New guy, question.

[NatureBoy3030]

Enjoying reading here on the forum.
Im located in CT. Homesteading on 3.5 Acres, a lot of woods. Looking for a pre Tier 4, 30 hp > tractor who's number one purpose will be firewood work with FEL, maybe skidding some trees. We heat with wood, 2 stoves. Other duties are bulk wood chip moving ( left in piles from tree companies in the area doing jobs) to two, hen house pens, moving gravel, fieldstone movement and compost work. maybe some snow removal.. Also, I could really use a root grapple for clean up and maintenance. And some tilling at some point when i can get an implement for it. I know that sounds like a lot but I plan on taking it easy with multiple trips.
I could have used a backhoe to dig the 200' trench to get power out to hen houses but we did it by hand, being blessed with sons, lol. Basically a BH is out of my budget for the size machine I want.
Anyway, thats the back story. I have it narrowed down to two brands. Yes, you know what they are JD and Kubota. This is in part because they have the best dealer support in CT, should it be something I cant fix. And parts availability is the big thing with me.
I love the New Hollands, at least online but try and find a hood or fender for a 2005 TC 35 or 40 right?
And thats my question, for a mid 90s up to 2013-2014 compact tractor, Does one brand have an edge in parts availability?

Does JD or Kubota have better parts availability for 15-30 year old machines?
Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Tim in New York]

I think the JD'd have plastic hoods? At least that is what I seem to remember seeing when getting lawnmower parts at the JD dealer. That alone, if true, would be enough to stay away from. I love my orange tractor and UTV.

 

[showcrop]

I have had as my primary tractor first an '86 19 HP Kubota, then a 2001 30 HP Kubota. They cost nothing to own because they depreciate so slowly. I have also had four old Fords two of which are 48HP and still here plus two bigger ones for bigger power but few hours. Something to consider: A general rule for all kinds of used power equipment, is: "the business owner won't buy something too old, and the homeowner won't buy anything big" To you, this means that there are deals to be had in something substantially larger than what you are considering, but older.

 

[Frank(Mi.)]

Enjoying reading here on the forum.
Im located in CT. Homesteading on 3.5 Acres, a lot of woods. Looking for a pre Tier 4, 30 hp > tractor who's number one purpose will be firewood work with FEL, maybe skidding some trees. We heat with wood, 2 stoves. Other duties are bulk wood chip moving ( left in piles from tree companies in the area doing jobs) to two, hen house pens, moving gravel, fieldstone movement and compost work. maybe some snow removal.. Also, I could really use a root grapple for clean up and maintenance. And some tilling at some point when i can get an implement for it. I know that sounds like a lot but I plan on taking it easy with multiple trips.
I could have used a backhoe to dig the 200' trench to get power out to hen houses but we did it by hand, being blessed with sons, lol. Basically a BH is out of my budget for the size machine I want.
Anyway, thats the back story. I have it narrowed down to two brands. Yes, you know what they are JD and Kubota. This is in part because they have the best dealer support in CT, should it be something I cant fix. And parts availability is the big thing with me.
I love the New Hollands, at least online but try and find a hood or fender for a 2005 TC 35 or 40 right?
And thats my question, for a mid 90s up to 2013-2014 compact tractor, Does one brand have an edge in parts availability?

Does JD or Kubota have better parts availability for 15-30 year old machines?
Thanks for your thoughts

I have had an L series Kubota for twelve or so years now. Our local dealer has a good supply of parts for it. That being said other then routine maintenance supplies all it has ever needed for parts is a glow plug relay which they had on hand...

 

[560Dennis]

I got Kubota

 

[NatureBoy3030]

Tim, they must be great because they have such a loyal following. Theres a L3200 in upstate NY I see but its a pinned on bucket and Ag tires.. I don't think Id mind the gear trans if it has a shuttle. The low hours are attractive.. Id def prefer a QD FEL and R4 tires. Grass areas I do have get ripped up just from ATV.

Showcrop, I remember when that hit me as I was looking online. What Im searching for is selling for basically what it was MSRP 15 or 20 years ago, give or take. Talk about holding value! A friend has a 94 Ford 1920 he loves. Skids logs out, heavy firewood processing.
I am just starting to realize what you said about bigger machines out there with more hours being affordable. Then I start to think is 3 - 4 K too many hours for my first machine. I know without knowing the maintenance its probably impossible to answer that. Plus, CT does not have as many used tractors as say NY or PA. Lots of machines around here but mostly tier 4.

Frank, I appreciate it, Same 560Dennis. Its reassuring to see so much love for the Big K. Just doing random parts searchs online, it does seem they have a good parts supply.
Thanks for the advice all. The search is half the fun I guess.

 

[m16ty]

Enjoying reading here on the forum.
Im located in CT. Homesteading on 3.5 Acres, a lot of woods. Looking for a pre Tier 4, 30 hp > tractor who's number one purpose will be firewood work with FEL, maybe skidding some trees. We heat with wood, 2 stoves. Other duties are bulk wood chip moving ( left in piles from tree companies in the area doing jobs) to two, hen house pens, moving gravel, fieldstone movement and compost work. maybe some snow removal.. Also, I could really use a root grapple for clean up and maintenance. And some tilling at some point when i can get an implement for it. I know that sounds like a lot but I plan on taking it easy with multiple trips.
I could have used a backhoe to dig the 200' trench to get power out to hen houses but we did it by hand, being blessed with sons, lol. Basically a BH is out of my budget for the size machine I want.
Anyway, thats the back story. I have it narrowed down to two brands. Yes, you know what they are JD and Kubota. This is in part because they have the best dealer support in CT, should it be something I cant fix. And parts availability is the big thing with me.
I love the New Hollands, at least online but try and find a hood or fender for a 2005 TC 35 or 40 right?
And thats my question, for a mid 90s up to 2013-2014 compact tractor, Does one brand have an edge in parts availability?

Does JD or Kubota have better parts availability for 15-30 year old machines?
Thanks for your thoughts

Kubota is probably the worst of any major brand when it comes to parts support for older machines.
I’ve got a 1988 B7200, about the only parts still available through Kubota is filters and maybe a few seals. Engine parts may still be available, haven’t needed any so I don’t know. I do know my steering gear took a dump and there were zero parts available for it, ended up having to retrofit something else on it.
On the other hand (and I’m not a fan of the newer JDs) I’ve got a 1959 JD 730. I’ve had to have quite a bit of parts for it and most of them are still available from JD.

 

[NatureBoy3030]

Thank you m16ty, Thats another thing to consider for me.
I almost bought a local 72MF Utility here from a great family but parts availability was my main concern as I know down the road, Im gonna need to replace stuff. Besides really wanting a diesel and it was a Perkins gas.
I see a JD 1070 online I was interested in but parts , esp body parts seem to be a problem for that as well?
Bottom line, Im gonna have to pick something eventually, lol

 

[SkipperII]

The earlier Ford thousand series are excellent tractors. Parts availability is also pretty decent, through our site hosts, and other vendors. Beside that, They normally don't need a lot, just normal maintenance.

 

[showcrop]

The Ford 1920 is a Shibaura. They are an orphan. Parts availability is among the worst.

 

[NatureBoy3030]

Good to know..

 

[m16ty]

Also keep in mind about 4x4. Sounds like you want a loader. If you have a 50hp plus tractor you can get by without 4x4 and loader (although even the bigger ones benefit from a loader), but in any of the compacts they are about useless if 2 wheel drive and a loader.

 

[Vito]

Enjoying reading here on the forum.
Im located in CT. Homesteading on 3.5 Acres, a lot of woods. Looking for a pre Tier 4, 30 hp > tractor who's number one purpose will be firewood work with FEL, maybe skidding some trees. We heat with wood, 2 stoves. Other duties are bulk wood chip moving ( left in piles from tree companies in the area doing jobs) to two, hen house pens, moving gravel, fieldstone movement and compost work. maybe some snow removal.. Also, I could really use a root grapple for clean up and maintenance. And some tilling at some point when i can get an implement for it. I know that sounds like a lot but I plan on taking it easy with multiple trips.
I could have used a backhoe to dig the 200' trench to get power out to hen houses but we did it by hand, being blessed with sons, lol. Basically a BH is out of my budget for the size machine I want.
Anyway, thats the back story. I have it narrowed down to two brands. Yes, you know what they are JD and Kubota. This is in part because they have the best dealer support in CT, should it be something I cant fix. And parts availability is the big thing with me.
I love the New Hollands, at least online but try and find a hood or fender for a 2005 TC 35 or 40 right?
And thats my question, for a mid 90s up to 2013-2014 compact tractor, Does one brand have an edge in parts availability?

Does JD or Kubota have better parts availability for 15-30 year old machines?
Thanks for your thoughts

What part of CT are you in?

Vito

 

[NatureBoy3030]

M16ty, Rgr that. Planning on 4WD or MFWD. that was another thing about the 72 MF20. 2WD.
We're pretty level here but it can get muddy at times in spots and snow is something to consider.

 

[Tony in SD]

Around the turn of the century, Kubota was not an option in my area. So I bought a 48 hp JD 4700 R4 tires FWA Hydro with a 460 FEL bucket/pallet forks and a 7' dozer. It has been a very good tractor. I still have a choice of 2 JD dealerships within 30 miles to get parts and service. I use it to mow my 4 acre yard as well as 3 other lots with in 2 1/2 miles. I also use it on a small square baler and a 7' garden tiller. I can't say enough about the Hydro transmission , especially for mowing, loader, pallet fork and baling hay. Oh and I also use it on my 25kW stand by generator.

Personally I think 30 HP will disappoint you being a little under powered.

Cab or no cab might be a consideration too, especially if you are going to use it to move snow.

I know very little about Kubota except that people who own them really like them which is the same for JD owners.

 

[psimmer]

Enjoying reading here on the forum.
Im located in CT. Homesteading on 3.5 Acres, a lot of woods. Looking for a pre Tier 4, 30 hp > tractor who's number one purpose will be firewood work with FEL, maybe skidding some trees. We heat with wood, 2 stoves. Other duties are bulk wood chip moving ( left in piles from tree companies in the area doing jobs) to two, hen house pens, moving gravel, fieldstone movement and compost work. maybe some snow removal.. Also, I could really use a root grapple for clean up and maintenance. And some tilling at some point when i can get an implement for it. I know that sounds like a lot but I plan on taking it easy with multiple trips.
I could have used a backhoe to dig the 200' trench to get power out to hen houses but we did it by hand, being blessed with sons, lol. Basically a BH is out of my budget for the size machine I want.
Anyway, thats the back story. I have it narrowed down to two brands. Yes, you know what they are JD and Kubota. This is in part because they have the best dealer support in CT, should it be something I cant fix. And parts availability is the big thing with me.
I love the New Hollands, at least online but try and find a hood or fender for a 2005 TC 35 or 40 right?
And thats my question, for a mid 90s up to 2013-2014 compact tractor, Does one brand have an edge in parts availability?

Does JD or Kubota have better parts availability for 15-30 year old machines?
Thanks for your thoughts

About 8 years ago I was shopping for a tractor for year around use, but primarily for snow removal. Did a lot of searching, finally found a 1992 Kubota L2650 with a Sims cab, loader, and a 62 inch front mounted blower. Was very well maintained and had a little over 1300 hours on it. It's 29 hp, gear drive with mechanical shuttle. It has been a great tractor for my needs. This past winter, the spiral that turns the snowblower chute broke. I called the local Kubota dealer and they had it in stock. I was pleasantly surprised they had that part in stock. Perhaps they never sell many, I don't know, but I was very pleased. Other than oil changes, I haven't bought anything for this tractor. It still has the battery in it that came with it.

 

[Farmall M 248]

I don’t care for either JD or Kubota but out of the I would pick JD.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

What are your local dealers like. We have 4 large Deere chains within 50 miles that all have the overnight parts shuttle figured out

We had a local Kubota dealer that closed a few years ago so there is 1left in that same distance

Your cnh parts availability issues also surprise me a bit but I haven’t tried much older blue stuff. there’s a red power that is on its own here in the north quarter of the state that is as good parts wise as any of the Deere chains has a massive inventory on site when none of the rest have a strange bolt they will.

All about what you have locally we wouldn’t be as green as we are here without the sheer amount of parts availability

 

[Princeton Bill]

I just read all of the comments so far and reread how you are going to use the tractor. 3.5 acres is a relatively "small" amount of land, but the fact you are going to use the tractor for processing a lot of firewood makes Tony's comments about a larger tractor very meaningful. The smaller horsepower lighter tractors can do as much loader work albeit slower than a 50 HP tractor. However the additional weight of the larger tractor is a big advantage when lifting logs with the FEL. I'd go with a John Deere with a Hydro if you can find it.

 

[NatureBoy3030]

So from comments above, it seems parts availability is good across both brands, but of course like anything else, individual experience's may vary, lol
Farmall M248, Whats your go to for a tractor?
Im open to all as I tend to think they're all good for the most part. Initially, I was really looking at used New Hollands online.

Fixing Farmer, I have Kubota and JD dealers in the state, that pretty much means within an hour.
We do have a Mahindra dealer in the state but I don't see many that fit the age and size Im looking for. I do see a few of them locally though so I know people are shopping there.
Thanks Princetown Bill, I have learned the HP has way less to do with it than other factors like the loader and the overall weight.
I have learned a lot since I really started researching. A smaller compact will be easier to get around here where as to large a tractor though more capable may be slower to move around. Im thinking Kubotta L or JD 3032,3320 etc type machines.
The biggest decision on my mind right now is gear drive or Hydro. Can save a little $, afford a newer machine with gear drive in addition to it having a little more "push" into a pile. With a shuttle for FWD / REV which as far as I can tell almost every machine has some variation of, how important is hydro. A lot of opinions seem to favor it over gear drive.
I don't think id mind working a Synchro gear with a power shuttle, sort of an in between..

Thank you for all the comments and thoughts!