Are there any safety classes?

suttles · Jul 3, 2006

I have looked at a lot of web sites to learn about the use of this new tractor.
Sometimes I do see something mentioned about a safety class but it will be in some far away place. I am in east TN.

I have looked over the owners manual and somethings are not clear.
Is it ok to ask them on this safety thread?
Kubota L 3130 , shuttle shift not sure which type.
The owners manuel mentions a GST, and a manual transmission type. I don't know which one we have.

Thanks,
travis

RayH · Jul 4, 2006

Your 3130 should have a sticker on the fenders that says GST, HST or DT (I think its DT for the manual shift).
Your manual should show pictures and explain the proper use of the different transmission configurations.
If all else fails, go to Kubotas website. There are brief explanations on how each type of transmission works and what the controls look like.
For specifics on how the Kubota works, you would be better served to ask questions on the Kubota owning and operating forum.

ronjhall · Jul 4, 2006

Your local dealer should be able to answer most questions about operation and safety. My dealer spent about 2 hours with me when tractor was delivered, going over proper operation and safety.

Tollster · Jul 5, 2006

Travis,
I too was a new operator, and consider myself still green. I was able to find a wealth of information on the web concerning safe operation. I think one was the ten commandments of safe tractor operation, along with many others. I found people here were also very helpfull and concerned about my wellfare.
One thing that I could reccomend is to take it very slow, read and reread your owners manual. Learn the machine and try to establish safe practices from the start and soon they will be second nature, although NEVER become complacent. Remove outside distractions when operating, dogs, wife, your day job..etc. And never be in a hurry, try to enjoy your new machine and repect it. If something does not feel or seem right...STOP!
Welcome to the forum!

suttles · Jul 6, 2006

Thanks for all the info.

The manual does have everything but it has instructions for the HST and the GST so when I am trying to look at just out Kubota I get lost.

I took a light colored marker and just marked a x over the pages and pictures that didn't apply to our tractor.

It is a manuel with a shuttle shift.
Some of this termnology is so new to me. I have to think about what something is.
The shifter was different. I knew it was not HST, but the GST I didn't remember.

Now if I can learn to do everything in order without having to stop and think.
I don't mean go to sleep but just like starting up the car you just know what to do without having to think this is step one and now step two.

When they delivered the tractor a couple of weeks ago the man delivering it went over the different controls and left a Kubota manuel.

I called them a couple of days ago and one thing I found out I was doing wrong. I had not been putting the throttle down to its lowest before engaging the PTO.

My husband didn't know that either.
I have studied the manuel some but it was running together with the different transmissions.

Now with 12 hrs on it, I want to learn the maintaince so that I can take care of it.

I don't want to depend on my husband. He would know how and he does understand more.
I just know I am going to be the one washing and waxing it.

This is off the subject. I have tried to do searches so I didn't have to keep asking questions.
In the places we cannot bush hog safely what would be the easiest thing to use?

One area has some limestone outcroppings, and then on the sides where we join our neighbors there are lots of weeds and brush growing. We are going to have a fence built soon so I don't want all there weeds taking over the fence.
We are going to place it inside our property a few feet but not enough to get a tractor around it.

Where the property goes to the paved road there is a steep bank. It is a strip that the county owns.

It is trying to grow up with small trees and tall grass.
I don't know what would mow it.
One day in town I saw someone mowing with some riding mower that had wheels like a duely truck.
The guy was going all over a very steep hill. His seat would swing to stay straight but that was not why he could mow the hill so easly, it was just that mower.

We have a good weed eater but I didn't know if one of those kind that looks like a push mower or maybe one of those big walk behind mowers would go faster.
Do they make a safe riding mower that would do thicker things than grass?

I know that these side areas will get ahead of us during the summer if we don't try to keep up with regular mowing.
I have a snake phobia and these grown up areas concern me.
We only have two horses right now, sometimes we own more and so that is something that changes.
Thanks,
travis

roxynoodle · Jul 6, 2006

The only thing I can suggest, if you have places you can't mow, would be to use the weed whacker or spray with roundup. Your rotary cutter should be able to take care of small trees (1"-1.5" in diameter). One thing I have done is to use my FEL to dig up small trees.

I am not aware of any riding mower that can take care of brush. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist though. They do make walk behind mowers for heavy brush. That might fit in places your tractor can't.

dmccarty · Jul 11, 2006

Suttles,

Lots of questions!

I will throw out a few answers.

While you learn to use the tractor just go slow. If I'm mowing rocky areas, new areas, places that can get me in trouble then the tractor is in 1st maybe 2nd gear and low range. VERY slow. If I'm cutting down saplings 1st gear.

Just go slow. Alot of people get into trouble by going too fast. Go slow.

For mowing on a slope it depends on your tractor setup. You most likely are ok up to 15 degrees but if you hit a rock, a stump, a hole, you can roll over fast. I really don't fee comfortable at 10 degrees. You can get a Tiltmeter to show you the angle of your tractor.

For Kubota specific questions ask in the Kubota forums.

For general safety issues you are in the right place. Just start reading these discussions. It really helps to see what other people have done. If you have a strong stomach look at the pictures of tractor accidents. That show what can happen if you are not carefull.

Safety is a habit. The trick is too learn the right behaviors and then do them over and over to turn them into habits. You learn by reading about other people's mistakes and your owners manual. Remember everyone of those warnings and stickers is because someone got hurt or killed.

Later,
Dan