Kubota b2910 v Deere 4210

jfdlaw · Jan 30, 2004

I'm planning on purchasing a CUT in the next month and considering models from the big three. I think parts and service from the others would be hard to find here in western NY. Anyway, in comparing the B2910 and the 4210 I note the Kubota weighs about 1600 lbs, the Deere weighs about 2400. Both seem to have similar engines and dimensions. Any idea why the difference in weight?
I live on 13 very hilly acres and will be using the tractor for light landscaping, snow removal, trail maintenance. I'm thinking of a 30 horsepower with FEL, boxscraper and front snowblower. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Thanks for your input.
I'm new to tractors. A buddy loaned me his Deere 4200 with FEL and backhoe last fall (but I have to give it back to him this spring) and this is my only experience operating a tractor.

Inspector507 · Jan 30, 2004

jfdlaw,
I can't help you with the tractor comparisons, but I wanted to welcome you to TBN. A great group of people here and they'll offer all kinds of advice/opinions.

fishman · Jan 30, 2004

If you compare the Kubota 3130 vs the Deer 4210, you will have a much more valid comparison. I purchased the 2910 because it was a lot of horsepower in a smaller, lighter frame. This was important for my needs as I perceived them at the time.

I'm also not sure that the weights are comparable between manufacturers. This has come up before many times and that is how I remember it. Some weights are dry, others with fluids, and still others without wheels! Don't forget that a FEL, box blade, toothbar, and loaded tires can increase the weight of a tractor considerably.

My theory was that I could always add weight, but I couldn't subtract it. In retrospect, that's true, but there is no substitute for weight if you are moving dirt.

If you look at my profile, you'll see that I have 10 hilly acres, and I'm doing the same things as you (except snow removal /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif). My 2910 is really great and I'm very happy with it.

jfdlaw · Jan 30, 2004

Thanks,
I've been leaning towards the B2910, but every once in a while someone mentions "light duty" with the b series and it makes me wonder.

Bird · Jan 30, 2004

Like fishman said, this topic has come up several times, and supposedly (or perhaps) the Kubota weights are the shipping weights. They arrive at the dealer in a crate without tires and wheels and the weight may vary some depending on which kind of tires you get. However, I never got around to weighing either of my Kubotas and don't recall any other of our members weighing theirs, so I can't say whether you're comparing apples to apples or not. As for the "light duty" comment, in my opinion, I don't think either of the tractors you're considering would be considered any heavier duty than the other. They're both good.

JDgreen227 · Jan 30, 2004

Welcome to TBN, you came to the right place for answers.

I was unaware of the weight difference between the two models as I didn't seriously consider a Kubota--they have few dealers in my area, but JD stores are all over. I've been happy with my 4210, it's a good compromise between size, weight, and power, it's heavy enough for dirt moving and I always run out of traction before power.

While it's true that you can always add WEIGHT to a tractor with loaded tires, attachments, wheel weights, etc. adding more POWER to move that weight isn't always practical.

If I were to choose between a larger, heavier tractor and a smaller, less powerful one burdened with extra weight to get the job done, I would pick the larger one. Only rarely have I read a post on TBN where someone admitted they oversized their machine.

I don't do serious dirt work nor have any hills on my property so my JD does the job, but if I had, as you put it: "very hilly 13 acres needing trail maintenance", I would have considered a larger tractor. May I suggest you do the same?

del · Jan 30, 2004

Actually Kubota has abandoned that weight/power ratio tractor.
The old 3010 was pretty close, actually an old L2810 would
be right on the money (no such tractor).

The 3130 is I think 800 pounds heavier and has a much longer
wheelbase. I notice that my 4210 (65"WB) doesn't seem to
turn like my 63"WB Ford it is replacing (or half replacing).
My bigger Kubota has a 67" wheelbase and seems to gobble up
land in a turn.

Some of that is due to the fact that bigger wheelbase tractors,
heavier tractors sometimes get bigger loaders put on them
which stick out even farther.

I would have looked at getting another Kubota instead of the
Deere, but I had a smaller Kubota and I couldn't get used
to the go-pedal at all./forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I rented one a little smaller but found the 4210 was just the
right weight to use on my rough ground without literally
throwing me around, which my much smaller Kubota was doing.
That and that go-pedal made my ankle compete with my back to
see who could generate the most discomfort in the least amount
of time.

I was looking at total weight, what the tractor will weigh
ballasted for loader work if necessary and with implements.
I still want to mow with it and not compact the ground if
possible. The deere comes right out of the box with a loader
bucket that literally pops off in seconds so you can decrease
the length immediately or throw on forks or a blade etc etc.
Having not enough weight just leaves you spinning the tires.
Kind of the reverse of what you want in a car!

The 4210 has about 10% more hp than the 4200. You can put
tall AGs on it if you want, I prefer the lower R4s. I too
have property that has hills and although neither may affect
the tipping, I have an overall "feeling" of tipping the
higher I am.

The seat and loader control and steering are the most comfortable/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
set up of all my tractors for long hour use. A couple things
I do hate about it, the starter switch is impossible to see
so I always put the key in before getting on the tractor.

The most critical defect, which I will alter one way or another
is the same problem I had on my small Kubota (but not the
larger Kubota or my 20 years old Ford); the freakin' seatbelt.

Deere spends a lot of time with huge warnings in the owners
manual about every gol danged thing you could ever injure
yourself doing and adds: Before doing whatever...

Put the implements down
Put Parking Brake On
Turn Engine Off
Take Out Key
(I keep waiting to read, THROW THE KEY INTO THE BUSHES
SO THE TRACTOR CAN'T BE STARTED BY KIDS, ESCAPED CONVICTS,
JEALOUS NEIGHBORS, FEUDING INLAWS /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

Anyway with all that the tractor has the stupidest seat
belt you could possible design.

It is ALWAYS falling down under/beside the seat, if you
manage to fish it out without standing up, you run it over
to latch it and this limp-as-a-noodle-receiver flops all
over everywhere except where you need it to be. Every time
I get off the tractor the work gloves have to come off so
I can goof with the belt. DUH /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Sure it can be used as is, but why discourage use
of something SO critical on a ROPS equipped tractor
by not making sure it actually is useable?

As I said the one on by little Kubota was the same way, falling
below the seat, but at least the receiver was accessible.

I've driven my tractors up on stumps/rocks/logs /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifetc and into
holes so I know how fast you can have the begezzus scared out
of you and the importance of having your butt belted, but to
have seatbelt that is such a joke is beyond me.

Maybe Deere should spend hire another engineer and
lay off an attorney./forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It's so weird to have something so frustrating with an otherwise
superb machine. You'd think the complaints would be engine/trans/
loader/controls/ etc. something major. A seatbelt I can fix.

I also have the various skidplates that you can get in the
Armor Kit and the Rental Upgrade Kit. In looking at tractors
at numerous dealers I found 3 tractors 4210 or 4310 that had
underside guts ripped out by not having these shields.
None of the dealers I visited even knew these parts existed.

I also added the Kick-**** hood protector. Now when
I'm at a Kubota dealer looking around and a salesman starts
there often heard "Oh those Deere's with their plastic
bodies" I reply" "I was going to get a Kubota but the
hoods are only 1/8" metal. My Deere has 1/4-3/8" over
the engine.../forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

The MotionMatch option ($50?) is another favorite. If you
are operating with a high throttle, you have the option of
having the tractor stop and go RIGHT NOW or with a subdued
engagement. I never could get my Kubota to stop and start
without jerking my spine around. I'm sure I would have
mastered it eventually but I like pushing a button and
instantly being comfortable. I also like the LOADMATCH
option. It helps in using the loader for the first few
times after I've been using the Kubota, before I remember
"IT'S AN HST YOU IDIOT" so I don't look like a goofball
scooping one shovel of dirt /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gifand carrying it around.

And I would strongly recommend the HST. My bigger tractor has
a semi-automatic transmission, no clutch needed ever if you
don't want and you can go from 1st to 8th without stopping.
On that tractor I love it. On my "clean-up-the-mess" JD I
find the HST just perfect. The ease at which you can get
it around in tight places will surprise you. And if you
are working near something you don't want to bump it is
a very exacting method of placing the tractor where you
want it, far enough but not too far.

If you have any other questions you can also zap me a private
email through TBN if you don't want to just ask on the forum.
I have a Ford (NH), JD and Kubota and am color-blind and think
I can give you an answer without a brand prejudice. Lots of
opinions though! I can't buy anymore brands of tractors
as there are no more letters in my name to color.../forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifDE L/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ronjhall · Jan 31, 2004

jfdlaw

The B2910 without tires weighs 1763 lbs.

When I visit the JD dealer I check out the tractors they have on the floor. I do the same at the Kubota dealer. The 4210 seems to be a larger tractor than my B2910. The dimensions for both models appear to be the similar. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
It would be interesting to see the 2 tractors setting next to each other. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

rockyridgefarm · Jan 31, 2004

Can you believe del's whining about the kubota go pedal?!!! I thought there sure are a some people who will pick on ANYTHING when i heard similar remarks before.

Recently I got to use a 3430 with the much revered boomarang pedal. Are you people NUTS? That thing is Terrible!!!!

But, the first time a new user drives mine, they are likely to cream something. But, now that I am used to it, no one can take it from me.

The eControls an the Deeres are more awsome the more I live with them (btw, del, motionmatch loadmatch and cruise are all standard no cost features) They are things that you have to live with to realize the thinking behind them

These are all great tractors. One will fit you well, and with a good dealer, you won't go wrong.

DAP · Jan 31, 2004

You've run smack dab into the orange and green anomoly. IMO, the 4210 falls squarely between the B2710/B2910/B7800 and the L3010 series with respect to Gross engine HP. 4210=28, B2910/B7800=30, L3010=32. The B2710 sticks its nose in there at 27hp. I've tended to make the B2710 - 4210 comparison most often, having driven both of them a few times. These two machines may spec out differently, but to me they both feel pretty equal under loads, etc. I think the 4310 matches up better to the L3010.

If ya throw NH into the mix, you're lookin at a TC29 - TC30 - TC33 family that is close to the 4210 or the 4310.

As previously posted, machine weights are a dicey comparison between these models. I'm still not clear on exactly what the weight representations are from the various machines. You won't find an exact match to the 4210 . Kinda like up a notch or down a notch kinda thing IMO.