Kubota F series

[Brown Dog]

Lastec Decks also runs bigger wheels.

 

[5030]

No one ever mentions Grass Hoppers. Guy down the road has one with a Kubota Diesel in it and while I've never looked at it close up, he's seems quite happy with it.

I do know one thing and that is, the 2880 I just bought, the engine when idling, shakes like a wet puppy. I had to increase the idle to smooth it out.

Must be an inherent trait of a 3 cylinder diesel motor. My 4 cylinder turbo diesel Kubby motors don't shake at all.

I can see why the hood has some cracks in it dang thing was shaking so bad, surprised the hood didn't crack and fall off.

I will say it yields a much better cut than the CC 60" tank I traded in was capable of and much easier to maneuver as well. Taking some getting used to the deck out front, kind of like driving a combine with the header in place. Not mowing for 'profit' like HD is anyway. Only profit here is hay profit and even that this year with fuel and amendment costs will be touchy. I don't even have a round bailer presently. My dealer has it and the Kubota rep and him are dealing with the inherent problem of the main drive roll getting wrapped with hay, over tensioning the belts and breaking them. To me, it's a design issue and Kubota will have to either correct it or they can refund my money and I'll go buy a JD rounder.

 

[arto98607]

No one ever mentions Grass Hoppers. Guy down the road has one with a Kubota Diesel in it and while I've never looked at it close up, he's seems quite happy with it.

..........snip..........

We have had a hopper since 2003 and it's a great mower, but has bar tires which in our case are needed for traction.

It is now our backup mower and we avoid using it when the ground is wet, which in our climate some years could be from late October to late June.
It's also used regularly for mowing under our fruit trees where it is unbeatable, due to long reach combined with low seating.

We need to mow during winter since the grass keeps growing, but at a slower rate.

When the ground is wet bar tires cause rutting over time.

I have replaced the seat with one of these since the photo was taken:

 

[arto98607]

I find it interesting, but in my experience our Kubota F3060 seems to have about equal traction in 2-wheel drive with turf tires, as the hopper does with bar tires!
I removed the F3060 rear drive shaft on purpose over two years ago just to do a comparison, but so far have never seen any reason to reinstall it.

Every yard is different but this works well for us.

 

[LouNY]

I find it interesting, but in my experience our Kubota F3060 seems to have about equal traction in 2-wheel drive with turf tires, as the hopper does with bar tires!
I removed the F3060 rear drive shaft on purpose over two years ago just to do a comparison, but so far have never seen any reason to reinstall it.

Every yard is different but this works well for us.


View attachment 865480

I engage my rear drive on the F2000 as needed which is usually a half a dozen times per yard mowing.

 

[Brown Dog]

When I bought my ZD1211 I thought the lil 3cyl was smooth.
It turned out to be too weak pulling my steep bank so I sold it & moved up to the ZD1511 4cyl Turbo
Then realized how much the 3cyl vibed at idle.
No comparison. Plus look at rpm diff in this pic

3cyl is a great lil engine but it lacks Torque imo

 

[Hay Dude]

The 4cylinder in my 3680 is a powerhouse.
You can’t bog it down.
The 1211 requires some slowing down mowing uphill & heavy/wet grass.

 

[Brown Dog]

30.8hp 4cyl in my 1511 bogs down plenty pulling this steep bank.
But WAY stronger than my old 1211

 

[5030]

No hills here. In fact I think I'll pull the prop shaft as well. No need for 4wd here either. I'm gonna have to lower the ROPS or remove it as it gets hung up on everything. I see Tractor Supply has bar tread tires for my 2880. Also have what appears to be R4's.

 

[5030]

When I bought my ZD1211 I thought the lil 3cyl was smooth.
It turned out to be too weak pulling my steep bank so I sold it & moved up to the ZD1511 4cyl Turbo
Then realized how much the 3cyl vibed at idle.
No comparison. Plus look at rpm diff in this pic View attachment 865504
3cyl is a great lil engine but it lacks Torque imo

Low vibration my keister. Sucker shakes like an off balance blender. I kicked the base idle up a bit, that helped. Dang motor is about the size of a large lunch box I might add.

 

[LouNY]

Dang, I guess I must be really underpowered, my little 19hp F2000 with a 72" side discharge deck.
Somehow it manages to do a good job.

 

[5030]

You don't cut grass for 'Profit' like someone else on here does, I don't think at least..

 

[Brown Dog]

Dang, I guess I must be really underpowered, my little 19hp F2000 with a 72" side discharge deck.
Somehow it manages to do a good job.

short grass mowed weekly on flat ground doesn’t require much power

 

[LouNY]

You don't cut grass for 'Profit' like someone else on here does, I don't think at least..

short grass mowed weekly on flat ground doesn’t require much power

Correct not for profit.
I'm seldom cutting short grass and I have very little flat ground. I'm not a fan of mowing lawn, never have been and highly doubt that I ever will be.

 

[5030]

Correct not for profit.
I'm seldom cutting short grass and I have very little flat ground. I'm not a fan of mowing lawn, never have been and highly doubt that I ever will be.

+10 on that Lou.. Just got done cutting some long stuff in the access lane. The 2880 walked right through it no issue Finally got the new anti-scalp wheels on and got the deck level and it really cuts nice now. Of course I was in low range, I always mow in low range. At my age, being in a hurry could be detrimental to my health.

 

[Hay Dude]

Correct not for profit.
I'm seldom cutting short grass and I have very little flat ground.

There isn’t much flat ground in Upstate NY, right Lou?

I'm not a fan of mowing lawn, never have been and highly doubt that I ever will be.

Amen!
I mow grass for 4 HOAs and a conservancy. I was told “if you want to hay our fields, you have to cut the grass areas that go along with them”.

 

[Hay Dude]

I find the treadle pedal on my F to be kinda quirky and tiresome after extensive hours. On rough ground, the pedal isn’t very steady.

I prefer zero turn forward/backward steering sticks to the F steering wheel, too.

 

[Brown Dog]

Low vibration my keister. Sucker shakes like an off balance blender …

I meant I “thought” the 3cyl was smooth until I bough my 4cyl Zero THEN realized how bad the 3cyl vibes

 

[Hay Dude]

short grass mowed weekly on flat ground doesn’t require much power

Until it rains for a week or 2 and then your ”short grass” is suddenly 18” tall and thick.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here you go Brown Dog
Altoz 766i
38HP and 72” cut.
Tracks will climb a mountain.