shu
Bronze Member
A few months ago we sold the Kubota L3400 and bought a Case IH 45A. Folks considering moving up from a 30-35 horsepower machine may be interested in these thoughts.
The L-3400 - and the New Holland TC-410 we had previously - were FWD hydrostatic. The 45HP Case IH 45A is FWD manual transmission (4-speed / hi-lo range / forward-reverse).
We expected to be doing relatively more mowing (shredding), less landscape and construction type work, and less traveling. The mowing does go easier. In all other respects however the smaller tractors are more satisfactory.
We got a 72 inch Bush Hog Squeeler to replace our well-worn 60 inch shredder. The heavier Case tractor is well matched weight-wise to the new shredder. It travels a bit faster both while mowing and when on the road. We are happy with that.
The extra 10-15 horsepower, compared to the 30-35 HP range tractors we had, seems mostly consumed in handling the much greater weight of the new tractor. The Case does not pull a larger load of dirt in the box blade, nor dig easier into a pile with the FEL. The tractor weight is greater but the tires are correspondingly larger, so (short of filling the tires with water) the machines lose traction about the same.
In landscape and construction work the mechanical transmission is less convenient than hydrostatic, but maneageble. The wider turn radius of the larger machine however causes as much or more of a time penalty.
The 30-35 HP tractor + FEL + mower + box blade is close to but less than the weight limit of our 16 ft trailer. We have pulled the set hundreds of miles with a 6 cylinder pickup. The new tractor + FEL is at or above the trailer's limit. We do not expect to travel with it.
We are happy with the trade. Slugging along with the 60 inch shredder had come to be wearisome - not to mention replacing shear bolts while locating stumps and tires in a new field. But for general landscape and construction work, especially in tight quarters around a building, a FWD hydrostatic machine of 30-35 HP is the ideal.
The L-3400 - and the New Holland TC-410 we had previously - were FWD hydrostatic. The 45HP Case IH 45A is FWD manual transmission (4-speed / hi-lo range / forward-reverse).
We expected to be doing relatively more mowing (shredding), less landscape and construction type work, and less traveling. The mowing does go easier. In all other respects however the smaller tractors are more satisfactory.
We got a 72 inch Bush Hog Squeeler to replace our well-worn 60 inch shredder. The heavier Case tractor is well matched weight-wise to the new shredder. It travels a bit faster both while mowing and when on the road. We are happy with that.
The extra 10-15 horsepower, compared to the 30-35 HP range tractors we had, seems mostly consumed in handling the much greater weight of the new tractor. The Case does not pull a larger load of dirt in the box blade, nor dig easier into a pile with the FEL. The tractor weight is greater but the tires are correspondingly larger, so (short of filling the tires with water) the machines lose traction about the same.
In landscape and construction work the mechanical transmission is less convenient than hydrostatic, but maneageble. The wider turn radius of the larger machine however causes as much or more of a time penalty.
The 30-35 HP tractor + FEL + mower + box blade is close to but less than the weight limit of our 16 ft trailer. We have pulled the set hundreds of miles with a 6 cylinder pickup. The new tractor + FEL is at or above the trailer's limit. We do not expect to travel with it.
We are happy with the trade. Slugging along with the 60 inch shredder had come to be wearisome - not to mention replacing shear bolts while locating stumps and tires in a new field. But for general landscape and construction work, especially in tight quarters around a building, a FWD hydrostatic machine of 30-35 HP is the ideal.
