New Scraper Tractor

[ct773]

Hi,

Looking for some advice on a new scraper tractor as my current MF550 is about to bite the dust. Always bought old knackers before for this job but can't help thinking that used prices are silly for replacements now. MF's seem to be £6-7K for something 20 years old with a load of hours on which doesn't make sense to me. So starting to look at new options. Tractor will be doing around 600-700 hours per year - all scraping duties for 350 head herd. So not an insignificant workload. Requirements are it must have a cab and be suitable for a fairly hefty scraper - around 800kg. I'm looking for low cost of ownership long term and good reliability.

As I see it I can go down two routes here:

1. Buy something on top of the job (55-70hp) and keep it for 10 years or until it dies. Had a look online and New Holland T4V, Case Farmall or JD5E look contenders in this category. Simple large capacity mechanical engines (no common rail except Case) and plenty of lift capacity which suggest these should take some abuse.

2. Smaller contenders such as Kubota and Kioti (NX and RX series) - 40-60hp. Whilst I don't doubt that that these would be ultra reliable machines short term, would these really take much abuse long term? These now appear to be fitted with small capacity common rail engines which concerns me given these will be spending life in muck. And lift capacity is not huge on these so not sure how heavy duty the backends are? Would I be better buying one of these with a view to changing regularly.

Any thoughts from you on what to look at and suggested replacement policies would be appreciated.

 

[multi power]

i would buy something with fairly big wheels to keep it up out of the muck

 

[asm]

We have sold 3 McCormick c-max tractors about 80 hp for scraper tractors and them seem to be holding up ok. Think the one farm did 1500 hours in the first year.

 

[Thick Farmer]

When I was in school two local dairy farmers bought themselves brand new scraper tractors.

Both had gone bust within 5 years....

 

[snowhite]

what would you think of a skidsteer for the job

 

[Dave W]

Kubota Kioti iseki would be on my shopping list. As you mention lift capacity is limited but I'd suggest they'd be far more reliable long term than any of the mainstream budget models.
They'll turn on half a sixpence and have more grunt than you'd expect.
Out 49hp iseki copes with about 700kg without weights and would do 900kg with weights

 

[snowhite]

man next door has a 70 hp kubota , it is quick and small looks like a 50hp tractor , it cost him 26/27k x vat euro has no cab and lots of power he has it on a feeder

 

[Rimjob]

This is cheap. Not best cab for hopping in and out of though.

 

[TurfWoody]

Kubota Kioti iseki would be on my shopping list. As you mention lift capacity is limited but I'd suggest they'd be far more reliable long term than any of the mainstream budget models.
They'll turn on half a sixpence and have more grunt than you'd expect.
Out 49hp iseki copes with about 700kg without weights and would do 900kg with weights

I would agree with Dave W.

Things have changed, our last scraper tractor was a MF 168 which replaced a Ford 4000.

Kubota are trying to push these as scraper tractors.
http://www.kubota.co.uk/promotions/

In regard to reliability I don't think you can go wrong with the Kubota or Iseki. We run Kubota compact tractors and last year we traded in a 42hp L4200 Kubota with 3500hrs on and it was one of the most reliable tractors we have ever owned.

 

[Fraserb]

We have a GL5740 kubota with the hst transmission, its a serious weapon on the scraper, jump in and go, one pedal for fwd and one for rev. Its done just over 1000 hrs in the last 6 month and up until yesterday has been trouble free, a sensor packed in so the auto revs wouldnt work properly.

 

[Fergieman]

http://www.landini.it/landini/serie_pages/en/39603/Mistral.aspx

There was an article in last weeks farmers guardian about a dairy farmer just bought his 2nd new Landini Mistral 4WD for scrapper duties. Said his 1st one had been very reliable.

Edit:- Link to farmers Guardian article http://www.farmersguardian.com/home...-for-a-wiltshire-dairy-producer/69320.article

 

[GTB]

Wife's cousin has just bought a Kubota for yard scraping and loves it. Handles a box scraper with ease. He's talking about buying another now for a different unit. Think it was about 16k???

 

[Mursal]

Ursus 2812 closest you will get to a Massey 240 for under 10K new ............

 

[snowhite]

I would agree with Dave W.

Things have changed, our last scraper tractor was a MF 168 which replaced a Ford 4000.

Kubota are trying to push these as scraper tractors.
http://www.kubota.co.uk/promotions/

In regard to reliability I don't think you can go wrong with the Kubota or Iseki. We run Kubota compact tractors and last year we traded in a 42hp L4200 Kubota with 3500hrs on and it was one of the most reliable tractors we have ever owned.

i wonder how much do they stick to price , with others they talk of book price and list price, and then take off 15ish %

 

[snowhite]

Ursus 2812 closest you will get to a Massey 240 for under 10K new ............

View attachment 95462

don't they have them now made ex mf240 made in china or turky or god knows where

 

[Cowabunga]

The big 2000 cow dairy near Carmarthen has run Kubota tractors scraping near full time. At least one of them has done something like 13,000 hours in about five years. There was an article about it somewhere, but I can't find it just now.

I'm sure that other brands would perform just as well, but this is the one that had the intensive use on this farm.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Make a list of what you want out of a scraper tractor.
Wet brakes
Clutchless shuttle
4wd
Reliable
Then look at all the new tractors that give you that in a compact size then buy the Kubota.

I would only add that we've only had wear and tear on the link arms and stabilisers, but that is normal on scraper tractors? Engine and transmission are perfect for the job, always starts to at least -14C.

 

[Bloders]

How about a jcb 2cx?
We run one for a loader, but would also be very good pushing a scraper IMO

 

[snowhite]

Make a list of what you want out of a scraper tractor.
Wet brakes
Clutchless shuttle
4wd
Reliable
Then look at all the new tractors that give you that in a compact size then buy the Kubota.

I would only add that we've only had wear and tear on the link arms and stabilisers, but that is normal on scraper tractors? Engine and transmission are perfect for the job, always starts to at least -14C.

do you get -14 cheshire , in 14 years here it has never being that cold , the coldest was -10 for 3 days

 

[Cowabunga]

Make a list of what you want out of a scraper tractor.
Wet brakes
Clutchless shuttle
4wd
Reliable
Then look at all the new tractors that give you that in a compact size then buy the Kubota.

I would only add that we've only had wear and tear on the link arms and stabilisers, but that is normal on scraper tractors? Engine and transmission are perfect for the job, always starts to at least -14C.

Light steering at even idle speed, with massive steering lock.
High ground clearance.
Splash guards, to stop sh!t flying and landing on the top surfaces of steps, cab and mudguards.
Resistance to corrosion is another important point. So even the best of tractors for the purpose could be improved in this respect.
Exemplary access so driver can walk in and out of the cab unhindered even by heavy or slow doors.
Hoseable interior trim.