New L4760 first impressions

[bdhsfz6]

Fishpick,
Know kubota blower on order. But for giggles, take a look a REIST Industries Snow Thrower. Single stage requires less HP. No spill over. My two stage allows material to spill past the sides when auger/fan are full, more snow to blow on next pass. A thrower keeps all snow in front of blower till chute empties. They have a video, worth a look? And a single unit can be either hydraulically or shaft PTO powered, versatile unit. Also adapter plate avail. For BOTH FEL quick mount OR 3 point mount. Canadian made, US dollar discount. These units run well at 400-500 PTO rpm, can run engine slightly slower, better fuel economy. My kubota has same engine as yours, less the DPF. I have never been happy with fuel economy at PTO speed. Will yours run from mid pto? That requires 2000 rpm gearbox, not sure if they offer that option and negates option for any desired rear use.

Interesting approach to snow blowing. Here's a link to the video: Reist 3 Series Snow Blower / Thrower - Single Stage - YouTube

Hair, teeth and eyeballs all over the place if you get caught in it!

 

[PSDStu]

On mine, yes, I have 3 remotes with top N tilt. The rear leaks down in a few hours. It may be the GearMore cylinders. I will see what happens when the FitRight cylinders come in.

What really irks me is the whole rear of the tractor leaks, all where the remotes are, and where the lift arms are all down to the draw bar...I don't really know how to fix that, it drives me crazy when I see my new tractor covered in hydraulic fluid and accumulated dirt. Something is for sure seeping...

Its been my experience that the cylinders were not the cause of the leakdown, it was caused by the Kubota remote valves leaking bye. At one time you could order side links with built in check valves that solved the problem of the leaky Kubota remotes but are not available anymore from the vendor who made them.

Good luck with the FitRight cylinders they are a great product, and hopefully you can find the source of your rear hyd oil leaks.

Stu

 

[bdhsfz6]

On mine, yes, I have 3 remotes with top N tilt. The rear leaks down in a few hours. It may be the GearMore cylinders. I will see what happens when the FitRight cylinders come in.

What really irks me is the whole rear of the tractor leaks, all where the remotes are, and where the lift arms are all down to the draw bar...I don't really know how to fix that, it drives me crazy when I see my new tractor covered in hydraulic fluid and accumulated dirt. Something is for sure seeping...

I have fit rite cylinders on the T&T kits on both my L6060 and MX5800. Both are equipped with 3 rear remotes. The cylinders are rock solid with little or no leakdown. The problem I have is with the sloppy Kubota valves. I had the same issue with my old L3430. The design of the Kubota valves definitely needs work.

I've owned 6 Kubotas with rear remotes and all get oily in the rear after a while. Every time I connect or disconnect a rear remote, a teaspoon of oil leaks which eventually runs down and coats parts of the tractor's rear. Unfortunately, this is typical of the AG style QC's used on Kubota rear remotes. To minimize the mess, I carry a rag in the tool box and hold it underneath when inserting or removing a hose. I then wipe off the AG couplers before inserting the dust caps. It isn't perfect and I still have to pressure wash the area from time to time but it does minimize the oil build up. It is possible you have a leak or two though which should be fixable.

 

[majorwager]

Hope this thread doesn't go by the wayside. Was wondering about the emissions status and is there a radio update?

 

[zenman0]

Fishpick,
Know kubota blower on order. But for giggles, take a look a REIST Industries Snow Thrower. Single stage requires less HP. No spill over. My two stage allows material to spill past the sides when auger/fan are full, more snow to blow on next pass. A thrower keeps all snow in front of blower till chute empties. They have a video, worth a look? And a single unit can be either hydraulically or shaft PTO powered, versatile unit. Also adapter plate avail. For BOTH FEL quick mount OR 3 point mount. Canadian made, US dollar discount. These units run well at 400-500 PTO rpm, can run engine slightly slower, better fuel economy. My kubota has same engine as yours, less the DPF. I have never been happy with fuel economy at PTO speed. Will yours run from mid pto? That requires 2000 rpm gearbox, not sure if they offer that option and negates option for any desired rear use.

How far will the REIST Industries Snow Thrower throw the snow? On my driveway, I have bushes and shrubs (about 6 feet high) lining the road and need to get the snow thrown up and beyond them. Will the REIST do that?

 

[FatTire]

A single-stage snow cutter like the REIST is good for dealing with difficult snow, such as deep hardened drifts or large snow banks that were moved previously and refrozen. But, the single-stage cutters do not blow soft snow as far as a decent 2-stage blower. If you get snow that you wouldn't be able to advance into with a V-plow, for example, then you'd probably appreciate a snow cutter. Otherwise for "normal" snow, most people would do well with a less expensive 2-stage blower. The other case where someone might want a single-stage is where they are faced with moving a lot of snow with an under-powered machine. A snow cutter is efficient at getting snow into the chute.

If we have a decent winter, I have a 6 ft two-stage blower that I am looking forward to trying out on a 50 HP PTO machine. I want to see how well it compares at cutting into hardened drifts compared to our Unimog, which is a dual-fan unit (single-stage, the fans blow the snow directly up their individual chutes) powered by 110 HP PTO. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

[jrobart]

First post from a complete newb here, so let me start by saying thank you for this incredibly helpful thread.

We've been renovating and restoring a farm house in VT on about 54 acres for the last year or so. Despite a devastating fire a few weeks after we moved in (it was arson, but that's a whole other story) in which we lost four out buildings including a 100 year old 30x80 post and beam barn), we are ready to take charge of the farm again. I've looked at Blue, Green and Orange and have settled on Orange (either a L4060 or a L4760). I've been leaning toward the 4760 (doesn't hurt that my wife has been encouraging me not to buy something without enough power!) and this tread has just about sealed the deal for me. Hope to have best and final offers from two dealers tomorrow morning. The package will be either the 4060 or the 4760 both with a cab, FEL, 7 ft snow blade and a 6 ft brush hog to start. Can't wait!

I'll be back with many many questions, but again, thanks for the insights that you've all already provided.

 

[Like Tractors]

Yesterday we were expecting a "big snow storm" so I started the morning by plugging in the block heater... which I then unplugged around 2 as the storm was "ending" and we had around 4"... Definitely not enough to blow.
This morning I got up and the lake effect snow machine had apparently been left running all night and we had almost 9" of fluffy white on the ground. This caused 2 things to happen:

1. Made me mad I had not gotten the remote WiFI switch set up finished to turn on the block heater in the barn from the house
2. Made me realize how happy I was to have a tractor with a cab

I headed out and had to WAIT for the tractor to idle up to operating temps and for the cab to get warm... almost 8 minutes! Then I cleared the driveway with ease. More observations with the new machine (which now has about 5 hours on it total):

• This tractor is rated at 47HP, my old one was rated at 45HP - this tractor feels like it's a HECK of a lot more robust in the HP department than the old one... It never seems to bog in any way. In M + rabbit gear - I can back up so fast the snow volume is more than the 75" blower can throw (i.e. its spilling around the sides and is a mountain being pushed in front of it) and the tractor NEVER acts like there's anything going on back there...
• I have said it before - and I'll say it again - the turning radius on this thing is absurd - it makes the tractor behave like it's 1/2 the size. I love it.
• It's fast. M + rabbit - blowing in reverse - done in like 45 minutes - with a job that used to take nearly an hour and a half... I can't imagine how much faster when I finally get the front mounted blower!!!

I will also admit my first major error with the tractor... I blew the 1/2 mile drive and the loop in front of the house and the walkway from the loop to the house... and it wasn't until I was done and parking the tractor back in the barn that I realized the error I had made... Having never had a cab before - it's easy how the novice could make this mistake... I didn't bring a coffee with me to sip on from the comfort of the heated cab while doing the work
My cup holder went unused!

I can understand why you like your Grand L 60 series Kubota, I went from a L2900 Kubota using loader and real blade to move snow to an L6060HSTC and a Land Pride SB1574 snow blower, holy Mary mother of God what a difference! The cup holder works great for occasional sips of coffee while launching snow into the atmosphere while in heated comfort! Oh and an inexpensive Best Buy automotive radio with USB port lets me listen to my favorite tunes off of my ipod, I feel so modern even though I hate change! I hope you continue to enjoy your Kubota for years to come, I have absolutely no complaints about my L6060, well except why in the heck didn't I buy it sooner.

 

[jrobart]

First post from a complete newb here, so let me start by saying thank you for this incredibly helpful thread.

We've been renovating and restoring a farm house in VT on about 54 acres for the last year or so. Despite a devastating fire a few weeks after we moved in (it was arson, but that's a whole other story) in which we lost four out buildings including a 100 year old 30x80 post and beam barn), we are ready to take charge of the farm again. I've looked at Blue, Green and Orange and have settled on Orange (either a L4060 or a L4760). I've been leaning toward the 4760 (doesn't hurt that my wife has been encouraging me not to buy something without enough power!) and this tread has just about sealed the deal for me. Hope to have best and final offers from two dealers tomorrow morning. The package will be either the 4060 or the 4760 both with a cab, FEL, 7 ft snow blade and a 6 ft brush hog to start. Can't wait!

I'll be back with many many questions, but again, thanks for the insights that you've all already provided.

After deciding on a L4760, I ended up with a L5460 as there are virtually no 4760s available on the east coast. Took delivery today. Christmas came a week early! Can wait to play! I'll be back with many questions I'm sure.

 

[fishpick]

Figured it was about time for another update and deeper impressions.
First off the thing that seems to get the most attention - the DPF and burn off... let's talk about that - because it's so scary. Except - it's not.
So - at some point I started playing with the advanced throttle control on the tractor. This is the setting where you don't set and forget the throttle - instead the tractor acts more like a car... the father you push the pedal down the more the engine increases RPM to get you moving and do work. It's actually an amazingly cool and flexible and NEW feature on the tractor. First couple of times in using it I noticed "holy cow this thing is revving to high heaven" - but kept on getting used to it... and noticed a very interesting side effect...
By this point we all know the general premise of how the DPF works... it captures soot in a ceramic matrix... and when hot enough it burns said soot off. If the soot builds up in the matrix to a certain point - then the tractor demands we run it parked for a period of time where it makes the whole DPF REALLY HOT (the process is called regeneration or regen) and then - the process starts over.
Well - the advanced throttle control (advance) runs the tractor hotter by design than I do by setting the throttle and working at a fixed throttle. SO - as I was learning how this cool feature works for moving the tractor around and getting things done - it also reversed some of my DPF numbers... It does not stop the need for a parked regen if you idle and stuff - but it sure does seem to prolong the time between regens as the DPF % drops when using and the throttle is being changed by the pedal.
ALSO - for people who worry incessantly about break-in procedures on new tractors... the manual tells you to vary the load... ok - well when it's a lever you set and forget - that's a challenge. The throttle by pedal varies the load constantly.

SO- where does this leave me almost a year from when I ORDERED the L4760?
I really like it.

The front blower has seen use now 3 times this year - first time I sprayed driveway gravel onto the house roof and everything else... it took 1 really rough time to get the controls and feel for how simple it is down compared to 11 years fo going backwards on an open platform. Now - I click on the block heater from inside the house via a wifi switch in the barn... wait 3-4 hours... go out to barn wearing light jacket and hat. Start tractor, perform walk around in barn, get in tractor and warm air is blowing... cab + front blower (even without 3rd valve) is heaven - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I do plan on fabricating some wider skids for the blower - the stock ones are just too narrow for an unfrozen gravel drive. They don't skid - they dig... and then you blow snow and gravel all over... and the wife yells. And boy does this **** thing blow snow... it throws it farther than Tom Brady does a deflated ball.

The blower goes on and off remarkably easily - but it's a giant space pig. The blower frame more than the blower. I did build a set of Harbor Freight dollies to drop the loader on in the barn to roll it around (it's heavy AF!) to make the drop location for the blower easy to get to. I also discovered that the blower sometimes if off kilter when you go to attach by like 1/8" - 1/16" and that is an immovable due to mass issue... So one of my floor car jacks makes those fine adjustments simple... I can get it on and off in 10 minutes now. Loader in like 5. (so for the math impaired reader - that's about 15 minutes to drop the blower and install the loader)

I installed a Jansen HD radio - it's nice - speakers are fair - could replace if I cared to... but it's still "loud" in the cab so I don't feel I need to make myself deaf. The fact the radio and my iPhone get along is nice - for music and for phone calls. It has the weather alert feature... it's configured... and I have yet to have it alert me to anything - even when my phone does...

In the dislike bucket - the loader valve / stick leaves a bit to be desired... I actually pulled things apart and lubed things up and it's a little better... but still - in right to left it does not always re-center... and you can hear the valve hissing a little unless you make sure it's re-centered. Run the thing violently around in a circle a few times before use - and it seems to work better... maybe it's still "too new" - but it will never be a smooth as the valve on the TC45DA... and that's too bad.
There's a weird sound the cab on the frame makes - it's a like a resonance from the transmission - when it "bogs" - or rather pulls like if you are driving in a field and theres a dip where you sorta coast forward and then the tractor has to work on the other side of the dip... at that moment where it starts to pull again it's a weird grinding / rubbing / transmissioniong sound... And that's about the best dislike I can come up with. Yeas... the overhead lights are not as bright as LED banks - maybe I'll replace them some day - but they are so much better than what I had before (nothing) that it's not a real issue for me.

When I get to the 50 hour fluid change - I'll post the process and thoughts.

So - why have I had the tractor for a year and not hit 50 hours? OK - I keep asking myself that question and I'll share...

First off this summer from July 5 onward to present day has been a rough patch. Mother is now in memory care for Lewy Body Dementia, father has cerebral amyloid angiopathy... moved both of them - had to sell their house, etc etc... so my personal / tractor life has been sporadic. Second reason - this tractor comes to work. Seriously things that USED to talk 4-6 hours of seat time are done in 2-3. It's just a monster. Also - I knew when I bought the 4760 it was probably a LOT more tractor than I needed given our farming days are mostly behind us... but - the sales guy pushed this because of the snows we get over, say a 2650... I'll admit until the second snow I was actually wondering if I had made a mistake... and then - the second snow came - 2 feet of REALLY HEAVY wet stuff and drifting... and going down the drive I felt the tractor constantly adjusting speed and slowing way down using the load match feature to ensure things never lugged, stalled or bogged down... and I was all set and fine with my decision... for us - this tractor is just about the perfect size.

With life returning to a more new normal pace - I have a bunch of projects in mind for 2019 - so I expect to see the hours start to start to rack up!

So there you have it - ongoing thoughts about my L4760.