First post, first tractor. Pricing questions

[JKS3613]

Hello,
I am brand new to this forum and this is my very first post, and this is the first serious tractor that I have ever purchased, for and by myself, so I would like your opinions on how I did. For background, I grew up with a JD 820 and I have operated various items of heavy equipment over the years so I am pretty familiar with the mechanical side of things, however, like I said, this is the first tractor purchase I have made for myself. I just bought a place with 18 acres of pasture that needs cutting and this is what I decided to go with. I, tonight, signed the papers on a MX5200 HST 4WD with a LA1065 FEL, Woods BB72X cutter, and a Woods BSM72 grader box, and an aluminum canopy. (not the orange fiberglass canopy) The sales price BEFORE taxes was $32,900. First question is, was this a good price? and two, what do you all think about this setup and should I be concerned about the Tier 4 emission stuff. Is that going to be a maintenance nightmare down the road?
I thank you all in advance for any advice or comments you care to make and I very much appreciate your input.
Thank you,

Kevin Smith

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Kevin,

WELCOME!!!

I am thinking you did fine. I am also thinking you are gonna be a happy operator after getting used to that "Cadillac!"

I am thinking the Tier 4 becomes less of a problem as your motor gets bigger... but that is just me.

Load up some "pitchures" when you get it (next page under MANAGE ATTACHMENTS.)

Ray

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to OTT Kevin. "Smith" is that what you are really going with? Ha, Ha.
I met a guy in Nam back in 69 from there, Gerald Peller. He was a "mama's boy" and wouldn't eat at the noodle stands or off base and teased me for doing so. He got Hep and spent a couple months in the hospital. I went by the hospital a few of times and teased him about it.

 

[JKS3613]

Kevin,

WELCOME!!!
Load up some "pitchures" when you get it (next page under MANAGE ATTACHMENTS.)
Ray

Thanks Ray, I am super excited about it and have waited a long time for my very own tractor like this! Glad that you think the pricing was good. I thought it was based on what I could research, but I just wanted to ask those who are really in the "know." It has been raining here all week and is supposed to continue though the weekend, so unfortunately, I won't get to play with it too much until things dry up a bit. Thanks for the warm welcome though, and I'll post some pics tomorrow after it is delivered!

 

[JKS3613]

Welcome to OTT Kevin. "Smith" is that what you are really going with? Ha, Ha..

Hi Mickeyd,
Yep, been going with it for 51 years so I guess I'll stick with it. I figured this was probably a safe enough forum to use my real name. Now, you are making me question that!

I just moved to Zachary so don't know anyone in the area yet. I see you are from Alabama. My family on my Dad's side is from Enterprise and my son is a Blackhawk pilot and did all of his training at Ft. Rucker.

Thanks for the welcome and I hope I don't ask too many "dumb" questions!

 

[skeets]

First off the only dumb question is the one you DONT ASK,,
and secondly you tell that boy THANK YOU for his service

 

[JKS3613]

First off the only dumb question is the one you DONT ASK,,
and secondly you tell that boy THANK YOU for his service

Thanks! And I do, every single day if I can!!

 

[ShaunBlake]

Hi, JKS3613, Glad to see another Louisiana boy in the forum! (Although you're on the "other" side of the river... )

First, since you just moved to Zachary, where have you lived that gave you all the tractor and heavy equipment experience?

Then next, I'm puzzled: pasture and mower -- are you raising livestock, and if so, why mow? And with all that pasture, if no livestock, wouldn't you be haying it?

And then, why a box blade? Do you have a long driveway or plans for road maintenance?

Hey, tell us what you're doing, and how you plan to tackle it.

And I know you've promised pics, but to spur you on, Skeets and Tomcat and lots of others say: "Without pictures, it didn't happen!"

 

[ShaunBlake]

... what do you all think about this setup and should I be concerned about the Tier 4 emission stuff. Is that going to be a maintenance nightmare down the road? ...

Oh, Kevin, I forgot to mention that. My tractor is (fortunately) an old one, 'way before the Tier IV requirements. However, I've followed the posts of folks who are impacted by it and will pass on some reassurance I've gleaned. (Some of the gurus will chime in with hard data, I'm sure.)

With the kind of use you plan -- dragging a box; mowing 18 acres; etc., you're going to be working the engine hard enough that it won't have to do a re-gen as often as mine would (if I had a new machine), with the little work I do, and the lugging I do to the motor. And with that kind of workout, I think there's a way you can time it that the re-gen occurs at a time/condition convenient to you.

Hope that helps!

 

[mickeyd]

Your son was lucky to train near granddad. How long has he been in and where is he stationed?
I am actually from Tennessee but the wife is from Lineville, Alabama. Two of her brothers served in the AL ANG during Desert Storm. One stayed in long enough to retire.

 

[JKS3613]

Your son was lucky to train near granddad. How long has he been in and where is he stationed?
I am actually from Tennessee but the wife is from Lineville, Alabama. Two of her brothers served in the AL ANG during Desert Storm. One stayed in long enough to retire.

He has been in almost 12 years but only in the Army 8 or so. He started fresh out of High School in the Air Force and trained in satellite communications before switching to the LANG and entering OCS. He was commissioned and made it up to LT1, and was up for Captain, when he realized that he wanted to fly a helicopter more than a desk so he reverted back to a W1. He is now a W2 and instructor pilot in his unit. His fulltime job though is flying a Sikorsky S92 and S76 to offshore oil platforms in the gulf. Not a bad career so far for a 30 year old! And in case you couldn't tell, I'm just a "little" proud of him!

On a more somber note, that was his Unit, based out of Hammond, LA, that had the horrible Blackhawk crash in Fla. recently. He lost several very close friends. Just a terrible, terrible, tragedy for all involved. They were all first class people with families too. Very sad...

 

[JKS3613]

Hi, JKS3613, Glad to see another Louisiana boy in the forum! Hey, tell us what you're doing, and how you plan to tackle it.
And I know you've promised pics, but to spur you on, Skeets and Tomcat and lots of others say: "Without pictures, it didn't happen!"

Thanks for all the info ShaunBlake, and I will give you a rundown of my equipment background and plans for this tractor when I get in this evening. Right now, I headed to Zachary to take delivery! It should arrive around noon, and so far, it isn't raining so I hope to be able to get some good pics before that occurs. Thanks for all the support everyone and I will be back this evening!

 

[JKS3613]

Well, she was delivered today and I am in love! I only had time to put about 45 minutes on her because everything was so wet, however, I was able to find an area dry enough to make a couple of passes with the cutter and I was more than impressed. It looked like a finish mower had cut it! I'm sure once the blades get a little dinged up it won't look quite as good, but I am more than pleased at this point. Since it only had an hour on it I took it easy and only brought it up to 2000rpm (75% of normal 540 speed) and it acted like it wasn't even doing anything. Hope to put another hour or two on it tomorrow. I'll get some better pics later but this is what I have so far.

 

[tcrote5516]

What a beauty! Congrats!

 

[ShaunBlake]

What a beauty! Congrats!

What? Yer eyes need checkin! It's ugly as sin! Man, it looks like even the tires been spit-shined! ewww!

Somebuddy better crank that puppy up and git her dirty else she'll turn into a diva and will just sit around whinin ta git her nails polished!

 

[ShaunBlake]

What? Yer eyes need checkin! It's ugly as sin! Man, it looks like even the tires been spit-shined! ewww!

Somebuddy better crank that puppy up and git her dirty else she'll turn into a diva and will just sit around whinin ta git her nails polished!

Okay, so I haven't learned how to be jealous without showing it, so sue me!

 

[mickeyd]

He has been in almost 12 years but only in the Army 8 or so. He started fresh out of High School in the Air Force and trained in satellite communications before switching to the LANG and entering OCS. He was commissioned and made it up to LT1, and was up for Captain, when he realized that he wanted to fly a helicopter more than a desk so he reverted back to a W1. He is now a W2 and instructor pilot in his unit. His fulltime job though is flying a Sikorsky S92 and S76 to offshore oil platforms in the gulf. Not a bad career so far for a 30 year old! And in case you couldn't tell, I'm just a "little" proud of him!

On a more somber note, that was his Unit, based out of Hammond, LA, that had the horrible Blackhawk crash in Fla. recently. He lost several very close friends. Just a terrible, terrible, tragedy for all involved. They were all first class people with families too. Very sad...

I didn't realize that he was a traitor. But I am for him doing whatever makes him happy. It is still SERVICE and we need him. You have the right to be proud of him. Sorry about his loss, I know how hard that is.
Now to the new toy, I am like Shaun and a little jealous. Congrats.

 

[JKS3613]

I didn't realize that he was a traitor. But I am for him doing whatever makes him happy. It is still SERVICE and we need him. You have the right to be proud of him. Sorry about his loss, I know how hard that is.
Now to the new toy, I am like Shaun and a little jealous. Congrats.

Thanks MickeyD! It is absolutely driving me crazy that it is too wet to do anything with it though!! And.... I just heard on the radio that it is supposed to rain throughout the weekend too. Can't catch a break it seems. Also, I have been having a little buyers remorse concerning the Tier 4 stuff and was starting to second guess my decision to get the 5200 over the 5100, but the more I read about it, the more comfortable I am getting with it. Wish it didn't have it, but that seems to be where they all are going so I guess I am now along for the ride, good or bad. Like someone said earlier in the thread, since I am going to be doing so much pasture cutting, hopefully, it won't affect me much and will do the majority of regenerations while I am bush hogging. What do you think?

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks MickeyD! It is absolutely driving me crazy that it is too wet to do anything with it though!! And.... I just heard on the radio that it is supposed to rain throughout the weekend too. Can't catch a break it seems. Also, I have been having a little buyers remorse concerning the Tier 4 stuff and was starting to second guess my decision to get the 5200 over the 5100, but the more I read about it, the more comfortable I am getting with it. Wish it didn't have it, but that seems to be where they all are going so I guess I am now along for the ride, good or bad. Like someone said earlier in the thread, since I am going to be doing so much pasture cutting, hopefully, it won't affect me much and will do the majority of regenerations while I am bush hogging. What do you think?

I think you will love your tractor. I have a similar engine on my 3560, but without the turbo. While it is too rainy to mow, spend the time reading every inch of the owner's manual, especially the regen directions which are confusing the first time through. If you understand what is going on you can use your tractor with confidence. The tier 4 components have a 5 year warranty. There are many fine features on these modern tractors,(speaking from the point of view of someone graduating from a 1950 model ). Enjoy!

 

[JKS3613]

Great advice, and exactly what I have been doing! (And you are correct, the manual is a little confusing I have found. ) I'll post a question I have later on in a new thread. Glad to hear your confidence in the new engines, though. I am beginning to feel more comfortable with it, especially since most of the time it will be running at a high enough rpm to where the regen can occur while I'm mowing. It's just still hard to wrap my head around having all of this technology on a farm tractor! [emoji1]


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