[AT] Compact tractors

Sun Dec 13 17:11:31 PST 2015

To add to this, I went up there and they did not have a 2538 HST on the
yard, but they did have a 2540 shuttle shift. It turns out the 2538 is
brand new and set to be a "price point" tractor. They don't think they can
actually get one until after the new year.

My reasoning for the hydrostatic was for FEL work but after running the
2540 I realized the shuttle shift would work just fine. So, I bought a
Mahindra 2540 Shuttle with a FEL and a backhoe as well as a set of forks
and a canopy. I have used it some but not as much as I'd like since we took
a weeks vacation after Thanksgiving.

In short I am very pleased but I do have a few complaints I intend to share
with my Dealer. Mahindra installs a subframe to receive the backhoe
attachment and it was delivered installed. I wanted to drop the backhoe and
use the three point and that's where the fun began. They have a hydraulic
fitting that badly interferes with withdrawing the retaining pin on the
upper right side of the hoe. I had to loosen the fitting and turn it to a
very unnatural angle to withdraw the pin enough to remove the backhoe. This
is made unnecessarily messy because the hydraulics are needed to rock the
hoe off the tractor so the pressure could not be relieved first.

Then, when I needed to install the three point arms which cannot be mounted
along with the backhoe, there is interference with a 19mm bolt that mounts
the hoe subframe to the tractor. This bolt was obviously installed using an
impact wrench and without mine I'd have never been able to get them out. To
me, this is a serious drawback to a fellow who wanted to change attachments
in the field, as I need an assortment of wrenches as well as the 19mm
impact socket to get the arms attached.

I'm not sure if anyone else has ever had this issue with another brand
tractor and if it is normal or not.

Other than that, the tractor is very powerful, starts easily, does not do
the new diesel "regen cycle" kubotas do to meet emissions and seems to be
very fuel efficient. It is also very comfortable and the controls are well
placed, if unfamiliar to me as an inexperienced operator. I do wish it had
an onboard toolbox considering it needs tools to change some implements.

I have not figured out where to put my cupholders and stereo yet, but will
keep you informed.

Warren

On Wed, Nov 18, 2015 at 3:38 PM, Mogrits <mogrits at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks to several of y'alls responses I checked out the Mahindras online
> and figured out the comparable model and called our Mahindra dealer about
> 40 minutes away.
>
> I called asking about a 1500 series tractor but after we talked a while he
> had me moved a class up to a 2500 series for the same price as the Kubota
> and only a little more than the New Holland. I'm going up there friday to
> see for myself but it is sounding like I may have a Mahindra 2538 HST in my
> future.
>
> What sold me mostly was the added weight and one particular video online
> of similar rated tractors lined up trying to lift a pallet of sakrete. The
> New Holland and Kubotas tires came off the ground while the Mahindra lifted
> it and drove away. That seems backed up by what a lot of y'all said about
> the Mahindras seemed to be a little more old styled and of heavier castings.
>
> Warren
>
> On Tue, Nov 17, 2015 at 11:51 PM, Scott Williams <
> swillia5 at rochester.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> For that kind of usage, and with the employees using it as well, one of
>> the
>> advantages of the newer machines is the almost "automatic" shifting and
>> forward/reversing offered on a lot of machines.  I noticed as soon as I
>> got
>> my '72 Massey Ferguson 135 that if it had a loader, it would be a lot of
>> work to do the back and forth shifting to move things around (I don't
>> have a
>> loader.)  As it is, I am loving it for what I need clearing brush, but if
>> it
>> was for professional work (where time is money) I could see the major
>> difference in time that a shuttle shift would for many operations.  Even
>> with the clearing brush, the shifting and changing hi/lo takes a lot more
>> time.  For running a mower around a field, manual trans is great, but for
>> a
>> lot of other site work, it is a lot slower.
>>
>> The clunky shifting and taking your time with the work is part of the fun
>> of
>> old iron, but not the most efficient way to get certain jobs done.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mogrits
>> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 10:51 PM
>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>> Subject: Re: [AT] Compact tractors
>>
>> Hi Herb!
>>
>> I visited the Kubota dealer today and actually drove the L3901. I think it
>> will do what I need. The salesman I talked to was an owner of the
>> dealership
>> so I did not get a lot of sales talk from him. He asked me all the right
>> questions and knew his stuff. He educated me a good bit. One of the things
>> he asked me was why I walked in thinking I wanted that model tractor. I
>> told
>> him I'd looked at the specs on line and thought the horsepower rating was
>> about right considering my Jubilee was slightly less hp and considered a
>> double bottom plow capable tractor. He was smart to tell me compacts
>> didn't
>> work that way because they don't weigh enough to get all their horsepower
>> transferred to the ground. I'd never thought of that. Then again, I never
>> planned to pull a double bottom plow with it anyways.
>>
>> I want a new compact for this tractor because #1, I want at least one key
>> turner in my stable of tractors. If this makes sense- having an operable,
>> reliable tractor will give me more time to work on my older tractors. As
>> it
>> is now, each tractor usage consists of 3 hours of expedient tractor repair
>> to perform one hours work with it. If I can reliably do my chores quickly
>> I
>> can then have time to lovingly work on my old iron.
>>
>> #2 reason is precisely because it is so light. Trailering it will not be a
>> huge hassle and this tractor will be used on my construction jobs to do
>> light sitework with the bucket and to dig some footings and occasional
>> trenches for conduits, etc. Truth be told a skidsteer would do this better
>> but they weigh so much I then get into a situation of buying a road
>> vehicle
>> to tow one legally with all the additional insurance and CDLs that
>> involves.
>>
>> #3 Reason is related to #2, and that is that I will have employees
>> operating
>> it sometimes. Now we all know employees are rougher on equipment than we
>> are
>> ourselves, but they are far, far rougher on equipment they perceive to be
>> inferior or antiquated, and it is rare the employee that can diagnose an
>> ignition or fuel issue in the field and meanwhile, their timeclock is
>> ticking away.
>>
>> So for this tractor, it has to be new or damn near new.
>>
>> Warren
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 16, 2015 at 12:14 PM, Herb Metz <metz-h.b at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> > Warren,
>> > Don't get around much any more; so had to google Nortrac.
>> > There are some benefits to 'restored common tractors'; only problem
>> > being finding one, especially with front wheel assist.  Don't know
>> > what JD, IHC, and lessers offered;  AC only had a 6000 series where
>> > FWA was optional, so parts availability may become a concern there.
>> > After AC demise in 1985, AGCO became eventual owner and they are not
>> > very interested in AC parts manufacture.  Suggest monitoring various
>> > forums if you decide to consider a used tractor.  One of the problems
>> > 'used'  do not have is "too much blankety electronics"; that comes
>> > from a Kubota owner of several years who was not getting much sympathy
>> > or assistance from the local dealer when I was shopping for a gin
>> > pole. The guys tractor was out in the woods (where he could not get at
>> > it to retrieve it) and he was needing to know what all electronics he
>> > could check  to determine what was keeping it from even attempting to
>> > start. Unfortunately, this was not the first such occurrence.
>> > On a side note, the Cumming, GA tractor show (Nov 13 & 14) had a
>> > restored
>> > 1958 Ford with F.W. Assist ; a local guy found it in Minnesota.
>> > According to previous owner, Dodge Power Wagon had a contract with
>> > Ford; primary purpose was logging.  Today it has a soft future as a
>> > good looking trailer queen.
>> > Herb(GA)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Mogrits
>> > Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 8:31 AM
>> > To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>> > Subject: [AT] Compact tractors
>> > I'm in the market for a compact tractor. I've narrowed it to a Kubota
>> > L3901 or a Nortrac 35XT.
>> > Both come with a font bucket and a rear backhoe. Does anyone know any
>> > firsthand information on the Nortrac or for that matter the Kubota?
>> > We have a local Kubota dealer but I've yet to learn who or where I'd
>> > get Nortrac service from.
>> > Thanks
>> > Warren
>> >
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