Comparison Trying to decide between Kubota, Kioti and Massey

[vlsfarm]

I'm looking at the Kubota L3240, Kioti DK35SE HST and the Massey 1533 Hydro. The pricing between the Kubota and the Massey are pretty close with the Kioti being the less expensive. All have been priced with loaders.

It seems the Kioti may have the more bang for the buck, but am not sure if I would be better off with one of the others.

My use for the tractor is general clean up around the farm and maybe working up some game plots.

Any insite on the tractors would be appreciated.

 

[Gittyup]

All are nice tractors. Notwithstanding price, for me, it would come down to tasks at hand. If I were doing a lot of ground engaging/loader work I'd want heavy with good hydraulics. If I were mowing or needed to tow I'd look for lighter with more mower options.

That said I have a Kioti CK25. Bought it because I needed a digger. It's been great at those tasks. But, I would not want to finish mow with it, and towing it requires a 10K lb trailer.

I really like the 1600 series MFs better that the 1500 series.

 

[Yankee]

I agree with gittyup on weight. All are good tractors. As you want a hydro, however, I'd give some extra consideration to the Kubota. Having recently demo'd MF, I believe the Kubota hydro is superior, certainly on features.

I can't speak to Kioti very far unfortunately, not having looked at them in several years. Back then I saw it as a value proposition - good (if heavy) tractor at a very good price. Nothing I've seen on the board leads me to believe that has changed. What has is time, which seems to have proven them reliable.

 

[Gittyup]

Also, if your budget support the L3240, you might want to look at the Kioti DK40SE. Probably about the same price as the bota, and you simply cannot have too much HP. Also the loader on the DK40 gives a huge jump in performance.

 

[vlsfarm]

Got a call from the Massey dealer on the 1533. New promotion this month is a free loader. He's now asking 18900.

He's trying to set the hook, but I haven't completely bit yet.

 

[IXLR8]

What is your comfort level on the tractor? What is the quality of the dealer? All three are good machines and you can't really go wrong. I didn't look at a Massey when I bought my tractor, no local dealers. It was between the Kioti and the Kubota, that green paint was just too expensive for me. I chose the Kioti as it was much more comfortable from an ergonomic point of view... for me... also being $3.5K helped. I have 355hrs on my CK30, only issue I have had is a blown seal on the dipper cylinder for the Backhoe. I was told Kioti wanted about $225 for a seal kit, I found the seals online for $20, it took me about an hour to remove cylinder from BH, replace the seals and reinstall. I suspect one of the bucket seals is also gone as the bucket drops about 4" per hr.

 

[vlsfarm]

My brother has a 1433 Massey that he likes. He looked at the 1533 I'm comparing and thought they had added some better features on it vs the 1433. The dealer has been around for years. I remember as a kid my Dad talking to owner about tractors and implements. He also carries the Kioti line and had me interested in the DK35SE HST and he has it priced at 16,700 for tractor and loader. I like the idea of the rear remote and draft control on the Kioti.
I have also dealt with him in the past on a Simplicity mower.

My use will be general clean up on the farm. Moving dirt and cleaning up brush on field edges. Probably doing some game plot work for Deer hunting also.

The Kioti has the weight and extra features with the remote and draft.
The Massey has the massey brand and some nicety features and with the free bucket it brings into the price range.
The Kubota 3240 I haven't seen yet. They are getting it ready to put on the lot. Will look at it this weekend. I believe it's advantages are the reliability and resale value.

I plan to look at all three on sunday while they are sitting on the lots. Then maybe have them brought to the farm next weekend to try out.
Want to kind of have an idea before I have them all drug out to the farm.

 

[vlsfarm]

I have narrowed it down between the Massey 1533 and Kubota L3240. They both have pretty much the same features and cost. The Massey dealer is closer to me but have talked to friends that have dealt with the Kubota dealer in Missouri and really like how they stand behind their product. I keep leaning toward the Kubota due to reviews and resale.

I would appreciate any comments to help me decide.

 

[Sawdust Farmer]

How much did the free loader promotion drop the price on the Massey Ferguson? In my shopping experiences, the Massey Ferguson tractors seem to have a better operator's area than the Kubotas. Does the Kubota have extendable ends on the 3-point - they make it much easy hooking up implements.

sf

 

[vlsfarm]

Free loader dropped the price $3300.00. And yes the Kubota has extendable ends.

One other thing I was not too sure about is the Massey has controls on the fender whereas the Kubota's are tucked in by the seats. Don't know if this might be a problem with the controls getting caught by brush or not.

 

[Dmace]

He also carries the Kioti line and had me interested in the DK35SE HST and he has it priced at 16,700 for tractor and loader. I like the idea of the rear remote and draft control on the Kioti.

The Kioti has the weight and extra features with the remote and draft.

The Kubota 3240 I haven't seen yet. They are getting it ready to put on the lot. Will look at it this weekend. I believe it's advantages are the reliability and resale value.

I have narrowed it down between the Massey 1533 and Kubota L3240.

Just curious, why did you drop the Kioti from your choices? It has better standard features, better warranty, comparable or higher capacities and a lower price.

I never understood why people buy a tractor based on resale value. What's the point of paying an extra $3000 for a tractor so it will be worth $1500 more when you resell it vs the other tractor that was cheaper up front? Also, I have yet to see some kind of publication like Kelly Blue Book for tractors to prove this higher resale that owners and dealers like to push...
Either way, I would be more then happy with any of these three tractors.

 

[vlsfarm]

Thanks for your comments DMACE makes a lot of sense. Kioti is not completly out of the mix. Actually it's right back in.
My son test drove the Kubota today and said it was basically the same tractor as the Massey 1533. He is leaning towards the Kioti or Massey. I'm going to take a look at them on the lot Sunday and try to determine which one I want to test out on the farm next weekend if the weather cooperates. Thanks for all the guidance.

 

[daveinnh]

I have a Kubota L4310, bought used; added an ATI Quick-Tach and front & rear hydraulic remotes.

Some newer tractors are equiped with universal quick attach. If you don't have, you need 3 hands aand 10' of arm reach to change between front implements (we have bucket, pallet froks and WR Long grapple).

Get price on at least 1 rear circuit for a future chipper or other implement.

Try loader ease and speed yourself. Check loader lift capacity.

 

[Dmace]

Also as mentioned previously, price out a DK40SE HST as well. It should be a little more then the DK35 but still cheaper then the Kubota and the loader is a beast.
Kioti DK35SE - KL351 loader = 1,412lbs to full height (102.4") at pins
Kioti DK40SE - KL401 loader = 2,716lbs to full height (107.8") at pins
Massey Furgeson 1533 - 1525 loader = 1,900lbs to full height (102") at pins
Kubota L3240 - LA724 loader = 1,867lbs to full height (101.1") at pins

The rounded numbers that Massey Furgeson post on their specs makes me think they are not as accurate as the others and most likely rounded up. I highly doubt the lift capacity is exactly 1,900lbs and the height is exactly 102".

On a side note, looking for these specs made me realize how easy and well laid out the Kioti site is compared to the others. The MF site is not too bad but the Kubota site is a headache to search for loader specs. You have to download and search through the PDF file for the tractor since the link under attachments only shows the features. HAPPY SHOPPING!