John Deere 155M vs 140M

[JackoTS90]

Righto. Need to replace an aging TS90 that has done a power of work. Looking to replace it with something bigger and more modern. We are wanting to get a front linkage and pto as one of its many jobs on a dairy farm in NZ will be to mow/ top to keep grass quality, and doing 2-3ha an hour with a 3m disc mower isn’t cutting the mustard. Will also be getting a loader, and possibly gps if its not too dear (probably just SF1). Looking to hear from other peoples experiences with them. It will just be a general livestock tractor. Wont require anything real flash just comfortable enough to Spend a day in. A local contractor has one that I have driven a bit and love it, but the electronic loader joystick is fairly numb compared to mechanical, and just lacked feel? Anyone else had this issue? Is mechanical available? This was a 155M and runs a fusion 3 all spring/ summer. Has all options ticked apart from electric spools which weren’t an option when it was ordered (late 17-early 18).
Thanks all opionions welcome, just dont was a brand bashing war, it will be John Deere because of dealer support.
Thanks

 

[daveydiesel1]

If your lookin big tractor id go way 155 cause o 6 pot but if your happy way 4 pot id say 130m cause its shorter and more nimble round the yard and will be good upgrade from a ts 90 but will still feel not to much more cumbersum

 

[JackoTS90]

Yep cheers. The main reason going so big is because of front and back mowers to up output when mowing. Would a 130m be any good up hills? We have a few fairly steep ones and the ts90 is on its knees with a 3.1 disco. a 3m front and 3m back will need most of the 155 on hill work? No conditioners just straight bar mower.
got a 15 cube silage wagon as well that we have to go downhill with at the moment otherwise the steering takes all of the hydraulics and can’t run the beaters or the conveyer!

 

[kiwi pom]

Have you spoken to your dealer yet? If you're in NZ the M's are still tier 2 engines (I think) so no DEF. Deere have just updated their range and I'm guessing the new ones will have the new engines, so you might want to grab one of the old ones quick.

If you're just pre mowing or cutting short stuff I'd say the smaller tractor would be fine if its just a straight mower. Its the conditioners that suck the power.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Test drive them both before ordering. If you are front and rear mowing you will need to be sure the smaller model can cope with it.

 

[JackoTS90]

have an awesome relationship with dealer, but the problem is that there is bugger all M series with front linkage over here, so the dealer has no stock to “demo” it would just be on their word and we would have to trust them. Wouldn’t really know how it’s going to cope till it’s at the farm gate. Haven’t spoken to dealer yet but would like tls and possibly can suspension. Will just go for auto quad eco for ease of driving because of being a dairy farm. Me and the old man are good with gear, but the workers not so much. Will just be us doing the mowing and majority of tractor work. Workers will do feeding out/ loader work.

 

[daveydiesel1]

have an awesome relationship with dealer, but the problem is that there is bugger all M series with front linkage over here, so the dealer has no stock to “demo” it would just be on their word and we would have to trust them. Wouldn’t really know how it’s going to cope till it’s at the farm gate. Haven’t spoken to dealer yet but would like tls and possibly can suspension. Will just go for auto quad eco for ease of driving because of being a dairy farm. Me and the old man are good with gear, but the workers not so much. Will just be us doing the mowing and majority of tractor work. Workers will do feeding out/ loader work.

If runnin 2 mowers youl need the 155 horse power

 

[JackoTS90]

If runnin 2 mowers youl need the 155 horse power

155 it is then. Have to get a demo

 

[KB6930]

If runnin 2 mowers youl need the 155 horse power

To run 2 mowers with no conditioners I'm pretty sure less hp would be fine

 

[JackoTS90]

Yeah really need to just try it out. Not going to really know until then, pity even small r series don’t have a front linkage or pto

 

[Jon Boy]

Our neighbor is running krone front and rear on a 155m with no problems we have a 155m of our own that has been trouble free and is a real nice tractor to drive.

 

[JackoTS90]

Our neighbor is running krone front and rear on a 155m with no problems we have a 155m of our own that has been trouble free and is a real nice tractor to drive.

Yeah the local contractor has a top spec one with the new gearbox. It is great but doesn’t have a front links and pto. They have a 6250r on front and rear mowers ( conditioners). Really need a set of triples. Has anyone priced a 155 m up lately? If you don’t mind me asking @Jon Boy what was yours worth when you brought it? Thanks

 

[Jon Boy]

About $130k i think off the top of my head.

 

[JackoTS90]

About $130k i think off the top of my head.

Thanks. What spec? Is it a loader tractor?

 

[Sid]

If runnin 2 mowers youl need the 155 horse power

I am in Devon which has its hills, run a 6m front and rear mower combination no problem with 125 boosted to 130.
The extra power maybe useful. Have just swapped to 155, only due to being a exdemo at the right money. Will just mean not changing down as quickly

 

[daveydiesel1]

I am in Devon which has its hills, run a 6m front and rear mower combination no problem with 125 boosted to 130.
The extra power maybe useful. Have just swapped to 155, only due to being a exdemo at the right money. Will just mean not changing down as quickly

Wel for cuttin northern ireland suck cow crops it the mowers had conditioners youd be lookin for more than 155 hp but mabe the conditioner sucks lota power

 

[Sid]

Wel for cuttin northern ireland suck cow crops it the mowers had conditioners youd be lookin for more than 155 hp but mabe the conditioner sucks lota power

It will there is a guide hp/m figure for conditioners and non conditioner mowers.

To save a search I'll just ask @Cowabunga he will have it stored somewhere

 

[kiwi pom]

Wel for cuttin northern ireland suck cow crops it the mowers had conditioners youd be lookin for more than 155 hp but mabe the conditioner sucks lota power

The conditioner sucks all the power. The OP is on a NZ dairy farm, I doubt he's cutting overgrown, suckler cow stuff. More pre mowing for grazing and taking out paddocks that are too long to graze would be my guess.
130 would probably run triples with no conditioner.

How much bigger is a 155? @JackoTS90 ?
Could be more awkward on a loader but I wouldn't imagine tight yards are an issue?

 

[Sid]

Around here you would really need 180hp+ at the engine if they were fitted with a conditioner each. Knock 30hp each off if no conditioner or if the conditioner was really just a glorified tedder as some of easiest running ones are.
The 6.150r is flat as a pancake without being chipped, so I would say that as standard it would be pretty hopeless with conditioners unless the crops were light and the fields flat.

With or without conditioning the extra width ,a lower forward speed output will most probably be higher than just a rear.
I cut 15 acres as quick as @kill could rake 15 acres.
Mind you his was in 2 fields, mine was half of a 30acre one. And it's nearly devoid of short work.

 

[JackoTS90]

The conditioner sucks all the power. The OP is on a NZ dairy farm, I doubt he's cutting overgrown, suckler cow stuff. More pre mowing for grazing and taking out paddocks that are too long to graze would be my guess.
130 would probably run triples with no conditioner.

How much bigger is a 155? @JackoTS90 ?
Could be more awkward on a loader but I wouldn't imagine tight yards are an issue?

The 155 that I have used was an awesome tractor, even for loader work. If a 130/140m can run doubles we would probably go for one, but they are only 4 cylinder but are they a similar frame size to 155? A 155 is quite a large tractor, they also have a 175m which is a little bit larger but not by much. We would probably use it for mowing our own silage, of which 70ha is cut but usually only Around 50ha for first cut and 30/40 second cut with abit of hay (30/40ha), but I presume hay is not great with front mower with rad blocking often? We had that when the 7530 down the road was mowing hay.