Compact Tractor Advice

[HowburnCat]

Am looking for advice for a compact tractor.

We own about 3 acres of gently undulating land. Bought a John Deere X748 Ultimate 2 years ago after having been advised this would be more than suitable. The John Deere has a 48" mulching mid mounted deck on it with a loader which we find extremely useful. It has a 24hp Yanmar engine in it.

About 2/3 acre my wife keeps as garden, the remainder being left as pasture. The John Deere however simply can't cope with the length of grass unless its cut ~twice per week in May to July. I've stalled it more times than I care to remember and I don't have the time to cut the grass twice each week. To cut the pasture area this year, I hired a walk behind flail with a 30" cut...took me nearly 8 hours.

So, I'm looking to upgrade the John Deere to something with a bit more grunt. My plan would be to buy a compact tractor with a loader, probably in the range of 25-35hp and a flail to cut the grass. The tractor wouldn't be used commercially at all, I'm simply a weekend warrior who likes to try and do as much as I can myself.

I've been attracted to the Solis range of tractors as they seem a sensible balance between meeting my needs and price. I'm thinking about a Solis 26 HST with a 4 in 1 Loader (HST as my wife would then use it as well. Synchro gearbox and she'd be much less happy). I'd be really interested in others experience with Solis tractors and/ or their advice.

I'd also be interested in others opinions regarding Siromer. I appreciate they are flatpack, but for my purposes, where the tractor will not be used on a daily basis and not worked that hard, I can bring the tractor, loader and flail in (including the VAT) for less than the Solis with loader (excluding the VAT). I'm quite capable of assembling a Siromer myself and would actively enjoy the experience. The 254 CH or the Lightning models seemed suitable, but I have concerns regarding reliability/ parts etc.

I'd much rather pay a bit more and get something that meets what I want it to do. I certainly don't want to find myself looking for another tractor in a couple of years beacuse this one doesn't have enough power etc. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Battlefield Machinery]

You should be able to pick up a tidy used Kubota , a B series or STW wouod offer you a mid mount deck and loader?

 

[Richard98]

I would suggest sticking to the better established brands e.g. John Deere, Kubota, iseki, you shouldn't go wrong with any of them. Someone near me bought a solis last year for similar work to you but has had some reliability issues; the dealer service is good, but what would worry me is parts availability etc in 10 years time, as if you are only using it lightly you're not likely to be changing it regularly I would think?

 

[startinghandle]

6 foot rear mounted topper will keep on top of the job and suitable tractor to drive it or buy some ewes and lambs

 

[Stuart J]

I second the used Kubota suggestion.

 

[Stock]

Anything here?
Smalltractors.co.uk
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[Boysground]

5 year warranty with a Kubota. I bought a 55Hp one last year it’s great.

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[quavers]

go for a mf 35 , with a topper on the back plenty still a round and parts are cheap , will hold its value as good as any thing mentioned .

 

[Ruston3w]

Cheaper to buy and own a small "classic" era tractor...parts cheap and easy to get, a bit more awkward but not half as much as an old japanese tractor with unobtainable bits you need? You didn't give us a budget?

 

[Boysground]

go for a mf 35 , with a topper on the back plenty still a round and parts are cheap , will hold its value as good as any thing mentioned .

That’s the idea we had, finding a good 35 or similar is difficult, plenty of tat about and the new kubota was probably cheaper

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[8100]

Zetor 3011 or 3045 (3045 is a 4wd ) if you can find one . They are @34hp and built like brick outhouses and great little classic tractors .

 

[J 1177]

How about a topper with its own engine, the type you tow with a quad and use your jd to pull it.

 

[Dave W]

I love these suggestions of buying a classic mf35 etc. A decent compact will run rings round them

 

[Classichay]

Got a kubota b series with a finishing mower for the garden and 4ft flail Not much it won’t do, favourite tractor in the farm. Even bought a post banger for the other one for her awkward garden ideas.

 

[TripleSix]

Don't get a Siromer...

I would suggest the mulching function on your John Deere is ruining your chances..
Have you tried it running in discharge mode?
Mulching is useless if you're reducing grass height a lot.

 

[essexpete]

Have you thought about leaving the grass to wild up an say cut in July?

 

[daveydiesel1]

Sell it for hay

 

[Classichay]

Rotary mowers just sap the power, take the underslung deck off it and buy a cheap Chinese flail off eBay with grass blades, £800 will see you with a flail. Get 12 month warranty with it though. A 3ft flail ( 105cm is the actual size ) will be more than enough for your tractor just because it’s narrower doesn’t means you can’t go faster, issue is with 4ft you may not be able to go slow enough if there’s a lot of grass.


You can look at a 135 etc.... had a guy try to buy an IH 574 off me a while ago, I refused to sell it him on the grounds that he was trying to reclaim ground chest high with a rotary topper as his 35x was getting hot doing it. It’s how the mechanism works against the grass ( drag ). Old tractors have their place as do compacts.

 

[manhill]

M F 35 is nice and stable on uneven ground due to the low seating and width. High seating and narrow wheelbase scares me.

 

[Alchad]

A neighbour bought a Soils last year and he's also had more than a few issues with his. Latest problem is a loud, very loud, knocking sound in 1st gear which the dealer reckons is just something caught in the gears......Dealer has said will extend warranty if anything goes wrong.......