3130 - First day fun

DaNag · Feb 13, 2005

Picked up the 3130 from the dealer today. Let's just say, 6 hours in the seat does not an expert make.

At about 2 hours, I buried her in the mud. Fortunately, it was close enough to the road, and the winch on the truck was my friend...

At about 4 hours, I blew a hydraulic line. The dealer's only 15 minutes away, and he replaced the line under warranty, even though there's the distinct possibility it was was...ahem, operator error. He even threw in a gallon of hydraulic fluid, no charge. While this only set us back an hour or so, it really drove home how valuable a good local dealer can be.

Hey..at least I stayed upright all day. Can't wait to get back out there again tomorrow...this really shouldn't be described as "work".

Pics will be coming...none of them clean. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Swampthing · Feb 13, 2005

Glad you had fun! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I pick mine up next week. I can't wait, but with all the rain here, I'm afraid I'll have the same problem. How did you blow the line? Just trying to learn by reading all these posts. This will be my first tractor.

Keep the "shiny" side up. Can't wait to see the pics, and sounds like you have a great dealer! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DaNag · Feb 13, 2005

( How did you blow the line? Just trying to learn by reading all these posts. This will be my first tractor.
)

Same here...reading all the valuable info here made for great preparation, but it became clear after about 2 minutes in the seat how much I had to learn...

RE the line...I've got a landscaper tooth bar, and let's just say there was a little, er, confusion at the helm. I had just dumped a load, and the teeth were pretty much vertical. While moving forward, I dropped the bucket, the teeth grabbed, and the line popped.

Speaking of which, the toothbar has been great for brush clearing - it's great at grabbing the material. I also ordered up the grapple attachment from the guy on eBay that's been discussed here - this combo has made it pretty easy for this rookie to make some good progress.

Also, I was following Ramon's posts closely, and prior to the fuel blockage issue on his 3130 being discovered, I was concerned about power. While I've not had the rotary cutter on yet (won't be in for another week or so), I'm fairly certain I'll fall into the "happy with the power" camp. While I've got nothing to compare it to, so far, it seems to be doing all I'm asking of it, even with the tires filled and working the box blade up a slight incline.

_RaT_ · Feb 13, 2005

Congratulations on your L3130. They are incredible for clearing brush, the tooth bar makes the job much easier. A grapple would be ideal I should think.

smittyd3 · Feb 13, 2005

Hey _RaT_ ,

When I got my toothbar a couple of weeks I had a friend of mine tack weld it in as well as bolt it on the sides. Well yesterday I used a hand grinder to remove the tack welds so I could use it to back drag some leaf piles the wife raked up without leaving tooth marks. I had it tack welded to make sure it wouldn't move any, and I thought I would never take it out, but I found out never say never.

_RaT_ · Feb 13, 2005

I put my mine and take it off repeatedly. My 1/2" air impact, a small sledge and it's on/off fast. If I have a lot of dirt to move, I will leave it on to help get larger loads. For cleaning out the rocks and roots, it works well.

Theowegian · Feb 13, 2005

Howdy!

Glad to hear you are enjoying your L3130. Its a tough machine and Im sure you'll be happy with it.

And Im especially glad to hear about another happy L3130 owner who understands that his tractor is NOT underpowered. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dwight

curt1 · Feb 13, 2005

I bought my L3130 in November 2004 and have been very happy with it. Plenty of power for a 31 HP machine. Very strong loader for a machine its size.
I think you will be very happy with your 3130. Only negative about mine is not being able to put more hours on it due to weather. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hope you get plenty of seat time and enjoy!

Curt

Swampthing · Feb 13, 2005

Thanks DaNag. I'm sure I will have plenty of "man I can't believe I did that" stories when I get started. And I will have to look into getting teeth for the FEL. I can't wait, and it's raining again.

smittyd3 · Feb 13, 2005

I may have missed it, but what type of transmission do you have?

jd_318 · Feb 13, 2005

Howdy, Just received my Kubota L3130 HST yesterday. It has 164 hours on it and looks like new. The bucket has a few scratches on it but that happens in the first half hour of using the loader. After reading a very long and winding thread, I too was concerned about the tractor being underpowered but it seems plenty good to me. If brush-hogging the hills in medium range is an issue, I'll just drop her down in low. So far, I'm in no hurry to get off of it. With all the rain we've had here, the problem is being able to use it. Guess I'll head to the National Farm Machinery Show next friday and check out some implements; see whats doing with the latest and greatest. Never had a tractor before or attended the NFMS but am looking forward to both. Thanks to Muhammad Chishti for creating such an educational and entertaining place to visit.

jdenbigh · Feb 14, 2005

The first day I got my 3130 HST I had to move a large pile of horse manure out of a very soggy barnyard. I immediately buried it up to the axels. Even with a full bucket, I just locked up the rear differential (I was already in FWD) and backed right out. What a confidence builder. Power has not been a problem either. On another note, I hadn't even considered a loader toothbar but with all of the multiflora rose on my land, a toothbar sounds like the ticket.

_RaT_ · Feb 14, 2005

The toothbar installs very easy as well. I drilled my 3/4" holes using a unibit but other folks have used holesaws. I put mine on yesterday to do some cutting into decomposed granite. It works very well and really adds quite a bit more heaped bucket capacity just having that little bit of extra extension out front.

JimMorrissey · Feb 15, 2005

( I put mine on yesterday to do some cutting into decomposed granite.)

What may I ask is "decomposed granite". It sounds like it smells awful... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

CTyler · Feb 17, 2005

Granite will decompose? I thought it was hard as a rock /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

ramon49 · Feb 17, 2005

This thread is a fake! Veteran members trying to prove that the 3130 is not underpowered. I now have more seat time and come summer this DOG is gone. I can't wait.

RayH · Feb 17, 2005

( This thread is a fake! Veteran members trying to prove that the 3130 is not underpowered. I now have more seat time and come summer this DOG is gone. I can't wait. )

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I hope you forgot the smilie. If that was meant as a funny, GOOD ONE!!,
If not, that is a ridiculous and paranoid statement indeed.
Do yourself a favor and bring on the smilies fella.

SkyPup · Feb 18, 2005

( This thread is a fake! Veteran members trying to prove that the 3130 is not underpowered. I now have more seat time and come summer this DOG is gone. I can't wait. )

WOOF WOOF! Our L-3130 is so overpowered it howls at the moon! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Billy5715 · Feb 18, 2005

( This thread is a fake! Veteran members trying to prove that the 3130 is not underpowered. I now have more seat time and come summer this DOG is gone. I can't wait. )

This guy just nees to go buy a new machine and stop complaining about the one he has.....Unless he is kidding

Henro · Feb 18, 2005

Well Ramon49...which is it? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

After reading that fuel problems were the root problem with your L3130 I'd like to think you forgot the /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Come on...restore my faith in humanity! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif