[AT] Compact tractors

Tue Nov 17 07:29:24 PST 2015

I don't know for sure but if the Kubota is a hydrostatic drive
that is probably why it won't put full hp to the rear.  I had a
Kubota dealer tell me once that their hydro tractors were great
for mowing and utility work but would not stand up to pulling
plows and tillage work.  As you said Dean, that's worth
what you paid for it.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dean VP
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 2:38 AM
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
Subject: Re: [AT] Compact tractors

Warren,

First of all take this for what you paid for it.  $0.  I'm now an expert on 
Compact tractors, I've
owned one since 1998. :-)  I fully understand your objectives but I think 
you may be underestimating
how limiting a tractor is when it is light in the rear end.  The Jubilee is 
light in the rear end just
like the 2n 9N and 8N. In many case they are close to worthless for pulling 
or pushing anything due to
poor traction.  As an example: I've had to pull my neighbor's 8N  out of my 
pasture in an area where
there was a 6% slope. However, they made excellent two plow tractors because 
of the Ferguson three
point hitch to offer load and depth control.  So I don't understand why that 
dealer told you that a
compact tractor cannot put full HP to the rear wheels when using the three 
point hitch. A tag plow I
agree but not with a three point plow.  Unless Kubota doesn't offer load and 
depth control  on their
three point hitches.  I don't know the answer to that.

But if I've had any frustration with my compact tractor is its lack of 
traction due to being light in
the rear end. I've only used a one bottom plow on it and the three point 
hitch sucked the rear end
down to where I had plenty of traction.   It's only an 18HP 3 cylinder 
diesel and therefore I suspect
a 2 bottom plow would overwhelm it power wise but I've never tried it.  If 
there is anything I would
seriously look for on another compact was what its weight is on the rear 
end. I have both rear tires
full of CC and it still is next to worthless on wet slopes. Now I will admit 
that I'm spoiled by
antique tractors that typically have 70% of their total weight on the rear 
wheels. Makes a huge
difference. So I don't know whether there is anything in compact tractors 
out there that has more
weight on the rear tires it would raise to the top of the list very quickly. 
Since you  currently own
a Jubilee you are fully aware of what the limitations are of a light rear 
end when not gaining
traction from the three point hitch when plowing. If Kubota doesn't offer 
that ,  then I would look
elsewhere. However, that deficiency would also surprise me.

I've become so irritated by the light rear end om my compact I have an 
almost permanently mounted
three point hitch heavy 50" Rotatory Tiller Mounted all the time when trying 
to do work. If I didn't
have the tiller I'd probably have a  three point weight or weight box always 
on it.  Rear wheel
weights are available but in my view I need much more weight in the rear 
than what they provide.  But
having that on there all the time is often a PITA.  But it works.  I guess 
your needed applications
will dictate how much that  light rear end is going to  impact you. Bottom 
line I'm really stunned
that the dealer didn't sell the attributes of the three point hitch.

Dean VP
Snohomish, WA

If we can employ guards with guns to protect money, we can and should employ 
guards with guns to
protect people. Bernard Goldberg.

-----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 7:51 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
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