Go BottomDecisions New Used Color Utility or Compact
 | Paul Elkins
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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1999-10-04 8529
I have read the pages many times and can't seem to answer all my questions and group them together.. I have look at new, used, big and small and all come in many colors... Whats a boy to do in the candy store of big boy candy..Heres my situation.. Just purchased 10ac of land and will be building a house and have a 800ft long drive to maintain. Lots of white stuff in winter and lots of green stuff in summer 4acres cleared. I'm looking for a 200hp 6000# loader tractor about the size of a 18hp boomer.. and maybe about half the price of the boomer... Stop dreaming... I know!! What do I need.. I seen this here as many time as I've heard Nancy Kerrigan cry "Whyyyyy whyyyy".After reading I am convince that I will need a Compact tractor in the 22-35hp range. I also need a loader, lots of dirt to move around a new house. I have looked at used and new of all colors blue, yellow, green and orange and some faded ones too. All seem to have great qualities, some grind gears, some are womens tractors with the auto(hydro) trans, real men shift gears... Right???I have heard hydro does not work well when the Michigan weather nears the zero degree mark, is this wrong?I know if I'm going to be doing serius loader work I would need the hydro or shuttle, but what is the life of a clutch in a compact doing lots of loader work say in a land scaping buisness?Here are two that I looked at recently:1992 770 Deere 70series gear trans, loader Heated Cab, 10yr old 5ft brush cutter and a whopping 2100hrs all for $8500 every thing looked to be in great shape. But the hours scare me, is it just broke in or ready to break? How many hours should a clutch last? how may hours before an overhaul? Any problems with the 770 deere? 70series loader looked small and almost useless. I have used backhoe/loaders. I think my Tonka loader has a greater capacity.The other machine is a Kubota L2350 man trans and no attachments, no front or mid pto, no loader. This machine was in excellent condition and had 500hrs on it and the owner wanted $7900. I met him from an add on this website.. Are any of these prices fair? Good? Does he have another?.I'm in Michigan and would consider all opinions and if you have a good tractor with a loader and think we can work good deal for both, I would consider buy a tractor from afar... Less than 10 years and less than 1000hrs would be prefered. If your still awake after reading this thanks for the web info....
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| Roger L.
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
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1999-10-04 8534
Ten acres is a lot of land to re-shape with a compact....but it can be done. Both tractors you mention seem to be fairly priced. We don't know how many hours use up a compact because not enough people have put that many hours on them. 2100 hours wouldn't scare me if it was owner operated and condition was good with records. Mowing really piles up the hours, but it is low wear. My first choice would be to buy a one-owner excellent condition tractor that the owner really cared for. I wouldn't care about the hours then. BTW, this sort of tractor is ALWAYS shedded or covered. Weather damage implies neglect on other things to me. Second choice would be a used mowing tractor that had never had a loader mounted. Clutches are good for several thousand hours at least. Maybe twice that long or even longer if it is a mowing tractor. Get a 4wd. Get a standard gear shift with hi/low range. Get any brand that suits you. Be sure to get the next size larger than you need. I would have to vote against the 770 because of size. It is more for maintaining than for building...although the tractor can do it if you have the time to work slowly. Roger ....
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| Ken
Join Date: Posts: 1
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1999-10-05 8560
I would give serious consideration to 4wd for loader use. I just put a loader on my Kubota M4700 and I don't have much traction at all when I try to move with dirt in the bucket. I'm afraid to do any serious digging, I'd probably get stuck in the hole. I *could* load the tires (strongly recommended by the dealer) but the tractor is already too heavy for mowing soft spring ground. I'm probably going to come up with some way of adding 500-1000# to the rear.As for the transmission, my Kubota is is synchronized going back and forth from forward (lo range) to reverse. That's much better than having to wait 15 seconds to shift (as I have to do going into high range.)For most grading, etc. I find the box blade the most valuable implement.Oh, BTW, my Kubota is 40+hp and maybe is a bit too much for typical implements: I too well known at the weld shop! Even managed to bend the mounts on a heavy duty box blade (pulling tree stumps). That's why I just go the loader, figured it should be matched to the tractor.Good luck.Ken ....
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| Tim
Join Date: Posts: 1
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1999-10-06 8584
I'm a first time compact owner (B2710). The hydro trans and 4wheel drive plus a loader and hoe pretty much means I can dig anything easily and quickly. I've done alot of that (35ac, but only about 5 need any work). Seems to me, if you are digging/building/landscaping 4wheel drive and hydro are a no brainer. If you are farming/mowing then maybe gear and/or two wheel drive are a less costly alternative.I really, really like the 2710. It is a digging beast.(a former michigander, now a coloradoan). ....
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| Rick Seymour
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 40
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1999-11-07 9490
Paul,I spent 3 years looking for the same tractor. I mow 5 acres at my place & wanted a front end loader for landscaping around my place.After realizing I was only saving 2 to 3 grand buying a used compact (if that much) I ended up getting a new TC29D New Holland. You want 4wd and the "womens" HST transmission. For both loader work AND mowing you can not beat the hydro trans. My land is very hilly and I must use 4wd for mowing and all will agree the 4wd and hydro trans is great with the front end loader. ....
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| Steve
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 179 UK
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1999-12-04 10644
My situation is very similar to Paul's. I have 11.4 acres in central MN that is quite flat with no trees on it. We average approx 50 inches of snow per season with at least one 12 inch plus storm each year and a lot of blowing snow. The land is plowed, the rock have been picked and it is rented for next growing season (will be planted in corn). I plan to build within two years. Driveway will be approx 1200 feet long and hopefully will be paved. I expect to maintain a finished lawn of 3-5 acres. The balance of the property will eventually be converted from farm fields to a grass cover but not necessarily a finished lawn. Other uses of the property will include small vegetable and flower gardens plus several fruit trees. Also, I will be planting small trees for wind breaks and other landscaping (I will have the use of my brother's bobcat). I would guess 95% of my use for a tractor will be lawn mowing and snow removal. Originally my thoughts were to consider a JD 4400 or Kubota L3710. My question to you guys is what do you think about a four-wheel-drive front mower unit such as a JD F1145 instead of a tractor? This type of unit is a 30-35 horsepower diesel with a lot of compact utility tractor components used in the drivetrain. I know this unit would be outstanding for the lawn mowing, but I'm not so sure about the snow blading and blowing. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated. ....
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| Mike
Join Date: Posts: 1
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1999-12-05 10649
Steve,If the majority of the work your needing to do is mowing and snow removal,than you have answered your own question.The front mount type mower would be great for mowing,but not worth a poop for pushing snow.I would think the tractors you've mentioned would be a little big for what your wanting to do.I would like to recommend something a little smaller,such as the Kubota B2710.It's light enough that it's a great mowing tractor,will handle a 72" deck with no problems,and it can be equipped with any snow removal tools out there. ....
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| wade
Join Date: Posts: 1
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1999-12-11 10903
I just thought I should respond to the question , or statement, that real men shift gears. I am with a case construction dealer in Minnesota and have extensive experience with hydrostatic transmissions. The current hydrostatic drives used on many pieces of equipment are both reliable, and cold weather hardy. I have seen skid loaders transferring 56 hp to the driveline work without failure consistently to 6500 hours. I have seen high hour units in 2 shift per day garbage transfer stations at aver 13,000(thirteen thousand) hrs still running strong. These systems use a pump and drive motor that run in forced lubrication, and of course filtered oil 100% of the time. Because you can change the flow of oil in these systems without changing engine speed, your travel speed in infinitely adjustable from zero movement at FULL engine output. This allows you to match the travel speed to the attachment power demands. In some tractors, the pto is linked to the main transmission clutch so that when you push in the clutch to slow your travel speed, say to let your snowblower catch up to the Michigan snow, your pto disengages as well causing quite a plugged mess. A "live" pto is not affected by the transmission clutch. John Deere and Cat are building hydrostatic bulldozers, the JD line has only hydrostatics well over the 100 hp range.
The cold weather problems you will encounter amount to thick oil trying to be used in the drivesystem without proper warm-up, usually 3-7 minutes if parked outside without a hydraulic tank warmer much like you would use for the oil and antifreeze in your car.
In the event of system contamination, the hydrostatic drive will be more expensive to repair, but how often do you get sand in your car engine, the results would be similar.
I hope that you get a tractor that you need, and enjoy and remember that if a dealer cannot answer technical questions, they probably are not the one for you.
Good Luck,
wade
P.S. I know that this is long, but even at this there is a lot that I left out. ....
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| pelkins
Join Date: Posts: 1
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1999-12-12 10943
all the decisions, I think I have it narrowed down finally between two.
First definitly a hydro, wife thinks she'll be able to use it, and it feels much easier to drive.
Color????? Blue or orange.... Each have a couple of unique features, the orange loader can be dumped while lifting or lowering, b2710 has a 4cyl. The blue one has supersteer(3ft turning circle, no scuffing in loose gravel) and blue still has the blue oval employee discount about $1500+1000 rebate for tractor(700) and loader(300) plus great financing till the end of the world(dec. 31 1999) maybe...Just need the 1week test drives by all colors to be sure... Probably wouldn't need one after trying all the flavors, and wouldn't be as hungry.
The house is almost done and the decision will come soon, maybe by y2k.
Pokemon, pokemon, and pokemon thats all I hear.
Tractor, tractor and tractor thats all the wife hears. ....
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| pelkins
Join Date: Posts: 1
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1999-12-15 11071
Decided..... and it goes like this...
TC29d 4wd hydro, tires loaded,
7308 loader w/60"hd bucket.
Total... $15,605 delivered..
price is with Ford employee discount and $1000 rebate and 6.9% financing for 60months. $300.00 a month and no money down.
Question...
Can I make $300 a month with a tractor this size. I know I will need a few attachment to make any money with it..
Just have to get this one by the CFO cheif financial officer (wife). ....
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