L3410GST or TC35

[Anonymous Poster]

Can anyone offer some much needed advice? I am from Australia and have been reading your forum and learned much though i seem to be stuck when it comes to making my mind up between the L3410 and the NH TC35 pricing doesnt matter because the price on both is pretty much the same give or take a few dollars, iam getting FEL and a HD "bush hog" or slasher as we call them in australia, i have 35 acres and have a young mango orchard of 1000 young trees. The slope on my land can be anything up to 20% so FWD is a necessity. My wife likes the styling and user friendliness of the NH, I tend to like the L34's GST transmission but also like the styling of the NH and the extra lift capacity of its FEL. The Kubota dealer has been going the "extra mile" to get my business as well. And the Kubota has the look of a more rugged machine that would handle Heavy Duty work a lot easier than the NH

any feedback/ advice anyone can give me would be much appreciated

Justin

 

[Bird]

Justin, I doubt that I could help you much. They're both good machines. I think it simply comes down to a matter of the one you like best. Of course, like a lot of folks, I much prefer the hydrostatic transmission myself, but some prefer the GST. Are you comparing the GST in the Kubota to a New Holland with straight gears, or are you looking at the TC35D with hydrostat?

Bird

 

[MChalkley]

Justin - You might want to review some of the information on this board regarding the HST. Whichever tractor you choose, if you get it with a hydrostatic transmission, your wife will like it better, it will be safer, and, unless you have some specific technical reason for not being able to use it, the hydrostatic will enable you to get your work done faster, too.

Regarding brands, your comments echo my sentiments, but, as Bird says, it appears to be mostly a matter of personal choice.

MarkC

 

[Thomas]

Justin,
NH has a fine feature which might come in handy when mowing...the swivel seat.

Take care.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bird, thanx for your comments

I am not sure about the HST, i like the GST as i used to drive loaders in an underground coal mine, and they have a similar set up on their controls and therefore believe that the GST would give more control when using the FEL especially on sloping ground. So with NH not having the GST style set up iam tending toward the 12F/12R shuttle transmission. I dont understand how the NH could have double the FEL lift capacity though, are they manipulating the figures..???

Justin

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark

Once again thanks for your input, please see the comments i made to Bird on the issues of HST. I think i would really need to use HST in a working situation, to be able to fully appreciate it

Justin

 

[MChalkley]

Justin - I agree. It would be time well spent to try an HST before you plunk down your cash, especially if control is an issue. Nothing will give you more improved control than HST. And few things are more important than safety, which becomes even more critical on slopes. These two factors combine well, too: Usually, increased control means increased safety.

MarkC

 

[Bird]

Justin, as Mark & I have said, you really ought to try the HST, regardless of which brand, and see if it won't get your work done fast, easier, and safer. As to the loader capacities, I don't really know. I've read discussions about some loaders being rated at the bucket pins, some at the front of the bucket, etc., but I doubt that the NH is double the capacity of the Kubota. I know the FEL on both Kubotas I've owned would pick up the rear tires on the tractor unless you had plenty of counterweight on the rear.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Justin, A fellow Aussie here, take my advice and stick with the Kubota. They are the specialists in small gear and the HST on the L series is fantastic. Because it has it's own servo on the pedal it is very easy to push down. Don't make the mistake I made and stray from Kubota to New Holland, it ended up being very expensive

 

[JustinOZ]

WHy what went wrong bazz...??? I must say I've all but made up my mind for the NH, it looks much cooler the FEL is a lot more powerful, plus my wife likes it and she likes the Political Correctness of the brochure i.e it had Women, Hispanics, African-americans etc all playing with NH products where the Kutbota only had a fat middle aged white guy playing with their stuff, subtle but made a difference in our case

Justin