Thread: Yard tractors

I will suggest a Kubota, for the engine. At my old job, we tried to exclusively use Hatz or Kubota. Kubota was typically our international engine, since it is easier to get the parts in other parts of the world etc. etc. I've seen those Kubota engines go through hell and back. Avoid anything with a Cummins engine in it. Have seen probably 20-30 different engines in them and all had bunked up oil temperature gauges, causing the engine to go into a safe mode. A little caveat, all my experience is with crate engines. Dunno how different those 20-60hp engines are compared to the ones they put in tractors, I assume they would be dramatically different...

Originally Posted by dinnermint

I will suggest a Kubota, for the engine. At my old job, we tried to exclusively use Hatz or Kubota. Kubota was typically our international engine, since it is easier to get the parts in other parts of the world etc. etc. I've seen those Kubota engines go through hell and back. Avoid anything with a Cummins engine in it. Have seen probably 20-30 different engines in them and all had bunked up oil temperature gauges, causing the engine to go into a safe mode. A little caveat, all my experience is with crate engines. Dunno how different those 20-60hp engines are compared to the ones they put in tractors, I assume they would be dramatically different...

From my experience the engines in mist Kubota equipment dies hold up, we've had lots of them around the pads , and the one we have at the farm, is 10 years old at least and the boys are rough on it , lots of grass and fields to bush hog and they don't waste time,, if I get a compact I'm pretty sure it'll be a Kubota , but that John Deere green sure is pretty! Tc

If I was looking at brand new those Mahindras would at least get a look, they are pretty impressive, oh and also Yanmar worth glancing at since many of the new Deere are using Yanmar engines now anyway..

I have heard good things about the TYM's and the Kioti's too but I haven't looked at them in person myself


Damn it TC now I want a new tractor hehehehe

Uh oh, the boys are getting the TAD!

We have some Kubotas in Brazil that are 20 years old and they work them to death. There's another one that is in a cooling lake for a nuclear reactor that is 25 and the lake is siphoned off water from the Pacific. I'm pretty confident in their longevity haha.

I know we used Yanmars, but were very hesitant about using them. I can't recall why at the moment...

One last thing to mention. How does it feel when you sit in the seat. I had a JD325 , I bought a bigger mower than I needed for grass because the smaller models felt tippy when I drove them.
Plus you dont want to look like a bear riding a mini-bike. The bigger machines had a wider stance giving better stability. You dont want your tractor to roll on you. I hate when that happens.
Now that you all bring up the engine, I would have to do more research. When they had Briggs & Stratton,Teucesh, heck even Honda they were good performers. Lastly a reputable dealer is huge.
I aint buying my Deere at the Home depot to save $100 and then no access to parts. All factors to weigh. Ease of sliding off the deck, changing blades, two sets of blades so you always have a sharp set to swap out. Or dealership.

Will agree , I deal with dealers, all of them are within 10 miles of me , John Deere , Kubota and mahindra, and I,m glad you mentioned that, I was going to ask about them too. As to ya mar engines I have a 4" trash pump that's 12-14 years old that has been used, couple of family houses in flood plains and I supplied the pump to keep the water at bay. They are still starting on the first push of the button. So now I've looked up a front end loader attachment, a mowing deck , and just so I can keep my golf course like yard a sweeping tool, and maybe the tiller thingy for my garden , since it's getting bigger

So far I thought 4K for a decent mower and acc. Now I,m up to 18k. Gotta love this site!!! Oh and ultrasound guy, I do want stability, my yard has some angles and steep sections out back. So good idea. Tc

I've seen a couple large pieces of machinery tipped before. Definitely not good days!

Originally Posted by dinnermint

I've seen a couple large pieces of machinery tipped before. Definitely not good days!

Yep glad my days of seeing cranes and derricks fall is over,, my guys called me a few months ago about a crane that went over in Midland and crushed the swamper, don't need that crap in my yard. I plan on easy , like glen said smarter and lazy, and I'm getting a tractor with a beer holder!! Tc

Better yet, attach a cooler to it too!

Can't go wrong with a John Deere, after all, "nothing runs like a Deere!"
I have a 1996 JD lawn tractor, and all I've ever done to it was a spark plug and new blades. They can get expensive, but there's always a deal to be found on a used one. Just my opinion. Mine must have been built on a Monday, not a Friday, because it's paid for itself a few times over!