Comparison Smallest compact/biggest subcompact??

[Dirk Digger]

I know I can get by with a subcompact and I may yet go with one of them. But my lot gets pretty gnarly every year with saplings trying to take over and weeds well over 3ft tall. Like I said, it chokes my Gravely 20G which is a heavy built, no slouch of a garden tractor. Although it has a regular mowing deck on it, so it's not optimum there. But I also have an old school Gravely C4 (7-1/2hp) walk behind brush mower (30" deck). That one is capable of bush hogging it, but man it's slow going. I want that brute extra power so I can loaf through it with a 4' or maybe 5' bush hog. A 30hp tractor would easily provide the necessary power with no struggle at all. I like that. Plus it would provide extra power to handle any bigger jobs that may come my way I can't foresee right now. One thing that I can foresee though is that I will be building my own home in about 7 years time or so. When that time comes, the added power may come in handy.

So far I've looked at the Deere 1025R, MF 1720 and Kubota BX23S. I like the Kubota the best, mostly because I'm just partial to them and have always wanted one. The Deere is nice too, but I dunno, Deere's always kind of turned me off due to their gold plated parts and their cult like status amongst some people. Seems like you have to pay a premium just for the name. And although I've never owned one or bought parts for them, boy I've heard stories about it my whole life. Although I suspect Kubota's probably not much better.

I was impressed with the MF 1720 in terms of its capabilities vs price vs Kubota and Deere. Seems like it's a better value overall. And from what I read, the backhoe has like 400lbs more digging force than the others (I think). And all reviews I have seen of it are very good too. Plus it's made in Japan which I like. Only downside I could see is it didn't quite have the fit and spit polish finish of the Deere or Kubota. It was a little more no frills in the appearance dept. Not that that matters. I happened to mention the 1720 to a guy I work with. Turns out he had one himself and just sold it little while ago. He loved it and couldn't sing its praises enough. So the 1720 seems like a really like good option and probably the most sensible selection unless I can score a Deere or Kubota at a comparable price.

In the meantime I'm going to keep my eyes open for all candidates, tending towards the 30hp zone if I can find one.

 

[ovrszd]

ovrszd - post #18. Amazing, we both think along the same lines. What is with this new generation - is it cool to remain "lost" or does it give an aloof feeling? Surely, nobody should feel that by sharing their location that they will be subject to any nefarious actions. I just can't understand.........

In this particular venue it's very important. Before offering a logistical answer to an issue I always look at the person's location. As you said, I don't care about a street address. But a State would be nice.

 

[4570Man]

You’ll have no problems with a 5 foot cutter with 25 hp. I’ve done it plenty. The bigger challenge will be keeping the front end on the ground with a subcompact tractor. A regular yard mowing deck is not a comparison for a rotary mower, aka bush hog. My B7200 runs a 4 ft bush pretty good. I can’t lift the tail wheel of the cutter without adding weight to the tractor but power isn’t a problem. I think you’ll find yourself far more limited by weight then hp. My L3240 was way stronger than my grandpas higher HP L3800. My full-size backhoe is about 2.4 times the HP of the L3800. Does it do 2.4 times the work? No way more.

 

[aczlan]

You’ll have no problems with a 5 foot cutter with 25 hp. I’ve done it plenty. The bigger challenge will be keeping the front end on the ground with a subcompact tractor. A regular yard mowing deck is not a comparison for a rotary mower, aka bush hog. My B7200 runs a 4 ft bush pretty good. I can’t lift the tail wheel of the cutter without adding weight to the tractor but power isn’t a problem. I think you’ll find yourself far more limited by weight then hp. My L3240 was way stronger than my grandpas higher HP L3800. My full-size backhoe is about 2.4 times the HP of the L3800. Does it do 2.4 times the work? No way more.

I agree, we have 16 PTO horsepower on our B7500 and it just handles a 5 foot rough cut mower (you have to creep in tall grass, its fine in light brush or weeds under a foot tall).
If you add another 10 or 15 horsepower in addition to that, it should handle it just fine.
If you have issues with the front end coming up off the ground (and are just mowing a field), you can try disconnecting the top link so that you're only lifting the front of the mower and not the whole thing.

Aaron Z

 

[Dirk Digger]

The problem with the 20-25 hp subcompacts, especially those with hydros (i.e. nearly all of them), is that the actual net PTO output is about 5-7 hp less than the engine power. This makes for pretty marginal 4-5 ft bush hog performance in dense 3ft+ tall weeds and saplings. My Gravely tractor has a 20hp Wisconsin with a 4' mower deck with no hydro-inefficiencies, and it was brought to its knees every time in that thicket. I know it's not a dedicated bush hog mower with the special blades and all, but still...one of the reasons I'd prefer to go with a surplus of PTO power if at all possible.

 

[MossRoad]

What痴 the planned use to want 35 hp in a 1700 pound tractor? You値l never put that power to the ground and you値l be unlikely to get a mower big enough to use it.

There's a couple people here on TBN that bought underpowered machines that can't mow AND climb a hill at the same time. More than a couple, actually. Quite a few over the years. I say settle on a frame size and then get the highest HP engine offered in that frame. If you then compare dollar per HP, it usually works out exactly the same.

 

[4570Man]

There's a couple people here on TBN that bought underpowered machines that can't mow AND climb a hill at the same time. More than a couple, actually. Quite a few over the years. I say settle on a frame size and then get the highest HP engine offered in that frame. If you then compare dollar per HP, it usually works out exactly the same.

But 35 hp in a 1700 pound tractor. I’m not even aware of such a package.

 

[MossRoad]

Tractor will be used mostly for mowing my hilly 1 acre residential lot, plowing snow off my 200' driveway, digging various drainage ditches or minor/small stump/root removals once in a while, minor landscaping type work around the house, hauling firewood, dirt, stone etc in a small trailer once in a while. And then maybe 1-3 times a year I need to bush hog about 2 acres on another property. Plus maybe some minor tree clean up there once in a while as well.

My gravely 20hp tractor is a sturdy beast but it can't bush hog my 2 acres. It smoked the clutch in it and labored the motor. Like Captain Kirk, I want more power for my attachments. Won't need it 95% of the time, but when I need it I want it. Plus I like the idea of having reserve power so I'm not taxing my tractor in any way. And if the tractor's a mere 200-300 lbs heavier than a 20-25hp model? Seems like a good idea to me.

Your thought process is correct. :thumbsup:

 

[Jchonline]

But 35 hp in a 1700 pound tractor. I’m not even aware of such a package.

I sure can’t think of one either. JD 3 series is still around 2200 lbs no FEL. I would not even consider the B3350 right now. Maybe when they release the common rail engine. LS XG is 2800lbs. MF 1734 is 2700.

 

[4570Man]

What’s wrong with the B3350? But anyway it weighs more than 1700 pounds and is less than 35 hp. To the op I suggest you try a rotary cutter before you go to far with this idea. 25 engine hp will be fine IMO. A mower deck just can’t eject the grass clippings fast enough and gets choked. It’s really not made to cut grass over about 6”.