L3301 + Z400 ZT mower, best specs for BH, FEL, brush hog?

[teg]

...Gear driven doesn't bother me if it gives me better control.

Gear gives you more HP, HST gives you fine tune preciseness, where you can creep very slowly to hook up implements, also very quick and easy to go from forward to reverse.

I was a gear only, kind of guy but now I really love HST (especially the older I get).

I would get a HST L3301 before a Gear Drive L3901 - but that's just me.

 

[s219]

I think the main advantage to gear is that you don't lose ~ 15% engine power to the HST driveline. So for many uses, gear is better, like mowing, row-crop farming, many types of logging, etc. Where gear really loses out is when doing a lot of front loader work -- HST lets you go through the motions of material pickup and dumping a whole lot more efficiently, lets you change direction rapidly, gives you very fine/precise control to creep or position the machine, and so on. If looking at bulk materials, you can nose in, bury the front bucket in the pile, curl up, and back out in a very fluid motion with an HST machine.

I have an HST machine and I frequently operate a relative's gear tractor. I'd say loader work is the task that really separates out the two machines. HST is so much more productive for loader work. For everything else it's somewhat of a wash and I could go either way.

 

[bluelou212]

teg and s219,
Thx for the feedback on gear vs hst. I'm used to the hst on the bx2670 so I'll probably stick with that on the L3301 or L3901.

Also, thinking about keeping the BX2670. We'd use it for mowing and my wife wants the BX2670 for herself for garden stuff. Yes, we do that much work on the property ; )

 

[Tompet]

On the BH77 I would suggest getting the 16" bucket. I had a 12" bucket on a prior Kubota and much better with the 16". Way less plugging for sure and increases productivity. Also a 16" trench you can work in, 12" is too tight. Brush hog a little wider than your tire spread is better than narrower.

They don't make factory hydraulic thumb for bh77 last I knew, though some have discussed adding it with aftermarket parts. Maybe you need a B26 tlb instead? That would be my ultimate upgrade! With 30 acres, I wouldn't want anything smaller than you outlined.

For some of tasks you outlined, get the SSQA for the FEL now, then currently or in future a set of forks...very very handy, especially with the stone work. Construction Attachments makes a lightweight set for a good price that works great on that size tractor.

I went with a narrower FEL bucket, just covers tire width, for same reason you stated, that a wider bucket just puts more potential lateral/twisting force on FEL arms. I think a 60" bucket would work well for you, then after you get it order a Pirahna tooth bar....worth the money imo.
Enjoy!

 

[Ortimber]

If I remember correctly, the L model gear tractors do not have a live PTO. I would never have a non live PTO tractor. Been there and done that on many old machines.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

If I remember correctly, the L model gear tractors do not have a live PTO. I would never have a non live PTO tractor. Been there and done that on many old machines.

You are correct, the L series do not have live pto. It is a nuisance, but not a big deal.

 

[bluelou212]

Update. So, here's what I've narrowed it down to. Looking to complete the purchase before year end. Any constructive comments would be much appreciated.

Thx,
Lou

Here's the spec:
L3901 HST 4WD
+ Loader w/66" bucket + SSQA
+ BH77 QA hoe w/12" bucket

NOTES:
--MSRP (kubota website, including thumb and forks) = $36,500 vs $30,000 dealer quote for same. So, dealer is about 82% of MSRP.
--Financing is 60 months, 0% down

Other items likely to be added in:
Thumb
LandPride RCR 1272 72" brush hog
R1 tires loaded
Kubota QA pallet forks

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Update. So, here's what I've narrowed it down to. Looking to complete the purchase before year end. Any constructive comments would be much appreciated.

Thx,
Lou

Here's the spec:
L3901 HST 4WD
+ Loader w/66" bucket + SSQA
+ BH77 QA hoe w/12" bucket

NOTES:
--MSRP (kubota website, including thumb and forks) = $36,500 vs $30,000 dealer quote for same. So, dealer is about 82% of MSRP.
--Financing is 60 months, 0% down

Other items likely to be added in:
Thumb
LandPride RCR 1272 72" brush hog
R1 tires loaded
Kubota QA pallet forks

You have a winner there... Great setup. Be sure and load tires or keep bh on lifting. These L's are real light in the butt.

 

[bluelou212]

You have a winner there... Great setup. Be sure and load tires or keep bh on lifting. These L's are real light in the butt.

Steppenwolfe,
Thx. You're right. I took an L3901 w/o hoe out for a test drive yesterday and raised a rear tire just picking up a few hundred pounds of wet sand with the FEL. So, they got me an L2501 w/hoe to test drive and it was much more stable working with the FEL. Except for brush hogging I expect to keep the hoe on. I tried gear vs HST, too. HST for me.

 

[bluelou212]

Bought the tractor Friday, yea!
Final spec:
Kubota L3901 HST 4WD TLB with standard hoe w/thumb, and bucket (66" SSQA)

Implements:
Land Pride 72" brush hog
Bobcat pallet forks, SSQA
Land Pride SCG 10 61" grapple, SSQA

Wish List:
Skidding winch
PTO chipper