5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,943
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
</font><font color="blueclass=small">( $5,000 is a lot of cash, might be a good idea to take a closer look at the used model? )</font>
I traded in an L3710 HST on a 5030 HSTC. I liked the 3710 but of course I like the cab better. I never had any trouble with the 3710 and used it in our hay operation as well as for mowing and FEL work. I traded it in and it cost me about $4,000 to run it basically 4 seasons. I would recommend a 3710 Hydro except that the newer Kubota's have a different front axle setup which is a vast improvement over the 3710's axle. The 3710 uses a pittman arm type actuator for steering, while the newer tractors use a ram type actuator. The 3710' actuator was getting sloppy at 400 hrs. I was considering removing it and machining a bronze insert to alleviate the problem. If you go for the 3710, lay under the front of the tractor and have someone turn the steering whell back and forth while observing the cast arm that attaches to the steering pump to see how much movement there is in it. A little movement is acceptable, however, very much movement will equate to wheel shimmy while driving on pavement on hard dirt roads. It's sort of like a bad tie rod end. The cast arm is quite expensive and removal is a pretty involved teardown. Wear on the arm is more when a FEL is used on the tractor as it takes a lot of lateral force to steer the wheels with a load in the loader.
On the subject of taxes, we purchase all of our tractors and implements as ag., so we don't pay tax on purchases. If you want to go that route or if you can for that matter, you'd need an agricultrial exemption certificate.
Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.
I traded in an L3710 HST on a 5030 HSTC. I liked the 3710 but of course I like the cab better. I never had any trouble with the 3710 and used it in our hay operation as well as for mowing and FEL work. I traded it in and it cost me about $4,000 to run it basically 4 seasons. I would recommend a 3710 Hydro except that the newer Kubota's have a different front axle setup which is a vast improvement over the 3710's axle. The 3710 uses a pittman arm type actuator for steering, while the newer tractors use a ram type actuator. The 3710' actuator was getting sloppy at 400 hrs. I was considering removing it and machining a bronze insert to alleviate the problem. If you go for the 3710, lay under the front of the tractor and have someone turn the steering whell back and forth while observing the cast arm that attaches to the steering pump to see how much movement there is in it. A little movement is acceptable, however, very much movement will equate to wheel shimmy while driving on pavement on hard dirt roads. It's sort of like a bad tie rod end. The cast arm is quite expensive and removal is a pretty involved teardown. Wear on the arm is more when a FEL is used on the tractor as it takes a lot of lateral force to steer the wheels with a load in the loader.
On the subject of taxes, we purchase all of our tractors and implements as ag., so we don't pay tax on purchases. If you want to go that route or if you can for that matter, you'd need an agricultrial exemption certificate.
Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.
