GL3240 Update -- 3yrs & 600 hrs

[TalonDancer]

GL3240 Update -- 3yrs & 600 hrs (pics added)

We just celebrated our GL3240's 3rd birthday w/ 600 hrs on the clock This has without doubt been the most trouble free and valuable investment we've made a very long time.

Some of you old timers may remember our L3240's first major project when we excavated and processed nearly 200 tons of limestone, etc. building a pad for our two 10,000 gals rain water storage tanks.

Last year we built a 3 bay garage with attached carport in front of the tanks. In addition to unloading and moving literally tons of building materials on the job site (e.g. cement blocks, concrete, lumber, HardiePlank, pavers, etc.), the 3240 with the pallet fork...
* lifted and placed several large beams including a pre-assembled 24'x16"x5.5' LVL onto 9' cripples (AKA jack studs) and a 24'x16"x3.5"GLULAM into metal saddles over 9' high. BTW the 9' clearance allows the 3240 to go anywhere in the structure with the ROPS and sun shade up
* lifted all the 4'x8'x3/4" roof decking
* lifted all of the metal roofing to just above eve height (over 9') for easy installation.

Various other projects include:
* excavating an 8' diameter x 8' deep hole for the 5' diameter spherical water catchment tank.
* spreading and boxblading 80 tons of road base for the construction driveway
* spreading a boxblading 40 tons of road base for a neighbor (who had loaned me scaffolding during the garage construction)

This year as the 600 hrs ticked over, I had just completed the 320 ft of ditch for the under ground power. This project required excavating over 60 tons of alluvial fill, transporting the soil w/ the smaller rocks to the future house site, transporting pallets of the larger "river rocks" for future use and backfilling the ditch with over 60 tons of manufactured sand (a utility Co. requirement).

So our L3240 has been a little busy these last 3 years. During most of this time she has been configured as a TLB with either the loader bucket or pallet fork. I would not own a loader without quick attach. I only put the box blade on for specific projects. As a TLB the L3240 is perfectly balanced WITHOUT water in the tires. When I have the box blade on she can get a little light in the rear with 3/4 ton on the pallet fork. The answer is NOT water, it's weight on the box blade.

I really, really like the HST plus with the on the fly (Turtle-Rabbit) settings for each of the 3 main "gears". I can't remember the last time I used Low, and only use Medium when carrying a heavy load up a grade. I use High (Turtle) 80-90% of the time.

I run exclusively in Auto-Throttle mode, adjusted as I've posted previously. When starting up from a dead stop with a heavy (e.g. 1/2-3/4 ton) load I use the hand throttle to increase the RPM (read HST pump output) for the power steering, etc. and quickly push it back once underway.

I've done all the maintenance myself. It's a bit messy but pretty easy. Kubota could have made the HST and Hydraulic filters easier to replace at the 200 and 600 hr points. But once you know how, it can be done without much mess or loss of HST fluid.

The ONLY thing I wish I had done differently is to buy the 3540. The 3240 is a little under powered when used hard. But I really like the size, so I would not go any larger.

Talon Dancer

 

[SCtractorguy]

Thats a pretty good write up.
I have the same tractor that I bought a year and a half ago. It's got 61 hours on it.
I've thought a few times(though no back hoe) more HP would be nice ~~ 3940 or 4240. :licking:

For the most part though I can do anything around my place with it. Usually bucket and box blade or bushogging.

I have a BX for the lawn work.

 

[Grandad4]

There have been some first-time tractor shoppers here lately who seem to have the misinformed idea that the GL's are light-duty tractors. Kub maybe confuses some first-time buyers with utility, ag and construction type equipment all in the same general size and hp ranges. A competitor salesman or two might add to the fun by muddying up the picture as well :laughing:

Good to see someone summarize the work they are doing with theirs. Mine has been doing assorted tasks, including heavy FEL and BH work and logging, for 8+ years, approaching 1000 hours with no significant problems or repairs. It will outlast me.

 

[crazyal]

Haven't seen you posting for a little while, guess you've been busy putting hours on your 3240. Glad to hear it's worked out well for you and that you've had 600 fault free hours of fun, I mean use.

 

[beppington]

Your 3240 is doing better than his:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/179496-rolled-my-3240-ran-till.html

 

[TalonDancer]

There have been some first-time tractor shoppers here lately who seem to have the misinformed idea that the GL's are light-duty tractors. ....

Our Kubota salesman was a great guy. BUT... he was not at all sure that the GL3240 could handle the BH90 and the L724 loader with HD bucket and cutting edge that I was ordering. His point was "If you want a real TLB, why not get the L39". But I really wanted the HST Plus and some of the other features of the GL series, like the removable loader (which BTW I have never removed). To his credit, he told me on delivery that after seeing it all bolted together, this configuration might work just fine

Kubota's sales literature makes the GL series look like it belongs on a hobby farm with light usage. But as you know, a properly configured GL can be a real work horse.

Talon Dancer

 

[TalonDancer]

Haven't seen you posting for a little while, guess you've been busy putting hours on your 3240. Glad to hear it's worked out well for you and that you've had 600 fault free hours of fun, I mean use.

Are you still making little rocks out of bigger rocks with dynamite

BTW the lower part of the trench was chock full of well rounded "river rocks" ranging from the size of walnuts to grapefruit to basket balls. I now have even more pallets of rocks you can hate

Talon Dancer

 

[Grandad4]

Kubota's sales literature makes the GL series look like it belongs on a hobby farm with light usage.

You noticed that also? Kubota excels at product design, but I think they give up a step or two to the competition in their marketing. When I was buying in 2002, competitors were touting their operator-friendly features over the Kubota GL's. Since then, Kub has matched or bettered the features, but, in promoting them, seems to go overboard in portraying the GL's as fancy "estate tractors". I never liked ad agencies very much, but a really good one wouldn't make that kind of mistake.

 

[Baby Grand]

Welcome back - it sounds like you're really getting your investment back on that machine. Any pictures?
-Jim

 

[TalonDancer]

....Since then, Kub has matched or bettered the features, but, in promoting them, seems to go overboard in portraying the GL's as fancy "estate tractors".....

I like your term 'estate tractors'. It really captures the image I got of the GL series when I was shopping for our tractor. The Kubota brochure's large pictures of GLs being used for light duty tasks: finish mowing, moving hay bales in the bucket, digging holes for shrubs didn't really help. And apparently that's the image our salesman and Kubota owning friends had/have of the GLs too

They knew we had estate size 'acreage'. But they also knew I was planning to use the tractor as a serious TLB during the construction phase and maybe someday use it for lighter tasks. Based on their advice, we were very close to buying a L3400. But I really wanted the HST Plus, Auto-Throttle and the larger backhoe. So I plunged ahead configuring a GL3240 TLB. As I posted earlier, 3 yrs later, my only regret is not getting the 3540 with a few more HP

Talon Dancer

p.s. When visitors comment on how 'fancy' our GL3240 is, we just tell them it's a "gentleman's backhoe". Which on occasion begs the question..." So where the gentleman?"