Trying to decide Kubota BX25 or 1025R

[sixdogs]

Here's a thought. Has anyone searched "problems" with each of these models on the net? How about "customer satisfaction", "complaints" or whatever? Stopped in a shop and talked with a mechanic for a minute? No salesmen; we're looking for answers here.

Before I bought my Kubota M8950, 90 HP back in the early 1990's I was very unsure about this upstart Kubota. Especially on a low hour buy from an auction/bankruptcy. With no internet I started asking around. Called the big Kubota shops in other states. Called Kubota and asked which dealers dealt in the bigger tractors and talked to the shops about issues. I wanted to know what problems were out there and what kind of things went wrong? In other words, I did my homework and I know how to dig. Trust, but verify.

Turns out I couldn't even find a mechanic that took one apart. Biggest complaint was a fuel gauge that stayed on "FULL" too long. I bought the tractor, was the only bidder and a lifelong romance was born.

Just a thought here and note that I also have two green tractors.

 

[hurricanoday]

Well good news is I was approved for the Deere also, but bad news is I got scolded by my mortgage for the inquiry haha so def won't be getting it till we close 100%

I have done some research and it appears most problems are dealer related. I take posts with from people with issues with a grain of salt, I'm a firm believer that all machines break and have problems and most people who have no problems are not online talking about not having problems. From what I got from this thread everyone is happy with their machines.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah they don't appreciate another credit check happening during closing!

 

[nightdevil]

Okay you guys are making me question what is 'old hat'. Operating the FEL bucket keeping it level as you raise or lower the arms? Swinging and curling the back hoe at the same time? I can't believe the functionality of the Deere or Kubota sub compact or bigger is different. Someone... please explain.

Just took a quick video... Sorry it's not the greatest and from the seat. But you can see the curl and lift function can be done but difficult and slow....for me. Maybe it doesn't help.
1025R loader lift and curl - YouTube

 

[SteveM70]

Nightdevil, thanks for posting that. My MF 1720 is hard to curl an raise or lower the bucket simultaneously compared to my previous (bigger) tractor. It can be done but, slowly. I think it may have something to do with the pump output on these smaller units.

That being said, the backhoe works very smooth.

 

[check]

Just took a quick video... Sorry it's not the greatest and from the seat. But you can see the curl and lift function can be done but difficult and slow....for me. Maybe it doesn't help. 1025R loader lift and curl - YouTube

Looks like the curl functio sucks power from the lift functio until the curl reaches its maximum curl, and then all of a sudden the loader srms raise much more quickly. Don't like the sudden speeding up of the lift function, as it could cause problems when you're trying to load something.

 

[GManBart]

Looks like the curl functio sucks power from the lift functio until the curl reaches its maximum curl, and then all of a sudden the loader srms raise much more quickly. Don't like the sudden speeding up of the lift function, as it could cause problems when you're trying to load something.

It's pretty standard for there to be a speed/movement difference when using more than one function on a loader or backhoe compared to just one function.

I can't really envision a scenario where you'd be loading anything and using 100% of the curl so that it suddenly transitioned to a faster lift function, but even if there is, it's the kind of thing an operator should be able to get used to in about fifteen minutes of use.

The alternative is to have a system where everything moves slowly all the time, or slower than it could.

 

[Grandad4]

Nightdevil, thanks for posting that. My MF 1720 is hard to curl an raise or lower the bucket simultaneously compared to my previous (bigger) tractor. It can be done but, slowly. I think it may have something to do with the pump output on these smaller units.

It's more a function of the quality of the loader control. Construction equipment has very refined - and expensive - control setups for very precise handling because professional operators expect such. By the time you get down to CUT and sub-CUT sized equipment, going with a lesser quality control can save the manufacturer many hundreds so they can achieve a lower price point or improve their margins.

If you use the loader much at all, having a good quality control assembly should be important to you, but I expect few first-time buyers even think about something like that prior to their purchase decision.

No brand makes a perfect tractor because few buyers could afford one, and every brand seems to have its own particular place(s) where a tradeoff between functionality and cost has been made.

 

[nikerret]

Wow, looks like I missed some interesting "discussion".

OP, if the Deere is only $400 more, purchase price, and you like it better, that seems like an easy choice. How much more is it, total, when it's all said and you have a tractor at home?

It's awesome they have a competitor's unit there, to compare. I, too, would be suspicious of it, to some degree, but I have trust issues. If nothing else, at least the ergonomics will not be effected. It doesn't surprise me you like the Deere better, for comfort. Their tilt steering wheel is a great feature. As I said before, most of their "comfort" things trump the Kubota.

The pricing you've got is great, too!!! Very close. the closest I could get the 1025R FILB to the BX25D was around $5,000. This included a 60" MMM, but they were both pretty close, for that one implement. It is pretty crazy how much prices change in different areas and different times of the year.

Let us know when you'll get it!

I still say no matter which one you get, or the MF GC17xx series, they will all do about the same jobs. For me, the Kubota's smaller footprint was a plus. I have never failed to lift something I bought this tractor to do. Thus far, it has easily carried a heaping load of every type of rock and dirt I've filled it with. I would expect no less from the JD or MF. Though, the bucket capacities may not be exactly the same, I believe they are fairly close.

 

[hurricanoday]

Still haven't closed the house grrrr so still no tractor. I'm not sure how much total it is but I assume just the little extra in tax and the delivery fee. It still bothers me they won't deliver it for free when kubota will but I will see what I can do. To be honest I still haven't really made up my mind and will probably go back to the kubota dealer (the one I will by from) and take more time looking at it and driving. Just second guessing still, like you said maybe the deere being bigger isn't a plus. Just don't know till I actually use it on my property

The prices are just for the TLB, the rotary and box blade are more expensive in frontier. I also called the land pride dealers (which are kubota dealers) and obviously they don't have anything in green. So if I wanted to save a buck getting land pride they would charge me freight to get them in green and it wouldn't be much cheaper.