Why are Kubota FEL's so weak?

[goeduck]

It sure seems to me that brand bashers bash brands they do not have. I do not understand why anyone would expend energy bashing a brand they do not know much about. There are lots of good brands out there, select what is best for you and lets talk about tractoring. Not talk about why you think other brands are inferior. Many good selections these days, go get what best fits your lifestyle and go get some work done on your tractor? :thumbsup:

 

[SloppyJoe]

No one wants to compare apples to apples anymore.

The L3901 is designed to be LIGHT and ECONOMICAL. IT is NOT the strongest offering that Kubota offers in the ~40hp class.

So taking the SMALLEST and kubota offering and comparing it to the ONLY option or the STRONGEST offering by the competition is pointless.

And the notion that you can "guarantee that Kubota has in fact lost sales due to that".....

Followed by "and on the next tractor to replace the L3901 they will ensure that they put a stronger loader on it. "

Just laughable. Do you realize that the 3901 is the 3rd major re-design of the same tractor that has been out since 2004. And the 525 is the FIFTH revision of said loader. So over 15 years.....and TONS of sales....they havent changed the loader specs. But you are so certain that this is a major problem that they are gonna change it.....Get a freaking clue

First off, we are comparing apples to apples. I am comparing the L3901 to either economical tractors or the only option in that category that weighs around 2700 pounds and cost about the same. EVERY ONE and I mean EVERY ONE with the exception of the John Deere 3E series had a high loader capacity than the L3901. This includes, Massey (economical offering), Case and NH (economical offering), Kioti (economical offering), LS (economical offering), TYM/Rural King (only offering but priced the same and weighs the same) and Mahindra and Yanmar. What apples did you think I was talking about? The CK4010H is THE LIGHT and ECONOMICAL offering that Kioti has, same as the MF 1734E (E for economical), same as ALL others mentioned. Look it up.

Second, you are actually making my argument. The LA525 is the essentially the same loader put on the L3800 and thanks to you I learned that they put it on the predecessor to. Kioti had the CK30/35 series to compete with the L3800 and JD 3E series. The loader was around 1155 pound lift capacity. They made essentially the same tractor for Bobcat (the CT230) but Bobcat put a better loader on it rated to 1605. When the tier 4 tractors came out, Kubota did essentially nothing with the L3800 other than minor cosmetic upgrades and a tier 4 engine. Kioti and the others upgraded their loader to be able to lift significantly more when they came out with their tier 4 tractors.

A couple of more things (and these are my opinion) Kubota makes a great tractor, the L3901 is a darn good tractor and the loader has faster action than the Kioti and I believe the other Korean built tractors. The lift and curl feature is a neat feature for some applications. However, I don't use my extra lift capacity for bucket work, I use it for grapple and pallet fork work and it has been very useful. There are a few things that are needed to lift that much, the loader has to be able, the tractor had to be able to support it and the weight has to be distributed properly. You have to use a heavy rear attachment and ballast to lift to capacity safely but that can easily be done. So getting back to the OP's question (who owns an L3910) "Why are Kubota FEL's so weak"? (and we are talking specifically the L3901 and L3301) and to you, what clue am I missing? Don't get your panties bunched up about it, just tell me why? Does Kubota know something that they don't?

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Grand L3130 with LA723 loader, needs backhoe mounted plus Rimguard loaded tires to keep rear down. Stock from dealer no hydraulics adjusted.

David

 

[sd455dan]

First off, we are comparing apples to apples. I am comparing the L3901 to either economical tractors or the only option in that category that weighs around 2700 pounds and cost about the same. EVERY ONE and I mean EVERY ONE with the exception of the John Deere 3E series had a high loader capacity than the L3901. This includes, Massey (economical offering), Case and NH (economical offering), Kioti (economical offering), LS (economical offering), TYM/Rural King (only offering but priced the same and weighs the same) and Mahindra and Yanmar. What apples did you think I was talking about? The CK4010H is THE LIGHT and ECONOMICAL offering that Kioti has, same as the MF 1734E (E for economical), same as ALL others mentioned. Look it up.

Second, you are actually making my argument. The LA525 is the essentially the same loader put on the L3800 and thanks to you I learned that they put it on the predecessor to. Kioti had the CK30/35 series to compete with the L3800 and JD 3E series. The loader was around 1155 pound lift capacity. They made essentially the same tractor for Bobcat (the CT230) but Bobcat put a better loader on it rated to 1605. When the tier 4 tractors came out, Kubota did essentially nothing with the L3800 other than minor cosmetic upgrades and a tier 4 engine. Kioti and the others upgraded their loader to be able to lift significantly more when they came out with their tier 4 tractors.

A couple of more things (and these are my opinion) Kubota makes a great tractor, the L3901 is a darn good tractor and the loader has faster action than the Kioti and I believe the other Korean built tractors. The lift and curl feature is a neat feature for some applications. However, I don't use my extra lift capacity for bucket work, I use it for grapple and pallet fork work and it has been very useful. There are a few things that are needed to lift that much, the loader has to be able, the tractor had to be able to support it and the weight has to be distributed properly. You have to use a heavy rear attachment and ballast to lift to capacity safely but that can easily be done. So getting back to the OP's question (who owns an L3910) "Why are Kubota FEL's so weak"? (and we are talking specifically the L3901 and L3301) and to you, what clue am I missing? Don't get your panties bunched up about it, just tell me why? Does Kubota know something that they don't?

It sure seems like the korean tractors are going to higher ratings on their loaders lately than the Kubotas,

was checking out the 3015h Branson

the new BL 150 loader lifts 2200 lbs to 104 inches at the pins , and that is an ~28 HP pto tractor...
also very responsive hydraulics with 8.7 GPM

 

[Milo]

Nice looking rig Milo!

This is less of a sarcastic remark and more of a real question: If Kubota were to offer a stronger loader on the L series, how would they prevent roll-overs?

My L2501, with stock relief pressure, 525 Loader, loaded rears and 6ft Landpride finish mower will lift the rears if I'm trying to lift something too heavy. The 525 is well matched to the tractor frame and weight. A change to that would mean a clean slate on both the loader and tractor I think. Which would be a shame. These tractors are a very nice size.

Thank you crashz, I really like it so far. Love how smoothly the three point raises and lowers, how easy and smooth it is to raise or lower and at the same time curl or dump the FEL. Shifting it w/o clutch from H-N-M-N-L is easier and smoother than my previous B2650. I also like having a clutch to engage/disengage the PTO rather than the more abrupt push/pull knob. Brakes should probably be on the left but it doesn't really bother me because 95% of the time I slow or stop with the hydro anyway.

 

[Fallon]

Those tractors have more than enough loader that that weight tractor can handle. My L3800 with loaded tires and a 500 pound box blade still can’t keep the back end down. You could put 4” cylinders on that class machine if it would make you feel good but you still aren’t going to lift anymore. Posting a big number like the other manufacturers have done doesn’t mean you can actually move that much.

I find that hilarious too. People claiming the economy Ls have a week loader. My L3200 could barely keep the back end on the ground with heavy ballast on the 3pt. Ballast is the week point, the front axle may be a week point. The loader is definitely not weak.

My L4060 is almost double the weight & only lifts 400lbs more. With little to no ballast on the 3pt its stable. The hydraulics are the obvious weak spot, presumably by design. I assume the front axle is the not so obvious weak spot. On the bigger Ls the axle is bigger & they can take the bigger loader.

I wish I had a bit more loader capacity (and HP for that matter), but really it's pretty good. The loader is nice & sturdy. There is no way I'd break it or my front axle unless I do something seriously stupid. It was a much smaller jump to break the loader, front axle or something else on the economy Ls.

 

[goeduck]

BL 150 loader lifts 2200 lbs to 104 inches at the pins , and that is an ~28 HP pto tractor...
also very responsive hydraulics with 8.7 GPM

I could not imagine having 2200 lbs at full height on what a 3000 lb tractor? I checked the BL150 spec and you are right it lists 2200 lbs, but I certainly would not advise to lift that on a small tractor. Bansom might sell a few tractors listing that though.

 

[sd455dan]

I could not imagine having 2200 lbs at full height on what a 3000 lb tractor? I checked the BL150 spec and you are right it lists 2200 lbs, but I certainly would not advise to lift that on a small tractor. Bansom might sell a few tractors listing that though.

All I can say is the 1 i test drove I was impressed with. same front tire size as a 3901 and wider rear tires?, just over 3klb before adding a loader

here is a vid of a 3015 moving a couple round bales onto a trailer with the earlier lower rated BL15
3015H Only 30Hp! Branson Farm Tractors! - YouTube

I agree that 2200 lb -has to be pushing it, to lift to full height on a 3000 pound tractor-
even with lots of 3 point weight

with those specs Should make for the ability to (possibly) be able to unload a 1 ton pallet from say a pickup bed if needed

 

[tradosaurus]

It sure seems like the korean tractors are going to higher ratings on their loaders lately than the Kubotas,

was checking out the 3015h Branson

the new BL 150 loader lifts 2200 lbs to 104 inches at the pins , and that is an ~28 HP pto tractor...
also very responsive hydraulics with 8.7 GPM

So when a user breaks the hydraulic cylinders by lifting too much the Korean tractor company will just blame the user.

I would be surprised if the front axles and cylinders are bigger on the Korean tractors than the Kubotas on equivalent sizes.

 

[ptsg]

So when a user breaks the hydraulic cylinders by lifting too much the Korean tractor company will just blame the user.

I would be surprised if the front axles and cylinders are bigger on the Korean tractors than the Kubotas on equivalent sizes.

Branson specifically, builds their tractors like the good ol'school ones. Heavy duty and built to last. If you check one by yourself, you'll see that everything is massively built for the size of the tractor. That's also why Branson tractors are the heavier and have more lifting capacity both on the loader and 3 pt versus all the competition.

Branson 15 series would be comparable to the Kubota L01 series, while the 25 series would be comparable to the L60 series.