Price Check L3400HST Price / Usage / Sanity check

[KubotaTerry]

I've had the 3400HST for almost a year now. 100 Hrs on it. I had the dealer fix the jerky 3-pt hitch, which he did without complaint at the 50 hours service, under warranty. Check this before you buy, since some others are having trouble getting Kubota to fix this on their tractors. I assumed that I wouldn't even need to worry about it since I bought mine well after the "new" part was being installed, but apparently mine had the old stuff.

It sounds like the 3400HST would be a good choice for you so long as you do not plan on doing any tilling. With the known issues involving the PTO, I would stay away from the 3400 if I planned on using any implement that could cause the PTO to over-run (like a tiller being pulled forward). There may be other implements that can cause that also, I don't know much about such things. I only use my PTO for a 3-pt snow blower. It can cause the PTO to over-run if I throttle it down quickly, but as long as I avoid doing that, it is OK. I think it will be fine in that application.

The bucket isn't the strongest thing in the world (LA463), but if you are patient, it gets the job done. It will pick up a full (but not heaping) bucket of most dirt I've come across. One thing it can't do that the "bigger" ones can is curl and lift at the same time. It's not that it lacks the power to do it, it doesn't even try. That position (lift and curl) is "blocked out" on the control. It might be an issue if you use your bucket a lot. I can live with it, but I wish I had known about it before I bought.

I love the HST. It makes it very driveable. My wife and daughter regularly use it to grade a horse arena using a box blade and a drag.

For snow removal, between the bucket and the snow-blower, it has gotten me through a ton of snow. We had a pretty hard winter last year, with blizzards that left me with huge drifts. Again, a little patience was required, but the little 3400 got me out every time.

In general, I'm pretty happy with it, although if I had it to do over, I might go with a Grand L (Larger bucket, with tilt and curl, sturdier PTO). I think I'd still stay with (or at least consider) a Kubota.

Terry

 

[ArmsOutWide]

I've talked to two seperate dealers in two different cities, and both recommended the 5.5' foot box blade, and the 5' Rhino brush cutter. Now I have a neighbor and a few posts here telling me to get cheaper 6' brush cutter. We called our local dealer back, and he said that the 6' Rhino (what they carry at the dealership) would be too heavy for the L3400. I'm assuming then that the cheaper cutters would also be lighter?

I also have a another pricing question. Since those who have commented on the price quote I've been given basically think that it is not screwing me over, but it's no bargain either (i.e. a "list price" quote), is it acceptable to go back to the dealer and ask for a 5-10% discount from his quote? Are they more likely to throw in "extras" at the same $$? I'm all for the businessman making a profit, but I also don't want to be the sucker the salesmen laugh about on their lunch breaks.

Thanks again!

 

[canoetrpr]

When I bought my L3400, fellow TBNers suggested the 6 ft rotary cutter i.e Woods BB72 instead of Woods BB60. Like yours my selling dealer said that I ought to stick to a BB60 as that is the largest this tractor could handle - WRONG!. The manual says 72". TBNers were right.

Unless you are mowing through heavy heavy brush, go with a 72" standard duty bush hog. I regret not doing it as mowing along a fenceline with a mower only as wide as the tractor is not fun.

Unless you are looking at beast of a rotary cutter - heavy duty i.e. 800-1000 lb 6ft is the right size for this tractor IMHO for pasture cutting.

 

[canoetrpr]

The dealer should be willing to deal. 10 to 12% off list price for sure. You only get what you ask for. Don't hesitate to compare with other dealers.

 

[ArmsOutWide]

When I bought my L3400, fellow TBNers suggested the 6 ft rotary cutter i.e Woods BB72 instead of Woods BB60. Like yours my selling dealer said that I ought to stick to a BB60 as that is the largest this tractor could handle - WRONG!. The manual says 72". TBNers were right.

Unless you are mowing through heavy heavy brush, go with a 72" standard duty bush hog. I regret not doing it as mowing along a fenceline with a mower only as wide as the tractor is not fun.

Unless you are looking at beast of a rotary cutter - heavy duty i.e. 800-1000 lb 6ft is the right size for this tractor IMHO for pasture cutting.

Right now I have waist-high grass with black jack oak saplings (~.5-1 inch dia, 3 ft tall). And if it's not waist high right now, then it's a rock. I also don't have a fence - yet - building a fence is one of my "tractor jobs" coming up this spring. Should I get a tough 5' mower now and trade it in for a 6' mower once my yard starts looking like a fenced in pasture?

 

[Double Orange]

I've talked to two seperate dealers in two different cities, and both recommended the 5.5' foot box blade, and the 5' Rhino brush cutter. Now I have a neighbor and a few posts here telling me to get cheaper 6' brush cutter. We called our local dealer back, and he said that the 6' Rhino (what they carry at the dealership) would be too heavy for the L3400. I'm assuming then that the cheaper cutters would also be lighter?

I also have a another pricing question. Since those who have commented on the price quote I've been given basically think that it is not screwing me over, but it's no bargain either (i.e. a "list price" quote), is it acceptable to go back to the dealer and ask for a 5-10% discount from his quote? Are they more likely to throw in "extras" at the same $$? I'm all for the businessman making a profit, but I also don't want to be the sucker the salesmen laugh about on their lunch breaks.

Thanks again!

Your not being quoted List Price. L3400HST-F W/R-4 $15543.00 plus frt/set-up
LA463 loader W/bucket No Frt No set-up $4366.00
L3400HST-F R4's LA463 loader with Sq bucket = $19909.00List

 

[canoetrpr]

Right now I have waist-high grass with black jack oak saplings (~.5-1 inch dia, 3 ft tall). And if it's not waist high right now, then it's a rock. I also don't have a fence - yet - building a fence is one of my "tractor jobs" coming up this spring. Should I get a tough 5' mower now and trade it in for a 6' mower once my yard starts looking like a fenced in pasture?

You will be fine with a 6ft std duty. Just because it is 6ft you don't have to cut a 6ft swath at a time either. Does not sound to me like your land is anything that a std duty cutter couldn't handle. If you had 3 inch saplings maybe...

 

[ArmsOutWide]

When I bought my L3400, fellow TBNers suggested the 6 ft rotary cutter i.e Woods BB72 instead of Woods BB60. Like yours my selling dealer said that I ought to stick to a BB60 as that is the largest this tractor could handle - WRONG!. The manual says 72". TBNers were right.

Unless you are mowing through heavy heavy brush, go with a 72" standard duty bush hog. I regret not doing it as mowing along a fenceline with a mower only as wide as the tractor is not fun.

Unless you are looking at beast of a rotary cutter - heavy duty i.e. 800-1000 lb 6ft is the right size for this tractor IMHO for pasture cutting.

Ok, maybe now I'm obsessing over the details of the cutter and not the tractor itself but ...

The Rhino brochure I have states a minimum of 25HP for the 160, and 35hp for the 172. The 3400HST brochure lists its HP as 34.7 gross, 33.3 net, and 27.5 pto. Would that be why all the dealers are pointing me to the 60" cutter? Is it just a CYA move? The weight of the 172 (785 lbs) doesn't sound like it's the issue.

If they only sell the Rhino line of cutters, then I found an economy 72" model on their website - the EC72 which they say needs a min of 25HP (it also only weighs 601 lbs).

The Bush Bull web site has their BB72 listed at 702 lbs with a valid hp range of 30-65HP. The next step up is the 720 with a weight of 1140 lbs and a hp range of 35-120 HP. That's ~50% heaver than the Rhino 160 and ~90% heaver than the BB72.

So, if I'm going to frame this post in the form of a question: Which horsepower counts - gross, net, or PTO. Or does it really matter if the guys in the field says it works just fine for them?

My degree in mechanical engineering points me in two directions. The first is that if they print a load rating, then it's there for a reason. The second is that I know that a huge safety factor is built into just about everything, so fudging on their requirements by a few percent probably is ok. Of couse then they all have an out on a warranty claim if/when things go horribly wrong and I could be hung out to dry.

 

[canoetrpr]

The Rhino you are looking out looks slightly heavier duty than the woods BB72 - but not substantially.

The PTO hp is the one that really matters but I don't think that the HP rating (so long as you don't exceed the gearbox rating) has anything to do with safety. If anything it means you will have to go a bit slower in heavier brush or cut a smaller swath than the mower can.

You are over sizing the cutter slightly based on the what Rhino and Woods lists for their 72" cutters for your tractor BUT this is not an issue if your land is basically flat and you are rotary cutting a pasture that will eventually be reasonably well maintained. Since the Rhino is slightly heavier duty than the Woods you are oversizing a bit more on it vs. the Woods BB72.

The heavy duty cutters BB720 and BB600 are BEASTs. I would definately NOT want to be pulling a BB720 with my L3400 and would probably not would not want to be pulling the BB600 either.

Knowing how easily my L3400 HST handles my BB60 on my (flat) land with *reasonably* well kept pastures, I would definately get a BB72 were I to do it again. Might it bog down in heavier brush - yes.... but you can easily mow slightly slower in heavier brush and ease off on the HST pedal if you feel it bogging or just cut a smaller swath than the cutter.

I honestly have no clue if the Rhino 72" would make a difference over the BB72 given it is slightly heavier duty... but I am quite certain that the BB72 would be perfect for me.

I would *definately* keep the FEL on for a 72". You are getting an FEL right?

 

[ccsial]

I have an L3400HST with 160 trouble free hours. Used only for bush hogging, finish mowing, and snow blowing. I like it very much.

I had my jerky 3PH fixed right after I got it. I have a great dealer and I hope you do too.

As posted earlier, be sure the 3PH does not jerk before you get it. You should be OK unless they have an older tractor sitting around.

You could use a 60 or 72 inch bush hog. If you get a heavy 72" you want the FEL on or use weights. I finish mow with a Woods RD7200 and no FEL. The front end is pretty light in that configuration but there is plenty of power.