L4300 VS L3830

[dos_perros]

This forum is great! Appreciate the input and independent thinking - from all. Still need to hear from someone who runs an L4300. My goal is function and utility for somewhat ambitious jobs. The cost issue is not a factor at this point.I am not excited about features like the intelligent dash, although it is kind of neat. Only two operators - my son and I. I maybe handicapped by owning a diesel IH scout for twenty years with a manual transmission. I am still waiting for something on it to break!

 

[SageBrush]

The shuttle is now a must have for most. I'm so spoiled by my little GST L4330. I use it for everything and let the other fellows have fun shifting. I would say its more than just faster with the loader, the GST shuttle is less work so I tire out less and get more done. The HST is even better. All that leaning over to change gears is not missed.

 

[5030]

Step up to a 5030 without a cab. Oh, might as well get a cab too.

Actually, the torque rise on the 5030 is pretty impressive. The engine seems to loaf at 2300 rpm and when the going gets tough, it seems to have good power without going on the governor. I believe RaT has a 4330 or 4630 and I know he likes his too.

John Miller3:

The "intellepanel" digital dash is pretty nice, It's very similar to our larger tractors. The one problem is that Kubota didn't put an indicator light for 4WD mode on the dash. The lever is almost impossible to see in the cab model. An indicator light would be nice, especially for the price.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color="blue">...the torque rise on the 5030 is pretty impressive... </font>

The 5030 uses the same long stroke pistons as used in the 3830...

except... (4 cyl. vs. 3) ONE extra one... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color="blue">… grading two gravel roads, brush clearing, tree removal, minor logging…</font>

How about a compromise?

This will do everything you ask for with ease… and then some… /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

For your 55 acres… check out the MX5000 unit… it’s got your gears, has partial synchro shift, has shuttle shift, more- 44 PTO hp, more hydraulic hp… loader lifts more… and priced right!

(I had one priced @ ~ $18.5k for tractor and ~ $4k. for loader) (or check out the new M4900 series)

 

[glennmac]

This is not the way Kubota markets and price positions its L Series, and it's probably not the opinion of many on this board, but my simplified opinion on the L Series is that one need only consider the L3430, 4330 and 5030. The L3130 is a little underpowered for its size and weight and is no cab. The 3830 (no cab) and 4630 are "tweeners" that don't add much to the next lower model but which are significantly leapfrogged by the next higher model.

As to manual shifting, I have seen many newbies come on here and declaim that they wouldn't mind a manual shift because they don't mind manual shifts on cars. Well, that opinion re cars will change real quick if you drive in NYC traffic all day and have to step on your clutch and shift about 60 times an hour.

Similarly, tractor newbies just don't appreciate how much time you will spend backing up and driving backwards. When doing loader work or brushcutting or finish mowing, I probably back up hundreds of times in an afternoon. As to the mowing, that's because I am going around hundreds of obstacles, as opposed to someone who just needs to mow endless straight rows of amber waves of grain. I certainly don't want to be shifting back and forth into reverse hundreds of times every afternoon on my tractor. HST rocker pedal makes it easy as pie.

As to why you are not hearing from many 4300 users, I suspect Kubota doesn't sell many of them compared to the Grand L's. There's nothing "wrong" with any of these tractors. They will all do the jobs. It's just that some will do it faster and easier and will be a more pleasant and less tiring overall experience.

 

[dos_perros]

Again, thank all for their input and important comments, and recommendations. I am learning and definitely reconsidering my initial selections. I had not given that much consideration to the "stop and shift" issue. I now will. Still want the HP, which moves me up in the L grand series. I have a price for the L4330DT. Note, however, that with LA853 FEL, 2G2 industrial box grader with tilt hydraulics, that this is a substantial piece of machinery. Am I now headed in the right direction? Thank you for your help.

 

[FarmNut]

That is the tractor that I just bought (L4330DT). I'm like you in that I want to get as much hp as possible for the money (particularly pto hp) and stayed with the DT (FST) transmission. I went through some of the same decision processes as you. I was upgrading from a smaller grey market tractor that I still have, and initially looked at the L3000 and L3130, then the L4300 and the L3830. I also looked at the Mahindra 2810, 3510, 4110 and 4500. The dealer that I bought from (carries Kubota, Mahindra and many others) felt that I really should go with the 4500 or larger given my acreage, but I decided to go with the L4330DT for just a little more money than the Mahindra 4500. It gave me some nice features such as better seat, intellipanel, extendable lift arms, etc. including much more power than I currently have and the most important thing was that I could still haul the L4330 with my trailer and f150 pickup (the Mahindra 4500 is a heavy beast). Rat's and other's praise of the L4330 on this board, also helped me make my decision. The L4330DT also meant that I could upgrade to a 6ft rotary mower (I grew up calling these things bush hogs) and the dealer recommended a Rhino SE6 for my needs.

FarmNut

 

[5030]

John:

I'll take the one in the background, especially if it's a 12/12 shuttle shift. That would replace my 4050 real nicely. Besides, the air probably works better too.

 

[glennmac]

I think the 4330 with 853 loader is a good choice. You won't get any significant hydraulic power increase by going to a 5030, though you would get more hp. Of course, you haven't mentioned what pto implements you will need.

Two things.

1. If cost is not an absolute killer, stop being a hard case and get HST. No one in the known universe who has gotten HST has lived to regret it. We have had many members here, including prominent Star Members such as Gordon and MChalkley, who used to disdain HST and argue forcefully here why it was unnecessary. Then they got their first HST tractor. Crack cocaine time: they are now the biggest proponents of HST alive. They will tell you it increases your efficiency for just about all tractor chores. (To clarify my earlier statement, I don't back up hundreds of times because I go around obstacles--that misstates it. I have scores of trees and bushes to go around. If I am using a MMM, I am jockeying back and forth as I try to cut close circles around each one. There might be 4 to 6 back movements to cut around each obstacle. If I have a rear mower on, I back into each obstacle or try to just graze it from several different directions. Again jockeying back and forth in short strokes, looking backwards over my right shoulder, my right hand on the ROPS, my left hand spinning the steering wheel. I have no idea how I could shift while doing this. You will be in a similar posture as you look back at a boxblade.)

2. The boxblade. I am a boxblade atheist, but if I ever got one I would want one as heavy as possible and with hydraulic scarifiers. You can tote a 1200 lb. box with a 4330. (Great counterweight.) I believe the Gearmore box is made by Cammond. We have had bad reports here from Sir Patrick of Oklahoma on the Cammond 2C2 hydraulic scarifier box that he bought for his L4610. Or it might even have been the heavier Cammond 4C2. As I recall the scarifier bar bent and broke in normal use and he had a big festouche with his dealer and Cammond. I'm not sure of the resolution, but I think ended up getting a heavier duty heavier model. (HEY, PATRICK, ARE YOU OUT THERE!) The thread may be buried here somewhere. So, the question is, is the Gearmore 2G2 the Cammond 2C2. I bet it is. Gearmore is a low end implement brand out in a few Western states. If I didn't know that boxblades are useless (for me), I would, if I could afford it, get a Gannon boxblade--the high end. A notch down, I would get a Gill boxblade. Both Gannon and Gill are owned by Woods.