L3800 questions

[alancamby]

I have some questions on the L3800 HST.

-Are all of them interim Tier4 that are currently sold. Meaning that Kubota plans to discontinue the model when full tier 4 is enforced? If I buy one out of state, I don't want to show up and find that it is Common rail with DPF.

-Where are they made? I hear Japanese engine and trans and assembled in USA??

-I have heard about the jerky 3 point hitch. Any other problems with this model? Have they been reliable?

-Does the clutch need to be pressed to change between the 3 speed transmission ranges?

-can the hood open farther then the gas shocks travel? Meaning can the shock be un pinned and opened like a Jeep hood?

-Has anyone broken their fuel filter, looks very vulnerable?

I tested out 2 of them today at the local dealer. The price for the new year, assuming due to incentive programs, jumped $1,200 over the price I was quoted by the same dealer on Monday.

Thanks, Alan

 

[k0ua]

I have some questions on the L3800 HST.

-Are all of them interim Tier4 that are currently sold. Meaning that Kubota plans to discontinue the model when full tier 4 is enforced? If I buy one out of state, I don't want to show up and find that it is Common rail with DPF. Yes and Yes. There will soon be new models.

-Where are they made? I hear Japanese engine and trans and assembled in USA?? They are made in Japan and Final assembly in Georgia. Tires and wheels are USA

-I have heard about the jerky 3 point hitch. Any other problems with this model? Have they been reliable? None that I know of

-Does the clutch need to be pressed to change between the 3 speed transmission ranges? No it does not. BUT you must be stopped, and sometimes pushing in the clutch will help with alining the gears by allowing the tractor to "drift" slightly.

-can the hood open farther then the gas shocks travel? Meaning can the shock be un pinned and opened like a Jeep hood? I don't know, just look at it.

-Has anyone broken their fuel filter, looks very vulnerable? Very few have reported this. It doesn't seem to be much of a problem

I tested out 2 of them today at the local dealer. The price for the new year, assuming due to incentive programs, jumped $1,200 over the price I was quoted by the same dealer on Monday.

Thanks, Alan

Sorry

 

[Bluegill2]

James covered it all very well.

I bought mine 2 years ago and absolutely love it!

The L3800DT is actually a little small for what I use it for (logging, mowing, road work on 400 acres), but it has surpassed my expectations.

I had plans to use the 3800 for a few years then trade up to a larger model. But not now, it is a keeper! :thumbsup:

 

[jeff9366]

I have some questions on the L3800 HST.

-Where are they made? I hear Japanese engine and trans and assembled in USA??

Kubota sells all over the world, manufactures in several countries. Most US sold, mid-size tractors are assembled in Gainesville, Georgia. FELs are made in the USA. Kubota has a diesel engine plant in Illinois. I have no idea if an Illinois engine goes in the L3800 HST. Cute BX's come from Japan.

-I have heard about the jerky 3 point hitch.

Owners complain about this from time to time. I have no idea if this is primarily or exclusively related to older "LXX00" series. A lot of L3800s are sold. I can't believe Kubota would let a problem drag on that they have to pay for under warranty, can you?

Any other problems with this model? Have they been reliable? Kubota equipment is very reliable. Kubota dealers sell ONLY Kubota tractors.

-Does the clutch need to be pressed to change between the 3 speed transmission ranges? Yes.

-can the hood open farther then the gas shocks travel? Meaning can the shock be un pinned and opened like a Jeep hood? I do not know. Good question for your Kubota dealer.

-Has anyone broken their fuel filter, looks very vulnerable? No problem on my B3300SU, same ground clearance. I work mostly in the woods.

I tested out 2 of them today at the local dealer. The price for the new year, assuming due to incentive programs, jumped $1,200 over the price I was quoted by the same dealer on Monday.

Price of Grand L I want to buy is up $6,000 due to Tier 4 emissions requirements, improving economy in U.S. plus Kubota having to compensate for probable increase in inflation and higher cost of money while offering "0" financing. C'est la vie.

 

[k0ua]

James covered it all very well.

I bought mine 2 years ago and absolutely love it!

The L3800DT is actually a little small for what I use it for (logging, mowing, road work on 400 acres), but it has surpassed my expectations.

I had plans to use the 3800 for a few years then trade up to a larger model. But not now, it is a keeper! :thumbsup:

Blugill2 can you answer the hood question about unpinning the gas shock.. I couldn't remember. But the hood opens a good amount as is. As for reliability, I believe they are very reliable. They are a simpler tractor than some and therefor have less to break. But the flip side is they do not have some of the features as some of the more complicated tractors, as an example mine. It is a "you pays your money, and you takes your choice".. I never had any trouble with mine, Granted it was a L3400HST, but it was a 2010 model but the changes on the L3800hst are largely cosmetic and a slightly redesigned loader.

 

[alancamby]

"Ask the Kubota dealer"
I was telling him about the model.
He had never heard of a jerky hitch.

I would have checked the hood but forgot. Dealer is 45min away.
Some tractors, such as the Kioti CK, the hood hits the cross brace for the loader if opened more.

 

[murphy1244]

As for as Jerky hitch- take the tractor you are buying and put a heavy implement on and raise it up and down slowly. Some jerk most don't.

 

[Bluegill2]

My L3800 says made in Japan on the tag. Loader, tires/wheels are USA.

No jerky hitch here, but if raised slow enough (Very Slow) it does rise in small increments, instead of one fluid motion. This has Not been a problem and I would have never noticed had I not read about it first. The Jerky thing seemed to be worst with the older L3400?

 

[Bluegill2]

Blugill2 can you answer the hood question about unpinning the gas shock.. I couldn't remember. But the hood opens a good amount as is. As for reliability, I believe they are very reliable. They are a simpler tractor than some and therefor have less to break. But the flip side is they do not have some of the features as some of the more complicated tractors, as an example mine. It is a "you pays your money, and you takes your choice".. I never had any trouble with mine, Granted it was a L3400HST, but it was a 2010 model but the changes on the L3800hst are largely cosmetic and a slightly redesigned loader.

It's dark and cold here, I'll have to look at the hood tomorrow. I have never needed to open the hood any farther than it opens?

They are a Very Simple tractor and that's one thing I Really Like!!! I also like the gear drive, but will try not to get into that.

 

[k0ua]

"Ask the Kubota dealer"
I was telling him about the model.
He had never heard of a jerky hitch.

I would have checked the hood but forgot. Dealer is 45min away.
Some tractors, such as the Kioti CK, the hood hits the cross brace for the loader if opened more.

Without starting a s....storm here, I will state that no Kubota dealer has ever heard of a Jerky 3pt hitch on a standard L series.. IF you are so inclined, there are dozens of threads spanning many years about this issue.. I will say that my 2010 L3400hst had a severe case of the jerky 3pt. My BILS 2013 new 3200HST has a bad case of it also. Others report no problem. Use your own discretion. There are dozens of youtube videos. Several of our best mechanics on this forum have attempted a fix. I was finally contacted by Kubota corporate, after being ignored by the Regional rep, after a dealer went to bat for me and attempted to get a resolution on this. But by then I owned a Kioti. Again. IF you have doubts do your own research.. it is all here. and on youtube. I don't intend to bad mouth Kubota or this line of tractors. I can only state what happened to me/mine. As one poster stated on here "the jerky hitch is like a wart on the face of a very pretty girl". The one and only flaw. But many posters say theirs does not have the problem.

 

[Bluegill2]

"Ask the Kubota dealer"
I was telling him about the model.
He had never heard of a jerky hitch.

I would have checked the hood but forgot. Dealer is 45min away.
Some tractors, such as the Kioti CK, the hood hits the cross brace for the loader if opened more.

My dealer had never heard of the Jerky 3 pt either. I asked after I bought mine and read about it hear... Think it's a larger problem on the internet than in reality, but there are some jerky ones out there.

 

[alancamby]

As for as Jerky hitch- take the tractor you are buying and put a heavy implement on and raise it up and down slowly. Some jerk most don't.

Yeah the dealer did not allow me to do this. I told the sales guy that I wanted a bushhog or a finish mower installed on the tractor so that I could test out the 3 point hitch. I even put it in a email so that he would not forget. Well I showed up and the tractors were inside like he said they would be so that I could see them out of the snow. No attachments hooked up to either l3800. I asked if I could hook up a attachment on the lot and he said all the implements were still in the crates.

Anyhow the price went up today $1200. But I found a dealer that would beat the original price by $500. The kicker is that I have to drive to Kentucky.

 

[alancamby]

Salesman knew nothing, but technician in the garage new all about the jerky hitch.

 

[k0ua]

Salesman knew nothing, but technician in the garage new all about the jerky hitch.

There you go... to test the hitch.. run tractor at any speed you desire. Slowly push the position control backwards. It will start to move the 3pt at about 5 on the scale. push it slowly and as smoothly as you can. IF it has the problem , it will raise in a series of jerks, no matter how smoothly you push the position control. IF you you raise it to 10 in one motion, it will raise rapidly and smoothly with only 1 jerk at the end of its travel. This only matters to people using box blades or back blades trying to smooth out a load of material while traveling forward. You just cant do it well. You will have a series of jerky piles of dirty not a smooth feathered line. If all you are going to do with the 3pt is raise up a cutter or mower from all the way down to all the way up. It doesn't matter. It will raise smoothly rapidly and jerk one time at the end of travel. If you wish to then lower the cutter to some particular height you simply lower the position control. AS the 3pt is powered by gravity alone thru a control valve (the knob below the seat controls the drop rate of the fluid thru the valve) it will lower smoothly every time. But you will be unable to raise it smoothly in small increments, it will come up in a series of "shudders" or "jerks". You can get
to the position you want by "overshooting" the raise point and then smoothly lowering it down. You will not be able to test this without an implement on the 3pt.

 

[s219]

I'm pretty sure they all jerk. However, it can go unnoticed in many scenarios and by many customers doing a test drive. I tested three L's when I bought my L3200 recently, and they all behave just like k0ua explains. From what I have read extensively on here and other forums, the Kubota dealer fix has a couple downsides of its own. So I'd say to evaluate the hitch under conditions you expect to use it, and decide if you will run into the jerking problem, and if it's an issue.

In my case, I am not thrilled about it, but I generally don't ever move a loaded hitch up slowly in increments, which is when it jerks.

I lift several trailers frequently with the 3-pt, and only creep the light hitch receiver up slowly until the ball is in the coupler. The hitch receiver is light enough to not cause jerking. Once the ball is in the coupler, it's a quick jump to towing height, again avoiding the problem. For my box blade, it's usually either all the way up or down in float.

I may run into a scenario where the jerking becomes a problem, and then my tune will probably change. Right now I just think it's a shame Kubota did such a bad job on this aspect of an otherwise great tractor. Somebody dropped the ball in the initial design/engineering, and someone else dropped the ball in the years since if it's still an issue in 2013.

 

[alancamby]

I just remembered something else I was wanting to ask.
Is then entire frame made out of cast iron?
The 3000 series JD has some aluminum housings. Not wanting to debate what is better, Just curious.

Thanks

 

[k0ua]

I just remembered something else I was wanting to ask.
Is then entire frame made out of cast iron?
The 3000 series JD has some aluminum housings. Not wanting to debate what is better, Just curious.

Thanks

No aluminum. no plastic fenders or hood

 

[Fallon]

My L3200 I got new in October has a jerky hitch. Dealer had never heard of such a thing pre-sale when I asked. It sucks, but is usable & not quite bad enough for me to make a big deal about it.

I checked it out when I picked it up, but not close enough & not with a load, which exadurates the problem.

 

[kg7il]

I have broken the fuel filter.
I purchased my L3830 for clearing stump and slash piles left on my 20 acres (36 of them fool piles) still a lot of trees left tho.

Back to the filter. With repeated trips to the stump piles, pulling and dragging slash, i did have some branches do damage.
I've punched holes in the plastic grill, bent the grill guard and of course, broke a fuel filter.
I jerry rigged a 3 port automotive filter to get back in service and until I got the new filter.
Not a big deal, just one more expense.

 

[k0ua]

I have broken the fuel filter.
I purchased my L3830 for clearing stump and slash piles left on my 20 acres (36 of them fool piles) still a lot of trees left tho.

Back to the filter. With repeated trips to the stump piles, pulling and dragging slash, i did have some branches do damage.
I've punched holes in the plastic grill, bent the grill guard and of course, broke a fuel filter.
I jerry rigged a 3 port automotive filter to get back in service and until I got the new filter.
Not a big deal, just one more expense.

Yeah I knew there were a couple of people that had broken the filter, but I could not remember who. But it doesnt seem to be much of a problem for most people in the way they use their tractors. The hydraulic filter on my Kioti would be a prime candidate for puncture if you worked in a lot of brush and sticks all the time. It could use some sort of a skid plate under it. The Kioti Fuel filter is moved up and back under the hood sheet metal, so it is pretty well protected.