Cahaba Valley Farm
Veteran Member
I feel this statement is true for any tractor buyer.I would not buy it unless you try it as you want to use it...
I feel this statement is true for any tractor buyer.I would not buy it unless you try it as you want to use it...
That is what mostly turned me off to Kubota. What a lot of people don't understand about the pricing differences between the Deere 3E series and the Kubota standard L series is the quality of the transmissions.Had a Kubota HST and sold it after 35 hours because of the transmission whine.
Brambleberry, I think one of the biggest reasons you don't see people choosing them anymore is the price difference between a GST and Kubota's top of the line HST+ is only about a $1000. Another thing to consider is GST is the best technology in gear drive transmissions but would hardly compare to the lowest technology in hydrostat transmissions. The efficiency is good but is outperformed by the HST all day long. You do get a few more ponies on the PTO and more pulling power but for most peoples application they lose to the ease of use, control and efficiency of the HST.I'm looking hard at an L5030 that has the GST transmission. Our local Kubota dealership salesman told me that GST wasn't the best transmission but then kinda evaded further comment on it besides it being harder and more expensive to work on if something breaks.
Is this something to be concerned about as I shop for a used Kubota?
Thanks!
Exactly and most of the issues I've read about on various forums involve the sensors and switches and it's difficult to diagnose an issue. Think I'd get the HST and be done with it, not that I like them all that much either. I run straight geared transmission with wet clutch packs and no dry clutch at all. The major failure point is always the dry clutch. It will always fail at some point and requires a spit to repair. No dry clutch equals no failure point to address down the road.The Glideshift is a VERY complicated transmission. I would say it is the most complicated transmission type that Kubota offers. ( a hydrostat could not hold a candle to the glideshifts complexity) I have studied the service manual for hours and I still don't fully understand it. So yes I suppose it might be harder to work on of any transmission and might be expensive. BUT in all of my findings it is also a VERY reliable transmission. So I would look at it this way, it is not likely to break, but IF it does, yes you are probably gonna pay.
Wow! Was it my post #26 above that set this off? I wasn't promoting Deere if that's what did it.Not a clue. I don't bleed green anything. Too expensive and the local Deere dealer is the pits anyway. Have more turnover than a supermarket has grocery buyers.
I'm looking hard at an L5030 that has the GST transmission. Our local Kubota dealership salesman told me that GST wasn't the best transmission but then kinda evaded further comment on it besides it being harder and more expensive to work on if something breaks.
Is this something to be concerned about as I shop for a used Kubota?
Thanks!
No, it's just the way he rolls.Wow! Was it my post #26 above that set this off? I wasn't promoting Deere if that's what did it.