L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240?

   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #1  

e.myers

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
133
Location
Springhill, SC
Tractor
Kubota L4400 4WD Hydrostat
Trying to make up my mind whether to go with the L4400 or spend 3500+ more and get either the 3940 or 4240.

Only reason I'd do it is if I could substantially increase the volume of the bucket (meaning cuft capacity) and get a round back bucket that's not available on the 4400.

Can't find any literature on the bucket volumes for the 4400.

Volume on the "square back bucket" for the 3940 is 8.8 ft3 and on the 4240 is 10.9. Basically 2 ft3 difference..... don't know if that is significant.

Wondering how the 4400 compares.

Also wondering if there are different buckets available for the 3 models.

I only plan on lifting red sand clay, so I don't think lift capacity is that big of a deal.

Wondering if maybe I could/should consider an aftermarket bucket that would work for my purposes better (more volume/more digging ability, etc)

Yes, I know there are other considerations as well, but it's a dollars thing for me now.
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #2  
I would think lift capacity. How much you can lift would be the biggest consideration. I would guess the 3940 and 4400 probably use the sam bucket since it's QA. If not you can probably get the bigger bucket on your tractor. You could also just take out a tape measure and check the dimensions and see how much difference there is.

I know it's easy to say because it's not my money, but buy the biggest machine you can afford. It's much cheaper to buy one tractor than buy something and realize it won't do what you need and have to buy another tractor.
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #3  
You might want to also look at the specs regarding lift height. I 'm guessing this may be important if you're ever using the tractor to load or unload products from another truck. If you might be dumping in the back of a dumptruck. Building jumps the extra lift height might also be important.
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #4  
regarding overall fel performance in smaller tractors (imho) is also the wheel size, tractor frame size & weight. The 1st thing I noticed with my 4400 (when doing minor excavation, pushing out rocks, etc) was that the ft wheels continually spun even in 4wd. i eventually jumped up to the M series that made a world of difference.ge ..seemed the frame just had more leverage as well......not saying to go that route, maybe just keep in mind those other variables coming into play in the fel dept. all the best, bb
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Medicshawn/bigbubba- All well taken. Hadn't considered the front wheel spin. Could very well be an issue for me.
Should I consider loading my front tires as well to help with that? Would it help? Do you have R1's or R4's. I'm planning on getting the R1's.

Also, in my travels around here (the forum) it seems like wheel spin is more related to hard surfaces? is that the case?

Bottom line is I'm not able to make myself sink an extra 4 grand into a more HD tractor at this point. If my plans come around, and the farm becomes a reality, then maybe I can swing it/ justify it.

Eddie
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #6  
You might also think about adding a toothbar for your loader if you have trouble digging.
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240?
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Keeping that open as an option...
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #8  
With the quick attach any bucket size can be put on. We often are optimizing the performance of machines by using the right buckets for the job.

There are times we are actually using skid steer buckets to get the right volumes for a customers job.

The L-4400 will use buckets the same size range as the grand L tractors.

Front wheel spin can normally be eliminated by raising the loader while loading to add weight to the front tires. To have front and rear wheel spin at the same times says that maybe the right tires for that particular job are not the best. To add weight to the front to stop wheel spin is NOT the right way to do the job.

Some will have trouble as they expect a 30 horsepower tractor to act like a D-8 dozer and they can do a lot of work but they can't match up to that type of overall performance. To have the smaller tractor do a D-8's work it would take some patience and time and a good operator!
 
   / L4400 Loader Bucket Options? Volume different than L3940/4240? #9  
With the quick attach any bucket size can be put on. We often are optimizing the performance of machines by using the right buckets for the job.

There are times we are actually using skid steer buckets to get the right volumes for a customers job.

The L-4400 will use buckets the same size range as the grand L tractors.

Front wheel spin can normally be eliminated by raising the loader while loading to add weight to the front tires. To have front and rear wheel spin at the same times says that maybe the right tires for that particular job are not the best. To add weight to the front to stop wheel spin is NOT the right way to do the job.

Some will have trouble as they expect a 30 horsepower tractor to act like a D-8 dozer and they can do a lot of work but they can't match up to that type of overall performance. To have the smaller tractor do a D-8's work it would take some patience and time and a good operator!



art,
Those are very good pionts to make, people need to recognize that their are limits to the work you can do with any given size tractor. Pushing the limits on an ongoing basis is a recipe for failure. There are reasons for making the different size and weight tractors, not owning an L4400 but from what I can tell and my experience with a fel and loaded rear tires I would think 5500 to 6000 lbs would be the maximum weight for this tractor. I know on my tlb that weighs about 8000 lbs and 43 hp that it is fine for low speed work but for faster work my 60 hp tractor without a fel which weighs 5500 lbs runs circles around it.


Steve
 

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