PLEASE HELP- KUBOTA L2800DT or Massey 1528

[Huntthomas]

Looking for some help, I am stuck between these too tractors, Kubota L2800DT or the Massey Ferguson 1528. Both are manual stick. Both are the same horsepower, and price, both come with 5' rotary cutters, and the dealerships are both only about 20 miles away. I will be working in the woods, bush hooging and alot of loader work. Any help, or advise would be great.
Thans Tom

 

[jbrumberg]

Huntthomas:

Welcome to TBN ! I have a tractor in the same size and performance range and have similar uses including tilling. If you are going to use the FEL a lot I would recommend that you reconsider an HST. I had a gear driven tractor before I upgraded and I feel HST makes FEL work a lot easier. I can not comment on the PTO power loss with HST, but I can say that I have had no difficulty powering my PTO driven attachments. Keep the posts coming . Jay

 

[ChuckinNH]

Though I have no experience with either tractor, I have driven both. I like the Kubota except for the fact that the PTO is strictly transmission driven so any time you push in the clutch, the PTO stops. I believe that the Massey uses a two stage clutch so the tractor can be stopped, gears shifted, etc. while the PTO remains running. For me that would be a big deal, and probably the deciding factor if I am correct.

 

[lwschnell]

I recently traded my L2800DT for an L3130. There were two reasons for this. First, the L2800DT PTO is direct drive with overrun. When using a "brush hog" this can be a significant disadvantage in that whenever the clutch is disengaged power is disconnected from both the transmission & PTO. When working in confined spaces or around obstacles the PTO is frequently allowed to wind down as you change directions, etc. then is rapidly reengaged when the clutch is let out. Needless to say that placed significant and frequent stress on the PTO & attached implement. I'm not familiar with the Massey 1528; but if it has a two stage clutch that would be greatly preferred as the transmission is disengaged when the clutch is initially pressed down (1st stage) then the PTO is disengaged when the clutch is fully depressed (2nd stage). Thus the PTO can remain engaged while stopping, changing gears, etc.

The other reason for trading the L2800 is that the 3PT lift operated in discrete steps. When lifting an attached implement it therefore comes up either at full speed or in discrete steps that measured about 1" each at the edge on my rear blade. This is particularly bad when a heavy implement such as a brush hog is attached. Ideally one wants the 3PT to lift smoothly at a rate proportional to how quickly the control lever is being moved.

Other than the above I was very pleased with the overall performance and ergonomics of the L2800DT.

 

[teg]

Go with the Massey...

 

[RoyJackson]

I do want to clarify one thing.
There's enough inertia in brush cutter blades to keep them spinning quite a while. Declutching long enough to shift gears isn't near enough to be concerned about a cutter spinning down...and the minor slowing of the blades won't present a shock load to your cutter gearbox or tractor PTO.
So, a transmmission driven PTO wouldn't be any problem...not with a cutter (or with a finishing mower).

FEL work...depends on how big a hurry you are. Again, shifts are quick, so you might lose 2 or 3 seconds...but that's all.

As far as which tractor...sounds like a coin flip. Which one is more comfortable for you?

 

[Shimon]

Go with the L3400DT which will have a two-stage clutch so the you can shift without slowing down the PTO.

 

[JerryG]

Get either a two stage clutch or a independent PTO tractor. The only reason that I can see for even making a tractor without one of those is to cut the cost of the tractor.

 

[canoetrpr]

The other reason for trading the L2800 is that the 3PT lift operated in discrete steps. When lifting an attached implement it therefore comes up either at full speed or in discrete steps that measured about 1" each at the edge on my rear blade. This is particularly bad when a heavy implement such as a brush hog is attached. Ideally one wants the 3PT to lift smoothly at a rate proportional to how quickly the control lever is being moved.

lwschnell... I imagine you know about the 3PT valve issue that the L3400 and L2800 have / had? Mine did this 1" thing also and the valve was changed under warranty and it is much smoother... albeit it still does seem to move up in increments.

Just wondering whether you were unsatisfied with the behaviour after the valve change or before?

Also - I am intersted in knowing what sort of a trade in deal they gave you on a slightly used machine (assuming you didn't have too many hours on it). I have often wondered if the dealer would depreciate a tractor tremendously because has been taken off the lot even if it has very low hours.