Looking For 1st tractor......

Dave___in___CT · Jan 9, 2004

( Did you get to "test drive" yours before you got it?

BTW - Where did you end up getting your tractor from?

So far are you happy with them?
)

Steve...

Test drive:
Yeah... test drove 2 Deere's a little... 4xxx hydro and syncshift ? Dug into soil pile w/ loader...

Tried 3 Kubota L3130's a little.... manual syncshift tranny... glideshift tranny... and hydrostatic... did no digging...

Casually checked out New Holland... & Mihandra? too...

Owned a Deere 750 CUT TLB previously... & 2 Deere garden tractors prior for several years... Initially... I was going Deere without checking the compitition... but then I tried the Kubota...
...so I actually surprised myself getting the Kubota after analysis & tryin' 'em out... including pressure from the Deere dealer who's a relative !

Where & Happy ?
Yeah... quite happy with the dealer...
Bought the Kubota from a dealer/owner in mid-state VT by Rutland... compared price & knowledge to 2 close-by dealers in CT...
He won on both counts... price was ~$4,500 less than CT dealer... no nickle and diming... and he knows the products quite well...
Find he's a straight shooter... gives honest info. & opinions... real world use info. including strengths & problems... no hype... no pressure... and he follows thru...
oldest Kubota dealership in VT...

Good luck to you... have fun !

Dave...

fishdoc · Jan 9, 2004

Looks like the nearest Kioti dealer is about 90 minutes and 14 dollars in tolls for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel..... away..... Would be a problem if I need help from the dealer.

Henro · Jan 9, 2004

For the work you describe on 100 acres of untamed terrain... a gear transmission may be better than hydrostatic...
...my opinon... it would be better... maybe $1,000-$1,5000 less... no possible slippage... less complicated... I've owned & operated both types... and prefer the manual in some work/terrain conditions... 

Gee...I would have said exactly the opposite!

I am not an expert by any means, so take this with a grain of salt!

But the HST is so easy to operate in unfamiliar surroundings and on slopes in places where RIGHT NOW a speed change is desired...

In my mind the HST's strength shines in the unknown and the gear type tractor shines in the familiar.

All tractors are good...I am not speaking down to any of them. It is just that I have found my HST so user friendly on the couple acres of slope that I am clearing back behind my pond...I would not trade it for a gear tractor. I am satisfied to lose a little HP at the PTO...or at the rear wheels. It is not THAT much...if I were worried about HP I would step up a HP size.

If I were plowing fields, I would favor a gear tractor. But fields are familiar places [more or less]. Untamed terrain is different...

As I said, take this with a grain of salt. I do have some experience with the HST on slopes, with trees and so on. But my only gear experience is on small garden tractors... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

SteveH_CT · Jan 10, 2004

Hi Dave - as a follow-up I went to the closest Deere dealer to me and got another price on a 4310 for comparison to the last quote I got. It was within $100 of my first quote, and this dealer offers free pick up for any warranty issues. While we were talking I mentioned the Kubota I was looking at. While he said they are a fine brand, he mentioned the same thing about Deere's hydraulics being stronger. Specifically in regards to loading the bucket from a dirt pile - that type of lifting he thinks their machine is stroner at.

He also mentioned the a feature that adjusts rpm while under load to prevent the machine from stalling. Although I'm not entirely convinced that this is the machine I have to admit to getting sweaty palms and increased heart rate when I went out in their shop and he showed me a 4310 with exactly the equipment I want... ready to go.

Take care,

Dave___in___CT · Jan 12, 2004

Steve...

Uhhhh Ohhh... right setup & ready to go... sweaty palms ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Loader specs/capability... check out the more-heavy-duty Kubota LA723 loader & compare it to Deere's...

...also... Kubota offers a "Quick Attach" loader bucket(attachment) option (~$300?) that's compatible with Skid-Steer.. Bobcat implements... very very EZ to use... 2 levers... works SUPER !...
...allows you to use those type implements (several brands) instead of only brand specific-fit ones as Deere requires... gives you a bigger selection... new & used...
Example... just bought a used "Skid Steer" type fork lift attachment that fits it...

Also allows more easily built custom implements to be used... just by having the skid steer type attachment put on the implement...
example... get a used & inexpensive snowplow blade used on a truck.... have dealer add the attachment setup... spend like $700 total instead of $1,500+ for a new brand specific-fit plow...

Deere 4310... try out the quick attach loader... off.... & on...
When the sales guy demo'ed this for me... had trouble detaching it... then couldn't get it reattached... likely an adjustment...
...made me wary...
I like the more substantial (seemingly) on the Kubota L3130 better (LA723 loader)...

Deere...
...ask about any possible rebate... was $1,000 to 12/31/03... now, I dunno... low financing rates... understand not available to all dealers... and they may not volunteer the info... especially 0% financing because the dealer pays like a 1% fee for this...

Have fun !

Dave...

SteveH_CT · Jan 12, 2004

Thanks for the follow up Dave. Although I still will check out a few lessor know brands (is that the politically correct way to put it?) I eliminated the 4310 from my list. I came to the same conclusion you did after I read and compared specs again.

1. I didn't realize the Deere bucket was smaller, and IMHO of lessor construction than the Kubota bucket. The bota bucket also had a replaceable edge which is pretty important to me. I will be moving lots of rocks (thanks to the glacial age and East Haddams topography) and I don't want to destroy the bucket doing it.
2. Ground clearance was another factor for me to lean towards the bota. Lastly, it just seems "stronger" overall than the Deere.

I don't want to sound like I'm putting the Deere 4310 down, it just isn't the right tractor for me.

Thursday I called the Kioti dealer located very near me, still haven't heard back from him. I also did a drive by and I've come to the conclusion that he's just dabbling in tractors. There were no units in stock outside, and based on the size of his garage there couldn't be much inside either.

So I guess that about does it. I was drooling over the 3130 pictures you posted on the web. That Curtis Cab really makes the unit look great. I don't have the $$ for that right away, but I could see Santa bringing it next year.

Hey we got snow today... not much, but it still is a good reason to fire up the Kubota and give the driveway a good clearing.

Bye for now,

Steve M
Salem, CT

Dave___in___CT · Jan 12, 2004

Hi Steve...

I agree about the overall construction comparison... the Kubota is also a larger machine overall... and generally better capacity specs...

Yeah... a replacable cutting edge is a good idea... but it does prevent the bottom of the bucket from being on the ground surface... I got one... on the heavy duty bucket (model ?) & the more substantial LA723 loader with the nice quick attach feature...

Will see if the Kubota holds up to moving the 3" of snow today... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Get to break in the rear blade i just refurbished... (attachment)

Dave...

Tractors4u · Jan 12, 2004

( 1. I didn't realize the Deere bucket was smaller,)

Which bucket did you compare? There are 2 different loaders available for the 4310, the 420 and the 430. I got the 430 with the heavy duty bucket that has a replaceable cutting edge. Also look at the hydraulic flow of the Deere. I believe it is the highest in it's class. The first time I dumped the bucket it dumped so fast it slammed against the stops and I nearly jumped off the tractor. The loader speed on the Deere is incredible!

SteveH_CT · Jan 12, 2004

Thanks for your info, your 4310 is a great tractor.

I'll look at the quotes and let you know which bucket they were quoting. I'd be surprised if it was the lighter one since I asked for everything to be the best unit. Deere has excellent hydraulics, no doubt about it. Somehow though, and I'm not qualified to explain it, the Kubota exceeds it on most or all of the specs I was concerned with. The ground clearance is a big issue for me as well, since I'm going into a rough lot and will begin clearing stumps, rocks, and hauling off trees. I think I may look at a set of forks as well to help hauling away cut up tree trunks.

SteveH_CT · Jan 13, 2004

Just getting back to you now - The loader they quoted me was a model 430 with a "61 HD" bucket. The other quote just listed the loader model (430) and no elaboration on the bucket type. This was the place where he showed me the bucket on a tractor, and where I realized it didn't have a replaceable edge. So there is a possibility that the 1st quote had a stronger bucket included.

Either way I preferred the setup with the Kubota since it was both a larger bucket (72"), and it had the replaceable edge.

Take Care,