used tractor purchase

highloper · Jun 9, 2013

Just need general buying advice. I have an 8n Ford that I've gotten by with for the last 10 years. I want to move up to a diesel(under 40 HP) with a FEL, and spend $7,000 - $10,000. I'm looking at 1) 1910 Ford 2WD, with loader, 1400 hrs, looks great in on-line photos at $7,000. 2) Reconditioned 4WD Mitsubishi's in the $9,000-!0,000 range, 3)1999 Kubota L3710HST 4WD w/QAB for $12,900 (which I'd have to finance). I can buy new for another $4k, interest free. BTW, how many hours is a tractor good for before overhauls? I'm leaning towards the Ford if it checks out. I know there's a lot of factors in making my decision, but just looking for a little advice.

Tx Jim · Jun 9, 2013

To get a new tractor for $4K more than a used unit with no interest is a "no brainer" unless you don't want Tier lV. On the used units you mentioned I'd choose the Kubota.

rustyfarmall · Jun 9, 2013

The Kubota gets my vote. Never even heard of a Mitsubishi tractor until now.

Roger in Iowa · Jun 9, 2013

2wd and loader not the best combination!

Welding man · Jun 9, 2013

I work on tractors for a living and I am a Ford fanatic,but the Japanese Fords (1910) have had some problems and the parts are out of this world expensive for them. I have a 1500. You can buy a water pump for a bigger ford(3600) for around $50.00, one for the 1500 is $350.00 plus. There are very few aftermarket parts available for them and you are stuck to deal with NH. The Mitsubishi would definately be a NO NO for the same reason.Better buy the Kubota or keep looking.

Chuck (CA) · Jun 9, 2013

2WD with an FEL can be a problem with traction..loading up the rear tires and maybe some weights would help. I have a New Holland 30 horse, 4WD with FEL. 3 cyl diesel. Lease return with 240 hrs. I paid 14,000 with 48 months 0 interest. Thing just sips fuel.
FYI

Anonymous-0 · Jun 9, 2013

Agree with others, 1st choice new Kubota, 2nd choice used Kubota. Tom

Chuck (CA) · Jun 9, 2013

BTW, The Hydrostat transmission is a blessing when using the FEL a lot.

Rick Kr · Jun 9, 2013

I'll jump on the bandwagon. New Kubota at 0% for $4k more, vs a 15 year old one.

2wd and a loader, I would pass.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Jun 9, 2013

For $7000 to $10,000 you have a lot of choices. Buy a popular model tractor with good parts availability. Other than the Kubota, the choices you listed wouldn't be on my list. 4x4 is nice with a loader but don't tell the thousands of people using loaders on their 2 wheel drive tractors. If you're going to be plowing or pulling ground engaging implements hydrostatic might not be the best choice. Why does it have to be under 40 HP? A 45 HP tractor is roughly the same size as your 8N. A well maintained diesel should go for 10,000 hours anyway. You should be able to find something in your price range with 2000/2500 hours, maybe even less than that.

highloper · Jun 9, 2013

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful information. The reason for less than 40 HP is affordability. Guess I'll keep on shopping for a good used Kubota or just jump in and get a new one. For what they sell for used, I might be better off in the long run.

donjr · Jun 9, 2013

With the choices you have, I think I'd use the bucks that I have as a downpayment, then finance the rest at a greatly reduced payment, and get a 4WD Kubota with the loader and auto tranny.....

Anonymous-0 · Jun 9, 2013

Actually going bigger gets even more affordable. Everybody wants the smaller tractors for acreages. Go to an auction to buy a disc. A 6-8' foot will cost more than a 12' or larger.

RodinNS · Jun 9, 2013

Given your options I think I'd finance the new Kubota...
The Ford 1910 was a decent tractor but it's not something you want under a loader where it's only 2WD. FWD isn't bad but 2WD is pretty useless. It's overpriced by twice for what it is. Parts availability is also getting sporadic for them. A lot of things are only serviced as an assembly so it can be quite costly if it's available.
The Mitsu stuff... reconditioned... I assume is probably Japanese gray market tractors, imported used... I don't know about those ones specifically... but other gray markets like Kubota... you can run into a lot of parts supply problems and odd features that were not available on tractors intended for NASO markets... so you may find that parts support is poor or slow. If it's a tractor that was originally intended for US market... it may be OK. Still mabey sounds a bit pricey.
The used Kubota just sounds like way too much money for a 15 year old tractor if you can buy it new today for 4K more money interest free. Warranty alone is worth almost that much.

Rod

highloper · Jun 9, 2013

At 0% interest I'm thinking instead of putting money down, making a couple years worth of payments. I will have to compare the gear drive to HST transmission. A local Kubota salesman suggested the L3200 4WD w/gear drive (and FEL) because it preserves more horsepower and is about $1000 less expensive). I'll use the tractor for dragging an arena, pushing/piling dead trees, mowing, road blading, moving some dirt, and pulling a 5' disc. I did some research on this site about the differences in transmissions and still am undecided. Maybe I should go test drive em.

keh · Jun 9, 2013

Vote for getting the new one.

I'd stay away from the gray market tractors, especially at the prices mentioned.

KEH

caterpillar guy · Jun 9, 2013

I would go bigger and probably older. It would cost no more and would do all the things you want and then some.

VicS · Jun 9, 2013

Definitely go with the hydro, and another 5 to 7 hp. you will never be sorry. We have a electronic JD hydro. You set it just like your car cruise control. You do give up hp to the wheels for pulling a disk. But a 3 point tiller is better anyway. and a hydro is better for it. And for a loader there is no comparison to 4X4 and a hydro. Vic

Royse · Jun 9, 2013

Let me play the devil's advocate here.
Even though what everyone is telling you is true, if you've gotten
by with an 8N for 10 years, how much upgrade do you need?
What is the main purpose of your upgrade?
Is it the loader? More horsepower? The diesel? Does your 8N have a loader?
I'm a fan of the old N series Fords, but I'll concede they don't make
the best (ok, barely good) loader tractors.
It would be pretty reasonable to move to a x000 series Ford or
similar older tractor with a loader and power steering for ~$4000.
Granted, it's not 4x4, and it's not hydrostat, but it may be shuttle
shift depending on what you find in your area.
If you're just moving a few trees now and then, not doing heavy
loader work, the 4x4/hydrostatic/electronic controlled widgets
might end up being just more stuff to break that you may not
be able to fix yourself.
I'd like to have a new Kubota too, but I HATE payments!

Anonymous-0 · Jun 9, 2013

for $7-10,000, you could go buy a nice 1970's 100hp yesterday's tractor.

W_B · Jun 10, 2013

(quoted from post at 05:31:40 06/10/13) for $7-10,000, you could go buy a nice 1970's 100hp yesterday's tractor.

I've been looking around for some time, contemplating a future purchase too. But, it gets to a size thing... thanks for the advise and you are right, but, I don't need a 100 hp tractor on 8 acres, no matter how cheap it is. I do need a small loader tractor to help out with projects I've been doing with a shovel and wheel barrow, or to do those projects that are too big for a shovel. It has to fit in the barn to shove and lift manure (it's an age thing, getting old and worn out and would like to save this tired body for more fun pursuits). The 9N and 8N have their jobs and being a loader tractor isn't one of them.

From what I've seen you can't go too far wrong with a Kubota and probably the same with a small JD, Massey, New Holland, Mahindra, LS, Montana or Kyoti. If buying new, lots of choices if you have dealers in your area. I have 4 or 5 Kubota dealers within an hour drive, 2 Mahindra, JD and NH and 1 each LS and Kyoti.

Adirondack case guy · Jun 10, 2013

The IH compacts were Mitsubishi's.

jose bagge · Jun 10, 2013

I was in the same situation, bought a hydrostatic Deere 3720 for similar money and reaaly like it. I hardly get any seat time the girls are all over it mowing and straightening the arena. Even w/ 4wd, I think my old Satoh might have pulled better w/ the loaded tires

Bret4207 · Jun 11, 2013

Well, the big question is do you want a status symbol to elevate your ranking among the other Squires on your estates, or do you want a farm tractor to get your work done? I frequent another 2 or 3 boards where I see the same question day after day. The farmers all recommend an older, heavier, cheaper rig like a 4000 Ford and the Squires all recommend Kubotas and Deeres with AC, stereos, cup holders, 4wd and alloy wheels.

It's your call, but I'd be dipped in hot tar before I'd spend $14K on a shiny toy when I could get a 45ish hp farm tractor for less than half that.

highloper · Jun 11, 2013

Yep Bret, I hear ya. Obviously I'm not looking for the status symbol tractor, since I've been plugging along with my old 8N for over a decade now. I don't need or want to jump from a $2,000 tractor to a $20,000 rig. I don't know much about tractors except that I'd like to move to a diesel w/FEL and appreciate everyone's advice in helping me decide on what to look for. An older, 40+ HP, 2WD tractor may be my best bet.

495man · Jun 11, 2013

(quoted from post at 04:24:58 06/11/13) Well, the big question is do you want a status symbol to elevate your ranking among the other Squires on your estates, or do you want a farm tractor to get your work done? I frequent another 2 or 3 boards where I see the same question day after day. The farmers all recommend an older, heavier, cheaper rig like a 4000 Ford and the Squires all recommend Kubotas and Deeres with AC, stereos, cup holders, 4wd and alloy wheels.

It's your call, but I'd be dipped in hot tar before I'd spend $14K on a shiny toy when I could get a 45ish hp farm tractor for less than half that.

Best answer! Avoid the toys, get a tractor. Nothing like having a toy with tiny wheels (alloys lol) that a Super C would embarrass.

495man · Jun 11, 2013

(quoted from post at 07:59:49 06/09/13) Just need general buying advice. I have an 8n Ford that I've gotten by with for the last 10 years. I want to move up to a diesel(under 40 HP) with a FEL, and spend $7,000 - $10,000.

I'm a red guy, so I'm suggest:

IH 484 with 2200 loader (or similiar). Diesel, syncro trans, diff lock, power steering, IPTO, 3pt, remote(most should have it) 42 PTO HP.

I run a 495 (newer version) and it 's big enough for a small farm, but small enough for property maintenance (no lawn mowing!)

outdoors · Jul 6, 2013

I'm with the older farm tractor cheering crowd but only if you buy careful, cheap and can do some repairs yourself. I bought an old IH 454 diesel real cheap a couple years ago and it was a heck of a little work horse. Many local family farms in this area kept food on the table with a similar rig (3 cyl diesel, 40 hp, 2wd). An IH 454, 484, 485, 495, 574 (4 cyl) or MF 135, 240, 245, 250 are all great tractors and if you shop around you can find a really good one with a loader and have money left in your pocket to take your family on a trip, etc.

I can also appreciate a new Kubota. A neighbor recently bought one (4*4, hydro, FEL, nice cab and some matching attachments). He has been a pilot for years and has several businesses besides. He loves his Kubota for plowing some snow, mowing grass, carrying a little top soil for flower beds and occasionally tilling with our rotovator. He could afford it and it suits his needs.

Either of the above would do the jobs that you describe and would be a huge improvement from your N series. You decide what works for your body and finances and let us know.

I only sold the 454 to buy a slightly larger and newer 684 because it matched my attachments size better.

mj · Jul 6, 2013

I went looking in'09 - wanted something smaller and more able to fit in tight spots than any of my vintage tractors - looked at all of the compacts made in Jaypan (Kubota, John Deere, M-F, etc.) - I decided that they (especially JD & Kubota) were really charging a premium for the color and one of the sales guys told me that Kioti was a lot like the early Kubotas in that they were 'overbuilt' to gain a good reputation so I went and looked, compared the features, weight, size of components and price and decided that I would rather buy a product from a country that has never bad-mouthed us at the U.N. or (to my recollection) on any other 'world venue'. I got the CK20HST with Kioti's b'hoe and FEL. The 3-cyl. S. Korean diesel is rated at 22 hp; about the same as the VA Cases that I've been using all these years so I figured that I don't need any more than that, especially with the 4wd and hydrostat. It's only 4' wide and will crawl right thru my stall doors. I am not running down any of the other 3; they've been around long enough to prove themselves. If re-sale was in my future I would have gone with JD but, at my age, it is not a concern - in my situation this little Kioti 'Power Brute' fits just right but then I'm a bit of an oddball anyway, like collecting Case and driving MoPar. :roll: Well -'Different strokes for different folks' as they say :lol:

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