Operator comfort..

[EuropaChris]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sorry Chris, I would have to disagree on the diesel outlasting the rest of the JD 4x5 series machines. These machines are designed and built far better than any other garden tractor I have ever seen (sans maybe new deeres that replace them - just haven't seen these). There is absolutely no reason to believe that one could not get 5000 hours out of one of these machines if properly maintained and kept out of the weather. )</font>

No doubt at all the JD 400 series machines are the top of the heap when it comes to garden tractors. You also pay dearly for it.

Your comment about commercial service is kind of where I was going. The average homeowner uses the tractor once or twice a week for a few hours. I'd doubt that it's more than 10 hours a week tops (don't flame me if I'm totally off-base). In that type of use, you're going to have the tractor rust out (deck), etc. or otherwise go to pieces before the engine wears out just due to age and time.

I don't think the CC diesel tractors were built up to the same standard as the JD. My gut feeling is the rest of the unit is going to go first.

For commercial use where you're using the machines all day, all week, the diesel would be a great benefit in fuel savings and longevity, probably by at least twice if not three times the life for the diesel. Provided the hydro system and steering can hold up that long is another question.

For the homeowner, you're going to have a great engine on a good tractor with a rotted out deck after 20 years, and no way to replace it, possibly. For my little 1 acre yard, it takes an hour to mow. If it's growing fast, I mow twice a week. N. Illinois I mow about 7 months out of the year. If I put 60 hours on a year, I'd be surprised. 20 years thats 1200 hours. I'm pretty confident my little Kohler will go 1200 hours (I hope!).

That said, I'd LOVE to have a diesel under the hood!

Chris

 

[EuropaChris]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sorry Chris, I would have to disagree on the diesel outlasting the rest of the JD 4x5 series machines. These machines are designed and built far better than any other garden tractor I have ever seen (sans maybe new deeres that replace them - just haven't seen these). There is absolutely no reason to believe that one could not get 5000 hours out of one of these machines if properly maintained and kept out of the weather. )</font>

No doubt at all the JD 400 series machines are the top of the heap when it comes to garden tractors. You also pay dearly for it.

Your comment about commercial service is kind of where I was going. The average homeowner uses the tractor once or twice a week for a few hours. I'd doubt that it's more than 10 hours a week tops (don't flame me if I'm totally off-base). In that type of use, you're going to have the tractor rust out (deck), etc. or otherwise go to pieces before the engine wears out just due to age and time.

I don't think the CC diesel tractors were built up to the same standard as the JD. My gut feeling is the rest of the unit is going to go first.

For commercial use where you're using the machines all day, all week, the diesel would be a great benefit in fuel savings and longevity, probably by at least twice if not three times the life for the diesel. Provided the hydro system and steering can hold up that long is another question.

For the homeowner, you're going to have a great engine on a good tractor with a rotted out deck after 20 years, and no way to replace it, possibly. For my little 1 acre yard, it takes an hour to mow. If it's growing fast, I mow twice a week. N. Illinois I mow about 7 months out of the year. If I put 60 hours on a year, I'd be surprised. 20 years thats 1200 hours. I'm pretty confident my little Kohler will go 1200 hours (I hope!).

That said, I'd LOVE to have a diesel under the hood!

Chris

 

[JTKub]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...Mine (425) is now 13 years old, with 650 hours or so. Still looks and runs like new... )</font>

That's a lot of tractor for ~50hrs/yr! I think this is the situation Chris is refering too. Hydraulics, drivetrain and mowing decks will need work before the yanmar engine will.

Joel

 

[JTKub]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...Mine (425) is now 13 years old, with 650 hours or so. Still looks and runs like new... )</font>

That's a lot of tractor for ~50hrs/yr! I think this is the situation Chris is refering too. Hydraulics, drivetrain and mowing decks will need work before the yanmar engine will.

Joel

 

[Fordlords]

Just about every old CC 782D I see for sale on e-pay has one thing in common- usually the statement that the Kubota diesel is in perfect working order! This is often regardless of the condition of the rest of the tractor or the hours on the machine. Those little 16 HP Kubotas are one solid chunk of iron. If I'm not mistaken the CC 782D was the first lawn/garden tractor to have a compact diesel in it, and it's a testament to their overall quality with the number of them still in operation today, plus the $ they still fetch on the used market. The Yanmar diesels used in the JD's are a very nice small diesel too.



-Fordlords-

 

[Fordlords]

Just about every old CC 782D I see for sale on e-pay has one thing in common- usually the statement that the Kubota diesel is in perfect working order! This is often regardless of the condition of the rest of the tractor or the hours on the machine. Those little 16 HP Kubotas are one solid chunk of iron. If I'm not mistaken the CC 782D was the first lawn/garden tractor to have a compact diesel in it, and it's a testament to their overall quality with the number of them still in operation today, plus the $ they still fetch on the used market. The Yanmar diesels used in the JD's are a very nice small diesel too.



-Fordlords-

 

[KJO]

Since you guys are talking diesels...when I picked up my CC 3100 at the dealership, they had there, a CC Utility...can't remember the number, but it had 4WD and a loader...with a "CAT" diesel engine. Cutest little thing you ever saw, but is that really a Caterpiller..or just another import with a Cat name on it? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[KJO]

Since you guys are talking diesels...when I picked up my CC 3100 at the dealership, they had there, a CC Utility...can't remember the number, but it had 4WD and a loader...with a "CAT" diesel engine. Cutest little thing you ever saw, but is that really a Caterpiller..or just another import with a Cat name on it? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Fordlords]

As far as the tractor business, it's anybody's guess today. Caterpillar jobs out machines to various manufacturers. Those big tracked CAT Challengers are indeed built by Agco in Decatur, IL. (Been to that plant many times- it's COOL!)

The medium duty/utility Cub Cadet farm tractors were and I believe still are built by Mitsubishi (As the equal JD's are still made by Yanmar). A friend of mine who sells tractors in AR said there are no compact/utility farm tractors under 100 HP for sale in the USA that are actually made in the USA. I would like to disprove that, but as of yet I can't.

It could be an actual CAT diesel in that CC, but more than likely it's a marketing gimmick to give potential buyers a bit of a USA made impression. Thankfully for the LGT market, just about all the little machines are still USA made- but in MHO, they really do need some quality improvements or else that will change.

-Fordlords-

 

[Fordlords]

As far as the tractor business, it's anybody's guess today. Caterpillar jobs out machines to various manufacturers. Those big tracked CAT Challengers are indeed built by Agco in Decatur, IL. (Been to that plant many times- it's COOL!)

The medium duty/utility Cub Cadet farm tractors were and I believe still are built by Mitsubishi (As the equal JD's are still made by Yanmar). A friend of mine who sells tractors in AR said there are no compact/utility farm tractors under 100 HP for sale in the USA that are actually made in the USA. I would like to disprove that, but as of yet I can't.

It could be an actual CAT diesel in that CC, but more than likely it's a marketing gimmick to give potential buyers a bit of a USA made impression. Thankfully for the LGT market, just about all the little machines are still USA made- but in MHO, they really do need some quality improvements or else that will change.

-Fordlords-

 

[EuropaChris]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
A friend of mine who sells tractors in AR said there are no compact/utility farm tractors under 100 HP for sale in the USA that are actually made in the USA. I would like to disprove that, but as of yet I can't.
)</font>

I can believe that. I've always been a bit of a tractor 'nut', since I was a kid. It seems Ford held on the longest with the continuation of the "3000" series well into the late 90's or early 00's. But now I see they have the "TT" series as the replacement, and they appear drastically different, although there are some similarities. I'm sure they are imported, or at least assembled here of imported parts.

The first tractor I ever 'fell in love with' was a late 60's Ford 3000. Seems everyone in town had one as there was only one tractor dealer and he was Ford.

Chris

 

[EuropaChris]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
A friend of mine who sells tractors in AR said there are no compact/utility farm tractors under 100 HP for sale in the USA that are actually made in the USA. I would like to disprove that, but as of yet I can't.
)</font>

I can believe that. I've always been a bit of a tractor 'nut', since I was a kid. It seems Ford held on the longest with the continuation of the "3000" series well into the late 90's or early 00's. But now I see they have the "TT" series as the replacement, and they appear drastically different, although there are some similarities. I'm sure they are imported, or at least assembled here of imported parts.

The first tractor I ever 'fell in love with' was a late 60's Ford 3000. Seems everyone in town had one as there was only one tractor dealer and he was Ford.

Chris