[AT] Compact tractors

Tue Nov 17 10:00:22 PST 2015

As you on the list know, I am a farmer with workers performing most of 
my tractor and truck work nowadays. We have only one WORKING compact 
tractor in the operation at this time and it is my mother's Ford. We do 
have a Kubota and for a time I had a leased Kubota M series (about 53hp 
per the rating). I have repaired Kubotas several times and have checked 
out other compacts and do not feel all are the same.
      First, the Chinese models (Nortrac, Jinma, etc.) have all had 
sloppy workmanship that I have looked at with poor quality tires. Also 
they have flimsy controls and poor quality plastic handles, gauges and 
mounting points for many items. I cannot say that is universal, but 
every brand I have looked at at the International Agricultural 
Exposition have shared those characteristics. Second, our Kubotas and 
the other Kubotas I have operated have flimsy controls and internally 
the amount of metal is very light. They require an operator that is "not 
hard on equipment" for reliability. Personally they scared me away from 
Kubota. That is the reason I have not purchased new Massey Ferguson 
smaller size tractors also because they share that sense of not having 
extra "beefiness" built in. My workers simply trashed the Kubota 
tractors because they assumed there was a bit more durability.
      My mother's compact Ford is simple and difficult to damage and 
looking at the New Holland models on the dealer lot, they seem to share 
that characteristic for the US assembled, Japanese parts tractors that I 
see. John Deere's compacts are well regarded by some, but I have no 
experience with them. We do not have a Mahindra dealer near, but the low 
cost Indian manufacturing resulting in a cheap tractor is the purchase 
factor I have heard in decision making. What the quality is I cannot 
speak to in the units that are newer than 15 years old. Then they were 
not well made, but that may or may not have changed.
      I can also say that purchase of one without a local dealer service 
ability is not a good thing. These are not made with easy documentation 
and service as prime points....
                   Grant Brians - Hollister,California farmer of 
vegetables, herbs, nuts etc.

  On 11/16/2015 7:50 PM, Mogrits wrote:
> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing list
>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>