mbx5
New member
Purchased my T430 used with 1000 hours. I believe it's an early 2000 model. Kubota 43hp. Came with a Hardy loader and backhoe with extendaboom. Did some minor backhoe digging last summer and fall, moved some gravel, moved some trees I cut down, some snow removal this winter, and this summer purchased a KingKutter 4' PTO tiller.
Last fall I ran over a stump and broke the 4wd selector housing. No problem. Less than $60 later for a shaft, housing, spring, seal and detent ball....good to go... However - I did have a major front drive train component break. The vertical countershaft on the right front is toast I believe. Started pulling it apart today, will finish the bench work tomorrow. The cost of the parts isn't so bad, but I hope this doesnt become an epidemic - as far as breaking drivetrain components.
The good:
Powerful and very useful
Price was great
Parts aren't too expensive
Somewhat easy to change from backhoe to tiller, can be a pain sometimes.
So far it's been fairly easy to service
The bad:
Leaky cylinders
Leaky housings - bolts loosen frequently. I am going to pull and locktite
Seems to run pretty hot when tilling. It's only a 4' tiller. This concerns me a bit
Sticky solenoids - starter and PTO.
Possible weak drivetrain? I wasn't beating on it that bad. Time will tell.
Rubber falls off pedals. Some components feel "cheap" if that makes sense (fwd/reverse selector, some other operator control stuff just feels chinsy)
PITA access to hydraulic fill port when backhoe is on
Very poor traction in 2wd w/o backhoe on....this is probably common w/ any tractor of this size w/o weights
All-in-all, I am happy with it for the price I paid. I couldn't justify spending 2-3x the money on an orange or green just for tooling around the house. I'll keep it for now, and do my best to keep it running....hoping for nothing major. I can handle the minor stuff.
Last fall I ran over a stump and broke the 4wd selector housing. No problem. Less than $60 later for a shaft, housing, spring, seal and detent ball....good to go... However - I did have a major front drive train component break. The vertical countershaft on the right front is toast I believe. Started pulling it apart today, will finish the bench work tomorrow. The cost of the parts isn't so bad, but I hope this doesnt become an epidemic - as far as breaking drivetrain components.
The good:
Powerful and very useful
Price was great
Parts aren't too expensive
Somewhat easy to change from backhoe to tiller, can be a pain sometimes.
So far it's been fairly easy to service
The bad:
Leaky cylinders
Leaky housings - bolts loosen frequently. I am going to pull and locktite
Seems to run pretty hot when tilling. It's only a 4' tiller. This concerns me a bit
Sticky solenoids - starter and PTO.
Possible weak drivetrain? I wasn't beating on it that bad. Time will tell.
Rubber falls off pedals. Some components feel "cheap" if that makes sense (fwd/reverse selector, some other operator control stuff just feels chinsy)
PITA access to hydraulic fill port when backhoe is on
Very poor traction in 2wd w/o backhoe on....this is probably common w/ any tractor of this size w/o weights
All-in-all, I am happy with it for the price I paid. I couldn't justify spending 2-3x the money on an orange or green just for tooling around the house. I'll keep it for now, and do my best to keep it running....hoping for nothing major. I can handle the minor stuff.