to in a few operations on the tractor but still. Several times I really thought it dropped into reverse, but was still in neutral. The gear and controls layout didn't seem as good to me as the LS. Especially the 3 point lever, it seemed almost hidden under the seat. Anyway, I opted for the 4145 and wow is that engine smooth and quiet! I was actually going to get the 4150 but decided to save a grand and use it to buy a grapple. Got the 4145 with loader, 6' box blade, 6' medium duty dome top mower, grapple (with 3rd function lines and setup) for a hair over $27k. Seemed like a lot of bang for the buck. I'm looking forward to getting it and learning from this site (which I used extensively for research). Any advice on break in or operational would be appreciated.
