Compact tractor hunt

[alfio]

I'm shopping for a new compact tractor. I'd like to get something that's diesel powered, 4wd, has a loader rated to lift 1,000 lbs., and comes with a manual transmission or shuttle shift (no hydros). Shouldn't be that hard, right? Because I don't do this all the time, I didn't know that some tractors in this category have Regen. Ugh. No thanks. I looked at a Kubota today, closest to what I need/would like is a L2502. Only 25hp but dealer said everything bigger comes with Regen. I will be looking at Kioti next. Unclear on what they are doing for emissions. There's a Massey dealer nearby. What else should I be looking at? Brands or model recommendations would be welcome.

Or, and this is a big OR, should I give up on used and dive into the used market? I'm leaning new because the used stuff is often overpriced compared to new but now all this Regen stuff is pushing me back towards used.

Thanks!

A.

 

[greenmech]

I'm shopping for a new compact tractor. I'd like to get something that's diesel powered, 4wd, has a loader rated to lift 1,000 lbs., and comes with a manual transmission or shuttle shift (no hydros). Shouldn't be that hard, right? Because I don't do this all the time, I didn't know that some tractors in this category have Regen. Ugh. No thanks. I looked at a Kubota today, closest to what I need/would like is a L2502. Only 25hp but dealer said everything bigger comes with Regen. I will be looking at Kioti next. Unclear on what they are doing for emissions. There's a Massey dealer nearby. What else should I be looking at? Brands or model recommendations would be welcome.

Or, and this is a big OR, should I give up on used and dive into the used market? I'm leaning new because the used stuff is often overpriced compared to new but now all this Regen stuff is pushing me back towards used.

Thanks!

A.

Try Mahindra, I have a 38 HP that doesn't have regeneration. Ron MN

 

[alfio]

Try Mahindra, I have a 38 HP that doesn't have regeneration. Ron MN

You're happy with it? Aside from some limited experience with made in India steel and motors, this may be total bias on my part but I'm hesitant to buy a machine made in India. I guess I should go to a dealership and take a good look.

A.

 

[greenmech]

You're happy with it? Aside from some limited experience with made in India steel and motors, this may be total bias on my part but I'm hesitant to buy a machine made in India. I guess I should go to a dealership and take a good look.

A.

So far it's been good, 130 hours running a snow blower and wood chipper. Got a cab with air and heat. Loader works good too. Ron MN

 

[Steve in IL]

May I ask why no Hydrostatic?

 

[alfio]

May I ask why no Hydrostatic?

I prefer manual transmissions, more control, less expense to maintain.

A.

 

[Part Time Pete]

You might want to go a little bigger than an L2502 if you want to pick 1,000lbs comfortably

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I prefer manual transmissions, more control, less expense to maintain.

A.

My brother in law bought a new Kubota L2502 gear drive recently. The only reason being, it was less expensive. The dealer had to special-order it because they only had one gear drive in stock and it was already sold.

Three roughly 24" diameter, 16" long rounds of ash is enough to make the rear end of the tractor light. Has plenty of hydraulic, just not enough butt... No way it would lift 1000lbs.

You have MORE control with a hydro, and the maintenance is the same for both tractors: Oil and filters. It's okay to just say you want to spend less money.

Just be aware that because the gear drives aren't big sellers, they'll be the first ones that you won't be able to get parts for in the future.

Also be aware that regen problems are grossly overblown by a small vocal minority. The reality is the vast majority of machines run without issue. If you run them properly instead of trying to second-guess the designers, that goes a long way to keeping them working fine. It's when you start playing the "I know better than the person who designed this" game and start babying the machine, that you have problems.

 

[DaveBN]

My cousin has an LS tractor. After several fights with the dealer soon after purchase he has been happy. I think it's about 35 HP. He hates the Regen but happy other than that. Some maintenance is tough as the pollution stuff makes access to the engine almost impossible. He has always done his own maintenance but had a dealer do valve adjustment. $800 +. His invoice had pages of parts removed and replaced just to adjust valves. Something to consider when shopping.
Dave

 

[showcrop]

Why are you calling it regen? I assume that you are referring to exhaust particulate filter. If you operate almost anything equipped with one properly, it could never need to regenerate. Proper operation can be as simple as don't idle it. The systems can have problems, some brands more than others, but my experience over five years, is totally trouble free. And so far as hydro, if you use and carte for it properly all you need be concerned with is fluid and filter changes at some pretty broad intervals.

 

[Russ from MN]

We bought a new JD 4600 in 2002, and just love it! 12/12 power reverser transmission, 37 pto HP, Yanmar engine. It handles a 6-foot brush cutter fairly well, in heavy brush I use some of the lower gears. I found some rear wheel weights that weigh 185 each, so I think I can easily pick up 1000 pounds, but I usually have the brush cutter on all summer too. I'm glad we got it before all the new pollution rules, I'm all in favor of clean air, but some of them sound troublesome.

 

[Steve in IL]

Alfio… You haven’t mentioned what you really plan to do with said tractor. It difficult to provide useful insight if the application is unknown.

 

[jm.]

I'm shopping for a new compact tractor. I'd like to get something that's diesel powered, 4wd, has a loader rated to lift 1,000 lbs., and comes with a manual transmission or shuttle shift (no hydros). Shouldn't be that hard, right? Because I don't do this all the time, I didn't know that some tractors in this category have Regen. Ugh. No thanks. I looked at a Kubota today, closest to what I need/would like is a L2502. Only 25hp but dealer said everything bigger comes with Regen. I will be looking at Kioti next. Unclear on what they are doing for emissions. There's a Massey dealer nearby. What else should I be looking at? Brands or model recommendations would be welcome.

Or, and this is a big OR, should I give up on used and dive into the used market? I'm leaning new because the used stuff is often overpriced compared to new but now all this Regen stuff is pushing me back towards used.

Thanks!

A.

Take an old mans (82 years) advise, last 30+ with KUBOTA forget the fear of regen newer tractors operate perfect and do not rule out the hydro. There is a reason the L 25 is cheap the hydrostats out sell them . you mentioned CONTROL nothing better than the hydro in that regard. MOST folks that buy the economy L 2501 are back sooner or latter saying man I wish I had bought bigger nicer. Free advise and i will not make a penny on whatever you buy .

 

[showcrop]

Take an old mans (82 years) advise, last 30+ with KUBOTA forget the fear of regen newer tractors operate perfect and do not rule out the hydro. There is a reason the L 25 is cheap the hydrostats out sell them . you mentioned CONTROL nothing better than the hydro in that regard. MOST folks that buy the economy L 2501 are back sooner or latter saying man I wish I had bought bigger nicer. Free advise and i will not make a penny on whatever you buy .

jm. I have a 3010 since new with the glide shift transmission. For me it is better than either hydro or gear. I understand that it was discontinued. Why? did it have problems? or just slow sales compared to the hydro?

 

[jm.]

jm. I have a 3010 since new with the glide shift transmission. For me it is better than either hydro or gear. I understand that it was discontinued. Why? did it have problems? or just slow sales compared to the hydro?

For years the glide shift was ahead of all completion, very few problems but like everything else it met its day. The hydrostatics were cheaper to build and folks just took to them. Availability is driven by sales and finally just had to drop the GST.

 

[Texasmark]

Just a FYI: In 2016 I wanted a small tractor to do odd jobs around the place. Being an old school guy I bought a manual shift, transmission driven PTO because I thought I wanted and needed such as they have worked fine for me over the years......fast forward......2021 I trade it in for a more comfortable, same HP tractor with plenty of room for the driver, Hydro tranny, Independent PTO, tilt wheel and the rest of the regular amenities standard equipment across the brands......4wd, quick attach loader, Hydo steering to name a few.

Now that I have had it for awhile I can't believe that I was so narrow minded when I thought I wanted the same type of tractor I used in the field to do close in task support around the farm.

Just one tidbit to consider: Hooking up 3 pt implements is my main chore working alone. With the Hydro, I can get close to the implement, get off the tractor, go around to the right side and I have F and R gears and speed control just a finger tip away (push on the selected pedal for a little "bump" of the tractor's position), lift control is right there as is the steering wheel. You can't do that with an "old school" tractor.

Not convinced? One more.....shuttle work........ like moving manure from a stall/pen area to something else, lots of forward and reversing. With the old school its clutching, moving the shift lever, getting the gears to sync and mesh, letting out the clutch, press on the throttle pedal, lift the load, move over to the dump site, repeat the movements, shift to R back up, shift to F move forward, repeat.......

With Hydro, you push on the F pedal as far as you want for the speed you want, sink the bucket into the pile, as you let off the F pedal as the bucket is now firmly in the pile, lift the FEL as you are "moving your toe" over to the R pedal and push as hard as you want for the speed you want as you tilt and lift the bucket full of product. Finished backing up, "move your toe over to the F pedal", push as hard as you want to go as fast as you want to the dump, dump the load, push the R pedal............

 

[DoubleR]

I'm shopping for a new compact tractor. I'd like to get something that's diesel powered, 4wd, has a loader rated to lift 1,000 lbs., and comes with a manual transmission or shuttle shift (no hydros). Shouldn't be that hard, right? Because I don't do this all the time, I didn't know that some tractors in this category have Regen. Ugh. No thanks. I looked at a Kubota today, closest to what I need/would like is a L2502. Only 25hp but dealer said everything bigger comes with Regen. I will be looking at Kioti next. Unclear on what they are doing for emissions. There's a Massey dealer nearby. What else should I be looking at? Brands or model recommendations would be welcome.

Or, and this is a big OR, should I give up on used and dive into the used market? I'm leaning new because the used stuff is often overpriced compared to new but now all this Regen stuff is pushing me back towards used.

Thanks!

A.

I started buying Kubota tractors in 1990 and have owned 8 models and currently have 3 I use. A hydro trans is hard to beat in a compact doing loader work. My first one was a 23hp 8 speed manual trans and I was happy with it. but after upgrading it to a hydo and realizing how much better I liked it and I'll not go back. I do like a manual trans for field work though which I have on a 60 hp Kubota I have. It does have a forward and reverser lever which would be handy if I had a loader on it, which I don't

I have the regen on my 2018 M 6060 which I've had no problem with it, I don't try to cancel the regen and run it at high RPMs as the book states when it regens. It doesn't make any difference whether I work it hard or easy it regens at about 20 hrs all the time and as always done so and takes about 10-15 minutes to regen. I have a 1000 hrs on it.

Be it right or wrong I just stating my experiences and opinions. I would make sure you will get good dealer service as close as possible what ever you decide. I have 8 kubota dealers within 50 miles of my house. If I didn't have kubota I would go with Deere as a second choice because of the dealer service I would have even though it would cost a arm and a leg but Kubota not cheap either.

 

[WNYBill]

Compact is a red flag for me. A 40hp compact will not do 40hp worth of work without breaking. Bite the bullet once and get a Utility.

 

[Leroy]

I'm shopping for a new compact tractor. I'd like to get something that's diesel powered, 4wd, has a loader rated to lift 1,000 lbs., and comes with a manual transmission or shuttle shift (no hydros). Shouldn't be that hard, right? Because I don't do this all the time, I didn't know that some tractors in this category have Regen. Ugh. No thanks. I looked at a Kubota today, closest to what I need/would like is a L2502. Only 25hp but dealer said everything bigger comes with Regen. I will be looking at Kioti next. Unclear on what they are doing for emissions. There's a Massey dealer nearby. What else should I be looking at? Brands or model recommendations would be welcome.

Or, and this is a big OR, should I give up on used and dive into the used market? I'm leaning new because the used stuff is often overpriced compared to new but now all this Regen stuff is pushing me back towards used.

Thanks!

A.

I am not in the market for one now living in an apartment. So my question is, Does any one make a GAS powered tractor any more as I am alergic to diesel fuell fumes or exaust. just wondering if gas tractors still made.

 

[buickanddeere]

I'm shopping for a new compact tractor. I'd like to get something that's diesel powered, 4wd, has a loader rated to lift 1,000 lbs., and comes with a manual transmission or shuttle shift (no hydros). Shouldn't be that hard, right? Because I don't do this all the time, I didn't know that some tractors in this category have Regen. Ugh. No thanks. I looked at a Kubota today, closest to what I need/would like is a L2502. Only 25hp but dealer said everything bigger comes with Regen. I will be looking at Kioti next. Unclear on what they are doing for emissions. There's a Massey dealer nearby. What else should I be looking at? Brands or model recommendations would be welcome.

Or, and this is a big OR, should I give up on used and dive into the used market? I'm leaning new because the used stuff is often overpriced compared to new but now all this Regen stuff is pushing me back towards used.

Thanks!

A.

pre 2007 or under 25 HP. Rumour has it the EV loving greenies in the EPA. They plan on changing the world's temperature by forcing the under 25HP ICE market out of business. As the emissions equipment will cost as much or more than the rest of the machine .