Questions about purchasing first tractor

[s219]

I don't think the used L3940 has any rear remotes. How much of a pain is it to get these installed at a later date.

Really doesn't matter when you install them -- same job whether the tractor is new or has some hours on it. Assuming no other options got installed that would be in the way, of course.

 

[Fallon]

It cost me about $2k to put in a nice 3 spool setup for 3 remotes & a TnT setup on my L3200. I installed it myself.

A grand (40 or 60 series) is the delux model compared to the 00 or 01 series. Different frame, a lot heavier, some fancier features, optional factory cab etc.

My L3200 gets the job done just fine, but one of these days I want to get a pimped out grand with a cab.

Why a tiller & a disk? They do basically the same thing.

 

[josiahgarber]

Really doesn't matter when you install them -- same job whether the tractor is new or has some hours on it. Assuming no other options got installed that would be in the way, of course.

Good to know. Thanks for your help. What do you think about the price of 23,000 for a 2010 L3940HST LA724 Loader with 147 Hours? Good deal for the hours or can I do better?

 

[s219]

Good to know. Thanks for your help. What do you think about the price of 23,000 for a 2010 L3940HST LA724 Loader with 147 Hours? Good deal for the hours or can I do better?

Not sure I can give a good read on the asking price -- maybe others can comment. It likely sold for $25-27K new. 147 hours is low, practically new, even though the tractor is 4 years old.

 

[Fallon]

Not sure I can give a good read on the asking price -- maybe others can comment. It likely sold for $25-27K new. 147 hours is low, practically new, even though the tractor is 4 years old.

My L3200 hst & loader was $20k a year ago. I think the 3000 series grands started over $30k, maybe $35k. 150 hours is low, I just put that on mine in a year of pretty light use. Figure a tractor is going to be plum wore out at 10,000 hours for arguments sake... That leaves you with a lot of life left. Rubber rots & will need replacement every so often, but not much really does fast.

 

[josiahgarber]

It cost me about $2k to put in a nice 3 spool setup for 3 remotes & a TnT setup on my L3200. I installed it myself.

A grand (40 or 60 series) is the delux model compared to the 00 or 01 series. Different frame, a lot heavier, some fancier features, optional factory cab etc.

My L3200 gets the job done just fine, but one of these days I want to get a pimped out grand with a cab.

Why a tiller & a disk? They do basically the same thing.

I guess I should say tiller or disk. Not sure how much vegetable production I will be doing yet.

 

[Fallon]

If you are doing a garden or anything that's cramped at all, get a tiller. If its wide open fields a disk or tiller will work. A disk needs a bit of speed to properly work. The speed means a disk is way faster than a tiller, but usually needs a couple passes to get the same results.

Personally I went with a tiller for the maneuverability near fences, corners & the wife's garden. Its slow in the pasture, but works & I'm not ever planning on tilling it again.

 

[aeblank]

I'd say $23K is fair. I paid the same for a 2012 160 hour L3940-HST, and believe I got it for about $3K lower than it "should" have been.

 

[josiahgarber]

I'd say $23K is fair. I paid the same for a 2012 160 hour L3940-HST, and believe I got it for about $3K lower than it "should" have been.

How do you like it?

 

[jeff9366]

I'm looking at the following implements for L3940

2 Bottom Plow
Disc
Tiller
Snow Blower
Box Blade
Carry All

If you will be cultivating one acre or so, a Tiller will do what you need in one or two passes BY ITSELF.

If you buy a 2-12" Turning Plow, you will also need a 16/18" or 20/20" Disc Harrow to use in succession.

Generally speaking, a Turning Plow kills most grass/turf when it is pulled through the ground, turning vegetation under.

Usually grass/turf are not killed when soil surfaced is disced; grass/turf regenerates from roots the next Spring. This is especially true of deep rooted pasture grass.

 

[aeblank]

How do you like it?

I love it. Perfect machine for what I do. Just wish it would fit through my 9' doors with ROPS up, like my dad's L3710 does. Oh, and the cost of a full oil change. I didn't know the history, so I did the 500hr fluid change.

 

[nybirdman]

L3940 is a sweet tractor,just about perfect for a small acreage.I purchased a L4240 to get the jump in loader capacity.

 

[josiahgarber]

I hear a lot about the 3940 being underpowered. Is this because of the weight of the tractor to horsepower ratio? I don't hear much about the L3800 being underpowered despite it being less HP.

 

[Fallon]

I hear a lot about the 3940 being underpowered. Is this because of the weight of the tractor to horsepower ratio? I don't hear much about the L3800 being underpowered despite it being less HP.

My L3200 is 6hp less than a L3800. As fas as I'm aware the HP & engine is the only differences between the 2. Mine has R4 industrial tires on it. 2,600lbs + 1,000 lbs for the loader & bucket. My tractor was traction limited until I got the tires loaded. Now its iffy depending on what I'm doing if I run out of traction or power.

PTO work taxes things a bit more. Running a tiller is slow & would benefit from more HP. Maybe 15% of the time I'm running my 5' rotary cutter it bogs & could use more power. Most of the time my not rugged pasture is not smooth enough to go faster.

I don't consider 32hp to be underpowered at all for my around 4,000lbs of ballasted tractor. A cab & A/C would quite probably over tax though.

I have a HST, so that is also piling on a 15% or so performance penalty compared to a gear transmission too.

 

[josiahgarber]

Does anyone know if there is a current Yanmar model in the 40HP range that is comparable to the L3800, L3940, L3901? I have a dealer near me.

 

[aeblank]

I hear a lot about the 3940 being underpowered. Is this because of the weight of the tractor to horsepower ratio? I don't hear much about the L3800 being underpowered despite it being less HP.

I've seen that online too.
I haven't seen that in real life.

 

[josiahgarber]

I've seen that online too.
I haven't seen that in real life.

Good to know. I figured for my purposes it will probably be fine.

 

[TSO]

What other dealers/brands are near you?

Personally, I would recommend more tractor. I think that the size tractor you're looking at is "just enough" for your land size, but doesn't leave wiggle room if/when you need more HP, lift capacity, or tractor weight.

Are you wanting to stay with HST transmission?

 

[josiahgarber]

Yanmar and New Holland are fairly close by. Curious which activities on the land you think would warrant a larger tractor. Thanks.

What other dealers/brands are near you?

Personally, I would recommend more tractor. I think that the size tractor you're looking at is "just enough" for your land size, but doesn't leave wiggle room if/when you need more HP, lift capacity, or tractor weight.

Are you wanting to stay with HST transmission?

 

[TSO]

Yanmar and New Holland are fairly close by. Curious which activities on the land you think would warrant a larger tractor. Thanks.

I think you can "get by" with that size. However, if you're discing large areas, with HST, you'll want more power. I only disc 1-2 acres with mine. Like was already mentioned by another user, discing requires some speed. There are times when discing my ground, where the ground gets most or thick, my 48 HP HST has trouble keeping speed pulling my disc.

Tilling: my buddy tills with his L3540 (35HP) and uses a 5' tiller. His tractor handles that just fine. But if you're tilling larger areas for vegetable production, you'll probably want to use a larger tiller. My tractor has 36.5 PTO HP, and even using his 5' tiller, in deep most clay/soil, it can bog down the tractor.

Loader: There are two factors when considering a loader. First, any amount of loose material cam be moved by a smaller or larger tractor, the difference will be time. So, the next size up tractor will save you time when moving loose material, even though they can both accomplish it.

But, when considering objects, a smaller tractor simply can't muscle around the same size stuff. Moving pallets. Boulders. Bigger logs, trees, whatever... Of course, there's always limitations to every size loader, so this argument can always be made for yet the next size up.

I'm on my fourth tractor as I work all these things out myself. You might always have "just enough" tractor for your operation and may never need more. Many people get by with that size.

But while you're doing the research and making the initial purchase, take the time to consider the "next size up" since its only a couple grand more while you're buying.