Re: Kubota L2900
Forgive the lengthy reply.....I'm new to this, right in the middle of buying, and all this stuff is buzzing around in my head. Tnzsmith2, that's not too bad, depending on condition, if it's what I think it is (flat deck "grand L" type). I've been all over the US and Canada, electronically, searching for pricing info among dealers. I'm in Maine, looking at '96 L2900DT with FST (fully synchro trans), R1 (std bar type ag tires), an LA480 loader with HD (round back) bucket, and 157 hours for $13,900 - negotiable. I asked for and was quoted a price of $17,590 (rebate subtracted) for a new L3010FST with Ag tires, by way of trying to get a new comparable price (dealer sez the 3010 is roughly the next generation of the 2900 - true?). There are no attachments included in the price, although a 48" rake, a 48" bush hog, and a 60" rear mount finish mower were turned in with it.
The dealer let me take it under cover (raining), and I looked at it for a couple hours top to bottom (including much staring/drooling time), trying to pick up a little idea of the use it has had in its short life. I'm used to 50 year old tractors, so I took the side covers and grille off and looked for accumulated junk, leaks, bad electrical connections, and damage. It had a bent right front tie rod, plugged right front tire, and a rear tail light assembly knocked off, but other than slightly faded paint (dealer told me up front it was left outside), it's really clean. The Bush hog was mounted on it, so I got to play with the PTO controls and see how they worked and how the 'hog turned and sounded (good).
I spent a little time examining the attachments for clues, because the things I found made me wonder if it had been abused (more like carelessness, I think). The rake had taken a good hit - it was a light duty model, looked like it had hooked a stump or something, and had a bent frame with tines missing. The finish mower was just kind of dirty - wheels jammed up with long grass, PTO guards scored from some sort of contact, etc. Surprisingly, the 'hog was cleaner than all else. I figured they either didn't use it much or just got it.
The bucket is starting to show edge wear just inside the corners, no bends or dents anywhere else. I was wondering if that was because it was used to scrape snow on an asphalt/concrete driveway, and plan to ask. There were no dents or damage to the loader arms. The tubular front attachment point of the loader frame appears to be bent down slightly on the left side. There is a 6-8" wide, fairly thick steel bracket that extends out from under the tubular mount, and curls slightly up; it looks like a place to hang the front of some attachment, or maybe clamp on some weights; it is also bent down a little. It looks like a perfect point to chain down a tractor for transport. I was wondering if that might be how the mount got bent. I plan to ask about this, too. The loader was square with the tractor, and the bucket was level with the concrete floor of the shed, so it didn't seem to be a big deal.
The tractor was turned in on consignment at a reputable dealer - and was used by homeowners (clumsy ones, I guess). They bought it new at another dealer in NH (no sales tax), and had it serviced at 50 hours, and again last year. My dealer charges around $400 for a complete service, which he explained meant changing all fluids and filters/strainers, greasing, and checking/testing everything for proper operation (two hour job, he mentioned). I asked for and recieved parts prices for all the things I thought might need repair or replacement. Had I not known the service history, I was considering a complete service.
I learned a ton by getting the tractor in a comfortable place and then being left alone with it (My wife nearly considers that a breach of our marriage vows) with time to think. I think I am committed to this dealer, because of the way he treated me, and the honesty with which he answered my questions (even told me he was getting 10% of the sale). I couldn't have paid for a better education in that short time (I've paid for much worse).
So, why haven't I bought it? Well, while I was looking at it, the sales rep wandered in and poined out a 2000 L3710HST he had for $17,900. It has a Curtis cab (soft doors), R4 tires, 307 hours, and is still under factory warranty until March 2003. I checked his skull for horns under the hair.......now I'm in this wicked "eenie-meenie-minee-moe" mode (did I spell minee right?).
Sorry again for the volume - I just thought I'd get that all in here in case it helps you or anyone else. I'm looking to haul firewood, maintain woods roads, and do some personal landscaping. I explain to my in-town friends who ask why I want a 30+ hp class diesel for 4 acres (my neighbor has 50, plus a 25 acre woodlot a mile away which we are cutting for yearly firewood, but they don't care), that this will be my "Harley". It works!
I would greatly appreciate any and all comment along with tnzsmith2, about
L2900's
Thanks,
Mark
