2000 L4310 vs. 2008 L3240

[edawg]

I'm interested in getting opinions on what will be the best long term purchase for 16 acres of horse farm and pasture that I'm reviving right now. The previous owner let it grow up in trees and scrub and most fences that circle the property need to be cleared & replaced. I also have a 1/3 mile driveway to scrape and maintain and will be doing some grading work to expand around the barn and filling old ditches and making a few new ones. Also have 6 acres of pasture to mow if/when I have extra grass from the horses. We're boarding a couple of horses for $ so have to move shavings/hay/feed, etc.

I'm focused on Kubotas for feature, dealer network (3 dealers w/in 20 miles each way) and price. Budget is ~$15K for a 4WD tractor, loader, box scrape and a post hole auger. I'm comfortable with a clutch from looong experience on the farm growing up but HST would be nicer. My guess is after an initial spike this year in hours, I'll put less than 100 hours in the seat per year long term. So... I've found 2 private sale tractors locally and am hoping to get folks thoughts on what's best for this serious hobby farm scenario.

The first one is the 2000 L4310 475 hours, current single owner sale with tooth bar. No quick attach on the loader, but almost pristine, no dents, with good maintenance records, lots of power and HST tranny for $15K. Adding attachments puts me over $17K, but I have a nice rig long term.

The second one is the 2008 L3240 with shuttle shift tranny, 724 loader w/quick attach and box blade for $13K. It's a smaller rig, but it also has only 35 hours on it plus current owner is selling with 5' Bushhog box blade. I can get the attachments I want and the tractor under that magic $15K mark.

So in the long run, do I buy more deluxe older tractor to avoid buyers remorse later or solid new tractor for less $ and risk feeling like I missed the mark? I am so blessed to have this dilemma!

 

[groundcover]

Looks like his and hers tractors in your future! Welcome to TBN! I think I would go with the L4310, The hours are nothing to worry about, the size is a bit more inline with the property and the hydro is really very nice(I have had them all).

 

[daveinnh]

We have a Kubota L4310. You may wish to have 1 or 2 rear remotes for hydraulic attachments - that may sway your choice.

We're pleased with the L4310, but wish to tell you that water on the hood can follow the side channels and dump onto the battery in front of the radiator. It's happened a few times and is very annoying; in current models, Kubota redesigned the hood so this wouldn't happen; we park facing uphill. Also, the fuel filler cap is atop the hood and lifting a 5 gal jug is a little old. I believe Kubota redesigned the tank to be filled from ground level.

The HST is great for loader work. Our ag tires were loaded with rim-guard, but the tractor still gets tippy when the bucket is full, so we have a 30 gal pickle barrel filled with crushed stone on a 3pth carrier, attached when other implements aren't attached.

I installed Curtis cab and heater (in central NH is gets cool plowing snow). If your choices don't have a cab, you may wish to shop for aftermarket cab.

 

[edawg]

wish to tell you that water on the hood can follow the side channels and dump onto the battery in front of the radiator. It's happened a few times and is very annoying; in current models, Kubota redesigned the hood so this wouldn't happen; we park facing uphill. Also, the fuel filler cap is atop the hood and lifting a 5 gal jug is a little old. I believe Kubota redesigned the tank to be filled from ground level.

The HST is great for loader work. Our ag tires were loaded with rim-guard, but the tractor still gets tippy when the bucket is full, so we have a 30 gal pickle barrel filled with crushed stone on a 3pth carrier, attached when other implements aren't attached.

QUOTE]

VERY good info guys. The tip about the barrel "counterweight" is really helpful. The theme so far is 4310. To keep price down, is a waiting to find a 3240 with HST the way to go here maybe? The 'newbie' appreciates your help!

 

[rbargeron]

Of these two, I'd lean toward the 4310. For reclaiming 16 acres, you'll appreciate a tractor with power to handle 6 or 7-foot implements.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have a L3240HST. If you are going to be pulling heavy implements often the more HP would be better. If your going to be doing much FEL the HST is the only way to go. If FEL is rarely used and it's mostly straight running then trans probably doesn't matter. Hours are always a big concern to me if I don't know how and who put the hours on. I rarely tear up machinery but my brother can tear up a steel ball. His one hour is equal to 10 of my hours and I'm not gentle. He's just rough. One other thing I've learned in 5 years of tractoring is that most work can be done with smaller tractors but it just takes longer. I also believe more HP takes more fuel but 100 hours a year wouldn't make that much difference in fuel cost. Also, I had a B7800 and it is a more appropriate tractor for my use than the L3240HST that I now have. Bigger isn't always better.

 

[john_bud]

I would work the 4310 down in price some. 15k seems sort of high when you can get a 8 year newer tractor with 1/10 the hours for 2k less money (closer to 3k with the attachements). I'd offer 12,500.

jb

 

[edawg]

Good ideas on pricing here y'all and also the theme is go HST if the wallet will allow since I'm going to be in woods, grading, etc. a lot of the time... And go with more HP in the 4310, but the age on the 4310 is a concern even though hours are relatively low...

So, today, the plot thickened... There's a private sale 2006 L3400 HST that popped up on one of the sites with a 4in1 bucket with a whopping 28 hours on it! It's about 100 miles away with a new 6' box scrape in the deal. Loader is not quick attach though since I think it has to be bolted and have an additional valve for the jaws on the 4-in-1. It has the 463 loader on it so not sure about how much I lose in lifting capability yet compared to the 3240 & 4310 mentioned in this thread previously... Fellow is advertising $16,500 for the whole rig including scrape. So... the net cost may be pretty close to the 4310 but for over 400 fewer hours and 6 years less wear. Time to search to see what folks say about the 4-in-1 bucket and the L3400 on the other posts. Maybe offer $15K cash and see what happens? Hmmmmmmm........

 

[john_bud]

The 3400 is 1/2 the tractor of the L4310 and 2/3 that of the L3240.

Lift capacity is the loader number in kg. The 463 is about 1000# with the standard bucket. With a 4n1, it's probably 750#. The others are about 1500# capacity.

The age of the tractor being 10 ish years old is really of no concern. Unless it was beat on like the proverbial red headed step child.

Don't get hung up on new.

jb

 

[edawg]

jb, I like your style sir. Goin' this morning with a buddy who runs a tree service with his own equipment to look at the 4310 first. Let's see what happens (after an 8 am rally point at the Waffle House)...

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Here is a good site to compare pricing and they also deliver almost every where. I've bought 6 from them. Used Kubota Tractors

 

[crk133]

Id vote for the 2008 L3240 ...there should be remaining warranty. Just a thought

 

[R_Walter]

Did I miss the part about where you're located, type of weather you get, etc. I did notice you grew up on a farm, so I would use a lot of that experience to make an informed decision, also. IOW, what worked for you previously?

 

[edawg]

Did I miss the part about where you're located, type of weather you get, etc. I did notice you grew up on a farm, so I would use a lot of that experience to make an informed decision, also. IOW, what worked for you previously?

RW, I'm north of Atlanta and the old family place is what i'm working on reviving... The old tractor is/was an 1959 (or 60?) Allis Chalmers D14 with tri-cycle front-end. With manual steering and the tri-cycle, it's not the right machine for the hilly terrain on the 8 acres or so we need to re-fence/ clear scrub trees / bushhog. We have about 5+/- acres of flat pasture. I'm selling the ole' A.C. to help fund the new tractor... It's been under cover, but needs some electrical work so working on that in my spare time (whenever that is)!

 

[edawg]

Well, that didn't take long! The results are in and the first one I saw (L4310 4WD) was original owner, 490 hours owned by an airline pilot with very few signs of wear and includes 680 FEL, HST tranny, ROPS, grillguard, bucket w/ toothbar, draw bar, but no attachments. It's been serviced by orig dealer including all filters/fluids (have receipts) and it was garaged throughout. The guy showed all the docs and the enclosed barn it was in was a shrine to tractordom with concrete floor and all the goodies inside (shelves full of the right fluids, hardware, tractor parts, etc.) My buddy who has a large Bobcat, commercial sized wood chipper, diesel trucks, etc. and who knows his hydraulics said "you won't find a better used one", after he checked it out thoroughly. Total we agreed on is $14.5K (I could have negotiated harder, but it was hard to find fault with anything).

So, I'm buying the well looked-after bigger machine over buying a newer lighter duty one or (heaven forbid) a rental machine. There are about a dozen long overdue projects that are now within reach again on the farm and I'm stoked! Thanks for the helpful advice folks!!

Now, the question is what to name the 'bota? And is it a "he" or a "she".

 

[john_bud]

If it is a girl, maybe you can name her "Kay" as in "Kay Bota"?

Then again if it's a boy, and it's the biggest of the litter you were looking at, "Brutus" always works.

One thing to investigate. The pressure on the main relief spring often is under the 2550 psi spec. Due to age or simply being set low from the dealer. A pressure gage and ss shims fix it quick. You can make or buy from kubota. about 370 psi per mm of thickness added.

Congrats on the new toy ---er--- tool.

jb

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I traded in my BX1500 and the new owner contacted me. He bought a couple of tractors at the same time and the other one was much bigger. He told me his daughter calls the BX1500 the "Baby" Bota. Now I can accept that. I'm sorry LBrown and other BX owners of which I'm One myself. You might call a BX by a girl name but never a B and never, never a L and most certainly not an M. So forget trying to come up with a feminine name for your tractor. It's a HE Bota not a she...a He!!! Congratulations on your purchase. Have fun and be careful. The brown comes out of pants easier than the red but it leaves a bad odor.

 

[edawg]

JB/JT, Thanks for the words of caution and I agree... I treat equipment like a loaded gun (especially chainsaws and anything involving PTO), but anyone can get careless when tired or frustrated working hard of course... One slip is all it takes...

On the brighter side, it sounds like the L4310 has to be a he. My F150 crewcab is "Elvis" so that fits... Maybe the tractor will become "Bo-cephus" or "Bo-dacious" to accompany The King? And if I save up my pennies to get the dump trailer I want next year to haul the tractor and do the house reno work at the farm, the trailer can be "To-mater" (as in the wrecker from Cars)? That way, I can have "The King with Bo in To"!

Darn, it's Sunday night and I already can't wait for the crack of dawn next Saturday to pick up "Bo" and get on with things... It's warming up down here already and I have a little over an acre to rake after some Bobcat work we did a few weeks back in the rain. It's a rutted mess right now, but we'll have it right soon...

 

[john_bud]

Yeah, it's warming up here too. High of 28f in the 7 day extended forecast. Our ruts are probably harder than your ruts! At least for the next month or so, then it will swap!

jb

 

[edawg]

Just closing the loop on this one... I picked up the L4310 yesterday and it just purrs. The orig owner agreed to add the Delta hook and 3 plates for $250 to go with it and a ballast barrell for FEL work. That'll do.

We're doing a bunch of tree work and I already used it to pull the tree guy's 10 ton dumptruck up a slick hill and move our old Allis Chalmers out to where we could get it on the trailer and off to the mechanics to get 'er running again.

A happy ending to the "what to buy" thread. Now, the "tractor owner" saga continues...