To buy or not to buy..the L35

[waredaman]

I have lived on a 200 acre farm in Massachusetts for 39 years. This year is my 40th birthday. This year I am buying a tractor! My die hard father and then my die hard self have been clearing land (about 10 acres) by hand with everything from ponies to a 1936 worthington (ford model B) doodlebug to a 1964 gravely. After much looking I have found an L35 with 718 hours. It has a hydraulic thumb and a brush hog and I am thinking of offering 19k. I have two concerns...

Is 35hp enough to run the brush hog efficiently? I am pretty sure it is since the guy who owns it said it was and bought it.

There is a leak in the passenger side axle. Looks really small and I wouldnt have noticed it if the tractor wasn't on an immaculate concrete floor.

Do you think that the backhoe infastructure will get hung up in the woods...other forums spoke to this and it never seemed to get answered.

Would I be better off just buying a new Kubota? I went to a dealer today to ask about the L35 and looked at the 34 and 44 series. The backhoe attachments don't seem as rugged plus I will need 10k more.

Also...how can you tell what 90% tires is when you may be looking a 50%...guess I should have compared with a new tractor today but had a touch of information overload.

Thanks for the help....

 

[BruceWard]

I have spent many hours in rough woods with my B21. The backhoe does tend to run into trees but it is amazing at getting the tractor out of tight, muddy, slippery and bumpy places.

How big is your brush hog? My family raised cattle on close to 600 acres until about 10 years ago. We used a 6' brush hog on a 40 HP gas tractor without any problem.

If you do not need the FEL or brush hog and your main use is digging or pulling then your $19K would be better spent on a tracked excavator.

 

[Stonehaller]

I used to use a 60 inch brush hog on 1953 Jubilee which is about the same horse power as the L35. The tractor handled it fine.

The L35 is more of an engineered TLB so it's backhoe is larger than the addons for the L3400. You would have to look at B26 or L45 if you wanted a comparable new tractor. You might even find an old stock L39. You are looking at double the money for a new TLB tractor, however.

 

[jerrykn]

The L35 is a solid machine, I picked up one last year,
As far asthe BH causing a problem in the woods it only takes 5 minutes to remove it if you don't need it. If you need it you can use it to move your unit if you get stuck. There isn't that much of a clearance problem since it is eng to have a BH- some add on BH stick out a ways and can hang up on very uneven terrain.
Also if you buy one make sure you get the 3pt arms for it.

What is the condition.hours and price for the one you are looking at?
Jerry

 

[waredaman]

I bought it. I had to act quickly as another guy was interested and I didn't want to lose out. Its a 96 with 714 hours. It has a hydraulic thumb, the soft cab, quick disconnect loader, three front buckets 62,66, and a snow bucket (72?). It also came with an adjustable front fork assembly, two brush hogs, one a newer Alamo and one a beater for rocks, a york rake, and a broadcast spreader. It took two tandem axle trailers and two pickups to get it all home. It also had the repair manual and all the operator manuals and thank god it had the PTO arms. I paid $20,500 which made me gulp but I think I did O.K. Just need to fix the weeping seal in the front driveshaft. Thanks for all the suggestions and for all the info on your site.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Did you have to hold a gun to the guys head? Sounds like you got a great deal. Keep it greased and full of fuel as you will be using it alot.

 

[BruceWard]

You got a great deal. Enjoy!

 

[Whitey]

Be careful..........the L35 is a great machine......I would check the PTO out put before buying...........I know my B21 has very little PTO out the rear end!

 

[hitekcountry]

GREAT!!

I'll bet you it won't be long before you'll be saying --I should have gotten one of these a long time ago!!!!

Stay safe.

 

[mike69440]

Be careful..........the L35 is a great machine......I would check the PTO out put before buying...........I know my B21 has very little PTO out the rear end!

.
L35 has a lt more PTO, near 30 Hp I think, than the B21. I Would not worry