Buying a used Kubota Tractor?

[JimStew]

Hello All,

I'm am new to this website as well as tractor buying. I've been looking for a compact tractor for the last several months, it's been an interesting process.

I'm currently contemplating buying a 1988 Kubota L3750. It has a FEL, 4X4, Hydraulic shuttle shift, PTO and 3 PT hitch, disc implements etc., with 3000 hours. From the pictures, tractor seems to be in extremely good shape, asking price is 11K.

After looking at other Kubotas, the three things stuck out about this tractor 1) the weight, this tractor weighs approximately 1000 lbs more than a comparable newer L Series Kubota, I assume the older Kubotas were just more heavy duty, 2)the motor, it's a 5 cylinder with 45 horsepower and 3) the paint, it's still looks like the original orange and not the famous faded Kubota orange (owner says it's been garaged the entire time)

I will be utilizing this tractor to dig gravel out of creek beds to maintain our roads, grating, bush hogging and planting a garden 1-2 acres, food plots etc. More or less, it's simply a weekend get away, so it won't be used professionally....at most 75-100 hours a year.

I plan to look at this tractor over the weekend. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for? I assume the normal stuff......hydraulic leaks, engine leaks, smoke on start up etc. If there is anything in particular, I would love to know before my 2 1/2 hour drive. Attached is a picture of the tractor as well.....hopefully it copied over

Anyway, if you kind folks would be nice enough to provide your input, I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

 

[davesl708]

Hi. Welcome to TBN.
I think you have the right mindset to look at this tractor. My BX was 9yrs old when I bought it. No regrets.

Look for signs of abuse. Most likely the tractor was never overworked. Be sure and drive it and work all the functions.

 

[McREBEL]

Even at 3000 hrs, if it has been maintained well, that seems like a pretty decent deal for that size tractor. If I were still looking and it were closer, I might try to squeeze its exact location out of you.

 

[milligjg]

I saw that machine on Craigslist, but the hours kinda steered me away from it.

 

[davesl708]

3000 hours on a well maintained machine is not much. My friends 35yr old Kubota L has over 25,000hrs on it. Still takes care of his 10 acres.

 

[TripleR]

Might check with rbargeron, if he doesn't respond as he knows a lot about those models.

 

[varmint]

I don't think I would worry about the hours, if it has received regular, scheduled oil and fluid changes. I remember guys using small diesel engines to run generators for 3 phase power, too far from the regular electric service for it, and they figured on 12,000 hours before expecting to rebuild. Now, that's controlled, constant speed and hopefully well maintained, but you get the idea. Maintenance is the key. The photo shows a clean tractor, but it's not a good photo, really.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Before I got real serious about a tractor that old, I'd want to know if parts are readily available. As good as that tractor may be, things do break and wear out on anything mechanical and I'd want to know I can easily find replacement parts.

 

[candoarms]

Most small diesels from Kubota will easily last well over 5000 hours. At 100 hours per year, that amounts to 50 years of use. Tractors over 50 years old are common. Cars....trucks....not so much. It's rare to find an automobile with 50 years of use on it that is still running strong.

If you plan on using this tractor for about 100 hours per year, a rough estimate will provide you with at least 20 years of additional use.

It's not easy to shell out money for something that gets used so infrequently, but once you have it I'd be willing to bet that you'll use it a whole lot more than you first anticipated. Figure in the cost of hiring those chores done, or renting a machine to do the work......heck...your tractor easily pays for itself in no time.

Joel

 

[FordGuy62]

I echo what Poopdeck Pappy said... be sure to check on parts availability. Restoring a classic anything and chasing down parts sort of fulfills the hunter-gatherer instinct. But, if you want a machine that is turnkey when you need it, you want to be sure parts are readily available. That said, you can't go wrong with Kubota. They are powerful, reliable, high quality and wonderful machines to run. I have nothing but positive to say about mine and the ones we have at work. Good luck!