Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630

[SCDolphin]

I am in the same boat except (shame), I have been looking for several years. My take:

Kubota much quieter, like standard adjustable 3 point, like fact made by same company not motors from Mexico, like fit and finish better (like comparing Toyota to American car), like the cheaper price, more lift capacity, like fit and finish like grey undercarriage vs black on deer.....easier to see things, like more posts than JD on TBN.

Don't like location of treadle pedal......cramps my leg, smaller alternator, don't like fact that next year Kubota will be redesigned.

JD: Like the joy stick on the tractor not on the loader, like the hydr pedals not treadle pedal.....cramps my leg, like color-orange take some getting used to, have lots of green JD tee shirts that would look funny on Kubota, like bigger alternator, bigger knobs on draft controls, like sloped hood.

Don't like location of hydraulic lines for loader near the front tires. Don't like the flimsy hood and flimsy debris screen that goes over radiator.

I think both are good tractors. It is a tough choice. I think dealer help would be important as well as warranty. JD dealers have been disappointing until just this year.

Good Luck

 

[rockyridgefarm]

It may be early and I may be eating my words, but there are no significant complaints of issues with the electronics on the Deere machines. But, then, the model he is considering has none.

One thing that takes some getting used to is that all 4 of the Deere 4020 series machines are identical, except for some fuel delivery conmponants. Essentaially all that makes the next bigger model is bumping the fuel. So the 'smaller' models are relly loafing.

I have a nice quiet Yanmar, it does seem like the Deere engine is louder than it ought to be.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

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don't like fact that next year Kubota will be redesigned.
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I'm not sure where you have heard this, but there has not been anything that I have heard though the dealer channels.

 

[tinsnip]

I just went through the same decision process. It was a tough decision since they are both excellent tractors. I ended going with the JD 4120 for two reasons.

The first was price. Yes, the JD is more expensive. But they were close enough (at least here in my area) so that spending the extra was "worth it" to get what I truly wanted (green). Especially since I plan on owning the thing for a good long time. I just didn't want to drive by every green tractor and say to myself "dang, I wished I'd gone with the Deere".

Second, Deere is offering 0% financing for 3 years. I was all set to lay down the whole nut in cash until I realized I could do the 0% thing and keep my money in the bank earning interest. Kubota had no such offer on a comparable model tractor.

So maybe these aren't arguments that you can put in a spreadsheet and compare, but buying decisions on this level of expedinture and for this type of quality product have to include other subjective factors as well. At least in my case.

 

[CWP37]

I keep hearing that the 4x20 JDs are so loud. Is this really an issue compared to other tractors w/ the same HP?

 

[wolc123]

Depends on your definition of loud. My 4120 is not even close to the old ford 2000 diesel I replaced. I can comfortably operate the new JD at wide open throttle without hearing protection while that ford was deafening at half throttle and I always needed hearing protection. I think many opinions expressed here are based on test driving around dealer shops at near idle speeds. A nice feature of the powertechs is that they do not get much louder at higher rpms as do some engines from other manufacturers. If noise is an issue for you as it was for me, I suggest operating the tractors at wide open throttle and base your comparisons on noise level here versus at near idle speed.

 

[ddivinia]

My 4720 is loud, without a doubt. I always wear hearing protectiong regardless of the noise level on this equipment. I know a lot of deaf farmers, I will wear some ear muffs.

D.

 

[ddivinia]

My 4720 is loud, without a doubt. I always wear hearing protectiong regardless of the noise level on this equipment. I know a lot of deaf farmers, I will wear some ear muffs.

D.

 

[Cargun]

I've been looking at the JD 4120 and the Kubota 3130, 3830, and 4330, as well as a lot of other tractors (Yeah, don't know exactly what I want yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ).

I like the general ergonomics better on the Deere. Seat, sloped hood, joystick placement, PTO switch location, I don't seem to rub my knuckes on the fender when working levers (granted, after I learn how to grip the levers on the Kubota it wouldn't be an issue), and the all important cup holder location! Also I noticed on the Kubota that the front bucket boom and hydraulic hoses coming from the joystick would make it difficult to refuel with jerrycans. But the JD hoses and lines run down low where they could get caught on things. The JD's tierod was a little lower than the front axle too, didn't look at the Kubotas.

I drove FST and GST Kubotas and neither transmission worked right, don't know if I was just unlucky or if it's common. I love the GST transmission in theory... and if the tractor I drove was just a fluke the GST is my tranny of choice. Haven't driven the Deere yet, but it's tranny looks like it bridges the gap between the FST and GST trannies. Clutchess direction changes with the typical range and synchronised gear for speed changes. The engine on the Deere is louder, but being direct injected will certainly make it more fuel efficient. Looking at the Kubotas that have been tested in Nebraska shows them to be significantly thirstier than comparable Deeres. And for flat torque curves there's nothing comparable to a turbo diesel, so in real world use you could probably get even better economy with the Deere by running it at lower RPM's in a higher gear.

Fit and finish looked about the same to me. The Deere had cheap plastic and a floppy hood, the Kubota had cheap metal with tons of seams and visible spot welds, and the whole dash moved when I pushed the clutch. Preference between the two would come down to whether you like plastic or metal... I like metal but the dash moving when I pushed the clutch just grates on me. So I'd say advantage Deere.

 

[Cargun]

I've been looking at the JD 4120 and the Kubota 3130, 3830, and 4330, as well as a lot of other tractors (Yeah, don't know exactly what I want yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ).

I like the general ergonomics better on the Deere. Seat, sloped hood, joystick placement, PTO switch location, I don't seem to rub my knuckes on the fender when working levers (granted, after I learn how to grip the levers on the Kubota it wouldn't be an issue), and the all important cup holder location! Also I noticed on the Kubota that the front bucket boom and hydraulic hoses coming from the joystick would make it difficult to refuel with jerrycans. But the JD hoses and lines run down low where they could get caught on things. The JD's tierod was a little lower than the front axle too, didn't look at the Kubotas.

I drove FST and GST Kubotas and neither transmission worked right, don't know if I was just unlucky or if it's common. I love the GST transmission in theory... and if the tractor I drove was just a fluke the GST is my tranny of choice. Haven't driven the Deere yet, but it's tranny looks like it bridges the gap between the FST and GST trannies. Clutchess direction changes with the typical range and synchronised gear for speed changes. The engine on the Deere is louder, but being direct injected will certainly make it more fuel efficient. Looking at the Kubotas that have been tested in Nebraska shows them to be significantly thirstier than comparable Deeres. And for flat torque curves there's nothing comparable to a turbo diesel, so in real world use you could probably get even better economy with the Deere by running it at lower RPM's in a higher gear.

Fit and finish looked about the same to me. The Deere had cheap plastic and a floppy hood, the Kubota had cheap metal with tons of seams and visible spot welds, and the whole dash moved when I pushed the clutch. Preference between the two would come down to whether you like plastic or metal... I like metal but the dash moving when I pushed the clutch just grates on me. So I'd say advantage Deere.