Kubota cab roof-unimpressive

[DiezNutz]

Lets not forget kubotas legacy. Their claim to fame from day 1, was a lightweight grounds maintenance machine, they built and expanded from there. If big bulk weight in iron is what you desire, kubota is not the machine for you.

Good post, and btw nice to see you. I went on hiatus for quite a while and was beginning to think hardly anyone I interacted with from the 'old days' was still around.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems quieter here now than it was back then...

/hijack

 

[lawn_king]

Thank you, its good to be seen, welcome back! Same gang around here with some new folks as well. TBN has great members, almost everyone is polite and respectful, not many websites are so user friendly.

 

[TripleR]

Lets not forget kubotas legacy. Their claim to fame from day 1, was a lightweight grounds maintenance machine, they built and expanded from there. If big bulk weight in iron is what you desire, kubota is not the machine for you.

That is pretty much the way it stands now and if I was going for something for true Ag work, it would be a John Deere.

I don't know how long this will be completely true as Kubota now has a 135 HP machine out and it looks pretty good. I doubt they will ever be able to compete in the big tractor market, but it seems like they are moving up in power and focus to some extent.

 

[Builder]

That is pretty much the way it stands now and if I was going for something for true Ag work, it would be a John Deere.

I don't know how long this will be completely true as Kubota now has a 135 HP machine out and it looks pretty good. I doubt they will ever be able to compete in the big tractor market, but it seems like they are moving up in power and focus to some extent.

My businesses are diversifying and things always seem to be changing. I do agree Kubotas are built lighter. Mine is no exception. I'm actually getting into more of an estate/farm maitenance & improvement type business while my construction business keeps on ticking along. I'm actually preparing an estimate to cut miles of pipeline right of way while building barns, etc.

Kubota is moving into bigger ag machines, but even they are lighter than their competition.

 

[lawn_king]

Kubotas power plant built into a lightweight machine is the primary reason i use them. No other tractor manufacturer can match my 3540 power to pound! I can work on pristine grass all day long without leaving a footprint! It also makes for better fuel mileage and its easier to trailer from job to job. My machine travels every week, sometimes 4 different sites in 7 days!

 

[JDGreenGrass]

This stuff is really out of my league BUT, isn't weight the main component in transferring HP to the ground.??....Therefore, with the lighter weights, the full HP of these "light" machines is never realized.??

I feel my JD770 has great weight/HP (nearly 4,000lbs. with the loader, 24hp) but, I do see that the Deere weights have decreased over the years.

I guess my point is that weight is a critical spec when shopping for HP.

Correct.??

 

[TripleR]

This stuff is really out of my league BUT, isn't weight the main component in transferring HP to the ground.??....Therefore, with the lighter weights, the full HP of these "light" machines is never realized.??

I feel my JD770 has great weight/HP (nearly 4,000lbs. with the loader, 24hp) but, I do see that the Deere weights have decreased over the years.

I guess my point is that weight is a critical spec when shopping for HP.

Correct.??

Probably out of my league too, but that has never stopped me before. There are all kinds of formulas for this sort of thing when you are talking about Ag or ground engagement work. There is even an "ideal wheel slip" so you know you are getting the maximum benefit on traction/HP/work.

I don't farm any more, so I quit paying attention to all of this.

Someone else made a comment on another thread to the effect that you can add weight, but you can't take it away. If I need weight on one of my tractors there are weights for the front as well as rear wheels.

As an aside, I find it interesting how many different people equate weight to the quality or usefulness of a tractor. My father in law bought a ginormous bench vise from Harbor Freight and bragged how big, heavy and strong it was. I quickly broke it straightening out a bent top link. I replaced it with a much lighter, somewhat smaller vise that is still in use today.

I guess I am trying to say weight may or may not be a factor when shopping for a tractor, but it is going to depend on a lot of factors as to how much if any importance someone places on it or if it is indeed an indicator of better quality.

Of course I may be way off base here as I don't farm or make my living with tractors and Vo Ag classes are but a distant memory.

 

[Grandad4]

Probably out of my league too, but that has never stopped me before. ...

As an aside, I find it interesting how many different people equate weight to the quality or usefulness of a tractor. ...

or if it is indeed an indicator of better quality.
QUOTE]

Definitely this is out of my league, but I think big and heavy vehicles are a part of the American character. Think of a 1950's American auto vs what was being made in Europe or anywhere else. I can remember my parents generation admiring a Buick or a Packard because they were heavy and would "hold the road better" than the lighter Plymouths, Chevies, etc.

Ag tractors have run up and down the weight scale since their inception. The original steam tractors weighed 20,000 - 30,000 lbs, and were replaced by the Waterloo Boy and the Fordson, among others, that weighed but a fraction as much. Now big ag operations use machines that weigh as much or more than the original puffer bellies, with far more power.

When imported equipment began selling here in the '60's and '70's, it was pretty easy to call them flimsy lightweights vs conventional American iron. Yet they filled a need and gained ground in the market, so something must have been fundamentally right about their designs.

Will be interesting to see how far big K goes into the serious Ag market. I expect it will be based on global opportunity, not just here in the US. I also respect their taking the long term view of success, not just making a quick buck for investors in the short term.

But I'm rambling. What do I know anyhow?

 

[TripleR]

Grandad4, Interesting post and pretty much on point.

I raised the question about the future of Kubota on another thread as I saw some good sized tractors on a lot in the 135 HP range. When I go down to the barn and look at one of those 325 HP tractors, I gotta admit, they have a long way to go and the 325's aren't even the big John Deeres.

It will be interesting to see as we all benefit from competition in the long run.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Kubota has been in the 100+ PTO market for awhile. The M120 and such are 10+ years old. What they don't have is closed center hydraulic systems, CVT trans, and big AG features like we get from CNH, Deere, Agco, etc. If you want to pull a brush hog, do loader work, etc there are very good Kubota's for that task. They are not heavy tillage tractors.