Tractor upgrade

[spaniel]

I had a Case IH 674 (~1974 manufacture) loader, bought ~11 years ago. When I got it supposedly the engine had been overhauled but when warmed up oil pressure dropped, had to keep it revved a bit to be safe. Lately cooling issues, suspected water pump. Replaced a lot of hydraulic hoses, other maintenance issues, just becoming a time hog for someone where tractor use was just a hobby.

Bought a 58 acre property a 90min drive away for hunting with food plots, this beast was too big to trailer there with my standard F150. Traded it in on a JD 4052M. I was concerned that going from a 60+HP tractor to 42HP I might lose use of the 7ft equipment on my home property (I negotiated a full set of 5ft equipment into the purchase of the new property).

Very happy with my decision. I can't tell the difference using a 7ft brush hog. Also just pulled my 7ft toothed disc through wetter ground than I ever did with the 674, with less aggressive tires, and had no issues until the disc completely mucked up (not tractor's fault). Pushing into a dirt pile it actually seems easier. The 4WD probably helps. Very happy I didn't settle for a smaller tractor, seems I hit it "just right"...

 

[SwampCat]

I have a 28 hp and a 65 hp tractor. To be honest, if I could just have one tractor - something in the 45/50 hp range would probably be just right. Contrary to what some folks would have you believe, you can go too big. For the last six months, my 65 hp tractor has had to sit because it ruts everything so bad with all the rain we have had. Still do all the work with the 28 - just takes longer in some cases. Bush hogging around fruit trees and small plots is actually faster with the small tractor - and easy to trailer to my other property.

 

[buckdeer1]

I will have to check it out,was looking at kubota

 

[spaniel]

I will have to check it out,was looking at kubota

Further review is last week I finally got the food plots in on my new property...this has been a 100-year season in Indiana and I took what was likely the only day all year I could have worked the property to get it in (6in of rain since I planted 6 days ago).

The 4052M does well with the 7ft equipment on flat ground. New property is pretty hilly. I have 5ft equipment there and it worked pretty well, the 7ft disc would NOT have been workable going uphill. Continue to be happy with the tractor. I will say the hydro transmission is not as easy to manage in a field working scenario as cutting or loader work. But the field work is a once-a-year thing.

 

[yoderjac]

This thread is a good read for me as I'm considering an upgrade. I started with a Kubota B2400 with FEL. I now use that at home for my lawn with a 6' belly mower and I use the loader to clear snow from the driveway. It was too small for many tasks. Almost 10 years ago, I stepped up to a Kioti DK45 4x4 with FEL and Cab. The unit has design issues, but I've also worked it hard for a tractor that size clearing food plots. The FEL is a poor design and I break pins regularly. The AC is a horrible design and I've replaced the expensive compressor multiple times. There is no screen in front the condenser to clean in the field and the battery blocks a lot of air flow to it. The compressor is overworked and locks up the clutch. They do not have a replaceable clutch so the whole unit needs replaced. The glass cab gets very hot in the summer without AC and is almost unworkable.

When I first bought the Kioti, the dealership was pretty good and worked well with me on the issues and was very responsive. They changed hands a couple years ago and have been hard to work with since.

I'm now looking at something in the 70 hp class. 4x4 with FEL. I bought some new property that has a lot of open area. I'd like something that can handle a batwing. I'm considering JD, Kubota, and NH. I think I made a mistake last time buying too small.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Jack

 

[SwampCat]

I have a JD 5065e 4wd 65 hp. Our road crew runs a 75 hp new holland running a 14 ft batwing day in and day out. I only run 8 ft equipment and my tractor doesnt even know most is back there. The 85 hp JD is a big jump in size and weight from the 55-75 hp JD’s. If you were going to do a lot of clearing, you might want the heavier 85 hp. In my opinion, it is too big and too heavy for a mostly food plot tractor. I didnt want a cab on my tractor - I have some pretty tight trails. I do have a cover over the seat area that provides shade. But, I kept my 28 hp jd and it is much better suited to a lot of work than the bigger tractor. If I had only kept one tractor - in my situation - the 65 hp would be on the very upper end of size. The 75 hp jd is the same size.

 

[yoderjac]

SwampCat,
Tell me more about your JD 5065e. Right now, the two I'm most interested in are the JD 5075e and the Kubota M7060. Folks have had issues with the local JD dealership, which makes me lean toward Kubota from a dealership perspective, but there are some things I like about the JD tractor itself. I'd love to hear more about yours, especially things you don't like, but even ones you do. Just from the Build-your-own tools online, it looks like the JD is a bit more expensive when you add FELs to both.

If there are Kubota folks on the forum that have the M7060, I'd like to hear from you as well.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[SwampCat]

SwampCat,
Tell me more about your JD 5065e. Right now, the two I'm most interested in are the JD 5075e and the Kubota M7060. Folks have had issues with the local JD dealership, which makes me lean toward Kubota from a dealership perspective, but there are some things I like about the JD tractor itself. I'd love to hear more about yours, especially things you don't like, but even ones you do. Just from the Build-your-own tools online, it looks like the JD is a bit more expensive when you add FELs to both.

If there are Kubota folks on the forum that have the M7060, I'd like to hear from you as well.

Thanks,

Jack

I had problems with a hydraulic line that burst and it assisted with turning the front wheels. Took them a month to get that part. Oddly, the 55,65, and 75 hp are the same frame tractor - but the 65 hp was the only one that had that particularly configured hydraulic hose. Other than that - I havent had a problem in 400 hrs. Mine does not have a cab. I have run an 8 ft bush hog, through some pretty thick stuff - and it doesnt even act like it is there. I have a 84” Woods Seeder, that weighs a little over 2000 lbs, and an 8 ft disk that weighs 1900 lbs - and you can tell they they are back there when you pick them up. I have added no extra weight to mine, which might help when pushing trees - but I have a lot of bottomland and weight can get you in trouble. I have had mine for 2 1/2 years. Paid $31,000 brand new with loader and one rear hydraulic port. I have since added another rear hydraulic port. My local dealer is great - and was more the reason I purchased a JD than just wanting a green tractor. I have no regrets.

 

[yoderjac]

I had problems with a hydraulic line that burst and it assisted with turning the front wheels. Took them a month to get that part. Oddly, the 55,65, and 75 hp are the same frame tractor - but the 65 hp was the only one that had that particularly configured hydraulic hose. Other than that - I havent had a problem in 400 hrs. Mine does not have a cab. I have run an 8 ft bush hog, through some pretty thick stuff - and it doesnt even act like it is there. I have a 84” Woods Seeder, that weighs a little over 2000 lbs, and an 8 ft disk that weighs 1900 lbs - and you can tell they they are back there when you pick them up. I have added no extra weight to mine, which might help when pushing trees - but I have a lot of bottomland and weight can get you in trouble. I have had mine for 2 1/2 years. Paid $31,000 brand new with loader and one rear hydraulic port. I have since added another rear hydraulic port. My local dealer is great - and was more the reason I purchased a JD than just wanting a green tractor. I have no regrets.

Good info. When you say no added weight, I presume you mean none beyond loaded tires. I presume they load tires when they sell a unit with a FEL. Thanks for the pricing info as well. That will help when I get far enough to talk to a dealer. Can you tell me a bit more about the rear hydraulic ports and their controls? I did some reading about the options but got a bit confused. I have one set of rear ports on my DK45. The control is called a detent (I believe. I'm not sure if there is more than one kind of detent and if so which kind it is). I primarily use it on my hydraulic top-link. Pushing it one direction or the other will move the link in or out. When I get the link where I want it, I put it in the neutral position and the link stays in that position (which is what I want for the toplink). If I accidently leave it in the forward or back position, the pump must stay on, because I have very little power to drive the tractor or operate other hydraulics like the loader. It works fine for the top link.

With a new tractor (JD or Kubota), I want to be able to operate at least an hydraulic toplink and a batwing. I presume the batwing (don't have one yet) will need one control for each wing and perhaps another for the transport depending on the unit I get. I'm not sure yet if I'll end up with a unit with 1 wing or two. I've been looking at specs and I'm pretty sure either tractor could handle 12' but the HP may be light for 15' depending on what I'm mowing.

My DK45 can handle most of my existing equipment quite well, but with the new retirement property, I'd like something that can handle a larger mower. I now use an old Woods RM990 that has about a 90 inch cutting width. An 8' bushhog would not add much cutting width. That is probably the primary job I'm looking for a larger tractor for. The Kioti was undersized for the food plot clearing I was doing at the farm, but I think that is pretty much done at this point.

I certainly like having a cab as long as the AC is working. My retirement property is about 15 miles from the farm. I have not decided yet if I can get enough for the Kioti DK45 to make it worth selling. The batwing would be too large to transport, so it would stay at the retirement property. One option is to keep the Kioti, remove the doors, and the AC. I could then leave it at the farm and only transport equipment to the retirement property when I need it. The other option is the sell the Kioti and transport both tractor and equipment back and forth.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[SwampCat]

Good info. When you say no added weight, I presume you mean none beyond loaded tires. I presume they load tires when they sell a unit with a FEL. Thanks for the pricing info as well. That will help when I get far enough to talk to a dealer. Can you tell me a bit more about the rear hydraulic ports and their controls? I did some reading about the options but got a bit confused. I have one set of rear ports on my DK45. The control is called a detent (I believe. I'm not sure if there is more than one kind of detent and if so which kind it is). I primarily use it on my hydraulic top-link. Pushing it one direction or the other will move the link in or out. When I get the link where I want it, I put it in the neutral position and the link stays in that position (which is what I want for the toplink). If I accidently leave it in the forward or back position, the pump must stay on, because I have very little power to drive the tractor or operate other hydraulics like the loader. It works fine for the top link.

With a new tractor (JD or Kubota), I want to be able to operate at least an hydraulic toplink and a batwing. I presume the batwing (don't have one yet) will need one control for each wing and perhaps another for the transport depending on the unit I get. I'm not sure yet if I'll end up with a unit with 1 wing or two. I've been looking at specs and I'm pretty sure either tractor could handle 12' but the HP may be light for 15' depending on what I'm mowing.

My DK45 can handle most of my existing equipment quite well, but with the new retirement property, I'd like something that can handle a larger mower. I now use an old Woods RM990 that has about a 90 inch cutting width. An 8' bushhog would not add much cutting width. That is probably the primary job I'm looking for a larger tractor for. The Kioti was undersized for the food plot clearing I was doing at the farm, but I think that is pretty much done at this point.

I certainly like having a cab as long as the AC is working. My retirement property is about 15 miles from the farm. I have not decided yet if I can get enough for the Kioti DK45 to make it worth selling. The batwing would be too large to transport, so it would stay at the retirement property. One option is to keep the Kioti, remove the doors, and the AC. I could then leave it at the farm and only transport equipment to the retirement property when I need it. The other option is the sell the Kioti and transport both tractor and equipment back and forth.

Thanks,

Jack

From foreground - FEL control, gear shift, and the two directly over the top of the orange gear shift knob are rear hydraulics. You can tell the second one I added by darker color. They operate pushing towards the front and rear of tractor. When you release them, they return to center - but equipment stays in position it was in when you quit moving it.

 

[yoderjac]

View attachment 24745


From foreground - FEL control, gear shift, and the two directly over the top of the orange gear shift knob are rear hydraulics. You can tell the second one I added by darker color. They operate pushing towards the front and rear of tractor. When you release them, they return to center - but equipment stays in position it was in when you quit moving it.

So are the both called SCD (Self Canceling Detent) controls? I've also seen FD (Floating Detent) valve controls. I'm trying to understand the differences and applications for each. I think the ones on my Koti are just Detent since they don't return to center automatically. I'm thinking yours are SCDs from your description. I need to understand FDs before I decided what I need.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Tree Spud]

Tried to work with both Kubota and JD dealer. Went with Kubota because of response, service and people who cared about responding to me.

The JD dealer kept making excuses over 4 months about why he couldn't get me a quote. learned form others locally and even small farmers, if you weren't a corporate acct or a large commercial farmer, JD dealer put you (most likely sales people controlled this) on the back burner. Talked to 5 different friends who were same situation as me and they all went Kubota with great experience.

Went with Kubota and spent over $45k. JD service dealer was 25 miles closer but I have had outstanding experience with my Kubota MX5800 and all of the implements past 3.5 years. I actually sent a letter to the owner of the JD dealership (14 locations) about my experience. He called me on a Sunday morning and we had a very good conversation.

You are really not buying a tractor, you are also buying a technical/service support relationship ... choose carefully.

 

[yoderjac]

Tried to work with both Kubota and JD dealer. Went with Kubota because of response, service and people who cared about responding to me.

The JD dealer kept making excuses over 4 months about why he couldn't get me a quote. learned form others locally and even small farmers, if you weren't a corporate acct or a large commercial farmer, JD dealer put you (most likely sales people controlled this) on the back burner. Talked to 5 different friends who were same situation as me and they all went Kubota with great experience.

Went with Kubota and spent over $45k. JD service dealer was 25 miles closer but I have had outstanding experience with my Kubota MX5800 and all of the implements past 3.5 years. I actually sent a letter to the owner of the JD dealership (14 locations) about my experience. He called me on a Sunday morning and we had a very good conversation.

You are really not buying a tractor, you are also buying a technical/service support relationship ... choose carefully.

Yes, that is a good point and one that a big driver for me. I think a similar thing is going on at our local JD dealership. I'm less concerned about sales as I am about service. I have some small JD equipment, a 4' tiller and a broadcast spreader. Both needed service and repair. I took them in to the local JD dealer in the middle of the winter when they should not be swamped. I thought the repair costs were one the high side, but what concerned me even more was how long it took them to finish them in the dead of winter. I didn't really care how long it took and did not press them, but what would that look line in the middle of spring planting time? My guess is they are prioritizing service based on account size, but I don't know that for a fact. A neighbor has an older farm sized JD (Don't know the model). He told me stories about the issues he had with them getting a repair right. He ended up talking to the owner and eventually they made things right, but it was an ordeal. This is certainly not dispositive of the dealership and I will certainly consider them, but I'm cautious...Not because of the tractor, but because of the dealership. I took my little B2400 into the Kubota dealership across the street for service and repair. It seemed somewhat less pricy on the repair and maintenance. It did take a while but it wasn't as bad and it was not in the winter. I did not feel like folks were cutting line. They told me when they thought they would get to it and they were about right.

So, back on your point of buying the dealership over the tractor. One word of caution for others considering buying. I believe it works pretty well for the major brands, JD, NH, Kubota, etc. but probably less well for off brands like Kioti and Mahindra. I was very impressed with the small Kioti dealership I bought from. I interviewed the service manager before I made my choice. It worked great for years, but the tractor outlasted the relationship. A few years back, they sold out and the service manager left. The new management has be very difficult to deal with. Keep in mind that the dealership you "buy" may be a different dealership in 10 years and your tractor should last many more.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[SwampCat]

They called both of my hydraulic control levers activating the rear SCD’s. And I agree, service is a huge driving force. My JD dealer has been very responsive. I have owned a smaller jd for years - and had a history of dealing with them and that was the main driving force. There is also a kubota dealer in the same town who I have only dealt with once - and didnt have a good experience - so it doesnt take much. JD parts are high. Their tractors dont seem too much higher than Kubota. I think they are both good machines.

 

[yoderjac]

They called both of my hydraulic control levers activating the rear SCD’s. And I agree, service is a huge driving force. My JD dealer has been very responsive. I have owned a smaller jd for years - and had a history of dealing with them and that was the main driving force. There is also a kubota dealer in the same town who I have only dealt with once - and didnt have a good experience - so it doesnt take much. JD parts are high. Their tractors dont seem too much higher than Kubota. I think they are both good machines.

I completely agree. Each machine has it's own advantages and disadvantages from what I can see. I don't see either one as superior overall. Do you know if your JD can support 3 rear hydraulic sets or is 2 the max?

 

[yoderjac]

Any Kubota M7060 owners out there that want to share?

 

[buckdeer1]

I was looking at 7060 online today also so will be following

 

[SwampCat]

How do the kubota and JD in that 70 hp range compare in price?

 

[Dukslayr]

Any Kubota M7060 owners out there that want to share?

For what it’s worth I went through what you’re going through now. I didn’t consider the NH tractors because I didn’t have a dealer close enough. I think I listed some thoughts about my search and various models on another post, but for me it was hands down the M7060 VS over JD 5075E. I was about to pull the trigger on a the 7060 until I found a Massey 4707 (75hp). I bought it and have been very happy with it. It had better FEL, 3pt lift capacity, more weight, etc than anything I looked at outside the Case IH 75C (which I also really liked but was hard to find one in stock set up like I wanted).

I just sold my Kubota L3830 and loved it. To me I thought the Case, Massey and Kubota tractors were all possibilities. I eliminated the JD first because of the dealer and I didn’t like the operators station as well.

 

[Dukslayr]

How do the kubota and JD in that 70 hp range compare in price?

I could have bought a demo 7060 w low hours, cab, loader, etc for 42.5k. New they were closer to 46.5k setup the same. JD was every bit of that much when comparably equipped. Wish I would have kept all my notes.