Oh! This seems nice.

[varmint]

Okay, I will start this by saying I am a Kubota guy. But, I stumbled across this Deere video, watched it, and thought that Deere seems to have something pretty nice here! I don't know what they cost, (the dealer in the video stated they cost more) and I gotta admit I am not up on Kubota's equivalent tractors (looking at new tractors can be dangerous and costly; I try to avoid it) so maybe this machine simply represents CUT SOTA features, but I was impressed. Have at it, experts- I'm all for learning about tractors!

John Deere 3R series Tractor - YouTube

 

[s219]

They are nice tractors, but not anything remarkable in that size class. I think almost every brand has a few solid offerings in this size.

 

[KennyG]

I was thinking just some more bells and whistles until he got to the auto throttle and roll out. Looks like great features and I haven't seen those on other compact tractors.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

Looked at the 3 family a lot while comparing to Kubota and Massey. The E series they say cant have a back hoe from the factory. The R can. You should make a trip to your dealer and have a good look at them. Nice tractor, but mainly it is the electronics that make it so nice. Advanced cruise control on the Deere is awesome. But the driver station just feels cheap and under engineered. For every cool thing, there seems a blunder thing to counter it to keep the price in check.

 

[Wagtail]

Oooooh... SHINY! :dance1:

The roll-out stop feature is nice, as is the rev-increase/decrease.

The FEL attach demonstrated is what I have on my 300CX, but you're still going to have to get off your arse and remove the locking pins prior to dropping and then replace the locking pins when you're picked up the 'new' implement.

 

[k0ua]

I was thinking just some more bells and whistles until he got to the auto throttle and roll out. Looks like great features and I haven't seen those on other compact tractors.

The Kubota HST+ includes both of those features plus many more. One of the more important ones on the HST+ is the ability to have a high and low "range" within a gear range that you can select on the go from a column mounted lever. This is accomplished with another variable swash plate on the motor side of the hydrostat. In actual usage most operators never need to change gear ranges for most loader work. Just stay in Med. range and use the high/low to change from more torque needed to push into the pile and switch on the fly to high range for higher speed transport. The Kubota HST+ is the most feature laden HST transmission on the market and as far as I know, no other manufacture comes close to offering all these kind of features.

He did not mention one important feature that tractor was lacking. Telescoping lower links. Of course they would be happy to sell you the JD quick hitch to get around that issue. Or perhaps the telescoping lower links are available as an option.

Also he did not get off of the tractor when demonstrating the ability to change from bucket to forks and back. Of course you would need to fasten the pins on the JD quick attach, just like you would need to get off of the tractor to operate the levers/lever of a SSQA system. My concern is that a newby would not realize that you must dismount and remount the tractor each time to change front implements.

 

[k0ua]

Oooooh... SHINY! :dance1:

The roll-out stop feature is nice, as is the rev-increase/decrease.

The FEL attach demonstrated is what I have on my 300CX, but you're still going to have to get off your arse and remove the locking pins prior to dropping and then replace the locking pins when you're picked up the 'new' implement.

You beat me to it!

 

[fried1765]

I was thinking just some more bells and whistles until he got to the auto throttle and roll out. Looks like great features and I haven't seen those on other compact tractors.

Lots of fancy gee whiz goodies!
Does it have an electronically actuated heated/chilled cup holder too?
Better also buy a good quality equipment trailer, with a cash box attached.
Even the most minor repairs will require trips to the dealer! (fill the cash box first)

 

[Paystar]

Oooooh... SHINY! :dance1:

The roll-out stop feature is nice, as is the rev-increase/decrease.

The FEL attach demonstrated is what I have on my 300CX, but you're still going to have to get off your arse and remove the locking pins prior to dropping and then replace the locking pins when you're picked up the 'new' implement.

Exactly. Kubota has it all also. And you don't even have to get off the Grand L to change loader quick attach buckets, blades and forks if you get their optional hydraulic quick attach through your third function.
I also think the old Auto-Hitch and the new K-Connect front quick attach setups are a step above also.

 

[Looking4new]

I see more electric gee-gaws to corrode and screw up and at a higher price, too!

 

[varmint]

Like I said, I stay away from looking at new tractors. I did know about the Kubota auto throttle, but not the adjustable roll out. And, I just learned about the Kubota SSQA hydraulic lock function. That would be very nice if you went back and forth between buckets and forks or whatever. It is only money. Deezl, you make a good point- even in the video, I thought the switchgear looked like possible trouble in time and weather. This must be the future, but I don't think fixing things in your shop/barn is going to be so easy with all the electronics and complexity... Dealer diagnostics will be required, and circuitry replacement. Hmmmm- wonder if this is cleverly planned to help dealers make money??

 

[Leejohn]

Kubota's GL's have all that and more.

 

[k0ua]

Like I said, I stay away from looking at new tractors. I did know about the Kubota auto throttle, but not the adjustable roll out. And, I just learned about the Kubota SSQA hydraulic lock function. That would be very nice if you went back and forth between buckets and forks or whatever. It is only money. Deezl, you make a good point- even in the video, I thought the switchgear looked like possible trouble in time and weather. This must be the future, but I don't think fixing things in your shop/barn is going to be so easy with all the electronics and complexity... Dealer diagnostics will be required, and circuitry replacement. Hmmmm- wonder if this is cleverly planned to help dealers make money??

On the older '40 series of Grand L's it was a knob much like the JD shown in the video, but the newer '60 series it is a menu function.

 

[TripleR]

Nice tractor indeed, but with the caveats mentioned. No doubt features add complexity, but I'll gladly live with it just as I do those on my car and truck.

My brother and his son rebuilt older model Chevy trucks for several years and while they looked great, one drive down the road makes most of us forget about the good ole days of simplicity.

 

[Buppies]

Nice tractor indeed, but with the caveats mentioned. No doubt features add complexity, but I'll gladly live with it just as I do those on my car and truck.

My brother and his son rebuilt older model Chevy trucks for several years and while they looked great, one drive down the road makes most of us forget about the good ole days of simplicity.

You are correct the difference between a 1989 Chevy 4wd drive pickup and a 2016 Ford night and day in ride and fuel economy. The electronics that control cars today can and do break but to be able to computer change transmission in an 8 speed is mind bogging to me

 

[rgr33]

If I was in the market for a new tractor, I would at least give that model a look. John Deere doesn't get much love on this forum, but I have a 30 year old 950 workhorse that never causes me any problems, and is always ready to go when it's needed. I absolutely love that Yanmar motor. I wonder if the LS will be up to that when it's that same age.
As always with JD, the price would probably be the problem, I wish they were a bit more competitive.

 

[Wagtail]

Lots of fancy gee whiz goodies!
Does it have an electronically actuated heated/chilled cup holder too?
Better also buy a good quality equipment trailer, with a cash box attached.
Even the most minor repairs will require trips to the dealer! (fill the cash box first)

Do you mean to tell me that your tractors don't have this feature!? :melodramatic:

 

[k0ua]

Do you mean to tell me that your tractors don't have this feature!? :melodramatic:

That does sound like a nice feature, and would not be expensive or complicated with a peltier module under it.

Thermoelectric effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[fried1765]

Do you mean to tell me that your tractors don't have this feature!? :melodramatic:

No they don't,...... but I am now wondering if there might be an aftermarket kit.

 

[AxleHub]

Varmint,

Couple things about the video . . 32 hp but the rear pto was down to 24 hp. Seemed more drop than I might have expected.

Didn't like placement of joystick at all . . If on the fender its ok . . If on stanchion its ok but He was hitting his leg with it and it appeared to completely block access on the right hand side..

Quick attach seemed fine but that horizintal control panel on his right side better not be on anything but a cab unit because ice and snow are not going to treat it well imo.

Seemed like a nice tractor but so are the Kubota and Massey units in same size category. We all like different things