Advise, advise, advise (please)

[Arky217]

(Moderator, since this post involves a Kioti as well, I also posted it in the Kioti forum. If this is a no-no, please delete the Kioti forum post. Thanks, Arky)

Boy, this tractor buying decision is getting old; I'll probably be too old and feeble to climb on a tractor by the time I decide what to buy !

I think I've got it narrowed down to one of two brands, however; either the Kubota or the Kioti.

Today, I stopped by a Kubota dealer just to see what trade ins he had.
There was a L3430 about 4 years old that has 400 hrs on it.
It looked in very good shape, like it had been stored inside. The R1 tires look like new. What really impressed me, however, was the GST transmission. I had read about them, but until today, had never tried one. I was pretty set on getting nothing but an HST tractor, but now that I've actually driven one with GST, I'm thinking that I would rather have the GST. One thing that I had always assumed was that you still had to use the clutch to operate the shuttle. Not having to use the clutch at all and having the benefit of no HST power loss appeals to me.
Actually, I'm beginning to think that I would prefer the GST even if there were no HST power loss.

The L3430 tractor, however, does not have a loader. The dealer has it priced at $11,500, and will put an Ansung SSQA loader on it for a total price of $14,900.

Are these prices high, low, or about average ?

The only thing about the Ansung loader is that it attaches to the mid and front of the tractor only and doesn't have the reinforcing bars that go to the back of the tractor like the Kubota loaders do. The dealer says that he can't get a Kubota loader for this model. He also says that even if he could get a Kubota loader, that the tractor is not stout enough for the 7xx series loader and that it is limited to the 5xx series loader. However, I have read about a lot of L3430 tractors on here that have the 7xx series loader on them.

Anyone know what model Woods loader is recommended for this model tractor, and about what it would cost ?

The dealer has priced me a new tractor, L3240 (about 1 hp less) with GST trans and Kubota loader for $21,210.

So, the question is; which would be the better buy ?

The used L3430, 400 hrs, Ansung loader, no warranty for $14,900 ?
Or a new L3240, 0 hrs, Kubota loader, warranty for $21,210 ?

To complicate things, a Kioti salesman calls me today and tells me he has a special deal on a new DK40SE with a 12/12 shuttle transmission and 401 loader for $18,500.
Five more horsepower, bigger tractor, much more powerful loader, and even a few bells and whistles that the new Kubota doesn't have. But I really don't think I want a clutch transmission.
(By the way, are all 4 gears on the DK40 synchronized, or just 3rd and 4th ?)

Decisions, decisions, decisions !

Somebody, anybody, help me out of this tractor overload !!!

Thanks,
Arky

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I don't mind my clutch tranny, and that's a very nice price on the DK40.

[DK35vince]

All the gears, foward and reverse on the Dk's are syncronized.
Range selector is not sycronized. You need to stop to change ranges. (low/medium/hi range)
Very good price on the DK 40.

[IslandTractor]

You'll have to decide what your budget is. I'm partial to the Kioti DK40se which is a lot more tractor and loader than the Kubota models you are looking at. That said, the Kubotas are great but I am not so sure about the off brand FEL. I'm pretty sure Woods still can fit a loader to the 30 series L tractors even if Kubota has stopped supplying them. Woods loaders have a strong reputation.

[coobie]

I made the same choice about 1 1/2 years ago.I was looking at a Kubota 4240 and Kioti DK40se,ended up with the kioti.No regrets yet after 150 hours on the tractor.One thing to keep in mind in your choice a good servicing & parts dealer means alot.coobie.(PS)thats a very fair price on the Kioti that your dealer quoted you.

[MotorSeven]

I'll throw my .02 in. My experience is limited, but we owned a Yanmar gear tractor for 20 years. My neighbor has a big newer 65 horse JD with shuttle that I have driven quite a bit. My DK40SE is HST. For my money, I will only ever own a hydro. It is a pleasure to use & easier than shuttle. Gear is hard on my knee after a few surgeries. I rarely have to shift ranges when doing a specific job, only when running down the county road & going up and down steep hills. Have you driven the HST?

RD