Neil (and all):
Let me say first that I have read many, many of your posts and they have been invaluable to me, as so many other posts here have been. Let me say secondly that I know that you have more tractor knowledge in your little pinky than I have in all of me. I sure do hesitate to "cross pens" with you on anything tractor-related, but that's what I'm going to do. Please take it in the spirit in which it is meant. As always, I never intend to be confrontational, disrespectful, or just plain "full of it" (or "full of myself", for that matter).
That said, I do have to offer a dissenting opinion about whether or not Kubota could obtain a LOT of valuable information from this, and probably other, tractor discussion websites. I know you pretty much said the same thing </font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's [TBN, internet] probably a great source of information for the marketing dept. I am sure they can get a good feeling for what features consumers see as important. )</font> I had a hard time squaring that with your lead-off comment though. </font><font color="blue" class="small">( I can tell you why. Its because they have no idea if what is posted here is really true or not. )</font> Even though my experience with tractors is limited, I have a lot of experience with people, and with machines, and with which end is up in general. I can do a pretty good job of separating the wheat from the chaff, and I have no doubt that many or most other people share that ability. If we couldn't, I don't we wouldn't all spend so much time here reading all these posts.
If someone is experiencing a loud, high-pitched noise from their hydro accompanied by a stalling condition, Kubota is not going to go out and redesign their tranny, only to find out the guy had his parking brake on. I think I, as well as Kubota, can get a decent handle on whether or not something has the "ring of truth" to it. I give you as an example all of Skypup/Thom's posts, and yours, and countless others.
At the risk of repeating myself, I would think that it's a hope of yours that people don't dismiss your posts because they can't tell if what you're saying is true or false. I share that hope for those (unfortunate few) who read my posts.
This thread,
Down to Orange , and the related one,
Calling all BXX30 owners with a PHD , which you participated in,
just might cause Kubota to re-think eliminating the foot clutch on future tractors.
This thread
NEW L4330 POWER QUESTION might get them thinking about a completely new line of tractors that I've always wished they would make. The first models would have engines in the 54-75 HP range, hydro option, stronger loaders like the ones on the "M"'s, stronger 3ph lift, available ag radials, and locking front differential like the larger "M" s (anyone else besides me want a 4WD tractor instead of a 3WD?). And before someone says "why not just offer hydro on the M's", these tractors would be articulated, just like the tractor of my dreams, the Holder 872H, and the Power-tracs, which have taken more than one previous Kubota owner out of the orange "fold". The Holders are very, very expensive, but I bet Kubota could make a similar machine for a lot less. Build it, and I bet they will come. Are you listening Kubota? I bought my 5030 because it was the biggest Kubota I could get with hydro. It fills most of my needs, but my next machine will be bigger, and have as many of the features I just described as possible. I'd love it to be a Kubota, but it's looking like it would be a Holder.
This an absolutely amazing website. I have never seen such a diverse, experienced, savvy, get-things-done, intelligent, informed, logical bunch in my entire life. I'd just like to stick up for every single person here and say that i think that your collective knowledge and wisdom IS valuable, and SHOULD be listened to by the people who are providing you with your machines. YOU are the ones who buy them, and keep the manufacturers in business. When I go to the power equipment store to buy a chain saw, I don't ask my dealer what saw to buy; I know what I need. And in the process of buying my tractor, the first tractor I ever owned, I never asked one single dealer what tractor I should buy. I knew what I wanted, right down to the block heater. And I did that based largely by reading the specs, but most importantly by reading thousands of posts right here on TBN. That was by far the single most important factor in my getting exactly the tractor I wanted and needed, having never before known much about tractors other than that they had 4 wheels and a thing called a three point hitch. Whether it's a chain saw, a tractor, or any other piece of equipment, I will buy it from the manufacturer who has figured out what I need. What better way for them to know what I need than for me to tell them?
I have seen so many comments on here that I really wished Kubota could see that I will probably end up calling them and doing my best to make sure that they do start reading this site, and maybe even having a Kubota representative as a member with whom we can exchange posts and PM's. I think their bottom line would go up as a result, I have little doubt about that.
I'll conclude by repeating a point. If it's so hard to obtain good, usable, reliable information on TBN, or on the internet in general, then what are we all doing here? And if people are as gullible and unable to separate good advice from bad as is being suggested here, I might just start having a little fun, and make my new "stock" answer to every question I ever see asked, "Hey, just hit it with the biggest sledgehammer you can find".