JD or Kubota?

sneaky_pete · Jan 10, 2005

( if you like to do your own mechanic work they sure can make it harder to diagnose and repair 

On the contrary. All of my newer JD equipment has self-diagnostics. I've saved hundreds of hours this way working on equipment. The Ford powerstrokes are this way as well. )

I'm glad to hear it. The modern cars and motorcycles I have are much more difficult to diagnose, wihtout the requisite code-reading machinery which is usually very expensive and/or available only to dealers - but I don't own any Ford or JD equipment. My Kubota tractors have very few electronics beyond instruments and lights, and they have been bullet-proof reliable so far.

Evasive1 · Jan 10, 2005

( All of my newer JD equipment has self-diagnostics. I've saved hundreds of hours this way )

(I am not familiar with John Deere diagnositc code reader so this statement is not meant for John Deere so do not bash me!!)

If you have the $10,500 diagnositic code reader this is great but it is still not fool-proof. My wifes brand new Jaguar was coming up with an engine code and had to take it in to be read by the dealer diagnostic computer (This is where the $10,500 price number came from) It was showing Gear Box Failure, so they put in a new transmission.
Two weeks later it happened again. New transmission again.
A third time they started scratching their heads looking for something different even though the computer was saying bad transmission. Ends up both Oxygen Senors were bad. Replacing these and no more problems.

We have probably all changed out electric window motors, but how many of us had to replace the gears on a crank up window?

Electronics are great but sometimes you have to weigh the difference if the convenience is worth the possiblility of extra cost in the long run for yourself. Most of the time the extra electronic convenience will win out.

obrith · Jan 10, 2005

Just a couple quick points -

Unless you're getting a 'larger' (new 4x20 series), you are buying a completely yanmar-built tractor. More of the Kubota is built in the US. Regaurdless of what your local JD dealer would lead you to believe. Most pure JD dealers bleed green.

Being a very established dealer for both Kubota and Deere (25 yrs Kubota / 10 years JD), we've had far and away more issues with John Deere tractors, and the company as a whole is much harder to work with.

As far as 'off' brands, we have issues with customers coming in our store and getting *angry* with US when we tell them we cant get parts for their mahindra/kioti/ect (these have become far less frequent over the last few years) because their selling dealer told them WE were their source for parts. Most of the 'off' brands, atleast at dealerships around us don't stock parts... at all. Our dealership has extremely high stock rates for parts. We have >90% fill rates off our shelf. Not all dealers are as well established as we are, but you will find that both John Deere and Kubota require their dealers to keep to a much higher standard than what you will find at most of the 'off' brands, especially the ones that only sell off brands.

This is all personal experience, but I've been working with these tractors nearly my entire life, and I can honestly say that every time I'd go with Kubota over every other brand. They are a very good company and will take care of you.

art · Jan 10, 2005

Some times the original designs don't work so good so if you add some extra electronics you can smooth out the rough spots and make them drive as good as the rest of them.

rockyridgefarm · Jan 10, 2005

you are buying a completely yanmar-built tractor. More of the Kubota is built in the US. Regaurdless of what your local JD dealer would lead you to believe 

So all the Made in USA labels on my 4310, That is that little fishing village in Japan? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Art, you are dead on, the fly by wire is a huge improvement over the 4000 series in relation to the hydrostatic. Sure does a great job! Kubota does a great job with their setup, although the pedal doesn't work, for me...

KiotiJohn · Jan 11, 2005

( While I understand your argument, and in principle I do agree that the more complicated things are the harder they can be to repair....On the other hand,

Apparently, your brand does not offer these options??????? )
No, at this time my brand does not offer these options, but you make it sound as though I didn't try the other brands before I decided to buy. I certainly tried out all those wonderful things JD offered. I tried many brands, and decided that for MY hard earned money, the Kioti was the one that was the best deal FOR ME. I had to consider that if I live to life expectancy, the tractor will not be in warranty. I may not have the big bucks to fix old electronics that may not work years down the road, so I wanted something a little simpler (HST the exception) that I could work on if I had to. No need to make a big deal about my brand not offering these, it's one of the main reasons I bought what I did. Good quality, modern features without gimmicks, at a price I could live with. Load match or no, I can still load with the best of them, and my foot seems to know exactly when I need to give or take. It's electronic too, comes from the brain. John

Kyle_in_Tex · Jan 11, 2005

( Unless you're getting a 'larger' (new 4x20 series), you are buying a completely yanmar-built tractor. More of the Kubota is built in the US. Regaurdless of what your local JD dealer would lead you to believe. )

I believe the only part of my tractor (4310) that is Yanmar is the engine. You might be speaking of the 790 and 990 for which I did not buy. BTW, Which Kubota parts besides FEL are made here? Maybe the tires? I'm guessing.

KiotiJohn, I did not mean to start a flame war. Just stating my opinion. My money is hard earned too. I just want some of it to be left in this country when my kid needs to earn it. Simple Macro economics.

Rockyridge, you are right! "Made in USA" is a fishing village a few thousand miles due east of Japan's coast.

obrith · Jan 11, 2005

Ok, anyone can put a "Made in USA" label on anything. Walmart did it for years --Maybe the one part they stuck the label on was 100% US

Much less of your 4x10 deere is made in the states that JD would ever let you know. They do *most* of their manufacturing in Germany or via Yanmar (Japan). They build all of the mowers and gators in the states, but aside from some assembly, most all of the CUTractors are from elsewhere.

As for Kubota; ALL of their implements are manufactured in Georgia. They also build the RTV's, Mowers, BX's, and do all of their assembly (B21/L35/L48/M's) in the US. They have a very high percent of their products produced in the US. And Kubota is expanding their production facilities in Georgia at a very amazing pace (they have to or else none of you will see another RTV for years).

I'm not sure I can give you any better proof than the fact that most dealers that had/have both brands would stay with Kubota every time when it comes down to having to make a choice. And JD is always the company forcing the choice... Because they just dont sell as well as the Kubotas sitting side by side.

rockyridgefarm · Jan 11, 2005

I always love these...

Kubota (Japanese) is Good and made in USA.

Deere (USA) is Bad and made in Japan.

come on, both are great machines. both source worldwide. some folks will love one hate the other, and vice versa. while both are excellant, some folks will be better served by one or the other.

obrith · Jan 11, 2005

I completely agree both are great machines; I wouldnt be selling both otherwise. I was mostly pointing out that the Deere isnt really a US product.

I do however like the Kubotas quite a bit better. Not 100% because of the product, but because of the company as a whole as well.