New L5740 HSTC

[greenrider1]

I know this is a little late, since I actually took delivery of my new tractor back on the 5th, but I thought I'd share some pictures. I ended up getting the L5740 HSTC with the LA854 loader, QA bucket, third function valve on loader, R4 tires (rears loaded), one rear remote (probably more in the future), rear work lights, rear glass defrost, rear wiper (yet to be installed). Thanks to Neil and the rest of the folks at Messick's Equipment. They truly are a pleasure to deal with. Also, thanks to the great folks here on TBN for all the great write-ups on the L5740, which helped sway my decision to upgrade.

My outgoing tractor, which had served me very well was an L3710 HST open platform. I decided to upgrade for some more HP and a cab for snow removal. I have a 7' Lorenz 3-pt double auger blower, 8' Fisher HD plow that I need to convert for the FEL, 6' Land pride 3-pt finish mower, and a 7' back blade.

Sorry, the pics aren't great. It was a dreary, rainy day. I just had the tractor out to do a little grading of some crushed stone in the driveway. It's about all I've been able to use it for since our ground is so wet right now.

Here is my first custom mod. It's a 7-wire round trailer wire receptacle so I can have trailer lights for the few times I pull my firewood trailer down the road. I used a spare hole in the cab mount to attach the bracket, and spliced into the existing wiring so I have tail lights and turn signals. I ran all the extra wiring in the factory split loom so it looks factory installed.

Here is my two year old daughter enjoying Daddy's new tractor. I think she enjoys using it more than I do!

Here is my L3710 (SOLD) and my little girl.

Here is my L3710 and my firewood trailer. Not sure what that white stuff is on the ground.:confused3: Now that I have purchased a new tractor with a cab, it will probably never snow again at my house! We usually get at least a couple storms a year with drifts chest deep.

I haven't had much seat time in the new unit, but overall I think I will be really pleased with this tractor. My only gripes so far are the paint quality on the undercarriage. Underneath the tractor the gray paint seems really thin, and it's actually rusting lightly in places already. Also, when looking under the rear of the cab, there are several areas where the gray paint did not cover well as it was sprayed around things. I can see white primer in corners and behind hard hydraulic lines, etc. I guess I'll have to do a little touch up, which shouldn't be necessary on a 40k machine. Maybe I'm just being overly picky, but I don't recall my 3710 having the thin paint issues? Also, the hydro tranny seems different than my 3710. Maybe I'm just not used to it yet, but it doesn't seem as smooth. Situations like just backing out of the barn, there's a little lip on the edge of the concrete floor where it goes down to the gravel, and it seems to "coast" for a second and then catch itself, which jerks the machine. It also seems to coast down hill for a second when I let off the pedal, and then creep. My 3710 didn't do this. Again, maybe I'm just not used to it yet. Maybe the transmission needs to break in? My 3710 had just over 600 hrs when I bought it, so I have no idea what it was like when new.

Anyways, I can't wait to get some snow so I can test out my new toy, uh, I mean tool, in the snow. I'll get some pics with the blower on when we finally get enough snow to require it. This is the first winter I can ever remember where I didn't have to do any snow removal by now.

 

[beppington]

Beauty! :thumbsup:

 

[Grateful11]

Looks great to me! Have fun!

 

[Bob77064]

Congrats looks great, beautiful little girl.

 

[TripleR]

Very nice tractor and agree with Bob; beautiful little girl.:thumbsup:

 

[bigbull338]

thats a nice looking tractor,an your lil girl is a cutie.

 

[Mike_VT]

Nice machine, I jsut went from a L4330 gst to a L4740 hstc and although the machine is very nice, I too noticed the paint issues as well as am having a very hard time adjusting to the HST.

On the paint side of the equation, I had my dealer give me some of the gray paint and I have clean and touched up many areas.

Mike

 

[lawn_king]

Both beautys!

 

[4shorts]

Congrats on your new tractor. Your going to love the cab in these things. Power to spare and a machine that can do just about anything. Yes you'll see a few places underneath that the spray gun seemed to miss but on mine there was only two small areas. I just bought a few shaker cans of paint from my dealer andtouched them up and all was well. I still have a can and a half for other touch ups if need be.

I've been out snow clearing three times this week and really enjoy the machine. I'm up to 26 hours at this point.
You got two beauties my friend , your little girl and your new tractor. :thumbsup:

 

[greenrider1]

Thanks for all the replies. I think this tractor should fit my needs very well. We just got about one ft of snow on my hill that I will get to play in when I get home. I'd take some pics blowing snow, but it's already dark out, and I need to get the snow moved tonight so I can get to work tomorrow. We're supposed to get a little more tonight into tomorrow, and it's drifting pretty good. My little one in the picture is the youngest of my two daughters. She is daddy's little helper, and she loves tractors, especially ORANGE ones!

 

[greenrider1]

Nice machine, I jsut went from a L4330 gst to a L4740 hstc and although the machine is very nice, I too noticed the paint issues as well as am having a very hard time adjusting to the HST.

On the paint side of the equation, I had my dealer give me some of the gray paint and I have clean and touched up many areas.

Mike

I guess I feel better knowing mine isn't the only one with paint issues (maybe it wasn't built on a Friday), but I just feel this isn't acceptable for the premium the Kubota brand costs. I'll probably just get some paint and touch it up myself, as you did. I don't remember this being a problem on previous generations of Kubotas I have owned.

I hope it just takes me time to get used to this HST, even though my L3710 was HST as well. The HST on the L3710 just seemed smoother to me and less jerky. It also barely coasted on any type of incline when I would let off, even on steep hills it would just barely creep. The new one seems to almost free wheel a little, just for a second, when I let off on a slope. It's a little uncomfortable feeling, and then it jerks to a stop. Hopefully, with more seat time, I'll get used to it. Maybe it needs to break-in? Thanks for your comments.

 

[greenrider1]

Well I got home, hooked up the 3 pt blower, and went to work. What a machine! I only had about 1 ft of snow, with a few 2 ft deep, long drifts. My L3710 would bog down and I'd have to creep through any type of wet snow or anything over about 8-10". I couldn't get the rpm's to budge on the new one no matter how fast went. I found I could do my driveway by just looking in the rear view mirrors, which saves a lot of neck strain. The front and rear work lights are so bright, it's almost as easy as plowing in the daylight. I used to bundle up in multiple layers of clothing, and when I was done I was still cold and wet, with snow melting and running down my neck, and I looked like Frosty the Snowman. I cleared my driveway tonight in a sweatshirt and sneakers. Maybe I've just gotten soft? Did I mention this tractor is powerful? I can't wait to get a real snow storm and give it a workout.

 

[Railbender]

mr. 4shorts;
Thanks for all the help on the air ride seat. Got the seat pan altered and now got to position the seat in tractor, mark for holes and then install. Just my luck,
they, KUBOTA, are going to offer air ride seat as an option on Grand L tractors dealers receive next fall. This info came from my dealer today, stopped in to get some paint, and he was telling me this. Oh well, I'm not sorry i did mine. Maybe they'll come out with a retro-fit to fit some of the older models.