My new L3301

[opalko]

Delivered 2 weeks ago, just now getting around to posting here.



Purchased with a 72" finish mower and 42" tiller. Canopy and fork arms to be delivered soon.

Used the tiller and old rough cut last week before the rains came and turned everything muddy.. I opted for the gear drive model.

Likes:
- Easy, easy, easy to run.
- Having a front loader.. already turned the compost heap many times with it! (It's a BIG compost heap).
- T4 = no smell from exhaust. You do not know it is a diesel. I know Tier 4 is a four letter word with many people but I talked to mechanics before making the purchase and am not worried about it.
- First, previous tractor was 1949 8N. I learned a lot about operating safety on it and still learning, but glad to have modern safety features.

Dislikes:
- Parking brake lock is to the left of brakes. Somehow I always seem to manage to unlock the parking lock when dismounting the tractor. I'm a bit of a clod so it will take more practice.
- The seat belt buckle lines up exactly with, and is too close to,the high/low gear selector. I have banged my knuckles so many times on the buckle. I wish it was offset just a few inches or so.
- I wish it were possible to mount & unmount the tractor from either side. Sometimes you just need to able to get on & off the right hand side. Maybe there is a reason for not having it this way.
- Maybe this is just unique to all modern tractors but I have a beast of a time connecting & disconnecting implements. There is no "give" in the lift arms. I want to get a concrete pad down under my pole shed to make it a little easier with a level surface.

I'll update as I use the tractor more this season. Love it already. I don't think I'll sell the 8N just yet but I do see it entering it's golden years with a well deserved retirement.

Questions for folks here:
- Do most people leave the front loader on at all times, even when not needing it for mowing or tilling etc? I'm a little timid to disconnect it and not be able to get it back on there but I hate to have it on there when mowing if it will get in the way..maybe it won't, I haven't used it for actual mowing yet (only bush-hogging).
- Do you use multiple links when having various implements? It is a chore turning that thing so many times!

Cheers
Dukester

 

[Bluegill2]

- Do most people leave the front loader on at all times, even when not needing it for mowing or tilling etc? I'm a little timid to disconnect it and not be able to get it back on there but I hate to have it on there when mowing if it will get in the way..maybe it won't, I haven't used it for actual mowing yet (only bush-hogging).

My loader stays off unless I need it. I very much dislike mowing (bush hogging) with the loader on! I takes 5 minutes to take off or put on, after you've done it a couple times. Easy!

Congrats & thanks for the first review of the new T4 basic L.

 

[k0ua]

A couple of things to possibly help:

A lot of guys leave the loader on, a lot of guys take it off.. There are advantages to both.. I leave the loader on, where I live now, because in some horrible steep places I mow, I run a risk of getting stuck and needing the mower to push myself back out with.. If you have flatter ground, you will enjoy getting the loader off as you run much less risk of hitting things like fences and buildings. It is like a whole different tractor without the loader on. If you take the loader off, do so on the flattest most level, hardest ground you can find.

Front end loader detach.mpg - YouTube

How to remove a loader on a Kubota L Series - YouTube


A full quick hitch or a set of Pats quick hitch, or a set of Carters (which is what I used when I had a L3400) will make your life much easier when hooking up and unhooking implements. Also parking your implements on level ground will help a bunch.

Welcome to CARTER AND SON'S TOOL AND DIE

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[Chilly807]

Welcome and congrats on the new tractor!

You'll find it easier getting on and off on the right side if you shorten the loader joystick about 5-6 inches. The knob just pulls off, try sawing off an inch or two at a time. Mine's been like that for 4 years now, no regrets.

I take the loader off in dry weather if I'm mowing, otherwise it stays on. Not hard to remove, but you need a hard, flat surface or it can be a pig to reconnect!

Sean

 

[Verticaltrx]

Tractor looks good, That is the first L3301 I've seen.

As for the attaching 3pt implements, you've been spoiled by your 8n. The old Fords and Fergusons were the easiest tractors of any I've used to connect implements to. They had perfect 3pt hitch geometry and maybe slightly more clearance inside the hitch balls, also excellent visibility and the ability to maneuver the hitch arms from the tractor seat. Things that take 1-min to hook to my Ford NAA take 10-min to hook to my B3200. Just the nature of the beast I guess. Things like extendable lower links, telescoping stabilizers and quick hitch systems are about your only option to make it easier.

The loaders are very easy to take on and off. If I am mowing a large field where I'll be using the tractor for several hours straight I'll often take off the loader. For most small tasks the loader stays on. Leaving the loader on and dropping the bucket (assuming you have the quick attach) also helps and is very quick.

 

[TexasBoy]

Opalko, does your tractor have EGR on it ?

 

[Fallon]

Same tractor as my L3200 only with the tier 4 stuff. Same seatbelt & brake annoyances too. You'll Like it I expect.

I have yet to take my loader off. I so drop the bucket for some stuff though.

Does yours have a jerky 3pt? Try raising it an inch or 2 with something heavy on there. Curious to hear if they finally fixed that engineering flaw.

 

[Fallon]

Oh, and look into a quick hitch, I don't even have to get off my tractor to swap implements unless there is PTO or hydraulics involved. I have a TnT kit now, but it was nice before I got that too. Harbor Freight & Northern Tool have cheap but functional ones. I had to weld an extension onto the top hook as many others have as well. Search around on the boards, lots of quick hitch discussions around.

 

[TheWedge]

Congratulations! I am looking at upgrading from my B3200 to an L3301. One quick question, where I live fire danger during the summer is always high which is why on my B3200 I installed a spark arrestor. With the new tier 4 engines and the ability to capture particulates that could contribute to a spark, are spark arrestors needed or included? No worries if you don't know -just a curiosity that I can eventually clear with the dealer.

Mike

 

[Biz5150]

Congrats on the new tractor. I just pulled the trigger on a 3301 HST with quick attach loader, bale spear, rotary cutter and box blade. This will be a nice upgrade from my 1964 Case 430. I will post pics and review once I receive it next week.

Mike