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Comment by jet_32951 | Hacker News Reader

Yes. I had a Kubota B7800 for about fifteen years. The JD competitor was made by Iseki, priced higher, and known for hydraulic system problems. The choice was easy and I never regretted it.

At the same time I bought the Kubota I worked for a company that made automatic steering systems one could retrofit to many tractors... but not JD, who were already controlling their hydraulic system access.

Never bought JD, stuck with Kubota.

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but not JD, who were already controlling their hydraulic system access.

I've only ever used an ancient Farmall tractor where the hydraulic system is just a bunch of generic hoses and levers. How does JD limit hydraulic system access? Do they use proprietary fittings? Digital controls that will refuse to engage the hydraulic pump if a line is spliced?

SAE J1939 specifies an optional encrypted word, and JD used that for hydraulic controls IIRC.

Kudos on keeping the Farmall. My gf at the time had a Ford 8N and I loved that thing on her land, but 2wd didn't work well at my place.

I still have my great grandfathers Farmall Cub, it was the first tractor he and my grandfather bought for the citrus farm they homesteaded in FL, when he passed my grandfather restored it. When my grandfather sold the farm it was the only tractor he kept. My grandfather passed on in 2013 so I brought it down to my property in the FL Keys and use it as a yard tractor here. They just don't build machinery like those old tractors anymore.

It's digitally controlled, no more physical levers connected to valves.

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