Buying guide

Best Tractor for Paddy and Puddling

Puddling is where 2WD tractors struggle most. If you work wet fields every season, this is the one case where 4WD is close to essential.

473 tractors match this shortlist

Kartar 5136 plus tractor
Kartar

Kartar 5136 plus

50 HP 3 Cyl
₹8.85 - ₹9.85 Lakh*
Eicher 557 4WD tractor
Eicher

Eicher 557 4WD

50 HP 3 Cyl
₹8.98 - ₹9.53 Lakh*
Tafe (Massey) Massey Ferguson 9500 E tractor
Tafe (Massey)

Massey Ferguson 9500 E

50 HP 3 Cyl
₹9.04 - ₹9.9 Lakh*
Solis 5015 E 4WD tractor
Solis

Solis 5015 E 4WD

50 HP 3 Cyl Diesel
₹9.13 - ₹9.82 Lakh*
John Deere 5205 4WD tractor
John Deere

John Deere 5205 4WD

48 HP 3 Cyl
₹9.16 - ₹10.06 Lakh*
Swaraj 855 FE 4WD tractor
Swaraj

Swaraj 855 FE 4WD

52 HP 3 Cyl
₹9.27 - ₹9.85 Lakh*
John Deere 5210 GearPro 4WD tractor
John Deere

John Deere 5210 GearPro 4WD

50 HP 3 Cyl
₹9.57 - ₹10.46 Lakh*
Kubota MU 5502 2wd tractor
Kubota

Kubota MU 5502 2wd

50 HP 4 Cyl
₹9.59 - ₹9.86 Lakh*

Traction in wet fields

A 2WD tractor loses grip in standing water and soft mud, and the work takes longer for the same fuel. 4WD, cage wheels or both make the difference between a full day and half a day of puddling.

Gearbox

Puddling needs low ground speeds at working engine revs. Count the creeper and low-range gears rather than the total gear count.

After the season

Wet work is hard on seals and bearings. Wash the underside down after puddling and check the front-axle and PTO seals — this is where neglected paddy tractors fail first.