4330 vs. 4630

jmc · Dec 15, 2005

Marooned,

I ordered the HD bucket on my 4330 and they sent the standard bucket by mistake. But when they weld on that QA plate at the factory, it stiffens up the standard bucket quite a bit, especially the upper lip. Any respectful operator would have a hard time damaging it. It was about a $300 option so at least look at them both to compare, and make sure the standard has QA. I was glad to keep mine.

I think CT tree guy is right about the HD having a rounded inside and some say that the round fills better. Mine is angled and seems to works ok. A big factor in getting a full bucket of compacted soil is personal technique, even on an industrial loader.

John

ps: The one thing I miss about that Ford 1920 in my previous post is the narrow width when bushhogging around closely spaced trees. Also, don't be intimidated by removing the loader before bushhogging for unbelievable manuverability. The loader is very easy to take on and off. Have your dealer show you because the manual wasn't too clear, at least for me.

_RaT_ · Dec 15, 2005

<font color="blue"> Also, don't be intimidated by removing the loader before bushhogging for unbelievable manuverability. The loader is very easy to take on and off. Have your dealer show you because the manual wasn't too clear, at least for me. </font>

John is so right here. It's the only way to go.

Deerlope · Dec 15, 2005

I have had my FEL off & on as many as 4 times in one day.

rk246 · Dec 15, 2005

I was in the same kind of dilemna with the 3130, I thought well the 3430 would be the way to go and after posing the question on here and talking to the dealer they talked me into the 3830, it is a little bigger, but the dealer really seemed to think I wouldn't notice a 10% increase in power of the 3430, but the 3830 is a 20% increase in power... I got the HST and really like it, I have only operated gear tractors before the HST and it is so much easier, I live on a really hilly property and really like how well the HST works for braking when running around on the hills.... Good luck with your decision, and remember "its only money, you can't take it with you when you die.".....

KUBOTASALESGUY · Dec 16, 2005

From myself a Kubota dealer the only way you will no the difference is at the PTO. And doing what you will be doing you will probably never fell the extra H.P. in the L4630. I sell way more L4330's than L4630's.

Deerlope · Dec 16, 2005

My dealer told me that he has never had a 4630 on his lot.

Jomo45 · Dec 16, 2005

Looks like you have received some very good input from sevral folks, HST, HD Bucket, etc. My dad has the 4330 on 70 acres, 60% woods, 40% pasture, it has been an amazing workhorse. Even with a 6ft brush cutter in tall grass it never runs out of power, most of the time we only run it about 2,100 rpm, well below it's peak potential. I have a JD 3320 on 15 acres doing what you are wanting to do on your 17 acres. Great tractor, it is probably more tractor than I need, but quite a bit smaller and less capabale than the 4330. (I am very aware these two are not in the same class) Unless you are going to start farming many more acres than you have, I can't imagine that the 4330 won't be an excellent choice.

Good Luck!

CT_Tree_Guy · Dec 16, 2005

Very good post Jomo, there's nothing like the kind of first-hand experience you just offered. And I like the term "amazing workhorse" - that sounds like a good thing for a tractor to be.

As for: <font color="blue">I can't imagine that the 4330 won't be an excellent choice. </font> - neither can I. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

CT_Tree_Guy · Dec 17, 2005

KubotaSalesGuy,

Welcome to TBN, it's always nice to see someone from the "supply side" on here. You sure have come to the right place if you want to know what tractor buyers and users want, don't want, like, and don't like.

I have to believe your "bottom line" will go up as a result of participating in this site. I would think that the happier your customers are with their tractors and with the choices that you have helped them make, the better the "word of mouth", and therefore sales, will be.

Again, welcome - John D.

Marooned · Dec 18, 2005

Update:
I just got back from my weekend trip. Visited a couple of more dealers along the way. Here's the pricing I got:

Dealer A: $22,930
Dealer B: $23,290
Dealer C: $23,350

All 3 dealers quoted on the same equipment which was:

4330 HST, R1 Ag tires (filled)
LA853 Loader w/ HD bucket & skid-steer quick attach.

Dealer A & B were smaller dealers. C was a good sized dealer who told me he has sold around 425 tractors so far in '05. All in all, I was happy to see such a close range in the pricing. Makes me fee like I am getting a good deal for my area, no matter who we use.

We decided to go with Dealer B. I would categorize him as a small dealer, but I don't actually know how many tractors he sells a year. I just felt very comfortable talking to him, and he was the actual owner of the dealership, not just a salesman (not that salesman are bad, I was one once).

He is actually the dealer I talked about in one of my previous posts. One of the things that impressed me most is that I called him and told him I was coming to his shop after I got off from work last Wednesday, and when we got there (which was 15 minutes before he was scheduled to close) he had 3 different tractors waiting for me under a covered shed (it was misting rain) to drive. I did not ask him to do that, just told him I was coming to talk, and when I got there, he said "come on in the back, I've got some tractors ready for you to look at and test drive". This really impressed me.

So, to make a long story shorter, I'm calling him in the morning to finalize the details and make the deal!

Thanks for all your input TBNer's! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif