ZD331 & F3860 comparisons

   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #1  

Hay Dude

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3 miles from where the gun was discarded
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Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, (2) Kubota ZD331’s, 2020 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, Deere CX-15, Pottinger Hay mowers
I just bought a ZD331 and put bar tires on it to improve traction.
My dealer has an above average condition 2008 F-3680 with 1500 hours on it. Looks in about "B" condition (A-F). It was stored inside. He is asking a fair price and will fully service it. Could probably use tires.
I demoed it in mid-height grass. The rear discharge deck is in good shape and cuts good. 4WD engages when wheels are straight and pushes the machine uphill pretty well, albeit some strain. It does leave a fairly noticeable mark on the grass on tight uphill turns, but that could be from my grand total of 5 minutes of seat time.

I know most of the differences between these units, but what are some of the more subtle differences I wont know until I buy (if I buy) it?

Basics I see right away are compared to my ZD331, its 5 more HP, has a 4cyl engine versus 3 cylinder, 4WD, sits higher, and has rear discharge deck. I also thought the seat was more comfy despite my ZD331 being several years newer.

I would love to have the optional 100" mower, but whoa are they expensive!
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #2  
The F is another step up from the Z. I've owned a couple of Zs (Small Z and ZD326) and waiting on my 4th F to arrive from Kubota. trading in my 225 hr F3080 to a new 0 hours F2690 with Barlows so my trade in is available.
The F will go up and down steep hills with total control and even able to stop the F on a steep hill and back up or go forward. The F is less likely to slip side ways on a hill than a Z. the F is faster cutting open land/fields. The seat is usually more comfortable on an F. The F will mow under a tree/shrub the depth of the mowing deck. The F deck will stand straight up for servicing.
The rear discharge deck is my choice having owned both many times for many years. My new ordered F has aside discharge since that is what the dealer has on hand but I demanded a mulching kit be added which he is doing. No mulching kit, no side discharge. I like mowing on both sides of a deck and hate grass blowing on me. The rear discharge doesn't row going in all different no pattern mowing like the side discharge deck on normal high grass. All decks windrow on high grass.
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #3  
ZD331 & F3860 comparisons

I’ve never used a 4wd F, but my Grasshopper is better in most ways compared to a 2wd F. Probably my single biggest complaint is the lack of an on the fly height adjustment on the F. I change the deck height all the time and I’d be about as inclined to loose 3 out of 5 gears in my truck as give up the height adjustment.
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #4  
Re: ZD331 & F3860 comparisons

I’ve never used a 4wd F, but my Grasshopper is better in most ways compared to a 2wd F. Probably my single biggest complaint is the lack of an on the fly height adjustment on the F. I change the deck height all the time and I’d be about as inclined to loose 3 out of 5 gears in my truck as give up the height adjustment.



Interesting, I hardly ever change the height adjustment.

The only trouble I have had with 2wd hopper is the aggressive bar tires (witch are needed for traction due to 2wd). You really need to pay attention when turning or driving uphill on wet ground, otherwise they will easily chew up the grass and make a mess.
This is why I bought used 4wd F3060 with turf tires as a second mower.
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons
  • Thread Starter
#5  
I set out looking for a F3680, but couldn't find one, so I bought the ZD331. 2 weeks later, my dealer got an F3680 in on trade....figures.
I want to own 2 mowers since its a business. If I drop the hammer on the 3680 and use it for a few weeks, I wonder if I'll find myself liking the F3680 better? It reminds me of the "old days" in the early 90's when I ran a 2WD Hustler with a diesel engine, but the 3680 is much nicer and has 4wd.
I have to mow steep banks and I dont like the jittery, unsettling feeling of the ZT331. I know it wont flip, but it'll slide and get going downhill in a hurry. The bar tires I just added will help a lot over the junky turfs it had, but now I'll have to be very careful with bar tires on weak/soft areas near the buildings where customers can see. :)
Thinking the F3680 will do as good or better with 4WD and turf tires and be a little more predictable on the steep hills.
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #6  
I have used my F3060 only for few hours so far but my impression is that the large front wheels have an excellent traction and have not really needed the 4wd at all yet, other than trying it out.

Around here (Pacific Northwest) used commercial Diesel mowers for sale are not easy to find and used Kubota F mowers for sale are nowhere to be found!
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #7  
I found my F series to be tippy. Maybe a 3860 is better than a 2560. My Grasshopper wheelbase is 18” wider and the operator seat is a lot lower and the engine is mounted lower over a not pivoting axel and the big heavy deck is carried not pushed. All in all it’s a much more stable platform. I’ve come close to rolling the F on hills that the Grasshopper runs.
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #8  
I set out looking for a F3680, but couldn't find one, so I bought the ZD331. 2 weeks later, my dealer got an F3680 in on trade....figures.
I want to own 2 mowers since its a business. If I drop the hammer on the 3680 and use it for a few weeks, I wonder if I'll find myself liking the F3680 better? It reminds me of the "old days" in the early 90's when I ran a 2WD Hustler with a diesel engine, but the 3680 is much nicer and has 4wd.
I have to mow steep banks and I dont like the jittery, unsettling feeling of the ZT331. I know it wont flip, but it'll slide and get going downhill in a hurry. The bar tires I just added will help a lot over the junky turfs it had, but now I'll have to be very careful with bar tires on weak/soft areas near the buildings where customers can see. :)
Thinking the F3680 will do as good or better with 4WD and turf tires and be a little more predictable on the steep hills.

The 4wd F will do a better job on steep hills going up and going down with total control. I owned a 2wd F and then a 4wd F and then a ZD Kubota and then back to a 4wd F and added a small Kubota gas Z and now ordered another 4wd F. The Z is faster around rental units but nowhere else. The F is a sort of auto all wheel drive with a lever that changes to more 4wd and then a diff pedal that makes it really dig in on super super steep hills where the Z will feel like it is flipping over backwards. The F will not go flying down a steep hill like the Zs on slightly tall slick grass. The F will reach under places to mow where the Z will not. The F cost more and is more. The Z is fun for awhile but as the clock ticks on the F outshines the whippy zippy bouncing sliding fun machine. On a small down town fairly flat home yard with shrubs and trees and building the Z would be the choice but open acres with any steep areas the F wins hands down, different league.
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #9  
I had a zd326 then moved to the F2690 with 72 inch side discharge, but added the mulching kit. This is the mower I have been waiting for. Using the 72 inch deck with a mulching kit the F seems a little underpowered when mowing through thick grass. 85% of the time it is great. If I had to do it over it would be with a 60 inch side discharge with mulching kit. No sliding on mowing ditches like on the zero turn, with the 72 inch deck I don't have to get into the bottom of the ditch either. Another thing I like is during spring the bottom of the ditches are pretty wet I can go straight down into the ditch with the front of the mower and keep that mowed, eliminates a lot of weed eating (hate that).

Wife mows with the bx2680 and I mow with the F. Both with mulching kits, so we are both happy.

JT is your new F a 2690 instead of a 2990 or did you get something new out?
 
   / ZD331 & F3860 comparisons #10  
I had a zd326 then moved to the F2690 with 72 inch side discharge, but added the mulching kit. This is the mower I have been waiting for. Using the 72 inch deck with a mulching kit the F seems a little underpowered when mowing through thick grass. 85% of the time it is great. If I had to do it over it would be with a 60 inch side discharge with mulching kit. No sliding on mowing ditches like on the zero turn, with the 72 inch deck I don't have to get into the bottom of the ditch either. Another thing I like is during spring the bottom of the ditches are pretty wet I can go straight down into the ditch with the front of the mower and keep that mowed, eliminates a lot of weed eating (hate that).

Wife mows with the bx2680 and I mow with the F. Both with mulching kits, so we are both happy.

JT is your new F a 2690 instead of a 2990 or did you get something new out?

I haven't rec'd it yet (Kubota said 5-28 at order time) but I guess it's a F2690. Us old guys can't keep up with the new number designations.:) Glad to see you said you might rather have a 60" deck since that's what I ordered since that's what he has in stock which he likes selling what he has in stock. I've had mostly 72"ers for the past few years but I do have a few places that I grade with the deck so that may stop with the 60". I did demand a mulching kit since he did not have a rear discharge in stock for the best deal. I'm rear discharge all the way but I added a mulching kit to a small Z and my current BX2370-1 and believe a side with mulching is as good if not better than the rear discharge as long as I stay out of real high grass and both have discharge distribution issues with real high grass. Hydro lift deck and make a first pass and then drop it and make second pass will resolve the high grass issues or mow slow.
 

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