L3130 upgrade to LA723

[Ben3130]

The increased range of bucket motion is something I am very interested in. With the LA513 lowered to the ground and curled all the way, it's hard to fill the bucket with gravel without it spilling out the bottom (or having to raise the bucket). It doesn't seem like a lot on paper, but the higher curl angle of the LA723 does make a difference. The four point linkage of the 723 is a nice feature, I see it as an advantage whenever you're trying to scoop up loose material, which I do all the time.

That being said, the LA513 does a great job. My only advice to anyone trying to choose between the LA513 and LA723 loader on a L3130 is don't worry about the 723 being too big for it. The 3130 may be the smallest of the Grand L line, but it is plenty stout for the LA723 (especially if you went with the R4 tires). Don't make the mistake I made and assume the smaller loader was the better fit for the smaller tractor. Either loader compliments the 3130 extremely well, so choose the loader that fits your work and you'll be happy.

 

[kubotabilly]

Ben,
When I ordered my L3430HSTC I ordered it with the 513 loader to save some money (about $500) . A year later I got with my dealer and upgraded to the 713 because I just wasn't happy with the lifting capacity and the curl capacity of the 513. Because the price of steel had gone nuts it cost me $900 for the upgrade. The only difference between the two loaders is the diameter of the cylinders, they are larger on the 713, hence the greater lifting capacity. All I changed was the arms, everything else was the same. To a person that never had a loader before the 513 would be great, you wouldn't know the difference. I should have known better, but I just wrote it off as one of lifes little mistakes. To be truthful, I don't even know why Kubota makes the 513 .

 

[art]

Unless you can get your used loader on Craigslist and find some who really wants a loader for their loaderless tractor, I think your going to find it difficult to make much economic sense out of it. I am not sure why Kubota makes the two loaders since their initial cost is not that different. I think the biggest reason to have the LA 723 is not even the weight lifting as much as the bucket dump/rollback angle. The LA 723 uses a compound setup versus the LA 513's single pivot. Good luck should you decide to upgrade.

I think you are right on selling it, when over 3/4's of new ones sold have loaders on them. I think it would be tough to find the right customer to buy a new tractor and a used loader if you thought about doing that.

Not for nothing but hind sight is twenty-twenty, go to your dealer and drive a 3240 with a 724 loader on and see what you think of the operation of it. Empty to empty counts the same as full to a degree! You can't tell me the spec's are right for the loader weight at 970 for both loaders with the frame differences one or the other is wrong.

Lower weight and closer to the tractor means less rear ballast needed for proper balance. Depending on the loads you carry in the bucket and how easy it comes out of the bucket might make a difference in performance of the two loaders. Dump heights are the same so there is no plus there so one for the 513! Q-tach attachments are available for both.

To compare the two there are some things that might matter more depending on your uses but other wise they both can do the job. The simplist way would be to just trade your tractor and loader in for the new one with the larger loader if you feel the need.

 

[Casey1]

The only upside to the 513 is the initial cost. Their empty weight is close to the same and the 3130 can handle plenty anyway. If you have a full heaping bucket of dirt you don't want to be carrying it high to keep it full (tip over potential) so you need the curl angle. I use every bit of what the 723 can do I would feel handcuffed with 500 lbs less ability. Unless the 4 or 5 hundred dollars difference is make or break on the purchase I would not recommend buying a 3130 with a 513 on it. They should not even offer it that way. For the little difference in savings it is a rip off.