KUBOTA KX121-3 VS 161 CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME DECIDE HERE

[Dargo]

Dargo- How do you like the Takeuchi? I've been looking at those as well, they look like a quality machine; Does the quality of the Kubotas and the like way surpass brands like yanmar, gehl, ? I guess its the ongoing ? of brand loyalty vs where's the real quality;

I'm terrible, I have no brand loyalty. About the only brand I'm pretty well finished with is Bobcat. I'd say they are best at skid steers, but it was a borrowed Takeuchi from a friend when my 320 Bobcat was down that introduced me to the Takeuchi brand. To be totally honest, I'd really never heard of them. The Takeuchi TL150 just put my Bobcat to shame in every aspect. Other than a stiff ride since it's built like a tank, the Takeuchi TL150 is by far the toughest track loader I've ever used. That's what got me to look at, and try, Takeuchi mini excavators. I was all set to get rid of my Bobcat and get a Kubota.

Once I looked around, it was really just the better price as compared to Kubota that sent me to Takeuchi mini excavators over Kubota. I personally feel that both the Tak and Kubota mini excavators are very smooth and precise as well as fast digging and powerful. The Kubota gets the edge from me with the 6 way blade but the Tak gets the edge from me for power and price. After years of running Bobcat minis, both the Kubota and Takeuchi machines felt like they had unbelievable power. In my personal situation I opted for the Tak mini excavator over the Kubota, but you won't hear me saying anything bad about the Kubota machines.

 

[AKfish]

The Takeuchi TL150 just put my Bobcat to shame in every aspect. Other than a stiff ride since it's built like a tank, the Takeuchi TL150 is by far the toughest track loader I've ever used. That's what got me to look at, and try, Takeuchi mini excavators.
In my personal situation I opted for the Tak mini excavator over the Kubota, but you won't hear me saying anything bad about the Kubota machines.

I've been told the same by a long-time Bobcat owner as well. No personal experience with Tak's but the next machine I need to rent for a week or so will be a Tak.

I used a JD 50D for a week this past November and it was a better machine - IMO - than the Bobcat 435. Except for the foot control for the thumb.. Duh... what is JD (or Hitachi) thinking?

AKfish

 

[Dargo]

I've been told the same by a long-time Bobcat owner as well. No personal experience with Tak's but the next machine I need to rent for a week or so will be a Tak.

Well, as I said I was gonna do, I changed the tracks on my TB145 yesterday. I feel like I've been beaten and then dragged behind a tractor for 20 miles. Each track weighed 620 pounds and the cold rubber was very slow to flex. It literally felt like I was wrestling a 620 pound Gumby; 4 times (2 off and 2 on). I had my lovely wife help me. At times I was getting so tired of picking up and pulling etc., I don't think there's any way I could have done it without her help. I'll attach a few pictures I took with my phone. I still need to let them stretch and make some final adjustments on them, but the job is done.

One thing I did want to point out was how pleased at the condition of the roller/bogey wheels, idlers and sprockets on this machine. The original tracks lasted 2500 hours. I wanted to make sure I checked the rollers and idlers etc. when I had the tracks off and repair if necessary. I'm very pleased, and really shocked, that I found zero slop or measurable wear on the idlers or rollers! Even after wearing out a set of tracks and that many hours, the undercarriage is in exceptional shape! I'd comment more, but I can't hardly type because even my fingers are sore.

 

[AKfish]

Son of a gun!! You're a better man than me - taking on that job! And for the life of me - I can't imagine how you EVER talked your wife into helping....?

You do good work.. and it looks like you got every last bit of work outta those old tracks, too!

My wife would probably want a month in Hawaii (without me..) after that job!

Did you use an engine hoist to lift the tracks up and hold them in place while you wrestled with sliding them over the drive sproket and idlers, etc.??

AKfish

 

[curtisfarmer]

620 lbs. wow!!! The old ones look like slicks

 

[spo307]

new sneakers always catch your eye, as someone said if you dont have to transport as much 161-3 kubota is a gr8 machine

 

[ecoscaper]

Usually there's alot of rocks to be moved, and old stonewalls to be rebuilt, some boulders, seems like the 121 would be border line for big boulders but great for rebuilding fieldstone walls. Regardless I need that thumb!