Comparison Another Kubota vs. Deere Quandary

[milemarker211]

HI Guys,
So i'm finally resolved to put down a deposit on a Kubota L2501 HST today, when I get a call from a john deere salesman asking if i'd seen the youtube video of the deere 3025E versus the Kubota L2501 [also HST]. Needless to say, I also get a price quote from him which very nearly matches that of the L2501. So of course I watch the video, which I realize is slanted toward the john deere point of view, but which makes some good points that seem to be in its favor. So, now I'm in a quandary but will itemize some comparisons and ask you guys what your thoughts are and which you would go with. [Btw, I'm buying tractor and FEL only and w. rear-filled tires]:

1. the deere 3025 has an oil-bathed wet clutch, whereas the Kubota 2501 has a dry clutch [the cable requiring adjusting every 100 hours]
2. the body/frame of the deere is "composite," whereas the kubota is sheet metal
3. the hydraulic flow rate of the deere is one gallon per minute greater than that of the Kubota
4. the deere has twin pedals for forward and reverse, whereas the Kubota is the front/rear single treadle
5. the detachable bucket on the deere is 60-inches, whereas the detachable bucket on the Kubota is 66-inches
6. the deere has a slightly narrower turning radius than the Kubota
7. the deere though weighs about 400 pounds 'less' than the Kubota
8. the deere has only 2-speed ranges, whereas the Kubota has 3
9. there appears to be far fewer possible attachments available for the deere than there are for the Kubota

So, as u can see, there are plusses and minuses for both, and tho it appears that there will be fewer routine maintenance issues [and less expensive parts] on the deere, I don't know if that's a significant difference, but considering that the deere dealer is 30 miles closer to me than the Kubota, that gives me more 'comfort' regarding those times when the tractor should be serviced by professionals, and the back-and-forth costs just might be significant.
In its favor tho, the Kubota 'appears' to me to be a more solidly built machine, but that might simply be a preferential prejudice on my part.

So, I'm curious as to how u guys would assess the 2. [In some ways, I wonder if the comparison is even fair on deere's part because whenever I see people considering the differences between an L2501 Kubota and a comparable deere, it's usually put up against a deere 3032e.]

I'm pretty sure I would be happy owning either one of these tractors but would love to hear what u guys have to say about the matter.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[TheMadOne]

1. the deere 3025 has an oil-bathed wet clutch, whereas the Kubota 2501 has a dry clutch [the cable requiring adjusting every 100 hours] Point Deere
2. the body/frame of the deere is "composite," whereas the kubota is sheet metal Neutral, Metal dents, plastic fades and cracks
3. the hydraulic flow rate of the deere is one gallon per minute greater than that of the Kubota Trick, the number's based on the total flow, steering and free oil for implements. Actual difference for implements is 0.15GPM, the rest is in the steering flow.
4. the deere has twin pedals for forward and reverse, whereas the Kubota is the front/rear single treadle Neutral, some people prefer one or the other. Try both before deciding.
5. the detachable bucket on the deere is 60-inches, whereas the detachable bucket on the Kubota is 66-inches Point Kubota. Easier to cover your track width with the extra 3ish inches on each side
6. the deere has a slightly narrower turning radius than the Kubota Point JD
7. the deere though weighs about 400 pounds 'less' than the Kubota Point Kubota. It's impossible to truly regain bare tractor weight, because it's structural and adds strength to the tractor.
8. the deere has only 2-speed ranges, whereas the Kubota has 3Point Kubota
9. there appears to be far fewer possible attachments available for the deere than there are for the Kubota Not true, anything you can hang on a Kubota you can do the same with a Deere, unless there's no SSQA option for the 3025.

JD 2
Kubota 3 or 4, depending on the SSQA availability on the 3025. And really, lack of SSQA support from the factory would be a big red flag for me. But there are adapter plates.

Plus a couple of things that you need to judge for yourself that could swing it back to JD.

 

[murph1]

3 speed trans for sure. Go with the Bota but either would work.

 

[kthompson]

Not the models you are looking at but bought a JD couple of years back and hit one of their videos comparing to Kubota and felt it was very slanted done by JD and let them know I felt that way. Ended up with the JD for I found their points were valid. Now that being said I have two Kubota and pleased with them. I just find some points on the JD have a different mind set such as pining the draw bar on JD is much easier than on the Kubota. By it self not a big deal. I do think Kubota is better on fuel than JD but do not have same hp in my Kubota as do the JD.

This is not a 100% valid way but look both up as used tractors for sale and see how the pricing holds there. I do like the thoughts of the 3 ranges over the 2.

 

[CobyRupert]

How can there be fewer attachments for one brand over the other?
Other than hydraulic flow capacities, I'd also look at lift capacities.
I like them green, but some say weight is a good indication of what your buying.
When I was comparing, the operation of the PTO was a big factor too. I wanted one with that has independent lever operated pto clutch. I think Deere has since gone to those pull-button electronic clutch type that slam in (hate them). Kubota back then had a 2-stage foot pedal clutch operated one (one stage was PTO clutch, all the way down was transmission) (hated that too).
Foldable ROPS were a factor too.
Are tire widths adjustable?

 

[CobyRupert]

Delete- Duplicate

 

[Bavarian]

As far as I know, on the JD 30xxe series, the loader won't come off. 3 speed hydro is another plus for orange. If you do a lot of loader work, you want the weight of the machine. If you put all this together, you may have to look at the R series in green.
Now you're in a different ballpark.

Good luck

 

[milemarker211]

Thx for replying and yes, the rear tires on both the Kubota and deere can be adjusted, but for both u need to buy spacers -- $300 for the Kubota, which will get u 2 extra inches each side -- didn't get a price for the deere but assume it would be similar.
Regarding SSQA question from another contributor, the Kubota loader complies but the deere has a separate method for removing the loader, tho there's probably an adapter available that will allow for SSQA, but that's one more headache and expense.
One other thing of note is that the Kubota has a minimum-rpm-requirements-zone indicated on the dash which means that when operating the hydraulics, it's best to be within that marked zone of required rpm's but, from what I hear, the deere's hydraulics aren't under the same constraints and can be operated at any rpm speed [that is, if I understood the explanation correctly].

 

[ovrszd]

As far as I know, on the JD 30xxe series, the loader won't come off.

Good luck

If this is true, Kubota wins overwhelmingly. Today a tractor that doesn't have a Quick Attach FEL shouldn't be produced and sold......

 

[BAP]

The clutch really isn't an issue, because they are both Hydrostatic drive, so the only time you use the clutch is engaging or disengaging the PTO.