Test: Branson 6225Ch tractor

By: Tom Dickson, Photography by: Andrew Britten

Date: 30.06.2017

The Branson 6225Ch tractor with the BL25R loader and BH76 backhoe

The BH76 backhoe makes light work of digging, ripping and trenching The backhoe

The quality and performance of the BL25R loader, which included a 4-in-1 bucket, far exceeded expectations

Tom Dickson thinks the well-appointed cabin has everything in the way of creature comforts but lacks a bit of head space Tom Dickson in the cabin

The BL25R loader is manufactured from a decent gauge of steel, indicating that it will be up for a bit of hard work

The front-end loader’s single joystick controller has electronic press-button third-function control

The Branson 6225Ch tractor with the BL25R loader and BH76 backhoe

The BH76 backhoe makes light work of digging, ripping and trenching

The quality and performance of the BL25R loader, which included a 4-in-1 bucket, far exceeded expectations

Tom Dickson thinks the well-appointed cabin has everything in the way of creature comforts but lacks a bit of head space

The BL25R loader is manufactured from a decent gauge of steel, indicating that it will be up for a bit of hard work

The front-end loader’s single joystick controller has electronic press-button third-function control

Farm Trader reviews the well equip, 100% Korean made Branson 6225Ch tractor created for hobby and lifestyle farmers

Years ago, there was a definite reluctance to even look at Korean products but that is not the case anymore.

With a little bit of research, I quickly discovered that many of the major tractor manufacturers – including Case IH, John Deere, and New Holland – build some of
their models in Korea or have some form of affiliation with the country.

So the days of getting all high and mighty about where the machinery has been manufactured are gone. The world is becoming a much smaller place, with companies basing themselves wherever they can get the best return on investment.

With that in mind, I was interested to find out what the 100% Korean-made Branson 6225Ch tractor had to offer.

This 60hp, hydrostatic-drive cabin tractor features a 1500kg lift capacity, two-speed PTO, dual hydraulic pumps, as well as a sealed cabin with air-conditioning and entertainment package.

It is classed as the premium tractor in the Branson range, aimed at the fast-growing hobby and lifestyle farmer market.

The versatile compact tractor comes with a self-levelling loader with a four-in-one bucket and a joystick controller with a third function. Rounding out the package is the inclusion of a BH76E hydraulic backhoe.

Branson 6225Ch overview

The -tractor

A quick walk around the tractor reveals a better quality of build and finish than its price tag would suggest.

The rear end is constructed from cast iron, which helps push its overall weight up to 1968kg and increases stability on hills and for loader work.

All the panel work is of a modern design with excellent finish to the paintwork.

An industrial tyre package with less aggressive lugs is fitted to reduce tearing up the ground, but there is also the option of agricultural or turf tyres.

A quick look at the front-end loader, in particular its design and the heavy-gauge steel used in its construction, provides a clear indication that strength and quality have been the aim when putting this little machine together. Again, it exceeded what I expected to see.

Engine

The -engingjpg

The genuine, Branson-built, Kukje Machinery Co, four-cylinder, water-cooled, turbocharged diesel engine produces 60hp at 2600 revs.

It has a 94mm stroke length, which, in principle, is designed to produce more torque at lower revs. The maximum forward speed of 33.2km/h is achieved at 2850rpm.

It’s a punchy little engine when the right gear for the job is selected. First range was good for slashing on hills where extra power was required during uphill climbs, while second was okay for working on flat ground.

I tried using 540E PTO speed but it was a bit too draining on the motor. In regular 540-speed, it had ample power to run the 1.5m (five-foot) slasher.

Pleasingly, the bonnet has a one-touch opening lever that doesn’t require a special tool or key for entry. It lifts well out of the way to provide good access to the engine.

The battery, radiator, and air cleaner are mounted forward of the engine for easy servicing and cleaning.

The engine oil dipstick, however, is positioned deep in the engine bay and is a little trickier to get at among the framework of the front-end loader mounting assembly.

It seems to be common for tractor manufacturers to forget to factor in the addition of a front-end loader into the original design. It’s like the left hand often doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

Transmission

Hands -free

The three-range hydrostatic drive transmission provides virtually unlimited speed selection from zero to 33.2km/h. First and second are best suited to handling work while third appeared only suitable for shuttling around from A to B with a bit of speed.

The range selector is conveniently placed beside the seat and can only be shifted when the tractor is stationary and there is no load on the hydrostatic drive.

Two directional foot pedals are mounted beside each other for use with the right foot. Each is clearly identified with an arrow pointing in the direction it propels the tractor – the left pedal initiates forward movement and the right pedal is for reverse.

Speed can be increased by applying increased downward pressure on either pedal. The electronic cruise control feature maintains the desired speed, allowing the driver to relax and remove foot pressure from the pedal.

A hand throttle lever allows the revs to be set to achieve the desired PTO speed and can be used to set a minimum rev limit, whichprevents the engine from dropping back to low revs when transitioning from forward to reverse.

The hydrostatic transmission is my preferred option for front-end loader work and other jobs with lots of directional changes purely because of its ease of operation, but I found it to be extremely noisy in our test.

It’s definitely not engine noise because the whine only began when I started putting oil flow through the transmission to start moving; the faster I went, the noisier it got.

If you plan to do a bit of slashing, grading, harrowing, and the like with less changing of direction, my suggestion would be to look at the manual 12-speed transmission option.

It only takes a few minutes to get used to having no clutch and that the brake and left and right turning is on the left-hand side.

A benefit of hydrostatic drive is that the tractor won’t move until either of the drive pedals are pushed so it holds steady when stopped on a slope.

Linkage

Three -link -point -linkage

The three-point linkage consists of Category 1 ball ends using telescopic stabiliser arms with holes and drop-in locking pin. It allows for quick, simple, and tool-free width adjustment of the lower linkage arms.

An electronic PTO shutoff is included as an extra safety feature when using PTO-driven implements attached to the rear linkage.

For example, when I raised the slasher to complete a turn, the PTO drive was shut off temporarily and then automatically returned when the slasher was dropped down into the working position for work to start.

Its 1500kg lifting capacity should be ample for the customer that this tractor is aimed at. The linkage control consists of position and draft control levers as well as a flow-control dial for fine-tuning the speed of descent.

PTO

Engine -revs -can -be -manually -set

A two-speed PTO is standard on the Branson 6225Ch. The spec sheet says it’s either 584 or 1088rpm but the lever inside the cabin reads 540 or 540E. I suspect that the two are the same.

From what I found during a bit of slashing, the most suitable PTO speed will be 540, which will keep your engine speed high and reduce the stalling effect on the engine. Only under low-drag operations could I see 540E being up to the task, perhaps running a pump or generator or the like.

Hydraulics

The 6225Ch is fitted with two hydraulic pumps to guarantee steering effectiveness is not sacrificed during front-end loader work or other times when there is a demand placed on the hydraulic system.

The steering pump delivers 19 litres per minute, while the main pump offers 42 litres per minute for all the other hydraulic requirements. Two sets of remotes service the rear, with independent hydraulic plumbing for the front-end loader.

Branson 622Ch cabin

The -cabin -interior

It would be fair to say that the cabin is not huge. While that does bring all the controls close for easy operation, it also means there is not a lot of head space, which could cause a few headaches – literally – on rough ground.

But what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in the way of style, finish, and creature comforts. My preconceived expectations for a tractor in this class have been far exceeded.

The door opens nice and wide for easy access. It has smooth and solid handrails to assist with entry and, most importantly, it closes firmly, giving the indication that it creates an air-tight seal.

A radio and MP3 player, heater, position- and weight-adjustable suspension seat, front wiper, adjustable steering wheel, and an exceptionally effective air-conditioner (that nearly froze me and had to be switched off) create a really pleasant working environment.

A slide-out storage compartment helps keep the cab clutter-free and a 12-volt outlet

allows you to keep all your electronic devices fully charged. There is even a built-in cup holder to allow you to enjoy life’s little luxuries while working on the farm.

The cabin door opening has a 15cm-long bracket either side to latch the door semi-open. It allows for the flow of fresh air through the cabin when heating or cooling
is not required.

The cabin doors seal well and may be dust-proof but this is certainly not a sound-proof environment so it might be worthwhile keeping a set of ear plugs handy.

A mandatory retractable seat belt is fitted, and while it will help protect life and limb in the event of an accident, it is poorly positioned directly above the handbrake lever. Every time I went to apply the handbrake I had to, annoyingly, brush it aside.

Branson 6225Ch Verdict

Overall, the Branson 6225Ch tractor is an impressive little unit. While at 60hp it doesn’t have a huge reserve of power to draw on, it does have enough to handle everything the hobby farmer and small operator will require.

The hydrostatic drive transmission makes loader work a breeze but there is no hiding from the fact that it’s a bit noisy in the cab.

The addition of the backhoe that the package is currently offering is a real bonus. It has a 2.3 metre digging depth, three-metre reach, 180-degree swing arc, and stabiliser legs to support its weight while working.

It is easy to operate after a bit of practice, using the two fingertip control joysticks for all hydraulic movement.

Most importantly, it is easy to attach. Two mounting rails connected to the backhoe run underneath the chassis of the tractor with quick-release connection points at the front and rear, as opposed to hitching to the three-point linkage.

All those backbreaking tasks can now be done with ease, leaving you with more time and energy to do the things that you enjoy.

The linkage arms have to be removed to fit the backhoe. On our debut run, we removed the backhoe and had the linkage arms refitted ready for the slasher in less than half an hour. Not bad for our first attempt and I would assume it would only get faster.

I found it essential to remove the backhoe on a solid, flat surface, ideally a cement slab floor.

The tractor is well-appointed, has loads of features I wasn’t expecting to find and has a high-quality finish both inside and outside the cabin.

Buy a slasher, grader blade, and maybe a set of pasture harrows and you will have everything you need to take care of your block of land.