Is the Kubota L2501 the largest 25 hp, non regen tractor?

[rScotty]

Ahhh,,, the L2501 is a 3 cylinder, not a 4

If anything, I'd consider three cylinders an advantage. Three cylinders are supposed to be easier to design with dynamic balance than 4 cylinders, and maybe that is the case. Anyway, I've had a couple of three cylinder tractors and driven a few more. What I've noticed just on these few is that the 3 cylinders were exceptionally smooth runners at all RPMs - where the 4 cylinders seem to have RPM ranges where they are smooth and ranges where not so smooth.

That may not matter so much now that DPF requires running at high RPM all of the time, but might make a difference in non-DPF models that can be run and idled at lower RPMs.
rScotty

 

[5030]

I find the new T4 final tractor's to be counter intuitive. Diesels are supposed to produce meaningful power and torque at low RPM and be fuel efficient as well (especially with the high cost of diesel today) and these new tractors must be run at high RPM in order for them to regen. Not for me, ever. But then I don't care for all the electronic fuel management either. Both my Kubota's are mechanically injected. The only 'electrical' component is the fuel cut solenoid. They are both very fuel efficient as well.

 

[deezler]

The 2515 lifts more than the ck2610 and lifts it higher, too.

2200 lbs up to 105 inches vs 1835 lbs at 98.4 inches for the Kioti.

Either one is still better than the L2501 at 1131 lbs at 94.3 inches.

Wow thats a lot of loader for a 24 HP machine!

I don't know much about Branson to be honest, no dealers near me that I've seen. Made by Kukje in Korea I see. Engines also?

Anyway back to the OP. I don't recommend going down this path, of getting the heaviest machine you can but staying under T4 emissions limit of 25 HP. I considered the ck2610 myself, but it wouldn't be able to drive up even gentle hills in high range. Kind of like how Rdrcr had to home-brew turbocharge his Kubota L2501 just to get it's performance acceptable.

The DPF is not a problem for most manufacturers. My Kioti Ck3510 does a DPF regen every 40-50 hours. You can keep working right through it, but I often hop off and take a ~15 minute break to let it work under steady high idle conditions. No problem. So my same size/frame tractor as the 2610 instead has 35 HP (and you can get 40 in the ck4010) for FAR better performance under almost all conditions.

 

[rScotty]

I find the new T4 final tractor's to be counter intuitive. Diesels are supposed to produce meaningful power and torque at low RPM and be fuel efficient as well (especially with the high cost of diesel today) and these new tractors must be run at high RPM in order for them to regen. Not for me, ever. But then I don't care for all the electronic fuel management either. Both my Kubota's are mechanically injected. The only 'electrical' component is the fuel cut solenoid. They are both very fuel efficient as well.

I agree.... During the DPF and regen debate the whole idea of RPM and traditional diesel efficiency somehow got overlooked. Customers were quick to accept running their new diesels wide open. Not sure why.....

It's gotten crazy, though. I've got a neighbor who bought a new 50 hp Kubota and leaves the throttle at near max all day long. Even when he walks away and it should be idling, he has it sitting there screaming at higher RPM than our old mechanically injected Kubota needs when working hard. It sounds like a race car coming down the straightaway. He says the regen requires it. But honestly I doubt he has ever tried it differently.

rScotty

 

[5030]

Far as I'm concerned, just a waste of expensive diesel...

 

[NoTrespassing]

If I was buying today I would look for pre Tier 3 low hours. How far back do we have to go, 2013 or even older than that for a 39 hp tractor?

 

[deezler]

I agree.... During the DPF and regen debate the whole idea of RPM and traditional diesel efficiency somehow got overlooked. Customers were quick to accept running their new diesels wide open. Not sure why.....

It's gotten crazy, though. I've got a neighbor who bought a new 50 hp Kubota and leaves the throttle at near max all day long. Even when he walks away and it should be idling, he has it sitting there screaming at higher RPM than our old mechanically injected Kubota needs when working hard. It sounds like a race car coming down the straightaway. He says the regen requires it. But honestly I doubt he has ever tried it differently.

rScotty

Lots of guys have the wrong impression, though.

We don't need to run our engines wide open. This is basically a myth. As far as I can tell it originated due to many dealers recommending not to run full load at lower rpm, due to exhaust SOOT (particulate emissions). Running at conditions that produce more soot will more quickly clog the DPF, leading to more frequent regenerations needed to clear it back out. But there was never really data behind that suggestion, just a general sense that at higher rpm, you probably don't need 100% load as often, and thus should produce less overall soot. The other aspect of it is that at higher rpm, you have more heat in the exhaust. The DPF can regenerate passively, if it has enough ambient heat coming down the exhaust pipe. At lower rpm, you typically don't.

But you know what? It doesn't even matter. I run my daedong diesel engine at whatever conditions I want, just like I would any older tractor. It doesn't matter. I get DPF regens every 40-50 hours, looks like (only had two since I bought it).

My kioti has a "linked pedal" feature where it automatically revs up when you hit the hydro forward pedal, to add power when you need it - kinda like driving a car with an auto trans. This is pretty fancy and nice, but does result in you rev'ing the engine up and down a whole lot more. So, I must admit that I did stop using it, since it would logically lead to more soot production (think of the quick black cloud whenever you rev up most diesels). But ~1800 rpm is nice and quiet, and still has more than enough power and speed (in medium range) to do most loader tasks for me. Plus it is every bit as fuel efficient as my prior 3-cyl, 30 HP mitsubishi diesel engine. Well under a gallon per hour for general light duty work.

 

[Jimbo16720]

I'll stick with the older better built models and without the re-gen junk.

 

[deezler]

It's (mostly) not junk though. Works fine. Quieter engine/exhaust. Cleaner emissions, less odor and irritation for the operator. Negligible impact upon fuel economy or reliability.

 

[finn1]

My skid steer and mini x are Kubota four cylinders and I’ve had several Kubota tractors with 3 cylinders. Idk if the cylinder or something else makes the difference but the 4 cylinders start good without using glow plugs and every 3 cylinder I’ve had required using glow plugs even if it’s 80 outside. That’s the only real difference I’ve noticed.

Are you sure that both your three and four cylinder engines are both with the same combustion system?? An IDI engine will require glow plugs by design, independent of number of cylinders.

on the other hand, a four cylinder will always start better than a three, given the same cranking speed, simply because the instantaneous cranking speed is higher because the compression strokes are closer together. Think of instanta cranking speed as a sine wave. A three cylinder will wave lower peaks and higher valleys than a four at a given average speed.

I