Last October, N80, I was asking almost the same question as you; it was, "What's wrong with the
L4300?". Had an opportunity to buy one at closeout (the L4400s were comin') prices. Saw very little about it here on TBN and was suspicious. Turns out there was nothing to fear.
Took delivery of the
L4300 in December and couldn't be happier. Truly a 'Bang for the Buck' tractor.
Comparing the specs, the
L4400 will be a little heavier, a little bigger, with improved engine access, a little more hydraulic pump capacity and the same engine. The
L4400 will also have a more sophisticated transmission with 4 reverse speeds (compared to the L4300s 2 reverse speeds) plus a basic shuttle shift capability.
That said, the
L4300 has done everything I want and more besides. The limited hydraulic pump capacity is nothing to fear. The FEL moves plenty quick at engine speeds above 1500 RPM and, even at idle speed, has enough muscle to lift the rear of the tractor off the ground (with loaded rears).
So far I've used the tractor to move snow with a 7' back blade, pull out small trees and cut brush with a 6' Woods Brush Bull 720. It has plenty of power and moved snow easily with the engine barely above idle.
Final drive to the rear wheels is via spur-cut bull gears. They are noisy. However, I really don't notice the noise in low range. In high range you will definitely hear them and it may be annoying if your work requires alot of road travel.
Other than noise, there's nothing wrong with bull gear final drives. As I recall the old 2 cylinder Johnny Poppers were built that way and we all know that they weren't quitters. Spur gears are alot less expensive than the planetary gear sets used on the up-scale equipment. For the work I do, they're not an issue and I'm glad for the savings.
The one significant drawback to the
L4300 is the limited selection of reverse speeds. Even the low range reverse is too fast in my book. I couldn't hope to use a 3-pt. mounted snow blower on it. But the
L4400 should correct this deficiency with four reverse speeds.
Another advantage of a basic tractor like the
L4300/
L4400 compared to the duded up Grand L Series is that you'll be more likely to work it than protect it. It's simple and solid without much to break. Kubota builds them well so it should work 'out of the box' without fussin', fiddlin' or calls to the dealer. In much of the world, basic tractors are the rule and probably Kubota's bread-and-butter tractors. Here they're the exception.
Things I really like about the
L4300: low, compact profile with sidemounted exhaust (nice around trees), verrrry smooooth engine (Kubota knows how to make 'em), very quick starting (even when cold), tight turning radius, independent hydraulic PTO, strong FEL, good low-end power, excellent traction in 4WD (Loaded R1s in rear) and very good fuel economy.
As good as my
L4300 is, I can't believe you would be unhappy with the
L4400, it being more tractor and all.
FWIW
Bob
