LX3520HSDC Deluxe Cab - Field Experience?

[FlyFishn]

We're looking at getting the LX3520HSDC Deluxe Cab machine. I am curious if anyone here has any field experience with one, or owns one themselves?

Something I am curious on is the "suspension seat". It is not listed as "air ride", but is "adjustable". Can anyone offer any thoughts on how it functions?

For running implements off the back - and even up through their MX series cab machines - I feel like the rear window, when closed, is right in my face when I need to turn around and see what is going on back there. Has this bothered anyone in practice?

We were considering going up to the Grand L60 or MX machines, but thinking through our use-cases - if we loose the smaller machine that cuts out a lot of what we may need the tractor for as it needs to be able to go down the road and work in some smaller areas. So a bigger machine will have to wait.

 

[Fallon]

Suspension seat is a spring. Air ride seat is an upgrade. I've got air ride on my L4060hstc & it's nice. Bad back, so I got the nicer seat when I got the machine. Never tried the standard spring seat for any length of time.

0 issues with being to close to the rear window hitching or looking over my shoulder.

 

[FlyFishn]

Thanks for the reply. The L60 series has some premium features above the LX20 series - I believe air ride seat options are one.

Is there anything else you can comment on about the Kubota design in general? What other machines did you compare to before going with the 60 series?

Thanks

 

[RjCorazza]

I have an L4060 since 2016, and it's a great machine. The standard seat is comfortable for me, but I suspect that is very related to the operator's size and weight. I believe that the air ride seat upgrade affects unattended pto operation, but I would imagine that ability could be restored with a manual switch installation.
I have never noticed any problem with the rear window being too close when looking back.

 

[mikester]

Kubota mechanical suspension seats SUCK unless you are 5 feet tall and weigh 90 lbs and don't mind 3/4" of pogo-stick suspension travel. The air suspension seats are made by Grammar and are more tolerable usually with a 2" stroke. Consider buying the air suspension seat upgrade if you have back and neck issues - you will thank me later.

You don't say how big a property you have. Get the biggest front tired machine you can if you need to travel on rough ground.

The Grand L60's give you more cab space and operator comfort. The older I get the more important being comfortable is considering I am spending thousands of hours in the seat in all weather. Don't forget that Noise, Vibration and Harshness is a factor in operator comfort as well. Kubota machines tend to lean towards being economical vs operator comfort.

Whatever machine you buy get some seat time before you decide.

 

[FlyFishn]

We were looking at the MX series, also. However, we need the machine trailerable to transport it. The smaller the machine the easier we can do that.

We also like the mid-mount mower option on the LX series. Though the L60 has a mid-PTO, it is not compatible with a mid-mount mower - it is for other front mounted equipment.

So initially I think we need the smaller machine. Then down the road maybe we can get a bigger machine.

As to acreage - 6 acres right now. It isnt much to a lot of you out there, but we're also going to be working a decent amount of ground in that also for vegetables, flowers, guards, etc.

We got an inexpensive old loader tractor to start with (International 444, gas - 42hp). That is just to cover the essentials, and of course it has 0 operator comfort/no cab. But if we need more hp than a smaller machine has, pto for example, for the time being it might cover that base until we can add a nicer bigger machine down the road.

 

[5030]

We're looking at getting the LX3520HSDC Deluxe Cab machine. I am curious if anyone here has any field experience with one, or owns one themselves?

Something I am curious on is the "suspension seat". It is not listed as "air ride", but is "adjustable". Can anyone offer any thoughts on how it functions?

For running implements off the back - and even up through their MX series cab machines - I feel like the rear window, when closed, is right in my face when I need to turn around and see what is going on back there. Has this bothered anyone in practice?

We were considering going up to the Grand L60 or MX machines, but thinking through our use-cases - if we loose the smaller machine that cuts out a lot of what we may need the tractor for as it needs to be able to go down the road and work in some smaller areas. So a bigger machine will have to wait.

I've always found that looking over my shoulder to observe what my implements are doing (hay tools) is a PITA so what I did was I installed a rear facing camera with the view screen next to me on my right side plus I installed a rear view mirror in the upper right corner of the front windshield glass. It's a suction cup affair I bought on Amazon for 10 bucks. Both of them together makes it so I never have to turn and look back.

 

[oosik]

I have a 2009 Kubota M6040 - open station - with a "spring" seat. I weigh 220# and with proper adjustment this seat works just fine.

As far as looking over my shoulder - I got rid of that problem when I got rid of the 3-point snow blower. It was a real PITA.

I upgraded to a brand new Kubota in 2009 with a really HD Rhino rear blade. Now I set the blade and go like smoke and oakum down my mile long gravel driveway - clearing the snow.

 

[CaptPat]

I looked at a Kubota last year with the spring seat, couldn’t tighten the spring enough to prevent bottoming out. An air ride seat was another $1300 and I would lose the ability to run unattended PTO — that was a deal breaker for me.

 

[5030]

Deal breaker over a paper clip? All one has to do is use a paper clip inserted in the connector to defeat the OPC feature, unless it's not even there. Neither of my M's have that as they are intended to operate with no one in the seat (PTO).

 

[chim]

My 4240 has a suspension seat and it's fine. If you have back problems, maybe you'd be better off wit something with a softer ride.

 

[Fallon]

I have an L4060 since 2016, and it's a great machine. The standard seat is comfortable for me, but I suspect that is very related to the operator's size and weight. I believe that the air ride seat upgrade affects unattended pto operation, but I would imagine that ability could be restored with a manual switch installation.
I have never noticed any problem with the rear window being too close when looking back.

My arm rest has shut off my PTO a number of times over the years. Never had it start it. Twist & lift to start is "hard". Push down to stop is easy to bump.

 

[Fallon]

My arm rest has shut off my PTO a number of times over the years. Never had it start it. Twist & lift to start is "hard". Push down to stop is easy to bump.

Oh, just realized that was unattended, not unintentional. Yes, with air ride you need to toss something heavy in the seat or hot wire the operator presence detector. It's 3 wires, so more than just an on/off switch, but not much more.

 

[JethroB]

I have a Grand L5460 and back issues. After a year and 200 hours I upgraded to the Kubota/Grammer air ride seat from the standard spring suspension seat. It is a slight ride improvement to me but not $1200 worth. The travel seems limited to maybe 2.5 inches. I’m 5’10” and 190. I didn’t have issues with the suspension seat bottoming out.

 

[chim]

Maybe a non-concern but I've wondered if having a super smooth ride might prevent the operator from realizing how much of a beating the equipment is being subjected to.

 

[5030]

Maybe a non-concern but I've wondered if having a super smooth ride might prevent the operator from realizing how much of a beating the equipment is being subjected to.

Tractors have no suspension (well at least most don't, some do but none on this site do) so air ride seat or not, you will still feel any and all gyrations and lurches seat or not. I have an air ride seat in my cab tractor and I can still 'feel' what the the unit is experiencing anyway. All the air ride seat does is reduce it, not eliminate it entirely.

 

[FlyFishn]

Does anyone know if the way the seat frames/mounts work in the L60's and LX20's the same way?

I'm wondering if even though the air ride seat doesn't show as an option for the LX20 if it can be added after-the-fact.

 

[mikester]

Does anyone know if the way the seat frames/mounts work in the L60's and LX20's the same way?

I'm wondering if even though the air ride seat doesn't show as an option for the LX20 if it can be added after-the-fact.

Likely you can make it fit without too much work unless you have an odd shaped seat platform. The L60 base is flat with 4 mount holes.

 

[bdhsfz6]

One feature I like with the L6060 that the LX series lacks is the hi/lo hydraulic, shift on the fly range selector. It converts the 3 range HST to 6.

I also have an MX5800 which did not have an air ride seat. The OEM seat was adjusted via a spring tension adjuster knob. I'm a heavy guy and even tightened all the way, it still bottomed out. I ordered an air ride seat from Grammar and it was a direct swap. Not sure if it's the same with the LX though.

Instead of defeating the air ride seat safety switch, I just put a bag of sand on the seat for off tractor PTO jobs.

 

[5030]

I just put a bag of sand on the seat for off tractor PTO jobs.

Not something I have to do as both my M9's are considered farm tractors and as such there is no interlock, just a buzzer that tells me the PTO is engaged and I'm out of the seat. I drive my grain leg like that, often.