I’m looking at purchasing a MX4700 2wd with FEL. I know the 2wd is a deal breaker for many, but I’ve never owned a 4x4 tractor, or one with a FEL. I would mainly be using it to bushhog, till the garden, and use the loader to move gravel/dirt and brush. I have 32 acres that is primarily flat. My question is will this be enough tractor for my purposes? I’m also not familiar with the hydro steering instead of power steering. Any downside to that? Thanks
First Time Buyer MX4700
- Thread starter KYCase69
- Start date
The only difference in the steering is that with a full hydraulic setup the steering wheel might not end up on the same position all the time.
There is a reason most say 4x4 is recommended with a FEL. I wouldn’t even consider a 2wd tractor with a loader unless it’s a second tractor. It can be done though just use enough ballast for traction and know your limits being 2wd.
Any tractor will work it’s just how long it takes to do things.
There is a reason most say 4x4 is recommended with a FEL. I wouldn’t even consider a 2wd tractor with a loader unless it’s a second tractor. It can be done though just use enough ballast for traction and know your limits being 2wd.
Any tractor will work it’s just how long it takes to do things.
I feel differently than Jason. I have no issue with a 2WD with FEL. What you DO need if you truly expect to use that FEL a Lot….is a hydrostatic transmission….not a manual gear tranny.
If you did a lot of Plowing…. you’d likely need a 4WD. Otherwise, you probably will never miss it. (I’ve had both.) IMO
If you did a lot of Plowing…. you’d likely need a 4WD. Otherwise, you probably will never miss it. (I’ve had both.) IMO
Please rethink your 2WD preference over 4WD; I’ve been stuck in my gravel driveway while in 2WD and needed to go into 4WD to free myself. I use 4WD to get my 2WD F150 unstuck on the same driveway. I also use 4WD anytime I use the FEL.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Just guessing because the 2wd models are gear drive only, some responses say you need an HST for loader work, or that it’s easier. Personal preference, IMHO hydraulic shuttle is the best not counting CVT on larger machines.
Learn to operate a gear drive correctly and it’s a non issue. Both my MX and M are gear drive.
I have seen some post here and on tractors for sale (L and MX series) that are in need of a clutch under 100 hours, IMHO is 100% operator error.
I’m able basing this on what I’ve done with my tractors in 2wd to see what they would do.
My L3800 using a finish mower needed to be in 4wd because every time it would bounce from the front end loader the rear tires would spin tearing up the grass.
The MX does slightly better in this aspect but any slight down hill with something in the bucket 4wd is needed.
The M does the best probably because it’s weight and it has the larger wider radial tires and 1k lbs of wheel weights. But there are still times I’ve needed 4wd.
Yep! I have zero issues using the FEL on the M6060 whether it's moving dirt, picking up stuff with the grapple or using the pallet forks. The hydraulic clutch with shuttle is awesome and it makes direction changes almost as easy as the MX with HST. I like having both HST and gear drive tractors and would not want both tractors to be HST.
Personally if I were going to be mowing 30ish acres…not sure what OP really mowing, but if I were going to be on it all day mowing, I’d rather have the geared machine. (I understood OP did not say mowing 30 acres)
couple reasons for me…
1. my MX is HST (which I would absolutely buy again) has a throttle lock (cruise, but to me it’s a throttle lock) which I am glad I have, but when I do use it, id rather have it an a gear and not have the throttle lock.
2. IMO HST, at least on an open station generates a lot more heat to the operator…is that true or not? I never measured, but it sure as hell seems like it generates a lot of heat on the operator relative to a geared machine. Maybe someone with both(or similar) in same machine would weigh in on that.
I’m on and off mine a lot so I only notice the heat when I mow a pasture for hours at a time. Point here is I was going to be on all day I’d maybe think about which yields less heat to the operator. (And yes I have previously been too cheap to buy a cab, but it be a consideration for HVAC if I were going to have long days on it.)
just my opinion.
couple reasons for me…
1. my MX is HST (which I would absolutely buy again) has a throttle lock (cruise, but to me it’s a throttle lock) which I am glad I have, but when I do use it, id rather have it an a gear and not have the throttle lock.
2. IMO HST, at least on an open station generates a lot more heat to the operator…is that true or not? I never measured, but it sure as hell seems like it generates a lot of heat on the operator relative to a geared machine. Maybe someone with both(or similar) in same machine would weigh in on that.
I’m on and off mine a lot so I only notice the heat when I mow a pasture for hours at a time. Point here is I was going to be on all day I’d maybe think about which yields less heat to the operator. (And yes I have previously been too cheap to buy a cab, but it be a consideration for HVAC if I were going to have long days on it.)
just my opinion.
This one I’m looking at is gear. That’s what I prefer because that’s all I know. I know the 2wd will have limitations, but coming from never having a FEL, I think it will still be an improvement.
Most of my land is in grain or timber. I will only be mowing no more than around the edge of fields. Plus tilling a small garden with my 6’ tiller.
I would too! The MX tractors are an excellent series based on the two I've owned/own.
I don't use "cruise control" much on the MX but probably would use it a lot more if it were like the throttle control on the M which I use 95% of the time when running the tractor. I only use the accelerator pedal on the M when I need fine control such as hooking up to an implement.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Loader tractors put a substantial load on the front axle. The 2wd front ends are wimpy compared to the 4wd axles. Also these tractors need the 4wd function to dig into the ground or pile when using the loader. This isn’t a 10K pound machine that can generate traction from weight alone.
Kubota offers an MX5400 2WD tractor that has the same 1065 loader as the 4WD MX5400/MX6000 models with the same lift capacity. I've never owned a 2WD tractor, but I assume that the Kubota engineers know enough to design the front axle for the MX5400DT 2WD model to make full use of the loader that is listed as an option. The front axles on the 4WD models house a lot more "stuff" and so they have to be larger. But this says nothing about the ability of 2WD or 4WD front axle to handle the additional load resulting from weight on the loader.
Personally, reduced traction would be the biggest reason for me not to buy a 2WD tractor, but I live on a hilly property with a sufficient amount of snow and ice for four months of the year making 4WD essential. When I cut my friend's 20 acres which is basicall flat, I don't need 4WD, but at my place I need it all year round.
Braking is the other reason why I wouldn't want a 2WD tractor, but that problem can be overcome with sufficient rear ballast.
Is the model you’re looking at in Bardstown KY? If it is it’s listed on tractor house for $22K. Two others listed are 4wd for $28.5k and $28.9k. Thats not enough price difference to consider a 2wd model.
I believe sometime last year there was a MX5100 2wd with FEL listed for $12k that had under 1k hours.
I believe sometime last year there was a MX5100 2wd with FEL listed for $12k that had under 1k hours.
I will throw out my thoughts. Its hard to beat a HST tractor on a tiller. I ran loaders for years on two wheel drive tractors. 100-`150 HP tractors. I got real good at putting on and taking off tire chains when hauling and feeding big round bales. After I bought my first FWA tractor with loader I never had to put chains on a loader tractor since. I will never have a loader on a two wheel drive tractor again. I could probably get by for what I use my MX6000 for having two wheel drive but when you get off centered in a pasture and diff lock won't get you out. Its sure nice to reach down and lock in the front end and just keep going. I wouldn't be with out my HST and FWA on my Kubota.