Thinking of trading for a L3901

[GaryS]

I have a Massey 1428v and I recently broke a weld point that holds the front axle in place. Breaking the weld was completely my fault. I bought the Massey in 2004 and it's been a fantastic tractor. It's not had any mechanical issues over the 12 years I've had it. It still has the original battery and only has 650 hours on it.

I use it to:

1. mow 3 acres of grass with a Woods rear finish mower
2. cut 5 acres with a Wood brush hog
3. snow removal with a Woods 6 foot blade. My drive way is about a 1/4 mile.
4. light duty loader work

The land I rough cut is fairly steep and that's the only weak point for the Massey. The Massey is really at it's limits on my hills. I really could use more HP.

My Massey dealer has been terrible so I've been using the local Kubota dealership for service. While there I started looking at the L3301s and L3901. If wouldn't make much sense for me to go to a L3301 but the L3901 looks great.

What worries me is that the L3901 taller and wider and I have no real way on knowing if it will be more or less stable on the hills. Is there any way to know if one tractor or another will be better on the hills? I have my rears liquid filled and the fronts foam filled for extra weight to try to stick to the hills.

I had them work out a price on the 3901 + loader and trading my massey. They came back with a price, minus tax, of $18800. I can't find any place to get values on trades. Does that seem like a decent deal?

 

[Fallon]

$18,800? With a loader? Gear or HST?

I paid $24k for my L3200 HST (L3301 minus emissions), R4s, rotary cutter & a back blade 3 years ago.

I pucker up when mowing ditches lengthwise on mine, but haven't had any issues. Heavier mowing will bog things a bit, so I concur with the 3901 over 3301. No regrets about going with slightly less HP on mine though.

 

[dchemphill1]

I have owned my L3901 since October 2015 and love it. Just approaching 20hrs so it is really very new. I have put beat juice in the ag tires and that has helped tremendously....still some pucker moments. However when you are mowing with a brush hog on the back and can keep the loader low...it helps. I need to flip the rear tires so I can extend the width another 3 inches or so....be sure to keep the rops up and where the seat belt. If you get it enjoy it...

 

[Citydude]

I have steep terrain to maneuver around on with my L2501. Loaded rear R1 tires set out at the widest width and spacers have vastly Improved its stability.

 

[GaryS]

$18,800? With a loader? Gear or HST?

I paid $24k for my L3200 HST (L3301 minus emissions), R4s, rotary cutter & a back blade 3 years ago.

I pucker up when mowing ditches lengthwise on mine, but haven't had any issues. Heavier mowing will bog things a bit, so I concur with the 3901 over 3301. No regrets about going with slightly less HP on mine though.

$18,800 was for the L3901 HST, R4s, a loader, and filled rear tires and included the trade of my Massey.

They did mention the possibility of spacers. I don't know it would make sense to try it first or just add them. How much width do they add? Are there different sizes of spacers?

 

[k0ua]

$18,800 was for the L3901 HST, R4s, a loader, and filled rear tires and included the trade of my Massey.

They did mention the possibility of spacers. I don't know it would make sense to try it first or just add them. How much width do they add? Are there different sizes of spacers?

Spacers run from 1 inch to 6 inches. I think most popular is about 3 inches. Most of the AG tire wheels are adjustable, but a lot of the R4 wheels are not adjustable. People put on spacers for different reason, including making room for chains and to adding stability.

 

[LD1]

I had a 3400. Same basic frame, just a few generations older than the 3901. I had AG's, set at their widest, then added 1.5" spacers on each side.

My total width, outside to outside, was 66". And it was quite stable on hills. I mowed some pretty steep stuff sideways.

Pics really dont do it justice. Its about 25 degrees. (~47% slope)

 

[Fallon]

I have R4s on mine & thought about spacers a bit. You can't put chains on the rears if you have R4s without spacers. I'm sure they will make it feel more stable too.

I just haven't gotten to it yet. Probably won't ever given I'm thinking about upgrading to a cabbed grand now.

 

[GaryS]

I had them fix my Massey and drop it off. I just used it a bit and have decided to buy the L3901.

I had it priced with a loader and filled R4 tires. I'm thinking about asking for 1.5 inch spacers. Is there anything else I should get rolled into the deal?

 

[The Deerslayer]

I had them fix my Massey and drop it off. I just used it a bit and have decided to buy the L3901.

I had it priced with a loader and filled R4 tires. I'm thinking about asking for 1.5 inch spacers. Is there anything else I should get rolled into the deal?

See if they will add a couple bucket hooks and have them placed in line with the arms......you'll be glad you did. Rear work lights are a real plus too. You're gonna love the L3901, I have had mine for a year now and very pleased with it. Plan on brush hogging the fields tomorrow:dance1:

 

[Fallon]

Make sure you get the loader with the SSQA. It's so useful to swap implements... bucket, forks, plow, whatever.

 

[k0ua]

Make sure you get the loader with the SSQA. It's so useful to swap implements... bucket, forks, plow, whatever.

Yep, and then either weld on some bucket hooks, or buy the bolt on ones. Trust me on this, I had to learn the hard way. I wanted a SSQA so bad after buying the L3400hst without it, that I retrofitted it. Not a good plan from an economic standpoint. Best get it up front if you can.

 

[TripleR]

Everything mentioned. I always add rear remotes, got three on my last as I got TnT, the greatest basic thing I ever did was add a hydraulic top link to all our tractors that have rear remotes, my brother even has one on his early 60s Ford 600. I second bucket hooks, I bought the ones I wanted, showed where I wanted them and the dealer welded them on. Extendable lower links and cruise control.

 

[dchemphill1]

Agree with hooks and lights. Here are my add ons after I purchased the tractor. I did the work but you may want to have someone do this. It is a lot to drill through the bucket metal. They may not add hooks because your booklet will talk about the danger of doing so.

 

[GaryS]

I stopped by the dealership today and he'll get me a quote on Monday. I had already asked for the SSQA bucket but had forgotten about bucket hooks.

When I bought the Massey I kicked myself that I didn't get rear remotes but I don't have anything that would use them. Am I being foolish to not get them now? Also, I rarely work in the dark so I don't think I'd use the work lights. Getting things added at purchase time makes sense but I want to make sure I'm adding stuff I'll eventually use.

I asked him to include 1.5" spacers for the rear wheels. That seemed to be the consensus here for added stability.

 

[RollingsFarms]

You have a use for a fiberglass canopy? My dealer gave me one at half price and welded 3 bucket hooks on

 

[k0ua]

You have a use for a fiberglass canopy? My dealer gave me one at half price and welded 3 bucket hooks on

+1 on the canopy. I really like mine. Really handy if you have to work out in the sun.

 

[TripleR]

I stopped by the dealership today and he'll get me a quote on Monday. I had already asked for the SSQA bucket but had forgotten about bucket hooks.

When I bought the Massey I kicked myself that I didn't get rear remotes but I don't have anything that would use them. Am I being foolish to not get them now? Also, I rarely work in the dark so I don't think I'd use the work lights. Getting things added at purchase time makes sense but I want to make sure I'm adding stuff I'll eventually use.

I asked him to include 1.5" spacers for the rear wheels. That seemed to be the consensus here for added stability.

In my opinion, yes, as mentioned a minimum of a hydraulic top-link; makes using a box scraper much easier to use and I use mine a lot even with my rotary cutter, also makes changing implements easier-quicker.

 

[Fallon]

Bucket hooks are way nice, but cheap & easy to install yourself.

I bought & engineered my own 3 spool hydraulic setup with Brian from Fit Rite. Not to hard for somebody that is reasonably handy. Kubota makes their own kit, which is even easier I expect.

I love my TnT setup. I probably appreciate it more after not having it a bit when I first got my first tractor.

 

[TripleR]

Bucket hooks are way nice, but cheap & easy to install yourself.

I bought & engineered my own 3 spool hydraulic setup with Brian from Fit Rite. Not to hard for somebody that is reasonably handy. Kubota makes their own kit, which is even easier I expect.

I love my TnT setup. I probably appreciate it more after not having it a bit when I first got my first tractor.

Same here, there are old posts on here by me in which I said, I had no real need for TnT, oops now I have it, I wish it was on our other tractors. I have a LP HR3584, s video and love it. Kubota Top-n-Tilt Kit with Land Pride HR2572 Box Scraper - YouTube