Best features of a Kubota tractor? Are they one of the best when it comes to cold sta

[BeezFun]

Is the Kubota one of the best cold starting tractors available?

I'd say all major brands start fine, I share mine with my neighbor who has a JD, I'd say mine starts a bit easier, but his always starts.

If I had it to do over again, I'd focus on ergonomic comfort and buy any major brand that has a dealer relatively close. The seat on my tractor is really uncomfortable, I added an air pad to try to help with that. My neighbor's JD seat is much better. I think the toe/heel HST control on mine is very unnatural compared to my neighbor's JD which has two separate toe pedals. JD throttle breaks with tractor tradition: you move it forward to increase rpm, backward to decrease. That's much more intuitive because it's like the gas pedal on a car. He has a safety switch on his seat that I absolutely hate: if you turn around to look behind you, that slight unweighting of the seat causes engine to stop. If you try to raise up in the seat to see over the FEL, the engine quits. It would be the first thing I'd change. But my tractor doesn't have that issue.

I like the hydraulic layout and control response better on my kubota. So in summary I'd try each major brand and spend some time at the dealer driving it around, dig in the dirt a bit, and buy what feels comfortable. I would check for issues with specific models before you buy, there seem to be recurring themes of things people don't like about certain models that might be important for you.

 

[ovrszd]

Once you get into the 40HP range you are in a Compact Utility Tractor (CUT). In the CUT market Kubota tends to have a high HP/WT ratio. For example the average 40hp Kubota will weigh 1500lb less than the average 40hp John Deere. Not saying that makes them better, just saying that's a consideration. I am a HP junkie and like that ratio. Others don't.

You described a BROAD range of uses. When you threw in mowing the lawn you added the concern about weight. Weight is your friend when doing FEL work. Weight is your enemy when doing finish mowing. I'm with PhilY, you may want to consider a ZT or a smaller lawn/garden tractor for mowing work. As he mentioned, the money it'll take to equip your 40hp CUT to mow will buy you a decent used mowing machine. If you can spend equal money and end up with two separate machines I think you'll be happier.

It's rare to find a Kubota buyer that regrets the brand. You'll find plenty that bought the wrong size or model though. You need to spend a LOT of time shopping all brands.

Also drive around your community. If you see a tractor you would be interested in stop and introduce yourself to the owner. 99% of owners enjoy talking about their tractors. If you lived near me I'd let you use my tractor for a few hours. That's how you truly know what you are buying and what you need.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. We love to watch people spend money!!!!

 

[k0ua]

Of the five tractors I have owned, the ease of cold weather starting would have to go to my current Kioti. The Long, was the worst.:thumbdown: The New Holland and the two Kubota's were all good easy starters, but the Kioti is a one key bump and it starts kind of tractor. I would put some of the reason for that into its auto glow plug cycle and its post start glow plug timer. As for the HST+ hydrostatic drive that Kubota puts on their Grand L series, I believe it to be the market leader and innovator. Some other brands offer some of the HST+ features, but Kubota is the leader and other brands are playing catch-up. As for parts and service availability I would place Kubota second behind John Deere, in the number of dealerships and parts availability, but probably a close second. All the rest are indexed in varying layers behind these two. I would say there is no doubt that Kubota builds a high quality product, but so do most of the other major manufactures.

 

[diesel lover]

Sorry about throwing in mowing the lawn. I'm planning on buying a home with a property in may. I have my 56' Massey MF 25 diesel with a 4 cylinder Perkins. I love the tractor a lot as it is a 25 HP diesel 3500 pounds or less and has wheel weights, 8 speeds forward 2 reverse and a diff lock. The tractor handles a 5 foot brushhog better than a 35 HP gasoline tractor we had. I have a finishing mower I will be repairing and using for now but will be buying a flail mower in the future.

I plan to use my Massey for smaller jobs mowing etc because it is 9n sized perfect for many chores! But I want something bigger 4wd front loader in the 30-40 HP class. I don't want to push my little Massey past its limits plowing snow. I would like two working and running tractors.

 

[ovrszd]

Sorry about throwing in mowing the lawn. I'm planning on buying a home with a property in may. I have my 56' Massey MF 25 diesel with a 4 cylinder Perkins. I love the tractor a lot as it is a 25 HP diesel 3500 pounds or less and has wheel weights, 8 speeds forward 2 reverse and a diff lock. The tractor handles a 5 foot brushhog better than a 35 HP gasoline tractor we had. I have a finishing mower I will be repairing and using for now but will be buying a flail mower in the future.

I plan to use my Massey for smaller jobs mowing etc because it is 9n sized perfect for many chores! But I want something bigger 4wd front loader in the 30-40 HP class. I don't want to push my little Massey past its limits plowing snow. I would like two working and running tractors.

Now ya changed the whole conversation!!!

If you are removing mowing from the equation You need to step into a heavier framed tractor. With Kubota, I'd go for an MX model or an M model if HST isn't a necessity.

I'm afraid you are going to expect a LOT from this tractor in regards to heavy utility/FEL work. Stay at 40HP or more. Go for a 5000lb tractor (FEL equipped). You already have the Massey to do small chores. Go big or go home!!!

In regards to Kubota, if you go visit a dealer and look at the Grand L models you may decide they are too small. Again, that's why you need to spend a LOT of time shopping all brands. Each different brand tries to fill a niche that others don't have.

 

[diesel lover]

Yes so now you guys see the reason for a 40 HP heavier framed? I don't need a backhoe or pay loader for snow (but it always does get temping after operating the komatsu pay loader at work with a 16 foot box for hours! ) I just need something larger than my Massey. I'm very comfotable with mowing and other jobs with my Massey but there is no reason to push it till it breaks. 40 HP should be perfect spent a lot of time on a 4320? John Deere 4wd with industrial tires and a fel. Unfortunately we used it for plowing snow diskkng the garden and moving huge lumber for a logging company (yikes poor little thing!) It was 35 HP and did a decent job. And a 50 is too large for me.

 

[ovrszd]

I gotcha. Except, don't get too wrapped up in the HP thing. For example you can get a Kubota L5740 that's a medium sized CUT chassis with 57HP. Or you can get an MX5100 that's a larger chassis with 50HP. So again, you need to shop a LOT.

Here's a website that's very handy to compare data, i.e. HP, Wt, Length, tire size, etc. Guess that's why they call it Tractor Data.

TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors

 

[RFB]

The following "best features" stand out to me:

Kubota dealers sell ONLY Kubota tractors.

Boy, that sure not true of my dealership: Agri-Service

 

[Bluegill2]

I've been looking at 50+hp Kubotas. My next will likely be a MX5100. That's a lot of tractor for the money! Simple, gear drive, lota grunt. Think it will compliment my L3800 very well...

 

[TBarD]

Is the Kubota one of the best cold starting tractors available? I would plug mine in no doubt but its something I would like to know as well.

I have never had any trouble starting mine in cold weather; fires right up instantly every time. At high altitude it will run rough for a while until the turbo kicks in. Some Cetane boost helps starting, especially at altitude, and makes the engine run better as well.