Kubota L185 Reviews
L-185/L-225
Model Year: 1979
My L-185 came with a 60" Woods belly mower and I added a 60" drag blade. I bought it to remove snow from my 1/4 mile driveway. The back blade does a pretty good job if it doesn't get too deep or if we don't get too many snows in a row without a melt. When the snow on the edges of the driveway gets too high, the blade can't get the fresh stuff over it. I'm surprised at how light and nimble the tractor is when mowing. I like the size of the L-185 and I'm very happy with it. I had wanted to add an FEL to it to help when the snow got too deep. I found one attached to an L-225 with a blown tranny. I bought it and fixed the tranny so now I have 2 Kubotas. Both the 225 and the 185 require an auxiliary pump to handle the FEL. With the loader on the 225 steering is very heavy. Neither tractor has 4WD or power steering. If you want an FEL, I recommend power steering. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to turn 2 tractors into 1 that does everything I need within my budget.
Pros: Steering light and nimble when mowing.
Cons: Would like power steering & more HP for FEL.
Model Year: 1979
My L-185 came with a 60" Woods belly mower and I added a 60" drag blade. I bought it to remove snow from my 1/4 mile driveway. The back blade does a pretty good job if it doesn't get too deep or if we don't get too many snows in a row without a melt. When the snow on the edges of the driveway gets too high, the blade can't get the fresh stuff over it. I'm surprised at how light and nimble the tractor is when mowing. I like the size of the L-185 and I'm very happy with it. I had wanted to add an FEL to it to help when the snow got too deep. I found one attached to an L-225 with a blown tranny. I bought it and fixed the tranny so now I have 2 Kubotas. Both the 225 and the 185 require an auxiliary pump to handle the FEL. With the loader on the 225 steering is very heavy. Neither tractor has 4WD or power steering. If you want an FEL, I recommend power steering. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to turn 2 tractors into 1 that does everything I need within my budget.
Pros: Steering light and nimble when mowing.
Cons: Would like power steering & more HP for FEL.
Great Work Little Work Horse
Model Year: 1978
Bought mine with a front end loader and 3' tiller, and use my Woods 48" finish mower. Great tractor for tilling gardens, mowing, grading, moving dirt/gravel around. Like my friends told me, you wonder how you managed without the front loader for so long!
Pros: Very very very dependable!
Cons: I could use more power.
Model Year: 1978
Bought mine with a front end loader and 3' tiller, and use my Woods 48" finish mower. Great tractor for tilling gardens, mowing, grading, moving dirt/gravel around. Like my friends told me, you wonder how you managed without the front loader for so long!
Pros: Very very very dependable!
Cons: I could use more power.
1501 DT by Kubota
Model Year: 1990
I bought this for $5,000.00 with a front loader, box blade, bush hog and a 20 ton trailer to haul it on. Since then having no experience using a tractor I thought I’d plant a garden which after buying a 4” tiller John Deere turnover plow and a single row builder which is now in my fifth year of the garden learning curve. This year with 172 potatoes, 32 peppers, 25 tomatoes lots of corn beans and squash the curve continues. At 18 hp, I rely on 4 wheel drive and low and double low range at times to get the job done. At times, wish I had more power but this is all I need and she just sips on fuel.
Pros: Easy on fuel and has the power to get the job done.
Cons: Having to tell Kubota it's a L185DT to get parts. What fools they are.
Model Year: 1990
I bought this for $5,000.00 with a front loader, box blade, bush hog and a 20 ton trailer to haul it on. Since then having no experience using a tractor I thought I’d plant a garden which after buying a 4” tiller John Deere turnover plow and a single row builder which is now in my fifth year of the garden learning curve. This year with 172 potatoes, 32 peppers, 25 tomatoes lots of corn beans and squash the curve continues. At 18 hp, I rely on 4 wheel drive and low and double low range at times to get the job done. At times, wish I had more power but this is all I need and she just sips on fuel.
Pros: Easy on fuel and has the power to get the job done.
Cons: Having to tell Kubota it's a L185DT to get parts. What fools they are.
Just Me
Model Year: 1979
This is one great machine. I'm the second owner and bought it in summer of '98 from a resort that bought it new, but did not care for it well (as they did not their property as I bought it at a bankruptcy sale very inexpensively). It came with a backhoe, FEL, roll bar, 50 gals of diesel [which lasted me almost 2 years it is so frugal on fuel], york rake and snow plow for the FEL, and great rubber [with calcium] all for $5000! I use it for maintaining my property. Bought a 3 blade mower deck for it to keep the meadow under control. Have hauled tons of firewood from my wood lot over the years. Plow the drive with it. The sheet metal is all pretty rusted, but the essential parts seem to be totally corrosion resistant.
Pros: Never fails to start even at zero as long as I put a block heater on it for a couple of hours and give the battery a boost.
Cons: Expensive to get parts for it these days. I do a lot of scrounging.
Model Year: 1979
This is one great machine. I'm the second owner and bought it in summer of '98 from a resort that bought it new, but did not care for it well (as they did not their property as I bought it at a bankruptcy sale very inexpensively). It came with a backhoe, FEL, roll bar, 50 gals of diesel [which lasted me almost 2 years it is so frugal on fuel], york rake and snow plow for the FEL, and great rubber [with calcium] all for $5000! I use it for maintaining my property. Bought a 3 blade mower deck for it to keep the meadow under control. Have hauled tons of firewood from my wood lot over the years. Plow the drive with it. The sheet metal is all pretty rusted, but the essential parts seem to be totally corrosion resistant.
Pros: Never fails to start even at zero as long as I put a block heater on it for a couple of hours and give the battery a boost.
Cons: Expensive to get parts for it these days. I do a lot of scrounging.
Tractor for a Dummy
Model Year: 1980
This is my first and only tractor. We have a few acres on a horse set up in Northern California. Needed a brush hog,box scraper, tiller and post hole digger. Cost was a factor leading us to the Kubota in 1980. The tractor has been bullet proof or "dummy proof" and is still in use which says a lot for the product. Having never owned a tractor before I have no way of making a product comparison, but I quickly learned that as I leaned more through use. I wanted more - bigger loader, more power, down pressure for the post hole digger.etc. So to all perspective first timers get the most you can afford you will use it and its not money wasted.
Pros: Price (1980).
Cons: Finding dealers and parts (1980 NorCal).
Model Year: 1980
This is my first and only tractor. We have a few acres on a horse set up in Northern California. Needed a brush hog,box scraper, tiller and post hole digger. Cost was a factor leading us to the Kubota in 1980. The tractor has been bullet proof or "dummy proof" and is still in use which says a lot for the product. Having never owned a tractor before I have no way of making a product comparison, but I quickly learned that as I leaned more through use. I wanted more - bigger loader, more power, down pressure for the post hole digger.etc. So to all perspective first timers get the most you can afford you will use it and its not money wasted.
Pros: Price (1980).
Cons: Finding dealers and parts (1980 NorCal).
Kubota L185DT
Model Year: 1979
I acquired my tractor from my parents who were downsizing and moving. It was originally used to field mow 5 acres, till 7500sq' garden, and rear snow blade 250' driveway. I currently have about 1000' driveway, 8.25 acres of field (someday, mostly lawn), and appox. same size garden in future. Overall, the tractor performs very well, is very efficient, and has never broken down in 31 years. Of course, less than 800 hours on it too, but, the as the old cliche' goes, buy quality, take care of it, maintain it, and don't abuse it and It should last you a lifetime!! I'm trying to find out if adding aux hydraulics to the tractor is feasible. I would like to add a front mount snow blower and purchase a bat wing mower. I don't know if I'm wishful thinking or not since the machine is only 17hp and not very heavy to accommodate bigger implements. Anyway, this is my tractor! If anyone is acquiring about older Kubotas, I can honestly say this little utility tractor is a GEM!!
Pros: Very fuel efficient. No/Zero/Nada breakdowns EVER.
Cons: No mid mount PTO and no AUX hydraulics (as of yet anyway).
Model Year: 1979
I acquired my tractor from my parents who were downsizing and moving. It was originally used to field mow 5 acres, till 7500sq' garden, and rear snow blade 250' driveway. I currently have about 1000' driveway, 8.25 acres of field (someday, mostly lawn), and appox. same size garden in future. Overall, the tractor performs very well, is very efficient, and has never broken down in 31 years. Of course, less than 800 hours on it too, but, the as the old cliche' goes, buy quality, take care of it, maintain it, and don't abuse it and It should last you a lifetime!! I'm trying to find out if adding aux hydraulics to the tractor is feasible. I would like to add a front mount snow blower and purchase a bat wing mower. I don't know if I'm wishful thinking or not since the machine is only 17hp and not very heavy to accommodate bigger implements. Anyway, this is my tractor! If anyone is acquiring about older Kubotas, I can honestly say this little utility tractor is a GEM!!
Pros: Very fuel efficient. No/Zero/Nada breakdowns EVER.
Cons: No mid mount PTO and no AUX hydraulics (as of yet anyway).
1979 Kubota L185DT
Model Year: 1979
I've had the experience of using this tractor as a child to present day. Parents owned 5+ acres and used it to mow 4 acres of field, till 6000 sq ft garden, and rear snow plow their 200' driveway. I inherited it from them when they sold their home and downsized. I have 8+ acres that the wife and I will build on in the near future. The tractor is a good, solid piece of equipment. No frills, just simple and steady. It is not real powerful, but is mated to a solid transmission that provides plenty of torque.
Pros: Simple, solid, & durable.
Cons: I wish it had a little more power and a longer wheel base.
Model Year: 1979
I've had the experience of using this tractor as a child to present day. Parents owned 5+ acres and used it to mow 4 acres of field, till 6000 sq ft garden, and rear snow plow their 200' driveway. I inherited it from them when they sold their home and downsized. I have 8+ acres that the wife and I will build on in the near future. The tractor is a good, solid piece of equipment. No frills, just simple and steady. It is not real powerful, but is mated to a solid transmission that provides plenty of torque.
Pros: Simple, solid, & durable.
Cons: I wish it had a little more power and a longer wheel base.
John Fields
Model Year: 0
I just bought a used Kubota L1501, then found out it is a "Grey Tractor" that the Kubota dealers really dislike. I'm restoring it and having a ball doing so. I'm really impressed with the design, quality, and power of this little 2 cylinder diesel monster. I have spent lots of money on parts that a Kubota dealer could have sold, but when I mention that it is a model L1501 they will not talk to me. Quite rude people and losing lots of money on parts sales. Luckily there are lots of good parts suppliers other than Kubota dealers.
Pros: Excellent tractor.
Cons: Poor dealer network.
Model Year: 0
I just bought a used Kubota L1501, then found out it is a "Grey Tractor" that the Kubota dealers really dislike. I'm restoring it and having a ball doing so. I'm really impressed with the design, quality, and power of this little 2 cylinder diesel monster. I have spent lots of money on parts that a Kubota dealer could have sold, but when I mention that it is a model L1501 they will not talk to me. Quite rude people and losing lots of money on parts sales. Luckily there are lots of good parts suppliers other than Kubota dealers.
Pros: Excellent tractor.
Cons: Poor dealer network.
Kubota L185
Model Year: 1976
Small tractor 2 cylinder; low horsepower; limited to 4' implements; easy to service and work on; Not a grey market! The L185 has the support of the local Kubota Dealers (Rainesville and Centre). Overall a great 3-6 acre work horse for my woods mower or bush hogging. Used ones start around $2500 and go up to $4200. SMALL AND WORKS WELL
Pros: Small Cheap to Run Fun and sturdy
Cons: 4' implements max and low horsepower
Photo Uploads:
Model Year: 1976
Small tractor 2 cylinder; low horsepower; limited to 4' implements; easy to service and work on; Not a grey market! The L185 has the support of the local Kubota Dealers (Rainesville and Centre). Overall a great 3-6 acre work horse for my woods mower or bush hogging. Used ones start around $2500 and go up to $4200. SMALL AND WORKS WELL
Pros: Small Cheap to Run Fun and sturdy
Cons: 4' implements max and low horsepower
Photo Uploads:
Strong Tractor
Model Year: 0
Good little tractor. Runs real strong! I have the DT model and it will chug through anything you throw at it and keep on going. Gives me a lot of problems getting started and stuff but that's to be expected from a tractor which is 30+ years old and runs maybe twice a year.
Pros: Compact
Cons: More power might be nice
Model Year: 0
Good little tractor. Runs real strong! I have the DT model and it will chug through anything you throw at it and keep on going. Gives me a lot of problems getting started and stuff but that's to be expected from a tractor which is 30+ years old and runs maybe twice a year.
Pros: Compact
Cons: More power might be nice
Old and Simple
Model Year: 1977
Purchased to use at my cabin in the southern Sierra where I have 20 acres and 1800 ft. of road to maintain. Part of the property is quite steep requiring great care and an occasional change of shorts. Added a Koyker FEL to the completely restored tractor. It's simple and reliable but on occasion could use more than the 18 hp. It's snowed in for five months of the year so I don't get as much seat time as I would like.
Pros: simple
Cons: needs more powe
Model Year: 1977
Purchased to use at my cabin in the southern Sierra where I have 20 acres and 1800 ft. of road to maintain. Part of the property is quite steep requiring great care and an occasional change of shorts. Added a Koyker FEL to the completely restored tractor. It's simple and reliable but on occasion could use more than the 18 hp. It's snowed in for five months of the year so I don't get as much seat time as I would like.
Pros: simple
Cons: needs more powe