L2800-L3400 PTO Making the right choice

[swampvol]

This thread warrants a 'Sticky'.

 

[Marcussen]

It appears that my tractor has the new style PTO but I still have some comments, like many of you here I don't concider the $16000 plus I paid for the equipment in my signature to be economy. I was warned by a Branson tractor dealer to stay away from the economy Kubota L series tractors, but at time he was trying to sell me a Branson tractor (he said they was overpowered for the frame.)
My wife and both my daughters will be using this tractor and I can't rely on them to follow special procedure to engage or disengage the PTO.
My daughter sheared the pin going to my rotary mower when the tractor had 12hours on it. She was using my Ford 8N, she brought it back and said " I broke it" and loaded the new tractor on the trailer and left two hours later she calls and said she broke the new tractor too,
The tractor has been stalled our several times while mowing hitting dirt piles. No damage to the PTO so far.

 

[Chris2]

I also have a L2800 HST that has made that horrible ratcheting sound since I bought it new in MAY 2005 from Lower Power Equipment in LA. The first time I used the tractor I asked my dealer about the ratcheting and he said to do as most of you do, press the clutch and disengage the PTO at the same time. After reading this I went back to my dealer and asked about the recall, he said that my tractor already had the new and bigger ORC installed before I bought it. I wish they would have told me that before I spent $16,000. I am considering a trade in (DIFERINT COLER) after my warranty runs out, it is a 4X4 maybe it will make a good hunting vehicle or ATV after the PTO breaks.

 

[8226hamer]

It appears that my tractor has the new style PTO but I still have some comments, like many of you here I don't concider the $16000 plus I paid for the equipment in my signature to be economy. I was warned by a Branson tractor dealer to stay away from the economy Kubota L series tractors, but at time he was trying to sell me a Branson tractor (he said they was overpowered for the frame.)
My wife and both my daughters will be using this tractor and I can't rely on them to follow special procedure to engage or disengage the PTO.
My daughter sheared the pin going to my rotary mower when the tractor had 12hours on it. She was using my Ford 8N, she brought it back and said " I broke it" and loaded the new tractor on the trailer and left two hours later she calls and said she broke the new tractor too,
The tractor has been stalled our several times while mowing hitting dirt piles. No damage to the PTO so far.

Since yours is a newer model tractor with the one way PTO locking cam system hopefully you will not have any problems. Time will tell I suspose.
I would love to see a picture of this new system and see for myself what has been changed and how this system does away with the implement overrunning the transmission during a decrease in engine RPMs.

 

[8226hamer]

I'm just wondering how long it would take the PTO to fail if it was disengaged the way the manual says. The manual says to press the clutch and then disengage the PTO lever. If I do this, I will get the dreaded racheting every time and the racheting is one of the main factors that cause failure. Most of us can get around the racheting by pressing the clutch and disengaging the PTO lever in one swift motion.

It just so happens that my wife wanted to learn how to mow the grass last week. I explained the process of disengaging the PTO if she had to, but I just don't trust her ability to do so. Like some women, she has the coordination of a 2 year old and I had to tell her to not disengage the PTO unless she absolutely had too, and to yell for me when she needed to disengage.

I myself, elected to tape the PTO safety lever under the seat in the down position, to avoid the racheting. I often jump off the tractor real quick while mowing to move something and I usually forget about the PTO shutting down if I get off the seat -which caused the damaging "wheel o fortune" sound. I know, probably not safe, but I am an adult, and I feel this was necessary to insure absolutely no racheting.

I think all of us 2800/3400 owners who have the old system, should keep this thread going indefinately until someone takes notice. I'm just wondering how many units are out there with the old system. I would guess it is several thousand.

Your last paragraph got me thinking about how many people have one of these tractors with the old style PTO system. Was 2005 the first year that Kubota offered the L2800-3400 with a HST transmission that incorperates this type of PTO system. And also when did they completly do away with the two way locking cams.

 

[8226hamer]

I did a little over the phone price checking this morning. I have three Kubota dealers within 30 mile of me. I called the two that I'm am not involed with in this situation. I asked the first one for a price on a B3039 With FEL and R-4 tires. 18,000.00$ was his price. I then called the other dealer and ask about a L2800 with FEL and R-4 tires. His quoted price was $16,350.00, making the difference of $1,650.00. This price is lower than the price I was willing to pay and thought was fair. I know dealers have different prices for different location, but I think this price difference will be close to the same wherever you live.
I think a call to Kubota requesting to talk to the distric sales manager that made me the offer is in order and to thank him for his very generous offer.( my weak attempt at humor in this situation). It ticks me off that he has to relay information to my dealer salesman and then the salesman relays it to. Then I do the same thing and have to wait for an answer. It's not like he doesn't have my phone number and e-mail address. I think I hear a squeaky wheel needing greased.

 

[MDM]

Your last paragraph got me thinking about how many people have one of these tractors with the old style PTO system. Was 2005 the first year that Kubota offered the L2800-3400 with a HST transmission that incorperates this type of PTO system. And also when did they completly do away with the two way locking cams.

From what I gather from the parts manual, any serial number under 57744 has the old system. So whenever they started the serial numbers up to 57744 would be how many L2800 HST units have the old system. That is not counting the 3400 HST. My serial number is in the 54000 range,so there are atleast 3000 units for the 2800 HST if I am figuring right. I could be wrong in how I am interpreting the numbers though. Who knows how Kubota dishes out serial numbers between the geared and HST version.

All in all, I would say the numbers are definately in the thousands if you include the 3400 maybe more.

 

[Marcussen]

Good Luck 8226hamer, I would also like to know how the PTO changes works on my tractor and how it will hold up.

 

[Scott in IN]

My 3400 clicks when running my rotary cutter and my serial number is in the 54,000 range. I always start the PTO with the tractor at idle and then throttle up, to disengage I try and decrease the throttle down to idle to keep it from clicking. If it starts to click I'll mash the clutch and throw the PTO lever. Man, I hope this doesn't become an issue. I researched the Kubota line a lot before I bought my tractor (which is worth way more than my car).

Geez, I'm going to call the local dealer here in a few. Which may be a another issue as I bought mine used to save a few thousand dollars but is should still be under warranty right?

 

[Marcussen]

The warranty is 2 years with 3 year powertrain.