JD or Kubota??

estamas142 · Nov 9, 2001

I am going crazy trying to decide between JD 4300 or Kubota 2710. I have VERY steep, long dirt driveway and lots of snow to remove in Western Mass. I will also brush hog trails in 35 acres, till and mow.

Also is FEL , blade or blower best for snow removal and what about chance of skidding down icy driveway.

Thanks

Turfman · Nov 10, 2001

I looked at both; the Deere is a much heavier machine, costs more, too. I visited two Deere dealers here (Utah) and both treated me like I had wet leprosy. The one was too busy selling $3.00 worth of parts to talk to me about the tractor. I asked about factory interest and he said "about 10% maybe they'll do something in the spring." I need a smaller (lighter) tractor than a 4300. I had great, read that no BS, responses from the Kubota dealers here. All three wanted the sale. When I buy late this winter, it'll be a Kubota 27 or 2910.

mswanson · Nov 10, 2001

I believe you are comparing apples and oranges here. I believe the JD is much heavier. You might want to also consider the mid-size NH boomers TC25 - TC33 for a tractor in the size you are considering. To handle slipping on the ice you can look into getting tire chains. www.tirechains.com

Mike Swanson

tanuke01 · Nov 10, 2001

I have a 4300 HST, mfwd,60" MMM, 59" snowblower. It is a tractor not a lawn mower. It weight is almost double the Kubota 2710. I plow snow in some hilly areas and had no problem with sliding. Sure you can use chaines. I had them on my old JD 750. Worked great but they're a bear to remove and/or to put on the tractor. Each chain checks in at around 80#s.
I say buy the 4300 (or a 4400 same size the 4400 has a little more HP and weight).
If you can wait the new 4310/4410 should available before spring.
Deere is making some good inprovements. electric control for the HSTand more HP. or you could probably get a good deal on the 4300 after the 10s come out.

DPR

Boondox · Nov 10, 2001

DPR -- Gotta differ with you on the chains. New England snow is generally pretty wet and heavy, so late in the season we get a lot of ice. Ice on a hill without chains, well, might as well throw a tarp over it and wait for spring!

I use the gnarly Norse ice chains with the inch long spikes on my L3010. Absolutely love em, and with practice am able to mount them quite easily even though they weight in at 115# each. The trick is to make the tractor do the work for you.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

woodstock · Nov 10, 2001

Man, Pete
I thought we got snow in Winterpeg.
Forget the chains sell the tractor and move somewhere warm.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

2001 BX2200 (50 hrs)

Boondox · Nov 10, 2001

We use snow for FEL practice. It's an annual event.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

Alan L. · Nov 10, 2001

The 2710 compares more closely with the 4200, and is priced even less than that, and MUCH less than a 4300 I think.

Alan L., TX

tanuke01 · Nov 11, 2001

Pete
I would not let you in my driveway with 1" spikes. They did not teach my tractor how to put on chaines. 230# is a lot to pull around plus, you gotta store them in the summer time. Also what makes the spikes stay pointing down, it would seem the chains would roll and the spikes lay down. The last time I talked about chaines they were ask over $400 for 24".
What do you use to remove the ice?
DPR

Boondox · Nov 11, 2001

Tanuke01 -- The nearest paved road is half a mile downhill, and with the chains on I stay well away from the asphalt. The chains are arranged in a diamond pattern sort of like skidder chains, so the pointy parts always stay put. As for the weight, any additional weight in the winter is a good thing IMO. To mount the chains I lay them out in the driveway and have my wife back over them about 1/4 of the way. I pass a rope thru the rings on the front end and pass it over the tire, with me hanging onto the rope behind the tractor as my wife continues to back up. When the rings touch the ground I pass the leader from the other end of the chain through them and pull it tight before putting the shackles in place. Sounds very involved, but it takes about 10 minutes per tire. Until the snow flies, the chains help me with skidding logs (firewood) and do a good job of aerating the meadow. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I think I paid about $500 for the pair, but considering how much snow we get they were worth every penny.

Not sure what you mean about removing ice? You mean from the road and driveway? We call it spring thaw. Down in the valley they use salt, but none on the backroads like where we live. The ground is beginning to freeze now, and will thaw again in mid to late April. Till then we drive carefully, and downright defensively when we see an out of state plate.

I see you served in the Corps. Semper fi, brother. I was a corpsman with the Ninth and Second Marines back in the 70s. Best fighting force in the world!

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

tanuke01 · Nov 11, 2001

Thanks for the information. Sure glad we don't have you type of weather. I blow snow on a paved driveway and the trail is in good shape.
We sometimes get a very heavy wet snow, that if not removed can be 4" to 6" of pure ice when it get cold again, I thought that is what you are removing.

I was in the Marines late 50s. 1st and 3rd Air wings. We were ReCon but in the Air. Sounds Gun Ho but the planes took pictures and radars checks..We processed the film and data. I was in VMCJ-1 + VMCJ-3. Simple Fi. Happy birthday on the 10th USMC

sleepyhollow · Nov 12, 2001

Hi tanuke01,

Finally, someone with a JD 59" snowthrower!!! How do you like it? Any complaints?

Not too many people seem to own this attachment. I am waiting for the 4310 to come out before I buy, but the snowthrower is a must have for me. I have 600 feet of paved, flat and hilly driveway in Connecticut (wet and heavy snow). Would you recommend the blower on a 4300?

I'm interested to hear how it performs? If you have a heavy, wet snow, how far does yours throw? Have you broken any shear bolts? Has yours dented (I'm worried about the hump in the middle of the driveway). Does it do a better cleanup job than a plow? I don't know anyone with the 59" blower, so your input would be invaluable to me.

Thanks,
Jonathan

tanuke01 · Nov 12, 2001

I like the 59" snow blower. It depends on the wetness of the snow. We do not get the excesses that you do. It's sort of hard to explain how far ir throws the snow. It spreds the snow if it is dry and does not pile, from just out of the chute to 40 or 50 feet. when you have a foot of snow. when the snow is wet and heavy the distance is reduced. It is alway far enought that I've never moved it twice. The only thing that I dislike is that the angle (vertical) is manually controlled. If it is set on the high angle, all most stright up it will throw 10 to 12 feet up. At the lowest setting it will put the snow very close to the blower. At the high angle if the snow is light and the wind is blowing it hard to not be covered with snow. you must stop and reduced the angle. I'm talking only about the angle of the chute not the direction.

If you are blowing 24" of wet snow it will do the job, but it will not be at a fast speed. But I can keep moving. 2 passes and you have 10 feet cleared. Or take your time on the first pass the second only need 2 or 3 feet wide to be able to get you car through. The only time I broke a shear pin was when I picked up a rock. I clear about a mile of walking trail.
I started with this blower on a 4200. It worked but did not have the power needed. Had to go very slow.

Hope this helps if not let me I'll try to explain better.

DPR

Anonymous Poster · Nov 13, 2001

I have a 4300 and a fairly flat gravel drive. Works good for that except the one day it was glare ice for the entire length. Nothing could get up the slight grade including 4WD. Perhaps chains would help - my brother in law finds that they are great - but with the R4 tires, there is not much clearance between the wheels and the plastic fenders. MFWD is a must in any case.

sleepyhollow · Nov 13, 2001

Hi tanuke01,

Nice to hear good things about this blower. Sounds like you put your snowthrower through quite a workout with that trail.

Besides the performance, I was concerned about the over toughness and durability of the blower. My driveway has a hump down the middle of it and I'm concerned that it might deform the blower if it is not tough enough.

I'm also wondering about the drive for the snowthrower, I know it comes off the mid PTO, but after that, does it end up in a gearbox on the blower or does it use a chain drive? Is the auger gearbox cast iron or aluminum?

Deere is missing some of the important specs on it's website...

Thanks for your input, I think I feel a little better about spending the money

- Jonathan

tanuke01 · Nov 13, 2001

I don't know about a hump, the blower is very strong. Mine is only two years old still looks new. The is run off the mid PTO, there is a gear box added to the front of the tractor. A drive shaft goes from the mid-mount to the front gear box and one from the other side to the blower. The blower has a gear box. I think it is cast iron. No belts.

sleepyhollow · Nov 13, 2001

That's exactly what I wanted to hear! I was worried they might have used a roller chain as part of the speed reduction for the blower.

So there is drive shaft from the mid PTO to a gearbox on the front of the tractor? This gearbox then connects to the blower which has another gearbox for auger speed reduction? Just wanted make sure I understood that right...