L3130 HST

icat · Jun 8, 2003

( To bad the good ole USA can't make them as good as the Land of the Rising Sun. )

I don't think it's a question of if we can build them beter, but rather the fact that they can build them less expensively. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

As for L3130 HST power, I agree with Bird and others. We're using the HST incorrectly. Notice I said "we" - that's because I thought the same thing the first time I drove mine. Luckily I figured out what I was doing wrong that first day - HST pedal ain't a gas pedal. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But man, that baby will fly in high. Scares the be-ge-bees out of me everytime I get above 7 or 8 mph. You speed guys must be young or something - I for one don't have a death wish! Medium is PLENTY fast enough for me! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

CTyler · Jun 8, 2003

I agree with upgw more horsepower would be nice. Can you program/tweak the computer on these?? With that said I can still spin the tires in 4wd digging but you need to feather the HST a bit.
Is that underpowered?

JATO_RaT · Jun 9, 2003

The engine uses conventional injection componets and does not utilize computer assited injection. The L3130 is a dynamite little tractor, really has a lot going for it. While the engine may not have as much HP as some folks may desire, the alternative is to buy a larger HP one for more cost. Given the power restraints of any tractor made, how you use it makes all the difference. How quickly you can do it will also be an issue. As mentioned, I was already to get a L3130 HST but was told to consider a L3830 HST since my experience was with a much larger compact tractor. Having used the L3830 now for about 50 hours, I can tell you that for my needs, I'm pretty sure the L3130 HST or L3430 HST would have worked perfectly. Sure, some of the mowing up the hills might have been at a cost of .5 to 1 mph in travel speed, but I could deal with that. With a LA 723 loader, the L3130 is really an ideal "little" tractor that should compete very well with the competition. If the engine and HST are any thing like my L3830, it's going to be a fantastic tractor for many folks. Just remember that high range is not going to be used for much more then traveling use. Rat

icat · Jun 9, 2003

RaT,
Should tractors be left in 4WD all the time? Is there a wear issue involved when doing so? Any advantages when using 2WD setting? Should this be a seperate thread? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

CTyler · Jun 9, 2003

( The engine uses conventional injection componets and does not utilize computer assited injection. )

Hmmm...Where's that propane bottle at?

Seriously the power seems to be adequate. A few more would be nice but I'm happy with the tractor.

JATO_RaT · Jun 9, 2003

I always left my L48 in 4WD, I use 4WD about 50% of the time with my L3830. I've never been concerned about wear other then on a hard surface like asphalt or concrete, on dirt or grass, it should not be an issue. There are a few other advantages to leaving your tractor out of 4WD besides the obvious turning issue on a hard surface. On my Harley landscape rake, if I accidentally get the 8' rake caught on a rock or tree, particularly toward the outside, I'm more likely to spin a rear wheel then bend a hydraulic ram (happened twice in 4WD). Rat....

icat · Jun 9, 2003

Thanks Rat.

As for power, I haven't found anything the tractor will not do - so I guess I'll assume it will do everything until proven otherwise! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

buck1 · Jun 9, 2003

This is a tractor, not a race car. It's responding like a hydro should so don't fret it. I think Bird describes how the hydro is not a "true" accelerator pedal in its purest sense. You have a nice tractor for a lot less than you can buy a new corvette /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tractorman13 · Jun 9, 2003

One way that I have found to gain some HP when really working it hard is to run a hose (I used some automotive vent tube) which slips on the the bottom of the airbox out the side panel of the tractor,when the tractor is working hard where they have the air box the fan is pulling lots of dirt and warm air,I have noticed a big HP gain and my aircleaners dont get dirty very often.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 16, 2003

I just picked up my 3130 hst yesterday and have 5hrs on it. In that 5 hrs I have dug up an 18" stump ( I had to carry it to the burn pile with the backhoe, the rootball wouldn't fit in the loader bucket), dug a 10'x10'x3' "test hole" with the back hoe, mowed about a half acre of waist high pasture with the 72" rotary cutter, I wasted about an hour showboating around my pasture knocking down old mole hills with the loader, and destroyed and recovered my pothole laden driveway, it's only about 60' long. Taking into account that this was accomplished with a "Rookie,Greenhorn,Hack, etc..." operator /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I am mighty impressed with the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I only had three concerns, First I had to mow pretty slowly because I couldn't get the pto up to 540rpms, I mowed at 1800-2000rpm engine speed, that only gave me about 370-400 pto rpm. I can't wait to get past 50 hrs so I can use all the power that is available to me. Second the BH 90 digs great for the first couple feet but when I run into the rock filled clay layer below that, it had some trouble. I have a 24" bucket and I am still limited to lower rpms, so I am hoping for better performance once the unit is broken in and I pick up a 12" bucket. Third Kubota really screwed up when they put the steering brakes on the same side as the hst pedal. I didn't think it would be a concern but when you are cutting into hard dirt with the FEL and get the steer tires into the air it sure would be nice to have the steering brakes available to the average Joe. You'd have to be some kind of Michael Flatley "Lord of the Dance" Irishman to operate the steering brakes and the hst pedal at the same time! I guess that's why they make boxblades? Anyways I really like the L3130, I think it offers the most bang for the buck in it's class. Where can I pick up a 12" bucket for the bh90? Dealer wants $540.00 for theirs, I'm thinking that's a tad high.