The Marvelous Diesel Mini-Tractors!

(Page 5 of 5)

March/April 1979
By Will Rowan 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

PROS AND CONS

RELATED CONTENT

Of course, there are a number of farm tasks that I wouldn't ask my 155D (or any of the other three mini-diesels) to perform, but the small workhorses have a number of advantages on their side, too. For one thing, a mini-tractor marries the maneuverability of a gasoline-powered riding mower with many "true tractor" capabilities. Maintenance on the imports is far less costly than on large diesels, too, and transporting the machines in for service can be accomplished easily. Tire repairs are particularly convenient . . . since one person can easily lift a mini-tire into the trunk of his or her family car.

Admittedly, the initial purchase price for any of these four lightweights isn't chicken feed, but few machines worth their salt are inexpensive these days. Furthermore, the mini's still cost a whole lot less than do "normal" tractors, and they can handle most of the same jobs. . . albeit on a smaller scale.

In fact, the "baby diesels" are so much fun to operate that you might want to buy two. That way, while the rest of your family's fighting over the first one, you can mosey over to the barn door and sneak off with the other!

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • willyo 9/30/2008 11:47:12 AM

    Hi- while a thourough and infomative article, I feel that the author left out an important newer sector of the mini tractor market that now exists. That being the importsfrom china. These little gems are every bit as versitle as the imports from Japan. and at a slightly lower price.I myself have a shenniu bison that at 25 horsepower and 4 weel drive is, it seems, a bit more powerful and wheighing quite a bit more(2000 lbs) will take and be able to use even the full size tractor implements. (still need some more weight in the front though)- I have been very satisfied with the performance of this little tractor and price too!-about $5000 new with a rototiller. And some are available used with a much smaller price tag. Thanks for reading my comment. I would be very interested in a comparison of the japanese verses chinese tractor market.- willyo.

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.