Kubota (Zen Noh) GL-21 Info

[PAB_OH]

I'm getting ready to pick up a GL-21 this week from a local importer. I posted down in the Grey Market forum and was told I might want to move it up here as the grey K's are the redheaded stepchildren of the grey world. So here I am.

For those of you who haven't seen any of my posts down in the grey forums I basically have been looking for a good, reliable, AFFORDABLE, FIRST tractor. I know price isn't everything but I can tell you it has rapidly become very important to me lately. Anyway, I started looking at JD & NH, for about 2 minutes. Then looked at Kioti, Mahindra, and Branson (all three have dealers within 25 minutes of me). After I realized a new tractor wasn't in my immediate future I started looking at greys.

Initially I was all wound up about the Yanmars (still am really) but I used a friends Iseki for 3 weeks to do emergency repairs on my driveway (1300+ feet) and really liked it. I started looking at just about everything and found an Iseki TA262F up near Cleveland and went to test drive it. While I was there I drove a Hinomoto N209 and a Kubota (Zen Noh) GL-21.

Needless to say I finally settled on the Kubota and now I'd like to get to making it mine. The most important thing I would like to know is what, if any, US model(s) does this tractor cross to? I want to get a parts manual for both the GL-21 and whatever it crosses to (if any).

I'm also wondering about the ability to put newer wheels and tires on it (R-4's, maybe R-3's) and also a ROPS. I was tipped off by a fellow TBN'er about a new Kubota ROPS up on ebay and some of the models listed that it was for are some that I think this might cross over to.

Please, if anyone has any info about this model or the GL series in general please let me know.

Thanks in advance for all the help. This site has been a huge source of info for me and I'm looking forward to finally getting my trractor home and putting it to work.

 

[Timmmmah]

boy that looks a lot like my Grand L tractor... whats the HP on it? 21?

 

[PAB_OH]

21 on the PTO as I understand it. Probably close to 25 at the flywheel.

It actually says "Grandel" (variation of Grand L?) on the side of the hood. Also the GL in the model name (GL-21), could it be that is referrence to Grand L? I'm hoping it crosses with something domestic pretty close. The only thing that bothers me is that it is Shuttle Shift. Do any of the mid-eighties to mid-nineties domestic Kubota's have shuttle shift? The tranny, if it's different than US Kubota's, might be hard to get parts for.

 

[Michaelg]

Hi Phil,

Can you tell us what engine it has, maybe I can check the closest US model. If not mistaken there is not a direct cross over model from GL-21 to US model. This model comes from the Kubota Grand L series and surely US model Rops could fit on your machine. It is a very good machine, which from my experience is not commonly imported in the States or Canada.

I will also try to post some pictures of ROPS mounting connections on a GL-27 tractor.

regards /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Michaelg

 

[Michaelg]

photo showing mounting RHS - front view

 

[Michaelg]

mounting lhs - front

 

[Michaelg]

rear view LHS

 

[Michaelg]

finally
side view - lhs (mounting bolts easily seen)

 

[PAB_OH]

Excellent. Thank you. I contacted Western Kentucky Tractor Parts and they said they think they might have some ROPS off US tractors that will fit on this model. I'm worried about price though.

Also, I emailed McGrew about the ROPS on eBay but I think shipping would be a killer. Basically shipping is about what I expected to pay for the whole shabang. Reality check for me that's for sure! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I might have to break out the CAD software and get to designing one for my specific model.

I forgot to add....
I will get the engine model ASAP and post back here.

 

[PAB_OH]

Well WKTP doesn't have a folding ROPS on yard right now and the one in PA isn't either. Back to searching I guess. I need to be able to fit this thing in my garage.

Should be picking it up today. I'll post pictures and the engine model tonight.