Buying Advice Chance to buy L4400 HST

[ovrszd]

Like Bubba, I bought a new L4400DT for $18K in 2009.

And like Bubba, I eventually sold it and bought an M.

The L4400 is a solid basic tractor. It will do your haying chores with consideration. Primarily the weight difference.

Let us know how it works out.

 

[big bubba]

if the OP retains both tractors (didn't realize it was in the making) then he will have 2 excellent machines for just about any job
any tasks beyond above capabilities can be hired out as one time projects.
to repeat myself, the M6800 is an outstanding tractor

 

[Hiptfarms]

I just got home yesterday evening with the tractor and the implements. I haven't had a chance to even unload them from the trailers yet. I had to deliver a eulogy for a friend's funeral today so the whole day was busy. But tomorrow I will unload the new-to-me Kubota and give her a try. I'm planning on changing all the fluids and filters before doing much with it though. I'll let you guys know what the outcome is. Thanks for your posts.

 

[Hiptfarms]

And by the way, I wound up paying 12,500 for the tractor with 703 loader, a land pride brush mower, a spin spreader, a post hole digger, a landscape rake, a little chain drag, and a set of disk harrows. I'm very pleased with the whole deal.

 

[TripleR]

Too late to offer any advice, but sounds like a god deal and for what it's worth, nothing nicer than two different size tractors. Oh and most people find the old saying, "I can't wait to retire so I'll have more time to..." is not quite true.

 

[sixdogs]

That is a great deal and I would keep them both. I have an L4300 and used to have an M6800. Both are so good I can't decide which I like better. The M will hay better than the L4400 and you're into it cheap enough to keep them both. Just post pictures for us to admire.

 

[Hiptfarms]

So we've had the tractor for a couple weeks now and I am finally getting to use it today. I have been quite busy with work but the main reason I haven't used it is the dang hydraulic filter. I got the tractor home and realized that it still had all the original grey filters on it. So that means that in 306 hours of use all the guy did was change the fuel filter once and he never changed any of the fluids. Not even the oil which was black as soot. So I immediately went to work changing all the fluids and filters. The air, oil, fuel all went smoothly. I then dumped the dirty hydraulic fluid and pulled the larger filter. That went fine. Then came the hst filter. That thing was extremely difficult to get off. I tried 9 different wrenches over the period of a week with no luck. I even bought a 28 dollar channel-lock specialty wrench for oil filters and still no luck. Finally I had a friend put steady pressure on the back side of the filter with a chain vice wrench while I tapped on the grooves on the mouth of the filter with an offset flat cold chisel. That worked. But it was definitely a bear.

I just refilled the 10 gallons of fluid so after I go get a coffee, I'm going to give her a try.

Anybody ever use anti-sieze on the mouth of that filter? I didn't but I thought about it. Also, think I should be concerned about the service having not been done before?

 

[TripleR]

Most of us have found the original filters pretty tight, if it's gray it's never been changed. After the first, it's no big deal. I use a claw type which work really well as did a band type used with a ratchet or breaker bar, harder it was the harder it gripped.

I wouldn't worry about the missed service, it's surprising how often this happens.

 

[sixdogs]

The only thing with the missed service is maybe change the engine oil in a couple or few months. I do that on neglected older equipment and feel better.

 

[Hiptfarms]

I plan on running it for maybe 10 hours and doing another oil change. It's cheap enough to do.