So rather than updating the other threads I started on this I thought it would be better to just start a new one with initial impressions and ongoing experiences with this tractor. If you read my other thread you know this will be the last new tractor my dad purchases in his lifetime as he has been retired from full time farming for 20 years now and is 75 years old. He took delivery of the tractor last month and left it mostly sitting until I could get home to go over it with him.
The dealer had installed the quick hitch and did not bother to adjust it (or at least tell my dad it should be adjusted before moving the machine) and it swung over (both ways at some point) and crunched both rear fenders. The dealer did not hesitate to admit it should not have been delivered like that and replaced both fenders. The tractor arrived back to the farm and I had a chance to put some hours on it, mostly rotary cutting and brushing some pasture and fence lines that my dad just did not have time to get to this summer. Here are my first impressions of this machine.
The tractor is really nice. The cab with AC sure made working on it for 9 hours an absolute joy. I grew up on the farm working with only open station tractors so this was a real luxury in 90+ degree weather. The tractor running at PTO speed with the MX7 on was really quiet. Again, I am comparing this to running our older tractors with open stations. This would have preserved a bit of my hearing as back in those days we never even thought twice about using ear protection when running farm implements or power tools. The first real tractor I ever worked a field with was a 50's Farmall M with a rusted off straight pipe about 3 feet from my head. Man that thing was loud but as a really young kid loved it especially when it shot flames out the stack!
The tractor barely broke a sweat running the MX7 even when running through some really thick and tall (3-4') grass. The major test was a very steep hillside that had not been cut for two or three years and was covered in sumac and lots of woody stuff. Some up to 2.5" in diameter. The MX7 is a beast and rolled through it like butter. Some of the larger stuff we had to put a chainsaw to but that cutter made light work of what looked like the thickest jungle undergrowth I have ever seen. Had not been back to that part of the farm for a couple years and was amazed at how tall and thick that stuff had gotten. The brother in law could no longer get to his deer stands so he was really happy I got it out of his way.
The PowerReverser transmission and 4WD was awesome for working the steep hillsides, especially when backing into the really thick stuff. It really helped as I worked to not get the tractor near any tall brush that would have scratched it all up pretty quickly. Manged to keep it scratch free while still making quick work of a tough project. I have read there are some users of the E series that have had some brake issues. I will report that the brakes functioned as they should with no need to double pump and very solid feel. Would have definitely been a problem on the hillsides we worked. We used the loader with bucket to trim trees along part of a fence line and then switched up to forks for moving the brush away.
Overall this initial experience was a 10 out of 10 for this tractor and I think we put it through its paces pretty good for the first 10 hours. It is definitely exceeding expectations so far and I will continue to report back with anything else good, bad or otherwise.
JD
My dad in the tractor.
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samsung phone photos 576.jpg
The dealer had installed the quick hitch and did not bother to adjust it (or at least tell my dad it should be adjusted before moving the machine) and it swung over (both ways at some point) and crunched both rear fenders. The dealer did not hesitate to admit it should not have been delivered like that and replaced both fenders. The tractor arrived back to the farm and I had a chance to put some hours on it, mostly rotary cutting and brushing some pasture and fence lines that my dad just did not have time to get to this summer. Here are my first impressions of this machine.
The tractor is really nice. The cab with AC sure made working on it for 9 hours an absolute joy. I grew up on the farm working with only open station tractors so this was a real luxury in 90+ degree weather. The tractor running at PTO speed with the MX7 on was really quiet. Again, I am comparing this to running our older tractors with open stations. This would have preserved a bit of my hearing as back in those days we never even thought twice about using ear protection when running farm implements or power tools. The first real tractor I ever worked a field with was a 50's Farmall M with a rusted off straight pipe about 3 feet from my head. Man that thing was loud but as a really young kid loved it especially when it shot flames out the stack!
The tractor barely broke a sweat running the MX7 even when running through some really thick and tall (3-4') grass. The major test was a very steep hillside that had not been cut for two or three years and was covered in sumac and lots of woody stuff. Some up to 2.5" in diameter. The MX7 is a beast and rolled through it like butter. Some of the larger stuff we had to put a chainsaw to but that cutter made light work of what looked like the thickest jungle undergrowth I have ever seen. Had not been back to that part of the farm for a couple years and was amazed at how tall and thick that stuff had gotten. The brother in law could no longer get to his deer stands so he was really happy I got it out of his way.
The PowerReverser transmission and 4WD was awesome for working the steep hillsides, especially when backing into the really thick stuff. It really helped as I worked to not get the tractor near any tall brush that would have scratched it all up pretty quickly. Manged to keep it scratch free while still making quick work of a tough project. I have read there are some users of the E series that have had some brake issues. I will report that the brakes functioned as they should with no need to double pump and very solid feel. Would have definitely been a problem on the hillsides we worked. We used the loader with bucket to trim trees along part of a fence line and then switched up to forks for moving the brush away.
Overall this initial experience was a 10 out of 10 for this tractor and I think we put it through its paces pretty good for the first 10 hours. It is definitely exceeding expectations so far and I will continue to report back with anything else good, bad or otherwise.
JD
My dad in the tractor.
samsung phone photos 574.jpg
samsung phone photos 580.jpg
samsung phone photos 576.jpg
