My new L4600

[1fastbob]

Thanks much for that information. It does seem that I've been offered an excellent deal. I did not get any rear hyd. I am considering getting a package deal with a Bush Hog. Due to overstock, he is offering me a new 6 ft Bush Hog mower, supposedly at his cost of $1100. He has no 5 footers. Will the L4600 handle a six footer well, since he said it will extend beyond the rear tires a few inches?

6 foot mower is perfect for the L4600. It is also listed as recommended in the owners manual. I mowed some really tall ( 2 to 3 ft.) grass and plum bushes with mine and it handled it well. If you are planning to do lots of mowing then don't go cheap on the mower. Also I would recommend getting one with a slip clutch.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

for what its worth, the Thailand plant is not a new facility for Kubota. Its been there for several years building tractors for the Asian markets. The L4600 is the first tractor we have thats being built there. We can't tell any difference between it and its Japaneese counter parts. I'm not sure if we'll see more from Thailand or not. One of the big problems with Japan is the exchange rate and building tractors in the US and other countries preserves Kubota's margin. Its not a 'little' problem, the exchange rate losses can nearly equal Kubota's net profit on a tractor sale.

 

[pondviewfarm]

I'm in the process of buying right now and I'm sure glad I found this thread. I really liked the L4600 my dealer had on the yard but for that kind of money I'll take a couple more horses and full Jap. I "get it" about the exchange rate etc. but it still ticks me off.

I went into the dealer with a blank slate as far as lineup knowledge and left convinced the L4600 was a bang-for-the-buck winner. I specifically asked, "This isn't some model cooked up or decontented to hit a number, right?" I was assured it wasn't. Well, guess who else "never seen that" tag about assy'd in Thailand or so he says. I'll take his word for it and it may not make one real world difference anyhow but he's going to try and find the M for me.

Wonder what old grandpa would say about me thumbing my nose at a Jap tractor because it was screwed together in Thailand... the whole history lesson bringing him up to speed there would probably send him right back to the grave on his trusty Ford in top gear with his hat on fire leaving a blaze of red, white, and Blue over his shoulder.

 

[BGigHarbor]

I'm in the process of buying right now and I'm sure glad I found this thread. I really liked the L4600 my dealer had on the yard but for that kind of money I'll take a couple more horses and full Jap. I "get it" about the exchange rate etc. but it still ticks me off.

I went into the dealer with a blank slate as far as lineup knowledge and left convinced the L4600 was a bang-for-the-buck winner. I specifically asked, "This isn't some model cooked up or decontented to hit a number, right?" I was assured it wasn't. Well, guess who else "never seen that" tag about assy'd in Thailand or so he says. I'll take his word for it and it may not make one real world difference anyhow but he's going to try and find the M for me.

Wonder what old grandpa would say about me thumbing my nose at a Jap tractor because it was screwed together in Thailand... the whole history lesson bringing him up to speed there would probably send him right back to the grave on his trusty Ford in top gear with his hat on fire leaving a blaze of red, white, and Blue over his shoulder.

I looked hard at the l4600 because it still has the older routing on the fel hoses and such since it doesn't have the dpf yet and all the physical changes that means.

 

[pondviewfarm]

yep, I'm aware of the impending doom via dpf that's why I'm hoping he can find me one without.

 

[BGigHarbor]

yep, I'm aware of the impending doom via dpf that's why I'm hoping he can find me one without.

I know I don't like the L60 series FEL hoses routing but in the end I ordered an L60 series tractor (yesterday) so hopefully the dpf stuff turns out to be a non issue long term.

Liked the looks of the l4600 but decided to get the somewhat beefier and larger grand L as I wanted more FEL lift capability. At a beefier price, of course.

 

[TexasBoy]

Why would someone have concern about assembly in Thailand if its a Kubota product and they oversee its assembly and are responsible for quality control and warranty? Its still a human being screwing stuff together on a assembly line, whether they are Japanese or something else. As I understand it my wifes Camry was assembled in the USA but it has Toyotas reliability and engineering and is the best car we've ever owned. I love my L4600DT so far and the fit/finish and all the rest is on par with any Kubota on the sales lot.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You gotta take each product on its merit. I for one, can't tell any difference been an L4600 (Thiland) and the L4400 (japan) that came before it. The L3800 and L3200 just changed from Japan to the good ole USA mid production run. I can't tell the difference there either. Its all Kubota factories and Kubota employees. Where it gets messy is when one company is selling a machine, and another is building it.

 

[94BULLITT]

I was just looking at the Kubota Report 2013. Here is what it said about their stuff being made in Thailand

"In Thailand, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of rice, rural labor shortages have become a
serious problem due to the development of the automobile industry and other industries. KUBOTA had been
exporting power tillers from Japan to Thailand, and through a joint venture with a local company, KUBOTA began
manufacturing diesel engines for agricultural machinery in Thailand. Since then, we have won broad support in
Thailand for playing a role in the mechanization of agriculture with our tractors and combine harvesters. We are
now setting up a local, integrated production structure for tractors, combine harvesters, engines and hydraulic
equipment. Our operations in Thailand are coming to the forefront as a base for supplying products to the world."

Quote taken from page 20 http://www.kubota-global.net/csr/report/pdf/2013/13alldata.pdf

I took at as Kubota saw there was a job shortage in Thailand so they built a factory there to build tractors to help out with the job shortage.