Currently looking at an LS XG3135. I'm impressed for the most part.
I like that they replaced that old diesel (Mitsu? Shibaura :confused3
with a new engine containing technology not from when I Love Lucy was all the craze. Being a former arm of Hyundai, I suspect (hope) they have the engineering to do it right.
Anyway, pretend you're talking to a dummy because...... Well, I am when it comes to tractors.
And it's not so much that I'm
impressed by LS, it's more like I am seriously
UNimpressed by most of the other manufacturers. All of them actually.
After a year of researching and comparison I settled on the XG3135. Took possession of it this past Tuesday and put 17.5 hours on it in two days of operation. I was either going green, orange, or blue.... and I had a budget. The more I pay for the tractor, the less I have to spend on the barn and vice versa.
Hard decisions...
1) I went with Shuttle Shift over Hydro bc for the same money I could add third function hydraulics to the loader for future grapple bucket. Also, I've never owned or operated for any length of time a Hydro, so I didn't figure I'd know the difference. Also, there's a loss of a couple of hp to the PTO on hydro and I'm mainly bush hogging on slopes and hills. If you were cutting fine grass on flat surfaces you'd probably not know the difference.
2) I eliminated JD when I operated the loader. In the 3 family series the bucket will only operate one direction at a time, you can lift, curl, but cannot lift and curl.
3) Local orange dealer wanted more with one implement than LS wanted with four implements. The
L3301 was less HP than the LS 35hp. I operated both, i have a very picky friend that has an LS for a couple of years and he's very pleased with it.
4) the local orange dealer is also a New Holland dealer. I noticed that every one of those blue tractors had a sticker on the back saying they were made by LS.
In researching, I also looked at the customer satisfaction of the New Holland TC35 which is basically the same as the XG3135. The price was the final deal breaker. If I was using it on a commercial farm etc. or financing it I might have gone with the Kubota, but that extra hp and loader lift capacity was something that appealed to me. Plus, I saved a couple thousand dollars for the new barn.
What I don't like about this model....
1) no tool box. Easy fix. I'll add one.
2) no retractable seat belt. I'll replace that soon.
3) lack of information out there on mods/changes others have done on the tractor such as light installs etc.
4) very sensitive loader hydraulics, but I'm getting used to them.
5) no extendable lower arms on three point hitch, but I've never had them anyway, nice option to upgrade to in the future.
6) that darn beeper every time I park while running, but I'm getting the hang of that too.
7) no remote lever at the rear for 3 point hitch, but it's easy enough to reach from the side.
8) three point hitch shudders sometimes, but it seems to be working itself out. Gotta get that valve adjusted just right.
9) there's so many folks out there that own green/orange that shake their heads and tell you why their tractor is better than yours. But I need to work on my pride anyway.
10) Location of fuel tank behind seat. Easy enough to fill up, but takes away from being able to add a tool basket to the ROPS and still fuel up without removing the basket - there may be a work around I've not figured out yet.
11) No grab handle on the right side. I always enter/exit on the left, but when brush cutting on a slope I would like to have something to hold onto. The holes are there and a new one is less than $10. I'll add one later.
It is a very basic tractor which looks great and is comfortable. The shuttle shift feels basic but that's not a bad thing. The three point stops on the control levers feel cheap and plastic. If money wasn't an issue I probably would have gone with the XJR or whatever that cadillac version of this tractor is - it has tool box, cup holders, extendable draw arms, etc.
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
