Diesel vs. gas tractor?

[4 FN 27]

love my diesel lawn mower, diesel scut, converted diesel skid steer, diesel generator and trucks. Now if only the weed eater was diesel, I wouldn't have to buy gasoline. i'll never go back to gas screamer, even in a zero turn.

I am with you. If Stihl made a Diesel Chainsaw I would buy one.

 

[Bert_]

I'm happy with gas for the little stuff

 

[u3b3rg33k]

I am with you. If Stihl made a Diesel Chainsaw I would buy one.

they don't make those for the same reason they don't make diesel motorcycles. heavy, slow, lower power. all things you don't want on your hand held saw/bike.

 

[Sumboodie]

I run my Kubota diesel almost all the time at idle RPMs, or slightly above, and the temp gauge never rises out of the medium cool range. Even when I rev it up to power the rear PTO, the gauge never goes above half way.

I agree, the dealer should be your first concern, no matter the fuel type. Size/type and brand of tractor second.

That's hard on the engine and hydrostatic trans.
Run it at least 1/2 throttle.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

gas tractor = lawn mower
diesel tractor = work horse

Once you have a 3 pt hitch and PTO a world of useful options opens up to you.

 

[4 FN 27]

they don't make those for the same reason they don't make diesel motorcycles. heavy, slow, lower power. all things you don't want on your hand held saw/bike.

None of those reasons would stop me from owing one if they made it!!! I love the Diesels!!!

 

[TractorJeff]

Quote:
"Yup. Peak torque bsfc on the lug curve would be in the neighborhood of .365 lb/bhp hr on a diesel. The diesel fuel economy shines under light load, compared to the gas engine, since it runs as high as 100:1 a/f ratio, while the gas engine is always closer to 14.5:1 anywhere in the speed / load operating map."
Quote:
"It would, nevertheless, be pretty hard to burn 7 gallons an hour with a gas engine just puttering around the yard."

I got caught up in the Shuttle Shift/Loader in the Yard. Thinking it shouldn't be using 7gals/hr doing that as "Work".
On the PTO or Plowing/Disking, then Yes, I agree it will "****" Fuel!
We had a 2010 Gas on the Farm growing up and as I remember it was "sweet" on Fuel.

 

[Uncle Dave]

the man wants to maintain his property, you guys want to pick the fly **** out of the pepper barrel

 

[nadogail]

There is no DEF needed for tractors under 75hp because the emissions limits are eased. Emissions limits are eased further under 25.5hp. For them a DPF or DOC is not used. This is for the current Tier 4 emissions which went into effect about 6 years ago. With a few exceptions the manufacturer's solutions work pretty well.

Diesel stores better than gasoline since it has few volatile fractions to evaporate. However diesel injector pumps and injectors don't like water. And water in diesel can grow algae, which can clog fuel filters. I use a stabilizer and biocide in the diesel fuel I store for my tractor.

Diesel is a little different but generally you can just run it and follow the owner's manual. Gas outdoor power equipment engines usually are governed to around 3600 rpm at full "throttle". Small diesel tractors < 25hp can be in the 2800-3200 rpm range. So not a lot of difference. However the diesel tractor will cost more.

If you're not doing a lot with it the premium for the diesel tractor and it's fuel, and the added hassle of having to buy and store an extra fuel type, are probably not worth it.

Many people, when considering costs are only considering the purchase price.
I suggest you investigate “life cycle costs” in making your decisions.

 

[nadogail]

You're going to love that thing, I have the diesel version and use it like crazy.

May your selection serve you well for many years as you enjoy good health

 

[58Yeoman]

The other day, I bought two 50# weights for the rear of the JD and painted them yellow, they were black. This past fall, I replaced two bridges over my creek, and when I picked up the first one, I had to get off and adjust the hanging bridge. When I went to climb back on, one rear wheel started to raise up. This should take care of it. That bridge is 8' long and is built out of two fence posts and 2x6 treated lumber.

Also, this past summer when I was hauling dirt to fill in part of a ravine, if I got it too high, I could feel the rear wanting to come up. These are MTD weights, new in the box for $50. Couldn't pass it up.

 

[finn]

There is nothing wrong with the more "off-brand" stuff out there for the right crowd. That's why it's priced where it is I guess. 30yrs down the road the OP will be able to find parts for that X700 series machine with zero hassle. That little Kioti we sold will be a "search the internet for parts" deal. Not a bad thing, just not something I have interest in doing again.


That new Deere sure looks sharp !!!

Probably said that about Toyota in 1970, too.

Or maybe about Apple when comparing to IBM in 1985.

 

[jblnut]

Probably said that about Toyota in 1970, too.

Or maybe about Apple when comparing to IBM in 1985.

I was but a twinkle in someone's eye in 1970

Your point is certainly a valid one. Using that logic there is no reason to shy away from any off branded anything really ever. I have a few off branded welders and a couple of China made skiddy attachments and they are holding their own. For the price I paid for the welders I'll repair them as needed until I can't and them scrap them. They were certainly cheap enough to do so. The skiddy attachments I'll repair just like anything else, with the cheap welders and spendy iron

Things like an off branded tractor or really anything with a motor/drivetrain are not usually something I want to take a chance on. I do not buy and sell stuff often and prefer to keep machinery until it no longer serves my purposes or is legitimately worn out to the point that it gets a spot of honor in the fence line and becomes a pile of spare parts to be used in any number of new and creative ways on the farm. I want to know when I purchase an item that the manufacture will continue to support their items long after the purchase date. I am in the process of rebuilding a '32 Farmall F30 for someone and ordered a brand new OEM rotating assembly. The tractor is 89yrs old !! Farmall/IH/whatever has been around long enough to build confidence in their user base that they will continue to support their items for quite some time.

For me anyway, Kioti hasn't been around long enough to pour money into if something breaks. Again, I bought one and didn't want to deal with the lack of availability of parts at the time and thought it would only get worse. Or quite better if the brand took off I guess. Either way, I didn't want to deal with it while one or the other happened.

 

[finn]

Another way to look at it: there are 450 Kioti dealers in the US. There are 243 Lexus dealers, 383 Mercedes dealers, 341 BMW, 600 VW, 800 Hyundai, 200 Hino truck, and 400 Peterbuilt dealers in the US..

Kubota has 1100 dealers, by comparison, which is significantly more than Kioti, but compared to other products, Kioti is doing ok.

 

[Beemer]

We've has a JD 445 (gasoline) for probably 30 years without issue regarding fueling. I think the FI helps ward of gasoline issues but I do use Seafoam. Gas is in the tank far longer that it should be but never causes problems.
It have a water cooled 22 hp FI Kawasaki twin that always sets the job done. The liquid cooling makes the engine fairly quiet. It drives a 47" 2 stage snow blower fine. All the accessories are shaft drive including mower deck and snow blower. There was a bucket loader option but it requires a crapload of supplementary weights to keep it stable during moments of user error.

Bottom line for me is gasoline is always on hand and it is doing the job so it was the right choice.
The dealer talked me out of diesel for our use, but it was available with one step up in model to 455..

 

[larry_g]

Another way to look at it: there are 450 Kioti dealers in the US. There are 243 Lexus dealers, 383 Mercedes dealers, 341 BMW, 600 VW, 800 Hyundai, 200 Hino truck, and 400 Peterbuilt dealers in the US..

Kubota has 1100 dealers, by comparison, which is significantly more than Kioti, but compared to other products, Kioti is doing ok.

How many of those 450 Kioti, ( or Mahindra or others) dealers have a full service shop with a parts department on site? When I was shopping for a tractor that was the failing of the off brand tractors for this area.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[finn]

How many of those 450 Kioti, ( or Mahindra or others) dealers have a full service shop with a parts department on site? When I was shopping for a tractor that was the failing of the off brand tractors for this area.

lg
no neat sig line

No idea, but the one local to me does. Just driving cross country, the Deere dealers all look to have a full shop, including the ones local.

Kubota: not all appear to, but some may have multiple facilities.

 

[jkeyser14]

2 things:

Snowblowers are fine for gravel. They have shoes to set height and keep them out of the rock. A blade will arguably do more damage by carrying the rock with it since not all blades have skids/shoes on them and the blade naturally wants to dig.

Second, nothing wrong with a gas tractor, but the newer stuff will be diesel if you have any size to it. Gas will be simpler most likely, and you can avoid the emissions **** if you don't want to deal with DEF or if the tractor sits for long periods of time or doesn't get long hot running times.

I disagree with this entirely. My snowblower was always lifting loose stones off the surface when it would pull up snow, even with the shoes set at the max height (~1"). It chewed up my impeller and impeller housing pretty badly.

Meanwhile my blade never might move some loose stones around, but it never caused any real damage. Note: I did add a rubber edge to my blade before I used it the first time (horse stall matt from TSC).

 

[finn]

Snowblower or plow on gravel probably depends on local snow conditions.

We get a lot of snow. Typically 250-300 inches. I previously used a plow, then spent all spring and summer removing gravel from the lawn.

No such issues with the blower. The drive gets a mat built up after the first couple of snow events, and that mat stays until spring. It took much longer for the mat to build up when plowing, as the ground doesn’t freeze until mid January. Never tried the pipe in lieu of the cutting edge, though.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

I was but a twinkle in someone's eye in 1970

Your point is certainly a valid one. Using that logic there is no reason to shy away from any off branded anything really ever. I have a few off branded welders and a couple of China made skiddy attachments and they are holding their own. For the price I paid for the welders I'll repair them as needed until I can't and them scrap them. They were certainly cheap enough to do so. The skiddy attachments I'll repair just like anything else, with the cheap welders and spendy iron

Things like an off branded tractor or really anything with a motor/drivetrain are not usually something I want to take a chance on. I do not buy and sell stuff often and prefer to keep machinery until it no longer serves my purposes or is legitimately worn out to the point that it gets a spot of honor in the fence line and becomes a pile of spare parts to be used in any number of new and creative ways on the farm. I want to know when I purchase an item that the manufacture will continue to support their items long after the purchase date. I am in the process of rebuilding a '32 Farmall F30 for someone and ordered a brand new OEM rotating assembly. The tractor is 89yrs old !! Farmall/IH/whatever has been around long enough to build confidence in their user base that they will continue to support their items for quite some time.

For me anyway, Kioti hasn't been around long enough to pour money into if something breaks. Again, I bought one and didn't want to deal with the lack of availability of parts at the time and thought it would only get worse. Or quite better if the brand took off I guess. Either way, I didn't want to deal with it while one or the other happened.

I roll in a similar fashion, quality reliable machine, and Im not scared of simple off shore attachments that are off brand, although I mostly stick to King Kutter and used Woods when I can.

Bought a new Kubota last year, for the reasons you shared. Ive owned more than a handful of tractors up to 200hp. Not my first rodeo, and Im at a point in my life, I need my **** to work.,.. and I surely dont need reindeer games when things break. I looked at EVERYTHING as an option, new and used, and that is where I ended up.

Related, about 10 years ago, a friend offered up his 1988 380B Industrial Loader Tractor, w/ very low, highly maintained hours on it.

So practicing diligence, before agreeing to buy, called the local Case Industrail dealer, and get the parts manager on the phone, I ask " what does parts availability look like for this tractor ", he's near offended that I even ask... Im like WTF ? I just asked, he was like, " everything is available, why wouldnt it be ? " I did not know what to say. That is a David Brown Re-Badge, with a German IH engine, not something that intiutevly makes me fell warm and fuzzy, damn good tractor though, Ive since bought another,.... no parts problems as of yet, and those things are OLD.

I can say this about the number of dealers in a network, when you see how low the bar is for some brands, to make someone a dealer, you can see how they can get a high count, its akin to making a " No Tell Motel " a U-Haul dealer, or converting a camper into Subway, its hard to compare them to a real franchise, some are almost a joke.

Ive done business with a guy, who is an LS Tractor Dealer. The name of his business, is " Jimbo's General Repair ", and someone dropped a tractor franchise on him. Its a 2 bay post frame building with a ******* and one room office and not enough room in the building to change your mind, much less stock parts, show tractors, sit to sign paperwork...