L3830 or L4330 Need your help choosing.

[JLoaf]

The 4330 has 5 more hp but has about 20 more foot lbs of torque (about 20%-25% increase over the 3830). The 4 cyl supplies a substantial increase in torque over the 3 cyl.
I'm looking for the site where I found this info. If I find it, I will post it.

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue"> The 4330 has 5 more hp but has about 20 more foot lbs of torque (about 20%-25% increase over the 3830). The 4 cyl supplies a substantial increase in torque over the 3 cyl.
I'm looking for the site where I found this info. If I find it, I will post it. </font>

Thats the problem though, every time you spend another $2000 or so you get a bump in HP/torque but you have to determine what that means in advantages. I had a L48 which is basically the same engine as the L5030 has. It could run my 84" finnish mower great. I replaced it with a L3830 HST which obviously has less power but on the other hand, it too runs my 84" finnish mower beautifully. Rather then base my decision on HP, I considered what my present and future uses would and might be. Since I wanted HST again, I was all set on the L3130 with the LA 723, again a loader with just a fraction of the abilities of the L48 I had (that includes the L4330's LA 853 as well). My dealer talked me out of it even though he had 2 on his lot ready to go and no L3830. He said that if I had a L48 which is HST, I would be disappointed in the L3130 HST's perfromance. Go with the L3830 HST or larger. I decided the L3830 was plenty, its a wonderful, smooth operating tractor. The real bonus of the L4330 has little to do with HP/torque, a slightly wider axle, it is simply that the loader it can use, the LA 853 can lift the load higher. If your loading a dumpster, thats a real bonus and about the only thing I miss about my L48 which had a far greater lift/height capacity then even the L4330 and up. At the time I bought my L3830, it was $2500 less then the L4330. The other interesting thing is that even the L3130 can have a loader on it that has far more ability then the older L4310 that the L4330 replaced. A LA 723 vs the L4310's LA 682. It boils down in my opinion to the loader and in this case and what the poster describes, I would be leaning towards the L4330 or stepping up to an M series. I do agree that the L4630 with its marginal engine power increase and thats it is just not worth the extra expense.

 

[jmc]

I bought the 4330 GTS and really like it, especially the 853 loader. Also got the creeper gears option which is strictly for low speed and they caution about the gears not being made for the resulting increase in torque. Looks like implement hydraulic flow is increased from 8.3 gpm to 9.4 vs the 3830- better for shorter loader cycling. Sometimes I wish it were narrower in the woods but the specs are the same for both models. Rear tire width across R4's is 70 inches. The manual says 66.5 but not the tire type.

John

 

[_RaT_]

I suppose it is because the LA 723 has smaller cylinders but the cycle time on it is faster then the LA 853 despite a slightly lower GPM flow. It's important to have fast loader cycle times because they are based on full RPM which very few of us ever do. I typically operate the loader at 2000 RPM or less.

 

[KMurphyAL]

I owe eveyone who has commented a beer....when in AL drop by.

I'm off to the dealer to make my order. Plan to spend an hour or two doing comparisons. Dealer has both models on the lot and said come down and drive them. (again!)

BTW..... I got pricing from three dealers in the area. They were all within $500 of each other. I'm choosing the dealer furthest away since the owner and my father in law are "buds."

Will advise on the outcome. I'm prepared to order the 4330.

PS....anyone have any jerking using the HST with the FEL loaded and backing up? Prior to delivery I plan to put the tractor through the paces.

THANKS......Kris

 

[jmc]

Yeah, I should have said "all other things being equal" when it comes to cycle times.

You're right about good loader performance at lower rpm. On my last tractor, when I raised the load while the tractor was moving, speeding up the engine to lift faster also sped up the tractor too much. That ought to bring out the HST people.

 

[_RaT_]

I think thats the smart choice. The HST is very smooth but there are times when using the tractor without the loader in 4WD that you will get some lunging I guess thats what I would call it. I rarely use 4WD with the loader off and I think the geometry changes some either that or the raw, untamed, unadulterated power is just trying to express itself. Best wishes, either way, your going to really like what you get, I'm quite sure of it.

PS get the HD bucket. If you ever plan to use forks, get the quick attach bucket, the lift capacity increases tremendously over the "over the bucket" type. TnT is fantastic if youor interested, but you can save a bunch and get it from CCM who advertises here.

 

[JRobyn]

Go for the 4330 (I did). Mostly for the heavier LA853 loader. I was told that the front axle was beefier (not wider) to handle the extra LA853 capacity. The extra cylinder/HP/torque is great, but at a SLIGHT penalty in fuel usage rate. You'll love the HST for manuevering around in tight places and on steep slopes!

 

[_RaT_]

All of the L30's received beefier front axles since all have much increased loader capacities. The L4330 to L5030 also have a wider front width.

 

[slowzuki]

I believe the parts book lists different parts for the L4330 to 5030 front axle and it is actually a bit stronger for the increased loader capacity. If not, the 3130 has one bullet proof front end!

I'm a bit like Rat, moving to a smaller machine. The loader is weaker than the one I used to use but it is much faster and easier to use.

I find it so much narrower and easier to manouver in the woods that I may set the rears wider. The other tractor is less tippy feeling going over stumps due to it's width.

Of course I can drive around more stumps now /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif