The L4400 is a relatively new model for Kubota and since I don't see a formal review here, I thought I'd offer my impressions. However, this is my first tractor and my prior experience with any tractors is limited. So these are just my impressions and are not intended as a comparison with other brands or models. It currently has about 30 hours on it.

I was in the market for an affordable, reliable tractor for a variety of tasks on my 250 acres, particularly mowing small fields and roads, maintaining woods roads and doing limited clearing. I selected the tractor based on specs, price, financing options and a good dealership nearby.

I added the LA703 loader as well as a rear remote. It came with standard Ag tires. Final sale price was $19,200. I took advantage of the 3 year, 0% financing that was available at the time. I purchased a used John Deere LX6 rotary cutter and I also use a heavy duty John Deere seven foot, single spindle, pull-type cutter as well.

Fit and finish are what I would expect from Kubota.

The driver position is easy to access and the deck is completely flat. The dash is simple and uncluttered with a large tach, temp gauge, fuel gauge and a series of idiot lights in the middle. I am 6'4" and find the driver position to be fine and the seat reasonably comfortable. I have not noticed any back or neck pain after several hours of contiuous use. Pedals and gear shifts seem to be well placed. The Range Shift Lever is on the left with 'Low' and 'Reverse' in opposition which makes FEL work easy. The PTO lever is to the right and a bit behind the driver making it a little awkward to use.

The tractor starts easily even in cool weather (40 degrees F). The power steering is effortless and responsive. Braking requires only moderate effort. The clutch has a long throw and a stiff spring which can lead to a little knee fatigue with clutch intensive jobs like FEL work. But, it engages smoothly and predictably. The Range Shift Lever has a gated layout and is smooth. The main gear shift is a bit mushy and sometimes requires a little hunting, but this is a tractor and not a sportscar. Four reverse gears gives plenty of speed options for reverse travel.

I am not fond of the diff lock position. It is at your heel on the right, but when pressing it down with your heel, you cannot reach the accelerator pedal with your toe. This may be intentional for all I know, but this requires you to use the hand throttle to provide engine speed to get you unstuck, which is a bit awkward.

This is a very basic gear drive tractor but with a minimum amount of practice most operations become second nature. I do most repetative FEL jobs in second gear, using the Range Shift lever to go back and forth short distances and then throw it in 'High' for longer distances. I can now do all of this without looking down.

The LA703 loader features a 6' bucket and comes with a front brush guard. It functions well and even though its stats show it to be comparable or better than many similar models, cycle times seem a little slow at times. But again, that is based on no prior FEL experience. The joystick sits high and to the right of the dash and is comfortable, well laid out and easy to use. It remains with the tractor when the FEL is removed. It features dual function positions. The loader is simple, in theory, to remove and re-attach. I've only done it once and did it on soft ground which allowed the loader stands to settle a little. This made re-attachment a little difficult. The key is to follow the manual instructions word-for-word and it will work. The bucket does not have a quick attach mechanism, which would have been nice.

So far I have done a lot of mowing and a lot of FEL work and my biggest impression is that this 45 HP tractor is powerful, particularly with the front wheels pulling. With the heavy duty 7' pull type mower in waist high fescue and blackberry punctuated by small locusts and plums, the engine does not even register a load at all. The three point hitch handles the lighter duty LX6 with no trouble and even in deep grass it does not slow the engine. PTO engagement is incremental and can be done smoothly but it takes a but of finesse. Failure to pull the PTO lever slowly will result in sudden PTO engagement. The telescoping stabilizers on the 3 point hitch make implement changes much easier. Even with heavy FEL work I have yet to significantly lug the engine; the wheels will break traction, on wet ground or dry, before the engine lugs in first or second gear, low.

I have worked this tractor very hard and have yet to be disappointed in its power. I have knocked down a 6" pine tree with the FEL, breaking it off at the ground, but I don't recommend it as it snaps off fairly violently. I have also gotten quite good at stump removal with the FEL, by digging widely all around the stump and then pushing it out or pulling it with a chain.

In terms of problems, the tractor would clearly benefit from some rear ballast when using the FEL (it bounces up front, especially with a loaded bucket) as recommended in the manual. I intend to add water to the rear wheels. The tractor balances very well with the mower and loader on. At about fifteen hours I noticed the hydraulic fluid was low and found a leak where the optional rear remote was installed by the dealer. It was quickly repaired under warranty by the dealer but I had to rent a trailer to pick it up which cost me about $65. It was an improperly seated o-ring and I've had no problems since. I do not like the little window on the rear of the tractor for assessing the tranny fluid level. The fluid is nearly clear making it hard to see and if the tractor is not perfectly level the air/fluid level is above or below the engine. A simple dipstick would be better.

My overall impression is that this is a small but very powerful tractor for a great price. It has the most horsepower in its general class and costs about the same or less than other similar major brand name tractors. It has performed all tasks that I've asked it to and I remain amazed at is power still. The high power at a reasonable price is attained through simplicity. This is a no frills tractor, but as a first time tracor owner I found the gear drive simple to use and master. Having spent 30 hours on this machine I can honestly say that I would not trade any power (or money) for the convenience of an HST transmission. I think this tractor represents one of the best small tractor values and so far I am impressed with Kubota quality and expect it to retain a high resale value as Kubotas typically do.

Date Purchased: 9/2005
Purchased: New
Price Paid: US$19200
Pros: Powerful, affordable, basic.
Cons: Hard to operate throttle and diff lock together. Manual is so-so.
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