NO STEP ??

rScotty · May 17, 2017

Kubota makes nice tractors, but some things are just downright odd.

Like most of us tractor guys, I normally get on the tractor from the left side. But not surprisingly every once in a while there's a reason to get on or off from the right. The problem is that just where most anyone would like to put their foot to get onto the tractor from that side there is this thin flimsy sheet metal hose cover wearing a decal saying, "NO STEP".....while of course the other side sports simple welded steps that have no problem protecting things like a tool box, battery, and 3pt point parts.

Design oddities like this one always mystify me. Why go to the trouble and expense of putting a useless cover on one side instead of a useful step?
rScotty

Wagtail · May 17, 2017

Aerodynamics.

Baby Grand · May 17, 2017

Just like a horse.
Otherwise, you'd spook the tractor.
-Jim

oosik · May 17, 2017

My tractor - right side entrance - you slip, you risk getting "knobbed".

PJSprog · May 17, 2017

oosik said:
My tractor - right side entrance - you slip, you risk getting "knobbed".

Hahaha ... yup, same here. :shocked: The joystick mount on mine sticks out so far from the fender that the right-side door and step are nearly useless.

Shaneard · May 17, 2017

Every time I get on our Ford tractor from the right side it "cops a feel" with the loader joystick.

Fallon · May 17, 2017

The HST go pedal is there in addition to the loader joystick. So ya, definitely don't want to spook the tractor.

Amusingly enough my nephew has the same rule on his Pegpergo electric John Deere tractor (there aren't any Kubota electric tractors or I'd have gotten him a proper orange one instead). Same reason too. If you get on from the right you hit the go pedal...

dfkrug · May 17, 2017

rScotty said:
Design oddities like this one always mystify me. Why go to the trouble and expense of
putting a useless cover on one side instead of a useful step?

That's a bit surprising with the M59, a deluxe Kubota. The "budget" Kubotas have
smaller operator's area and right hand access is very poor. The Grand-Ls are
much better.

I need to get on both sides of my Kioti, as I am building mountain trails, and
often get penned in on the left.

TripleR · May 17, 2017

Our L5740 and M8540 have steps on both sides fortunately. I have seen guys add steps to their tractors.

Thomas · May 17, 2017

On my tractor left side on/off other side joystick throttle to deal with,getting throttle lever caught in jacket does increase RPM's a lot.

Notlaker · May 17, 2017

The bosses son took an advanced course in business admin.
After graduating, his father invited him into the business to help reduce expenses. On the first day, he found online a big savings in those NO STEP stickers that you see there. Feeling motivated, he bought a large batch of them and went and applied some to the tractors out in the lot. His father came by his office a week later after one of his customers had called inquiring as to why there was a NO STEP sticker on the side. The customer said that the metal underneath the sticker was perfectly capable of holding up his weight, all 280 pounds of him. The father brought this matter to his son who after hearing his father relate the customer's story went and changed the metal underneath to a more suitable thickness so that the sticker now made sense.

Deere Dude · May 17, 2017

Getting up on the right side is 40% ouch and 60% ahhh.

BrokeFarmerJohn · May 17, 2017

My 4320 is basically left side only, no step on the right side. On the right side I would have to fight the directional peddles and joystick/ plastic dash, I have never even tried to climb up on that side.

rScotty · May 18, 2017

BrokeFarmerJohn said:
My 4320 is basically left side only, no step on the right side. On the right side I would have to fight the directional peddles and joystick/ plastic dash, I have never even tried to climb up on that side.

Interesting that you should say that. I began to wonder about that same thing last time I stopped by the JD dealer to look at new models. My initial impression was that while we had been away, JD had been busy making all of their medium sized tractors just a little more compact than they used to be. For us they had become just too tight; the new models felt claustrophobic - not at all like our experience with older JDs that had the luxury of lots of platform space. In fact, that lack of comfort is what led my wife and I to stop by the Massey dealership that day.....and eventually to the Kubota dealership.

Yep, there are right-hand controls to dodge, but there's still plenty of space on our Kubota or older JD to get on or off either side.

BrokeFarmerJohn · May 18, 2017

It's funny, this issue of climbing on both sides have never crossed my mind nor has never bothered me. Before this thread that is lol

PJSprog · May 18, 2017

BrokeFarmerJohn said:
My 4320 is basically left side only, no step on the right side.

I've seen where other members here have removed their right-side steps and replaced them with a metal toolbox. I've been considering this, too. Would make a great chain storage box location.

FatTire · May 18, 2017

rScotty said:
Interesting that you should say that. I began to wonder about that same thing last time I stopped by the JD dealer to look at new models. My initial impression was that while we had been away, JD had been busy making all of their medium sized tractors just a little more compact than they used to be. For us they had become just too tight; the new models felt claustrophobic - not at all like our experience with older JDs that had the luxury of lots of platform space. In fact, that lack of comfort is what led my wife and I to stop by the Massey dealership that day.....and eventually to the Kubota dealership.

Yep, there are right-hand controls to dodge, but there's still plenty of space on our Kubota or older JD to get on or off either side.

Are you shopping for a new tractor? Or just "looking"?

Gary Fowler · May 18, 2017

PJSprog said:
I've seen where other members here have removed their right-side steps and replaced them with a metal toolbox. I've been considering this, too. Would make a great chain storage box location.

That is exactly what I did with my LS. Even though my FEL joystick is not sticking out like some tractors and it is gear drive so no go pedal to worry about, it was a bit cumbersome to get off on the right side compared to the left. I think this is because the console is a bit more forward on that side to accommodate the FEL joystick. My tool box is much more handy than the step.

dfkrug · May 18, 2017

PJSprog said:
I've seen where other members here have removed their right-side steps
and replaced them with a metal toolbox. I've been considering this, too. Would make a great chain
storage box location.

That's an interesting modification. I notice that my Kioti CK30's right side step was deleted in the redesign
to the CK3510. But no toolbox to replace it.