F3990 vs newer F3710 4wd front deck mowers

[Brown Dog]

I’m surprised you didn’t look at those Ventrac mowers

i looked at them but I wouldn’t want to mow other areas besides the steep bank IF Zero was broke down or had a flat.

Plus filters & blades (modded holders on ACS deck) being the same on ZD1511 & F3710 will be easier for maintenance purposes imo

I think the tracked Altos Zero would be a better fit on this bank than a Ventrac or Steiner

 

[Brown Dog]

Well the new F3710 landed today.
I adjusted the deck so the outer blades measured 3.5” off concrete floor front AND back 6&12 - then 3&9 o clock to get left & right side of deck level.

Real PITA as @Hay Dude mentioned.

Steep bank was wet so I mowed it anyway

Superb Traction going strait but front inside tire spins pretty bad turning 90* to go uphill.

I figured it’d need all 4 fluid filled.

Ride is great but deck takes a beating : even in low range about half the ground speed it’s cable of.

See the DYI Thread on bigger front deck wheels here on TBN

 

[Brown Dog]

I don’t like how the deck is slow to raise & let’s down SO FAST

I hadn’t found an adjustment to slow it down

It takes precise SLOW moving the lever.

It’s way different than my current ZD1511 & going to take some getting use to the controls in different locations.

 

[WM75Guy]

Nice looking machine. With some practice you will be able to feather the deck speed up & down. It has taken me a little bit to get it right on my F2560E.

 

[Brown Dog]

Nice looking machine. With some practice you will be able to feather the deck speed up & down. It has taken me a little bit to get it right on my F2560E.

Thanks.
I found an adjustment knob in owners manual to slow the drop down.

I’ll have to dial that in tomorrow.

 

[arto98607]

Nice mower, I hope it will work out well for you!

 

[braap736]

Hey arto98607, I noticed you have a grasshopper front mount as well. Does the grasshopper lose traction going straight up steep hills. I'm torn between buying an f series kubota or a front mount grasshopper because I have several 20 degree hills that I mow. I mow a total of around 5 hilly acres plus trails. Thanks for any info.

 

[arto98607]

Hey arto98607, I noticed you have a grasshopper front mount as well. Does the grasshopper lose traction going straight up steep hills. I'm torn between buying an f series kubota or a front mount grasshopper because I have several 20 degree hills that I mow. I mow a total of around 5 hilly acres plus trails. Thanks for any info.

It's very good going uphill (with bar tires) but will sometimes slip a little when turning while going uphill when the ground is wet.
Kubota F seem to have similar traction with turf tires and in 2-wheel drive, which has been little surprising.

Our property does not have many hills to speak of.

Bar tire on wet ground issues have been discussed on this forum few times.

IE. They will cause rutting if driven in the same pattern as sometimes is unavoidable and zero turns should be avoided.

Our Grasshopper has good traction for 2-wheel drive on dry ground.

 

[braap736]

Thank you, so you’re implying that the bar tires are not good for making a zero turn movement compared to regular turfs on other zero turn mowers. Is your f series Kubota hard on grass when turning sharp given it’s heavy weight?

 

[arto98607]

I meant bar tires & zero turns on wet ground - we need to mow some also during fall, winter & spring in our climate since our grass keeps growing as long as there is moisture.

The F3060 mower front & rear tires do not leave any noticeable marks or tracks in the grass.

The gauge wheel issues are discussed in this thread, but they do not leave marks either when the ground is reasonably dry.
IE. Not soaking wet & soft!

DIY replacing worn out gauge wheel assemblies Kubota F series