Real quickly, just to get back to the difference between the L40-1 and L40-3 models. The main selling point I see is that Stall Guard has been incorporated to sense a load on the PTO in addition to it's original ability to sense a load when pushing/pulling.
Stall Guard keeps the tractor from bogging the engine down when under a load. The L40-1's could only activate this feature when the load came from pushing/pulling. Now, with an L40-3, Stall Guard could activate if for example you hit a patch of really thick grass and start to bog your rotary cutter down. From the operators stand point, you wouldn't even have to back your foot off the HST pedal. The tractor would simply back off internally till the load lessened and then full travel speed would resume.
It works so well I rarely notice when mine kicks in and out. The swivel seat on the L40-3 is pretty nice also. Hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Stall Guard keeps the tractor from bogging the engine down when under a load. The L40-1's could only activate this feature when the load came from pushing/pulling. Now, with an L40-3, Stall Guard could activate if for example you hit a patch of really thick grass and start to bog your rotary cutter down. From the operators stand point, you wouldn't even have to back your foot off the HST pedal. The tractor would simply back off internally till the load lessened and then full travel speed would resume.
It works so well I rarely notice when mine kicks in and out. The swivel seat on the L40-3 is pretty nice also. Hope this helps. Good luck in your search.