NH over Kubota Tractor?

As there are a lot of bright, knowledgeable folks on this site I would like to take advantage of that. I"m leaning toward but want to be convinced that I should go with a NH TN-A series (70-90hp) vs. a comparable weight and hp Kubota.

Kubota still has a image to me as not being a true farm tractor, but it probably is due to a lack of knowledge, having not been around them. They seem to spec out well on paper.

This is kind of long but wanted to give some details.

Have about 60+ ac grassland, meadows of hayground and will be pulling a NH315 and picking up with a NH 1036 balewagon.
Lots of rough ground between meadows, wetland, hills, trees, rocks etc. Will use tractor for some road work, grading, Bush Hog, plowing snow, harrowing and general farm work.

Don"t like the idea of a dry traction clutch or dry PTO clutch. The NH dry traction clutch can be eliminated by option of hyd shuttle.

But, talked to a NH mechanic, said he has had to replace the electronic controllers for the hyd shuttels, and costs around $1000, parts and labor.

The Kubota M series has wet traction and PTO clutches and a manual hyd reverser shuttle. A LH lever by the steering wheel as in construction equip which I prefer for loader work.

The NH dealer is a few miles closer and has been good to work with in the past. Don"t know about the Kubota dealer first hand, but they have been selling them since 99 and was Ford and NH for many years before that.

I want a tractor that is tough and can take hard work, not abuse, well...maybe a little, but in any case well used.
I keep equip forever so parts and service, years from now is vital.

Thanks for any informative input.

I work for a NH dealer. I know of two TN's in the area and they have not been worked on in our shop. We don't sell anything in that horse power range. Mostly bigger. Neil

Kubota has come a long ways over the years and they do make some good stuff.Just like you said they are offering wet clutches and brakes where the other one isn't. I think they will be around for awhile and the parts support is good.
But still ? either one should be ok ? Or buy a good John Deere 4020 and run it several years and sell it for as much or more than you paid for it ! Just hard to beat them for overall value.

To me it is all about dealership and availability of parts. Do you have a dealer for each nearby?
Are they both good solid companies that have been in business for a number of years?

Does it bother you that New Holland was bought by another company?

And for the big question--does blue or orange go best with the color of your implements? Sure hope you took that as a joke.

Let's face it, you get good and bad, in any brand. But, for the most part, the all the large established makers are delivering good machines. I would choose based on what met my criteria and dealer support.

I bought green the last time, because the dealer is nearby, and has been there for 60 years. No other reason influenced me. The nearest Kubota dealer is 50+ miles away. I could have saved money on a similar orange tractor, but chose the closer dealer.

I do recall checking specifications and the Deere had a larger diameter clutch than the similar Kubota and also weighed more. I wanted a wet clutch, but settled for the dry. If you don't ride them, they will last a long, long time and cost a fraction to replace compared to a wet clutch.

I see something I like on a Kubota, and I see something I like on an NH, and I see something I like on a Deere. I get confused when I look at the price sticker, so then I walk away from all three.

I have a TN75S. Never had trouble with the hydro controller, but I did have to replace the sensor. But it was a somewhat minor cost. It has been a very good tractor for me. I use it with a Vermeer TM800 Mower and a Case 8465A Baler(5x6). Pulls both of those easily.

Both make good tractors in that size range, both can have some lemons get out the door. I think if you're spending the money I'd get some references and talk to other customers about how they've been treated. A good dealer is very important, especially the first year of a new tractor. A good dealer will go over them well in the first place and give good follow up to the few problems that usually crop up.

A bad dealer will make you want to beat him to death with a top link.

I would pick the best dealer. NH makes a good product. If the cost between the NH and Kubota is only a thousand or 2 then pick the NH. A good dealer makes a world of difference.

I GOT TO BE HONEST I AM A 28 YEAR KUBOTA DEALER.. NOW THAT SAID TO MUCH TO PUT HERE BUT KUBOTA HAS A BETTER REPUTATION IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY TN. LAST YEAR 46 % of THE TRACTORS SOLD UNDER 100 H.P WERE KUBOTAS. I AM NOT GOING TO GET THE SALE WANT YOU TO BUY CLOSE TO HOME BUT E MAIL ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE REASONS TO BUY THE KUBOTA..AND TRUS ME IF YOU HAVE A GOOD DEALER THE PRICE WILL BE MUCH BETTER ON THE HYDRAULIC SHUTTLE KUBOTA THAN AFTER YOU ADD IT TO THE N.H.

Both make a farm tractor but you really have to look for them. they have a longer wheel base and no bucket on the front. I have only seen one of each around here but they are out there just ask the dealer you want a long wheel base tractor for farming.
Walt

I think both make a great product and the dealer support is very important. I wouldn"t be afraid of buying a Kubota. We"re on our fifth medium sized one in my business and I have a M125X for work and farming. The 125 is a beast. Maybe both companies even offer 0% interest for 4 or so years now? Kubota was doing it a couple months ago at least. I don"t know that much about the ones they offer in that size you"re looking for. My small one is only 57hp.

Well...That"s what I was hoping for...some really good knowledgeable people.

I have an old JD 510 backhoe that I"ve had for over 23 years and it"s been a very good tough machine. It has the Powershift 8 speed with wet clutch and it will push like a dozer, never had a bit of problem with it"s drive train. Not as user friendly as a torque converter but no power is lost to it and it will push a lot of dirt at an idle.

The hyd shuttle and wet PTO on an IH tractor have held up great while the dry traction clutch has had to be replaced twice. It isn"t used hard as it has a light duty loader and is mostly used for feeding and mowing. I never ride or intentionally slip a clutch, it"s either in or out.
Granted, I feel that this IH"s clutch and pressure plate wasn"t properly sized for the machine.

Apart from the unusual, I think a well designed wet clutch should last the life of the machine.

I"ve discounted JD Ag for lack of support, however, the const JD is great. And not sure that a JD in that hp range is up to a NH. Just my opinion.

From the posts I will look further into Kubota. I will email you jerry, very much do appreciate your offer.

Thanks a lot for the replies, have been very helpful.

"A bad dealer will make you want to beat him to death with a top link."

Got a chuckle out of that.

Ran into one of those yesterday, A MF dealer.
Reminds me, I need to thank the owner for his salesman saving me from a lot of potential grief in the future.

MF amazes me. I called them in January and told the salesguy, "I will be buying a new utility tractor in the spring" The guy says well we arent set up as a MF dealer yet......"WTF" is what I thought MF website says you are a MF dealer. I told him well call me back when you get the terms worked out with AGCO and he says would you like to buy a used NH... I say no I want new. Cub Cadet was worse......they didnt have any tractors, what a joke. Cub Cadet *issed me off real bad. Of course now CC has the new tractors with Yanmars in them. I bought a JD 2305 utility tractor they actually wanted to sell me one. Good 0% financing for 36 mths too.

You wouldn't happen to have a McCormick dealer nearby. Those are nice basic tractors that most of us can still work on. The little ones are still the Case IH designs. At the moment, if I was going to buy a new tractor, I would buy a CX. If you get a chance, look them over.

JoshuaGA

Thanks,

"McCormick dealer nearby"

No one close, about 2 hrs.

Really don"t want an internationally built tractor again. Supposedly the Kubota is all built by Kubota.

NH and JD can be scattered.

I"ll check it out, simplicity is better. Creature comforts are not a big concern, same with electronic bells and whistles and nice contoured plastic.
A tractor doing what a tractor was meant to do, parts support and ease of repairs is the main criteria....well, that and not needing repairs is actually.

Just about anything would be better than a Junkbota

So that's what happened to all the missing top links !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They must be in police evidence rooms.

I think in that class of tractor, both are about even. You may get a little more for your money with the Kubota... I know I certainly don't like th dry PTO clutch on the NH for the simple reason that it seems like a throwback to a bygone era. Ford did away with dry PTO's on that class of tractor nearly 45 years ago... so that's mostly why I don't like a dry PTO. I prefer a dry main clutch though... It's cheap and easy to replace and should still last upwards fo 4000 hours in hard use if it's not ridden all the time... but the TN doesn't have the clutch that the Ford's it replaced had either...
My main gripe with Kubota at the moment is that we don't have much in the way of dealer support around here. The local one thinks that selling them is all that's required as they 'don't break' and the next closest one leaves a lot to be desired in their parts department although they do have an excellent sales staff...
I think I'd decide based on the dealer support more than anything, but in my situation right now, dealer support would dictate either green or blue.

Rod

thanks for your input, could you please expound on the reasons why?