Impressed By Orange

[Podunkadunk]

I've got three dynomite Kubota's and all I got was a stinkin' T-Shirt....

I got a cap and the cheesy, square, white plastic thingy with Kubota written on it that they pass off as a license plate, with my tractor purchase. The key was already on a Kubota keyring ( I guess nobody noticed, or it would have been promptly removed) .

I had to go back and purchase a front pushguard and almost 350 lbs of weights to get a t-shirt (too small at that...I wear an XL and all they had were large).

When I went in several months later to buy an Echo linetrimmer, I coerced them out of another ball cap to replace the worn out one from before. Reluctantly, I might add

Kubota ain't in it for the "geedunk".

Podunk

 

[gamble77]

These are two fine machines by two companies that are on top of their game...all tractors have problems and there is always one person that has horror stories. Moral of the of this...drive each one of them, see if the dealers will bring them out for a demo on the same day so you can have them side by side...whichever one you feel more comfortable on will be the one you need to buy. Good luck!

 

[12VOLTMAN]

Texasjohn,

In regards to your toothbar question. I am considering both. The dealer said something about a toothbar that would go over the cutting edge. Do I have to chose one or the other? Or can they be used in tandem with one another?

 

[texasjohn]

When I got my FEL, it was the first one I'd ever had and I was mystified by the attachments.... either cutting edge or toothbar. I read lots of posts on TBN about both... there are lots, you can check them out... and came to the following conclusion:

If a cutting edge was REQUIRED to do anything with a FEL, it would come standard. Some people report that they use neither and have had good success in their applications with minimum wear on the bottom/edge of their buckets.

A cutting edge is kinda misnamed... it is most useful when scooping up stuff like sand and dirt, stuff that has been fluffed up already.

A toothbar is best for digging into the ground, getting into piles of rock where the sizes are golfball or larger, digging into piles of compressed material.

Both devices reinforce the original lip of the bucket and prevent it from developing a "smile"

I've seen quite a number of posts of people with a cutting edge trying to figure out how to add a toothbar. I've seen replies indicating that there are toothbars that will fit over a cutting edge... but these are few/special order, etc... I have no personal experience trying to find a toothbar that fits over a cutting edge.

I've seen many posts singing the praises of the toothbar... can't recall seeing one for a cutting dege.

If it were me, I'd get a toothbar only. I see no reason to have both... and even less reason to use both at the same time.

Others may add their opinions... particularly if you create a new thread with this specific topic.

 

[john_bud]

I got a kubota tractor and no hat, no shirt, no nothing! Year or two later went to a Kubota open house and got a hat, coffee cup for free and paid for a kubota toy tractor for the kid.

The 40 series HST is the latest and bestest tech out there. Hard to beat a Kubota in that size. JD is also very good, but they are a half step behind kubota on the latest whiz bangs.

Try them both again and without moving (both hands on the wheel), close your eyes and try and to operate the FEL controls, range controls and 3pt controls. The one that is easiest to do is probably more intuitive for you and will probably just "feel right" when operating.

jb

 

[texbaylea]

O.K. I admit it...

I went to the Kubota dealer today just to say I looked at all of the different tractors out there and settled on a Deere 4120 with 400cx loader. But after playing with an L3940HST I'm having major second thoughts! These things are loaded with features, and I must say I'm very impressed.
I'm trying to decide between the Deere or the Kubota, so I would like any and all input from you guys that own them.

Also, I would like your opinion on the price:
L3940HST
LA724 Loader with round back 72" quick attach bucket and cutting edge
R4 Tires
$23,000 from dealer in N.E. Ohio

Thanks in advance

If that is the HD bucket I think that a toothbar will be more useful. I got the cutting edge when I bought my L3130. It only stayed on until I got my toothbar and hasn't been on since. The cutting edge of the HD buckets is a heavier edge to start with.

Vernon

 

[Redbug]

Hi 12Volt,

Both brands are very good, although I am more familiar with the Kubota. I discovered that buying a tractor is more complicated than buying a new truck...since there's more options and more unknowns that you learn after getting one. That's why forums like this is so good since we all can share our collected wisdom/mistakes. Anything from tire types to adding bucket hooks. And that's not to mention all the neat attachments and tools you can use with one. By the way...I would get the toothbar...

When comparing, you need to try and be logical about it, comparing apples to apples. I think the Kubota L4240 is in the same size area as the Deere 4120. The Kubota L3940 is smaller. A lot of the advertising can be slanted and you need to get into the specs. Some things to compare...Cost between the two tractor models, (if a great difference, why, is it a good deal?), do both tractors have about the same HP, PTO power, loader capacities, do they weigh about the same? What are the hyd fluid capacities between the two, GPM hyd flow? Are the dealers OK to work with?

Once you have figured out which tractor you really want...then you can get down to the nitty-gritty. That's when you can compare prices between dealers, and maybe get one to come down a bit...

 

[LBrown59]

I've got three dynomite Kubota's and all I got was a stinkin' T-Shirt....

I have 3 Kubotas An I didn't even get a smelly shirt or nutin else.

 

[lawn_king]

Eight years ago i retired my international and purchased my first bota (B7500). International served me very well, but 22 years of clutch & gear was enough for me. I have since purchased & sold a b3030 and now have a grand L. We use our kubota for commercial use,lawn care,field services, heavy landscape construction and snow removal. There have been blizzards here that stalled for days, running the machines for 50+ hours without shutting them off. Once started you dont turn off a peice of snow removal equipment. Kubota builds quality equipment, yes they are more money than some others, but we have found them to be well worth the extra dollars. If you do the P M, they will just work and work. You will have a hard time finding an unhappy kubota owner around here. I wouldnt jump from orange to any other color, kubota has never let us down and we demand a lot from our machines!

 

[Bob_Young]

I don't know about anyone else's tractors, but my three Kubotas just run. It's so great to have a machine that's ready to go to work whenever you are. I buy these things to help solve problems, not become another problem. If I want to work on tractors, I've got the old Fords and the Johnny popper for that.

Continually I see on here to try all the competing models and get the one that "feels right". I don't get that. What "feels right" is normally what I'm used to. What doesn't feel right at first, often feels fine after I've used it a bit. Sometimes it even feels better than what I was accustomed to. With over 40 years of working with tractors and using many Deeres, Olivers, Farmall/IHs, Ford/NHs, a Steiger and now my Kubotas, a new model never "feels right" at first. But you use what you got. Work it a day or two, and suddenly it feels fine.

I wouldn't make "feels good" the deciding factor by a long shot, but carefully consider your needs with regard to transmission choice. An HST can make loader work and lawn duty a breeze. It can make manuevering in tight quarters easily possible where clutch and gear would just lead to disaster. It'll give you the ultimate in speed control and precise maneuvering.

If you go gear, demanding field work is made easier by a Powershift transmission (like Kubota's GST) and a choice of 12 or 16 forward gears. Often a good slow reverse gear is a must....like for backing a 4-wheel hay wagon or running a 3PH snow blower. Pay close attention to the ground speeds available in each gear, especially the lower gears..forward and reverse. Then use your test ride to get a feel whether those speeds will work for you.
FWIW
Bob