Sub Compact Tractors

[2LZ]

Me with my dream tractor. Kioti CS2520....and a beer, of course. Calaveras County Fair last weekend.
Been subcompact tractor shopping for a while now. Time will tell.....

[JerryHawk250]

Drink a few more of them beers and it will follow you home.

[wheelbender6]

You could make a nice fire break around your place with that toy.

[2LZ]

This is sooooooooooooooooo funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've discovered that shopping for your first subcompact tractor is much like shopping for your first China bike!!!

It doesn't matter what brand (John Deere, Kubota, Massey Ferguson, New Holland, Kioti, LS, etc...etc...), they are ALL made in South Korea and under most cases, brought here to the US for assembly.....or built there, then imported. (Think Hondoid CG motor and frame regardless if it's Bashan, Haosan, etc).

They all share a bunch of the same parts and assemblies......and watching the forums, much like the China Bike World.....it all comes down to "dealer support"....because, much like the China Bikes of today.....none of them are "bad" or to be steered clear of.

At the current time, being a China Rider, I'm not afraid of any of them because....well, get me the parts and I'll be fine.

The LS Mt125 with a loader and backhoe is boiling to the top. I have a dealer within 1.5 hours of Volcano who can promise me parts, filters etc..... That works so far. Going to check it out this week......

[Hunnicutt]

I own a 10 acre ranch. I spent months researching tractors, and came to conclusions identical to yours.

John Deere and Kubota: MAJOR sticker shock

LS is my first choice due to dealer support and price. Kioti is nice, but the dealers are few in my area.

My budget was very tight. I couldn't afford a brand new tractor. I scoured the interwebs, looking for used tractors. I stumbled upon this beauty - a fully restored 1958 Ford Workmaster 641 for $4700. I went to look at it, and it followed me home. It needed a new distributor cap and a new rotor. The local NAPA had both in stock - cost me all of $18 + adjusting the gap on the plugs and the points. I bought a 6' yard rake at Rural King to help level out uneven terrain.



http://www.tractordata.com/farm-trac...-ford-641.html

[2LZ]

Awesome find, Hunnicutt! I had a guy locally who had a nice Ford 8N for sale but with my land, I need 4WD. He only wanted 1000.00 for it with a few of the drag implements! Ran perfect......
I wish Katoranger was still around. Great China Rider and VERY much into tractors.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Awesome find, Hunnicutt! I had a guy locally who had a nice Ford 8N for sale but with my land, I need 4WD. He only wanted 1000.00 for it with a few of the drag implements! Ran perfect......
I wish Katoranger was still around. Great China Rider and VERY much into tractors.

The Ford has left/right wheel brakes that get you out of situations. And those rear wheels are TALL and heavy, usually filled halfway with water. The larger tracter is also more durable, will cost way less over time with fewer hydraulic hoses to replace, etc.

The biggest difference is that the Kioto and other lighter tracters with true 4WD can have a light footprint. This can be really important when the ground is WET! It also minimizes gouging and digs caused by uber machinery

If it is a golf course (ok, maybe a back yard, or lawn), or if it is a small soybean or garden field needing plowing, the compromises allowed are very different!

I am in the process of planning a move. I do not want a big lawn to maintain, and I'd rather have tillable garden space. When the time comes, I will be leaning towards ancient machinery.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Thumper

The Ford has left/right wheel brakes that get you out of situations. And those rear wheels are TALL and heavy, usually filled halfway with water. The larger tracter is also more durable, will cost way less over time with fewer hydraulic hoses to replace, etc.

The biggest difference is that the Kioto and other lighter tracters with true 4WD can have a light footprint. This can be really important when the ground is WET! It also minimizes gouging and digs caused by uber machinery

If it is a golf course (ok, maybe a back yard, or lawn), or if it is a small soybean or garden field needing plowing, the compromises allowed are very different!

I am in the process of planning a move. I do not want a big lawn to maintain, and I'd rather have tillable garden space. When the time comes, I will be leaning towards ancient machinery.

That was definitely not our experience here. My neighbor had a big 2WD farm type tractor (IHC with a Mitsubishi motor. Early 60's) and it got stuck constantly, even on the slightest inclines. The big rear tires would just spin. We'd have to lift the bucket all the way up to get the weight as far back as possible and then start piling lumber under the rear wheels. He's had to drag it out with his F350 diesel numerous times.

My little LS has the rear tires filled with water and that definitely helps stick it to the ground on our steep hill. It's amazing what that little thing has accomplished. Zero problems.

[Thumper]

I guess 4WD is just better for tractors. I had a small ford tractor (8N) inherited on the property (needed engine work-a cylinder was bad). I never got stuck at all. But I didn't venture into mucky fields. It was a heavy tractor, but it was good with the rear lawn mower. I did not have a shovel on it. I did need to use the brakes selectively in soft dirt, but never bogged down.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Thumper

I guess 4WD is just better for tractors. I had a small ford tractor (8N) inherited on the property (needed engine work-a cylinder was bad). I never got stuck at all. But I didn't venture into mucky fields. It was a heavy tractor, but it was good with the rear lawn mower. I did not have a shovel on it. I did need to use the brakes selectively in soft dirt, but never bogged down.

Well there ya go. With the big mower on the back and no bucket, makes a huge weight distribution difference. My buddy had the big bucket on the front and just a littler blade on the rear. He finally sold it to a guy who has a big flat pasture. He's going to be shoving around big piles of manure. The new owner was thrilled to get it, especially for cheap. I bet the new owners son is ecstatic as well! ;-)

[Hunnicutt]

Thank you, 2LZ. If that 8N is still available, BUY IT!!! The implements alone are worth more than $1000. My yard rake cost about $900 including the wheel kit. Heck, if the rear tires are in decent shape on the 8N you're already ahead more than a grand!! There must be car / tractor shows in your area. Old tractors are a huge hit with everyone (including me).



I really want a 4 wheel drive with a bucket loader. My back isn't in the best of shape, and the bucket loader could save me a lot of pain hauling and lifting crap. For the time being I can get by with my 641.



How much land do you have?



What do use use your Rhino 250 to do? I'm still trying to figure out which would be best for my needs - the Rhino or the Bull. I really don't like centrifugal clutches and belt drives. Seems like a single failure point to me. (Sorry to drag your thread in a different direction. I'm new to rural life and have a lot to learn.)

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Hunnicutt

Thank you, 2LZ. If that 8N is still available, BUY IT!!! The implements alone are worth more than $1000. My yard rake cost about $900 including the wheel kit. Heck, if the rear tires are in decent shape on the 8N you're already ahead more than a grand!! There must be car / tractor shows in your area. Old tractors are a huge hit with everyone (including me).



I really want a 4 wheel drive with a bucket loader. My back isn't in the best of shape, and the bucket loader could save me a lot of pain hauling and lifting crap. For the time being I can get by with my 641.



How much land do you have?



What do use use your Rhino 250 to do? I'm still trying to figure out which would be best for my needs - the Rhino or the Bull. I really don't like centrifugal clutches and belt drives. Seems like a single failure point to me. (Sorry to drag your thread in a different direction. I'm new to rural life and have a lot to learn.)

Unfortunately, the 8N is long gone, though it did take him almost 6 months to sell it!

We don't have a lot of land. Just three acres but almost half of it is a roll-off hill, which is why the 4WD is needed. Also why I'm looking subcompact. I have a lot of tight spaces in the trees.

Regarding the Rhino, I picked it up to give my lawn tractor a break. We used that little lawn tractor for EVERYTHING....and I wanted to make it last. When we're doing light duty cart work, I use the Rhino. If I need any real power, I use the lawn tractor (24hp).

The biggest drawback to the Rhino (besides lacking brute power) is the manual clutch. Sometimes I may overload the cart and coming up the hill takes a lot of clutch slipping to get her rolling. Little sucker has yet to cook though. Must be strong enough.

[Barnone]

I have two Kubotas and one Kioti, all four wheel drive and diesel. All are good. One Kubota stays out at the ranch here in SWFL. It has a front bucket, bush hog, belly mower, two post hole diggers and a back blade. I have a trailer to haul it around. Another Kubota stays in WNC and it has a belly mower, back blade and a drag for the long and steep driveway. The Kioti is the newest one and it is just doing mowing at our 5.5 acres here in Fort Myers. It is the smoothest runner of he three.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Barnone

I have two Kubotas and one Kioti, all four wheel drive and diesel. All are good. One Kubota stays out at the ranch here in SWFL. It has a front bucket, bush hog, belly mower, two post hole diggers and a back blade. I have a trailer to haul it around. Another Kubota stays in WNC and it has a belly mower, back blade and a drag for the long and steep driveway. The Kioti is the newest one and it is just doing mowing at our 5.5 acres here in Fort Myers. It is the smoothest runner of he three.

Thanks for the input, Barnone. Been a while since we chatted. The Kioti is a great tractor and (in China Bike terms) is most "proprietary" regarding being a complete Daedong product. Problem is it's all on a waiting list with Kioti. I may not be able to get one until December, according to my local dealer. They are a great tractor though. My first choice actually.....but the LS is also supposed to be a great unit with the Yanmar motor, etc....

[2LZ]

If we can get some kinks worked out, this may be the unit.
Hydraulics, both trans and attachments work like silk. I was impressed. Power steering is effortless. One finger.