B3030 PTO How good?

[8226hamer]

I have a L2800 that I am having PTO problems and need a dependable tractor. I use my Kubota to earn a living with installing lawns. I had a B2910 that I used before the L2800. I put over 3000 hours on it with no down time. The L2800 has 212 hours on it and it has had to be split in half twice for PTO repairs and I'm still not sure, but my warranty for this repair could be about up unless the powertrain warranty will cover it. I have been trying to find this out without any luck. Business has not been the best this year and I can not afford a tractor that spends more time in the shop than being used. Has any B3030 owners ran a roto tiller with their tractor? If so how many hours of PTO tilling time have you put on you tractor and have you had any problems? My B2910 had the independent PTO like the B3030, but my 2910 had a clutch and the 3030 doesn't. Is this something to be concerned with while using a roro tiller. I think it will take time getting used to not having a clutch while using the PTO running a roto tiller on a 3030. What I need to know is does the 3030 have a dependable PTO system without having a clutch, or is there anyone near southern Indiana that has a good B2910 they want to sell. My old 2910 proved itself and I would like another one.

 

[herringchoker]

Not answering your question, but have you considered a B7800? It is the "Plain Jane" version of the B2910. They have the "exact same powertrain" according to Kubota's brochure.

 

[8226hamer]

Not answering your question, but have you considered a B7800? It is the "Plain Jane" version of the B2910. They have the "exact same powertrain" according to Kubota's brochure.

The B7800 tractors have a live continous PTO and quarter inching vale for the Hydraulic control. Where thr 3030 has an independent PTO and position control for the hydraulic control system. I went through the jerking motion of the three point lift on my L2800 until the dealer replace a valve in the system. It helped out a bunch, but still was no where near the smoothness that the 2910 had. I wonder what the difference between a live continuous PTO and an indepent type PTO is.

 

[Fjord]

I wonder what the difference between a live continuous PTO and an indepent type PTO is.

With the live continuous PTO you have to push in the clutch to engage or disengage the PTO. With the independant PTO you can engage or disengage the PTO while you are moving without stopping the tractor. This is one difference I know about . Don't know if there are others.

 

[Fug1000]

Not answering your question, but have you considered a B7800? It is the "Plain Jane" version of the B2910. They have the "exact same powertrain" according to Kubota's brochure.

I was always under the assumption that the B7800 was the 'plain Jane' of the B3030, not the 2910

 

[herringchoker]

The B3030 replaced the B2910, so I guess it is now the "Plain Jane" version of both.

 

[lawn_king]

I have used the pto on my 3030 for spraying and spreading, 100 or so hours with no issues at all.

 

[soxfan]

I have used a 60" tiller on my B3030HSDC tractor for about 20 hours so far with no problems. It is a tough tractor. last Saturday I was tilling and it turned up a huge rock the size of a big watermellon. It did not miss a beat. I am using a Kuhn tiller I don't have a ton of hours on it with the tiller but no problems so far...(knocking on wood right now)

 

[crbr]

The B7800 tractors have a live continous PTO and quarter inching vale for the Hydraulic control.

In my humble opinion, 1/4" valving... Usless and effective as teats on a bore hog....

My biggest dissapointment of Kubota, one of very few.

 

[crbr]

I was always under the assumption that the B7800 was the 'plain Jane' of the B3030, not the 2910

My understanding as well. But I have been wrong...

 

[8226hamer]

My understanding as well. But I have been wrong...

It was the plain jane version of the B2910, but since the 2910 has been replaced by the 3030 it's now the plain jane version of the 3030.

 

[8226hamer]

In my humble opinion, 1/4" valving... Usless and effective as teats on a bore hog....

My biggest dissapointment of Kubota, one of very few.

crbr, I will have to agree with you on the 1/4" valving. The L2800 I have now, I believe had it before it was updated with a different valve. It made a big difference, but still is not as smooth as the position control that my old B2910 had. As far as dissapointments the PTO system on my L2800 has not been good, but I should have researched it better. I thought if it was a Kubota that I would not have any problems, but found out quick I was wrong about that. I still think when it comes to compacts tractors there is none better out there than Kubota, but all Kubotas are not created equal.

 

[Double 00 Soul]

Probably doesn't help much since you're using your tractor for business but I can tell you that I've got about 40 hours of tilling on my B3030 with no problems. I do have a reverse cut tiller which I've been told is a bit harder on the tractor.

 

[8226hamer]

Probably doesn't help much since you're using your tractor for business but I can tell you that I've got about 40 hours of tilling on my B3030 with no problems. I do have a reverse cut tiller which I've been told is a bit harder on the tractor.

That sounds good. I think if I stick with Kubota that a B3030 is what I will have to go with. The L2800 was getting kind of hard to get into some places. They are building houses now days on top of each other in the subdivisions that I work in. I thought that the PTO would work out on the new 3030's it is
the same I believe that was used on the 2910 except for no clutch. On your 3030 when you engage the PTO do you just flip a lever and it engages without any gear grinding?

 

[mazurrj]

yes, i just push the lever on or off when i'm stopped or moving, never had any problems or heard any gears. I usually engage with RPM down a little , not sure if thats necessary or good to do?

 

[Double 00 Soul]

Mazurrj is correct, just the push of a lever to engage or disengage the PTO. I too have the rpm down when engaging or disengaging the PTO simply because I believe it's easier on the equipment, even though I've never heard any type of grinding when I've forgotten to reduce the rpm.

 

[Jdengr]

The B3030 uses a wet clutch to transmit power to the PTO. The control lever is a hydraulic valve that applies/releases the clutch. Since their are no sliding gears or splines involved, you can engage the PTO at any RPM without clashing. When you disengage the pto, an internal brake is applied. Although a Kubota rep told me the brake was designed to stop implements rotation, IMHO, any high inertia implements (such as a brush hog) should be slowed by reducing engine rpm to idle before disengageing the pto to reduce wear on the internal brake.

 

[8226hamer]

The B3030 uses a wet clutch to transmit power to the PTO. The control lever is a hydraulic valve that applies/releases the clutch. Since their are no sliding gears or splines involved, you can engage the PTO at any RPM without clashing. When you disengage the pto, an internal brake is applied. Although a Kubota rep told me the brake was designed to stop implements rotation, IMHO, any high inertia implements (such as a brush hog) should be slowed by reducing engine rpm to idle before disengageing the pto to reduce wear on the internal brake.

It sounds like the 3030 has a good designed PTO system. Thanks for posting this information. Also good advice on reducing engine RPM before disengaging the PTO on this system. I'm starting to see now why the PTO system on my L2800 and the over running clutch is such a poor design. When you reduce engine RPMs on my tractor with the PTO engaged you hear the clatter of the "over running clutch" which is no more than the slant locking cams, one which is spring loaded that engage power to the output PTO shaft meshing together and turning in the non locking direction creating wear on the cams.