Old, new, and antique Kubotas

[jackl]

I don't have a vintage Kubota to boast, just a 52 Ford 8N, but last summer I traded up from my 8 year old B7510 with 450 hours to a new B2920. I got such a great deal on the trade in that I didn't have to make too many promises to my wife other than that this would be my last new tractor. I also transitioned from turf to R4 tires given my need to do additional FEL work in muddy conditions that previously loaded up the turfs. The turfs just don't have the sidewall strength or durability to standup to the rigors of moving dirt.

The ~50% increase in HP makes a very noticable difference in all applications. Instances where the 7510 labored when mowing heavy grass with my 5ft finish mower, are a walk in the park for the 2920. The egine doesn't even wince. I've also read a lot of threads on turf vs industrial tires and I can say after having both, I love the R4s. Yes, they can damage the lawn in 4WD when the grass is wet, but so did the turfs. For loader work, there is no better option. For snow, I've read stories where turfs were preferred to R4s, but I experience absolutley no difference in the ability to push snow and we get plenty of it in upstate NY.

The only question is, will I keep my promise to my wife that this is my last tracror, or is there a L3200 or something equivalent in my future?

 

[s219]

The only question is, will I keep my promise to my wife that this is my last tracror, or is there a L3200 or something equivalent in my future?

Heh, I'm already getting a lot of grief from my wife about trading up. It didn't help that the main thing I did with the L yesterday was to take the trash can out to the curb and then back, though it's a heavy can and a 650 ft driveway, so I thought it was fair. Tonight she heckled me for putting the L in the garage (super cold temps overnight, and I didn't know if the diesel had been winterized). So I told her we're almost out of firewood on the porch and she ought to go cut down a tree if she wants to stay warm, since me and the tractor going to be on strike tomorrow!

I like the L a lot, but miss the B2920 mainly because it played a key part in building our new place, and served me well. One thing I didn't appreciate about the B2920 until now was how amply it was powered. I could loaf around at low to mid RPMs all day long doing everything. With the L, I need to get up to 1800-2000 RPMs just for normal operation. That's the difference between a tractor that's overpowered for the size (B2920), and one that's just adequately powered for the size (L3200). Since hours are tied to engine RPM, no doubt I will rack up hours more quickly on the L3200.

So wife issues aside, I'd say you should appreciate the B2920 as much as you can! You'd almost need to trade to an L4600 to get the same power/weight specs I think....

 

[TomSeller]

I would have kept the B2920, but I am a tractor hoarder. I have bought 11 over the years but never have sold one.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I had a B7800 HST FEL (31/32HP) for 3 years and did some major work on my hillside with it. Traded it to a Grand L3240 HST which weighs more than twice the B7800. Traded back to a B3200 within the year and around 50 hours on the L. Bigger isn't better. If I had flat land then the L would have been OK. The weight difference showed up a few times. A 6' Landpride rear finish mower would swing the B around at the bottom of the hill but never swung the L. The Landpride 6' RFM would slow the L down pretty bad as I'd near the crest of my steep hill but never slowed the B7800.
HP and weight are major factors plus for me on a steep hillside the distance of my butt or eyes from the ground made a major difference.
I do home landscaping, no farming, haying, logging (other than yard tree planting/moving/removal) or 1000' gravel road maintaining. I also don't plow snow for me and all the neighbors because we rarely have snow.
The jobs that need to be done on a regular basis should determine the specific tractor size and implements.