Kubota F series

[5030]

Newer ones are ridiculously expensive.

That is an under statement and the Green JD edition is even more. I can see why most of them wind up mowing non residential properties like fairgrounds and cityscapes because they get paid for with tax dollars whereas in a private setting, you get to pay for it. When it comes to tax dollars spent, there is little to no responsibility so why not spend the big bucks, after all, it wasn't their's in the first place.

Why most of us have to buy a used machine. Myself, I could never justify buying a new machine, just not in the cards for me. I was tickled to get the 2880. You cannot find them around here used and when they do appear, they vanish as quickly as they appear. In fact, I knew this one that I bought was being let go of because I knew the fair board was replacing it with a new machine and as it was, I still had to wait over 2 months to get it. It's in nice shape with 1800 hours on it and it needed some replacement parts anyway. It found a home here and it's not going anywhere, ever again.

 

[arto98607]

Same here - used Diesel front deck 4x4 mowers for sale are hard to find at reasonable price and if you find one and want it you better buy it without delay before it's gone!

My F3060 had 3600 hours and I paid $4 grand almost 10 years ago, which seemed like a pretty high price at the time.
After total overhaul (no need for the engine) it cost me another $4 grand in parts (new deck was about 1/2 of that), plus my "free labor".

The lower part of the deck had simply worn away due to running too close to the ground, and the whole deck was twisted to slight propeller shape due to previous welding repairs by "pros".

The good thing is I now know my F mower sort of inside out!

The plan is to keep it as long as we need mowing...

 

[Brown Dog]

... Those older Kubota F’s run a long time. Still see many of them used on farms for rough area mowing today.
…

You said other day the front decks aren’t good on rough ground with the tiny front deck wheels

I ordered 2 front wheel assemblies & bolts for a ZD1511 to build new bearing yokes & frame mod to go on this F3710 so it won’t get beat to death.

 

[arto98607]

You said other day the front decks aren’t good on rough ground with the tiny front deck wheels

I ordered 2 front wheel assemblies & bolts for a ZD1511 to build new bearing yokes & frame mod to go on this F3710 so it won’t get beat to death.

Please post photos when you are done with the modification!

 

[5030]

You can mow anything with anything so long as you don't try to mow at warp speed.

 

[5030]

In reality the front wheels on my 2880 are quite a bit larger in diameter than the front wheels were om my sold M60 Tank. Not that I'd mow a bumpy pasture with it anyway. I have a bat wing shredder for that.

 

[Hay Dude]

You said other day the front decks aren’t good on rough ground with the tiny front deck wheels

I ordered 2 front wheel assemblies & bolts for a ZD1511 to build new bearing yokes & frame mod to go on this F3710 so it won’t get beat to death.

They aren’t. They bounce around too much, so you have to slow down. I didn’t say they wouldn’t last, I said you have to mow a lot slower than a zero turn.

Obviously, if you are ordering larger wheels/tires & yokes for a brand new F3710, you must agree with me LOL

I guess you are taking my advice????

 

[5030]

They aren’t. They bounce around too much, so you have to slow down. I didn’t say they wouldn’t last, I said you have to mow a lot slower than a zero turn.

Obviously if you are ordering larger wheels/tires & yokes for a brand new F3710, you must agree with me LOL

I guess you are taking my advice????

Bounce around, my 2880 don't bounce around at all. You sure the pre-load springs that connect to the rockshaft arms are there and if they are, the shop- manual calls out the correct adjustment length and they are there just to mitigate the bouncing. Of course I don't mow at warp speed anyway.

 

[Hay Dude]

I don’t mow at “warp speed“ either. I don’t mow for style or pleasure, I mow at enough speed for profit. I’m running a business, not out for a Sunday drive on the mower.

My original premise is a zero turn mows twice as fast as a front mount F mower and I stand by that 24/7/365. Zero turn mowers aren’t better, they are faster.

Only thing an F will do better is traction. And I can say with absolute certainty that a zero turn with bar tires will climb & descend steep hills and get almost as good traction as an F and do it much faster on all but the steepest hills. It’ll also cost less to buy and maintain.

My F-3680 is an excellent machine, but it’s slowing us down and not getting used enough to hold onto. If I didn’t have a few small areas that require traction beyond a zero turn with turf tires, it would be gone.

 

[Hay Dude]

Same here - used Diesel front deck 4x4 mowers for sale are hard to find at reasonable price and if you find one and want it you better buy it without delay before it's gone!

Especially the pre-emissions models.

My F3060 had 3600 hours and I paid $4 grand almost 10 years ago, which seemed like a pretty high price at the time.
After total overhaul (no need for the engine) it cost me another $4 grand in parts (new deck was about 1/2 of that), plus my "free labor".

The lower part of the deck had simply worn away due to running too close to the ground, and the whole deck was twisted to slight propeller shape due to previous welding repairs by "pros".

The good thing is I now know my F mower sort of inside out!

The plan is to keep it as long as we need mowing...

You should. It has been interesting to see the amount of work you have in it.

 

[Brown Dog]

Bounce around, my 2880 don't bounce around at all … Of course I don't mow at warp speed anyway.

Again I’m mowing rough farm ground.
Not a yard.

I agree with HD but I’ve always thought those tiny lil ol front air tires would be way too rough on the deck
& like you I don’t mow fast at all either.

 

[5030]

I have a pair of control springs mounted to the rockshaft on either side (adjustable) that I presume are there to control the bounce. I don't have any that I can see.

 

[5030]

What I have the bat wing for, rough ground.

 

[Brown Dog]

I also batwing a 7-8acre field

 

[LouNY]

My "lawn" is a long way from a smooth fancy lawn, it's rough, it's got wheel tracks from when the tractors go on when it's a bit soft. It has lots of weeds and such, the other day when I mowed at about a 1/3 to almost 1/2 pedal in low range
I was looking at all the different colors of wild violets and the wild strawberry blossoms as well as a bunch of dandelions and other low growing wild flowers.

 

[5030]

Pointless to beat up the other mower then.

 

[Brown Dog]

Took a few #’s on bank today after sliding off it numerous times mowing sideways with Zero.

Grass was dry but soil was damp.

Averaged 27-32* in most places.

40* + in short areas of gulleys where water washes down.

It’s spooky crossing it

 

[Brown Dog]

 

[Brown Dog]

grass had gotten over knee hi on part of it because it’s been too wet to get on it & rain on the way tonight so I man’d up & mowed it today with damp soil

I’m patiently waiting on my New F3710 4wd to be delivered …..

 

[RjCorazza]

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Took a few #’s on bank today after sliding off it numerous times mowing sideways with Zero.

Grass was dry but soil was damp.

Averaged 27-32* in most places.

40* + in short areas of gulleys where water washes down.

It’s spooky crossing it

It never ceases to amaze me that pictures of slopes look so doable on a mower until the actual slope is measured. Those pictures look like they would be no problem on my zero turn, but my 28 degree slope is right on the edge of what I can mow under perfect conditions. I'm letting some of it grow wild this year, 'cause I just don't feel like putting the walk behind on it anymore.