Plastic vs Steel

[PhilNH5]

Folks,
Just a general question for the forum. I recently purchased a BX2200 after shopping and researching for 4 years. There was really no competition in the sub-compact class until last fall when the MF GC2300 and the JD 2210 entered the marketplace.

For a host of reasons I went with the BX. Included in those reasons was the plastic vs steel issue. It was not the major factor for me but it was an issue. The JD2210 had a lot of plastic. I had also looked at the Cub 7254 (I think that is the model#). It was all plastic ie operator's station, hood and fenders.
Maybe I am just old but to me the plastic seems less sturdy and durable than steel. I know Deere uses Xenoloy (sp?) on their garden tractors. And I am aware of the rust issue. But the plastic degradation in UV is an issue as well.

So what is the consensus? Plastic vs Steel. Is it just a gut issue for me? How do you all feel?

Phil

 

[DocHeb]

With my limited hours (and complete lack of experience with metal on tractors), I have been happy with my TC40D plastic hood and fenders. No dings and scratches after frolicking in the woods, clean up easily, and seem very sturdy.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Plastic vs Steel )</font>

As you say, each has advantages and disadvantages, and I never figured any of them critical enough to tip the scales, so for me, personally, it's no issue at all.

 

[Whiskey]

Phil:

I think the same way you do, I've got a JD STX38 lawn mower and sometimes after mowing I leave it out side for a day or two before it finds it's way back into the barn, well a year and a half of doing this in the florida sunshine and I went to lift the hood awhile back and a big chunck of plastic craked off in my hand. now keep this in mind the lawn mower plastic hood is far less in quality than a tractors hood but it still happened faster that I would have thought it would.

OH, and JD wants something like $230 for a new hood...ouch!

Whiskey

 

[Whiskey]

DocHeb:

Frolicking in the woods again doc....you know people will talk /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Whiskey

 

[knucklehead]

I'll bite and probably learn something: scientifically I can't see big differences. When I start to think about repair & refinishing, there are some differences but that depends on what a person is set up to handle. I'm also concerned about cold weather and impact fracturing plastic, and the JD dealer didn't have a good answer. I'm not sure why plastic is even a consideration for CUT's unless someone can argue about strength - it's not like they are trying to pare weight. Maybe it's simply choices about manufacturing costs or methods.

I still like steel where it counts, plastic where it doesn't. Plastic doesn't dent or rust, steel doesn't crack or lose strength under UV exposure. I think fenders and hoods on tractors still serve some protective purpose, and fenders provide some mounting points. I definitely want steel under my feet on a lawn & garden sized tractor.

The biggest factor, however, is when I grab the handle on the fender and hoist 44 years of good livin' up toward the seat, the steel fender doesn't come my way a couple inches first! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Heath]

It was fairly cold and snow was still on the ground when I picked up my new JD 4110 early this spring. Before I loaded it on my trailer, the dealer told me to take it out into the parking lot and play with the loader a little bit.
I immediately headed for a pile of snow and ice that was in the corner of the lot. I filled the bucket with the frozen mixture and lifted it all the way up. When the bucket reached the top of its cycle, a basketball piece of ice rolled off the back of the bucket and landed squarely on the "plastic" hood of my 4110! I thought that the hood would shatter, or at least crack, for sure. It didn't.
I wouldn't recommend this test, but this accident made me feel a lot better about the hood's durability. I'm not saying plastic is better or worse than metal, but I'm sure that this fairly large piece of ice would have dented a metal hood.
I do think that the UV issue is probably more of a concern. For me, this really isn't a factor as I have a fairly large building that I keep all of my equipment it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

My father-in-law purchased a new JD170 about 10-12 yeasrs ago. The plastic parts although lightly scratched, are not cracked, gouged(sp), or dented. I think a bath and wax would make it look new again.

By comparison, the metal body parts on the Cub2185 I purchased about 6 years ago are scratched and dented (step-son bumping the nose into trees - front bumper too weak) and rusting. Both units have been stored inside since new.

Not sure what this means, except I, like Bird, don't have a strong preference either way.

 

[markie61]

I don't frolick in the woods like Bird, but....

In 6 months, I've taken hits, bumps, and scratches and I have to say I PREFER the plastic. I thought I'd be disappointed, but I'm not. The color is all the way through, no rust on any panel, maybe(?) it's quieter, one good rain and it looks like new. But under the skin, the metal is thick and solid.

I don't know what plastic others use, but the handle on my NH doesnt flex when I pull my 210lb sorry-a$$ up. Haven't noticed much sun fade (it's out about 1/2 the time) but then again we haven't had much sun this year.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Having lived down in Florida for a number of years, and having had a number of plastic items disintegrate after spending time outside in the Florida sun, I am very leery about buying outdoor items made of most kinds of plastic. The issue may not be as critical elsewhere as it is in Florida, but the deterioration will still take place. It will just take longer.

The plastic versus steel issue actually caused me to change my tractor choice. On the day I bought my tractor, I went to the Mahindra dealer fully intending to place an order.

There happened to be a used Mahindra 2810 on the lot with only five hours on the clock. Both of its plastic fender extensions had multiple cracks. The machine did not appear to have been abused, but the cracks--which were at all of the bend points--gave me considerable concern regarding its durability and/or engineering.

That was a big part of the reason that I didn't order a Mahindra that day, but drove back to the Branson/Kioti dealer instead and ended up with a Branson.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I like steel in my vehicles--unless of course they are fiberglass, but that's a whole 'nother story.

SnowRidge