L4400HST vs. L3940HST ?

   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #11  
Having essentially the same problem as Grateful11, having split brakes on the left does not "solve" any problems for us, rather they add them due to the limited use of and diminished strength of our left legs.

I do not use brakes for steering or much of anything else on my larger tractors though I grew up doing so, but after reading posts complaining of having the brakes and HST on the same side, I have experimented and found I can get satisfactory results by using the cruise control going forward quite well or my cane in reverse.

Now I am not recommending this for everyone, but those with disabilities must approach just about everything differently. For those able bodied people for whom "steering" with the brakes is a priority, a John Deere or other make will work better.

While I don't like to stray off topic, since the OP has broached the subject, I wouldn't advise anyone to look at only one brand when purchasing. I have two Kubotas, two John Deeres, two Fords, one Case and a Massey Ferguson and don't honestly know which I will buy next; just can't have left foot braking.
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #12  
While I don't like to stray off topic, since the OP has broached the subject, I wouldn't advise anyone to look at only one brand when purchasing. I have two Kubotas, two John Deeres, two Fords, one Case and a Massey Ferguson and don't honestly know which I will buy next; just can't have left foot braking.

TripleR, That is quite a fleet of tractors. Do you or did you farm as a profession?
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #13  
TripleR, That is quite a fleet of tractors. Do you or did you farm as a profession?

It sounds more impressive than it really is as some are pretty old.

I grew up on a farm and one of the Fords was bought new when my dad traded our 8N and 2N for it in 1955 600 Series. My brother and I farmed when I was in college. We would swap off on driving our newer model Ford when I got out of classes or his shift ended. I often drove until one or two in the morning and went to school the next day. With wives, kids, work, school and pretty skimpy income we had to quit and rent the land out. For the last thirty years, I have helped maintain the family farm and worked with my father in law and sons on reforestation, establishing native grasses like Big Blue, Little Blue, Indian Grass and wildlife food plots as well as ponds for erosion abatement and game fish.

The biggest tractor I have is an 80 HP which is considered a utility tractor around here, but I do use a three bottom plow, disk, harrow and "no till" planter for food plots and dirt work.

I often speak with our renters about farming and read farm publications and know enough to realize I could not make it in farming now, My wife is retired from USDA and you wouldn't believe the debt load on the "average" farmer or how much they have to know. My hat is off to them.
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #14  
I really like the older Iron and I would have a hard time parting with it if I had it. I have at times tried to think of a way to make a little money off of the land but I watch the folks around here and they appear to be paying themselves a couple of dollars an hour at best. I have heard mention of some of the government programs on reforestation and such and may go that route if I could get the tax break to offset just owning the land. I feel for the farmers too it seems as though a bad year or 2 could sink a fella. We used to run cattle on this place about 30 years ago and I saw how fast my dad could spend money and loose money but I didn't see a lot of making money. I guess it would have to be a passion thing. I love the equipment and that type of life but I don't like the idea of going broke to live it. So until then I will continue to farm brush and weeds even though theres not much market for it. Now if brush fire ever become popular then I would have it made.:D
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #15  
I have to watch myself as I have barely been able to keep from buying a couple of older tractors lately, Ford 841 and 861 and even an old IH or two. Right now I am having a hard time keeping what I have running and under cover.

Yes, there are programs like CRP and others, but you have a lot of hoops to jump through and the reimbursement isn't much. Cash rent in my area is from $125 to $200+ per acre and CRP payments are about $75 to $100 depending on your cover crop, so you lose money over renting it out to farm.

Farming is a tenuous occupation as we bought the land we are living on about twenty years ago from the people who now rent it from us and on another small farm, we have gone through three renters, but there is always someone standing in line ready to take on farming.

We have a lot of land in woods, ponds, gullies, wildlife cover, but enough in row crop to keep the equipment running and taxes paid. Just the joy of owning the land is enough for us, so we don't worry too much about it, but if someone can find a market for thistles, ragweed, goldenrod and coyotes, I'll be rich and then I can buy more tractors...
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #16  
The problem I see with the brakes and the hydro pedal on the same side is if
you're doing loader work and need to use the steering brake you're going to
have to drive cross-legged. I can't see any reason why they would do that
unless they don't want you using the steering while applying power with the
hydro pedal. We move quite a bit of manure every year, we have about
10,000 sq.ft. of concrete lots where the cows spend quite a bit of their time
and manure and steering brakes kind a go hand in hand so to speak.

Can't speak for anyone but myself on this but the brake placement is a complete non-issue for my use.

For FEL use, my tractors are virtually always in 4wd, which seems to me functions somewhat at odds with the way a brake turn works. The 4wd aims to improve traction and pulling power at the front, which is just the opposite of what a brake turn does when it anchors one rear wheel so the tractor pivots on a shorter turn radius than the track of the front wheels (i.e. slip the front a little). So the 4wd minimizes slippage while the brake turn takes advantage of it. Doing both on the same machine is OK if it's a skidsteer, but it's a bit sporting for my comfort on a tractor, particularly if you have any weight at all in the bucket. Last thing I want is that front end sliding around. Given the choice, the 4wd, HST and power steering give all the maneuverability I need, and I don't miss the brakes at all for FEL work.

I do use the brakes for turns when mowing, with the FEL removed, cruise control on and 2wd, on flat ground... works just like any other tractor regardless of where the pedals are located.

Now I don't have cow lots to muck out, so what works for me may not apply to you. It's good you're thinking all this through ahead of buying, and the good part is you have many great choices available.
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ?
  • Thread Starter
#17  
Well we're back. I made like 8 calls to dealers before we even set out this
morning and found out there was no need in going too far from home. I spec'd
out the L3940HST exactly the same way to about 5 dealers. Here's what I told
them to price it on: an L3940HST, FEL, R4 tires filled, and delivered. I got prices
ranging from $24,995 to $26,350. What I didn't know until I started looking is
that there's different models of the same tractor, there's a -1, -2 and -3, they call
them a dash 1, dash 2 or a dash 3. The dash 3 is the latest model and has the
newest features such as the swivel seat, an electric switch for the PTO and the
Stall Guard Plus. The new -3's have an "Electric over hydraulic PTO switch"
instead of a older lever PTO engagement, I would just as well have the lever.
The swivel seat makes the -3 worth the extra $200 over the -1 or -2 because
of my back and leg situation, the "Stall Guard Plus" I don't really know much
about. The $24,995 was for a -2 and the same dealer quoted me $25,195 for
the -3, they have 1 -2 and 2 -3's stlll in crates and they are going to prep
one this week for us to check out. One feature that I found that really liked
was the Auto Throttle Advance, I didn't think I would but it's nice, like
they say almost like driving a car.

All these upgrades to the -3 are available on Kubota Bulletin Number:
PIB-2009-052, which he made a copy of for me. Also if you now get a
cab you get a cloth headliner instead of vinyl according to the bulletin.

We wound up only stopping at 3 dealers, one JD to actually drive a 4320 and
two Kubota dealers one of which is a 1/2 mile from the farm. He actually has
the other Kubota dealer beat by $100 but this is one dealer I've never been
able to get along with as most people in the area will tell you the same thing,
personally I'm not sure how he stays in business, he now has a totally new
crew working for him as from what I've heard he's too hard to get along
with for very long. I really hate that the guy is so obnoxious and hard to get
along with because it would be so convenient to just drive a new piece of
equipment home.

As far as the JD 4320 we both drove, let's just say we weren't in the least bit
impressed, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, it's probably a fine
piece of equipment but I think they need to put a little more thought into their
small tractors, they seem to be doing a great job with large stuff as they
were prepping a 36 row planter while we were there, man that thing is
huge. The bad thing is we're good friends with the owner of this JD
dealership and are both members of the same antique tractor club, I hope
buying another brand doesn't upset him, after all we bought a new JD 448
round baler and a X720 GT from him last year. My wife said he's probably
going be upset but that's business I guess.

As far as the steering brakes this thing has such a tight turning radius I'm not
sure I need it and I only drove it in 2WD but I drove it on pavement and
gravel. We both really enjoyed driving the Kubota, smooth riding, super
nice seat with lots of adjustments and etc.
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #18  
Grateful11, my wife and I were really impressed with the Grand L40 series of tractors and would have bought one if we had not found a really good L5030 HSTC. I own a John Deere CUT and my impression on John Deere is similar to yours. One of our renters have units from 47 to 325 HP and I love the big tractors, but don't care much for the utility sizes. We also looked at the NH. Due to poor dealerships, serious consideration was not given to MF, Kioti or Mahindra.

I am not knocking any brands as they all make good tractors.
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #19  
I think you'll be happy with the 3940. Like others have said I would at least get a quote on the 4240 with the bigger loader. It should be the same tratcor except a few more pto horsepower and alot more loader lift. I'm guessing it will be 1500-2000 more. As far as the auto throttle I don't use it. Even set to quick response it seems very slow, and the engine seems to rev to high. I just set the tractor rpm. If I'm just driving I set lower, if I'm using the pto I set it higher. The stall guard is nice. I can't comment on the seat as I don't have it but it sounds like it would make it better. As for the steering brakes I've never used them. I'm a realatively new operator 3 years and 200-300 hours, but I can't think of a situation they would be of benefit to me.
 
   / L4400HST vs. L3940HST ? #20  
Two items I haven't seen mentioned about the Grand L over the base model are 1) the greater ease of connecting rear implements on the Grand L because of its sliding lower bars and, 2) the mid PTO option available on the Grand L.

My wife and I find the difference in the three point hitch to be a major factor. Having a mile and half of road to plow snow off of necessitated a front mounted snow blower which required the mid PTO.

Have fun shopping.:thumbsup:
 

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