Buying new tractor L4610 or M4900

TREEFARMER2 · Apr 22, 2001

I'm in the market for a new tractor. Currently have a MF 240 rated at 45PTO. My tractor has the old fashioned gear shift (no shuttle shift) or I'd put a loader on it. Also the MF MFD turning radius is too big which leads me to Kubota. This is where I get confused with the "L" series and the "M" series. Local dealer is small and seems to push whatever is on the lot that day. Any advice would be appreciated. I'll be doing a fair amount of bush-hogging logging road, planting food plots, grading logging roads, clearing food plots etc, etc. Thanks in advance!

Bird · Apr 22, 2001

TREEFARMER2, have you looked at http://www.kubota.com for the various specs on Kubota tractors? Personally, I'd go for the L4610 with hydrostatic transmission and 4WD. So far as I know, none of the M models yet have the hydrostat. Of course, that's just my personal preference and opinion.

Bird

JeffInDaUP · Apr 23, 2001

TREEFARMER2, For 4 months I looked at purchasing a tractor to do the same things you want to do. Looked hard at JD and Kubota, a little at NH, and went with the L4610. The M4900 was just a little to big for me-8"higher,4.5"wider,and 16"longer, and from all the reading I did on this site, the HST was the way to go. It appears that in most cases, the people that own something other than HST, have never owned HST.
Everything is being delivered this week, but the total package is: L4610,FEL,Hard door Curtis Cab w/heat,defrost,rearview mirror,front and rear working lights,LandPride Broadcast spreader,King Kutter 72" Tiller, Monroe Tufline 72" 700# Boxscraper, engine block heater, and Rimgaurd ballast in rear tires.
I will have 5 total acres of foodplots by the middle of the summer(10 at most in future), have logging trails to maintain, small trees to clear, and 120"to 150" of snow to remove each winter, not to mention any other project I can think of an excuse to play!!
Just thought I'd respond though because it sounds like you will do the same things I do, and I'm hoping all my studying lead me in right direction.
Good Luck!

Jeff...MI.

JATO_RaT · Apr 23, 2001

One other option is to consider the Kubota TL48. It is the tractor loader option of the TLB 48 (tractor loader Backhoe). It has a few advantages over the L4610, perhaps the most important one is the loader lift capacity. It is HST, has the same horsepower as the L4610 but a different engine. Of course with that comes a higher price but do bear in mind that it already comes with some features standard like R4's if that is what you want and a canopy. No cab options. The TL48 goes for about $31,000. A comparable L4610 equipped similarly ie. R4's would be about $27,000. Rat...

My local dealer has 6 L48's on the lot and 6 more backordered, thats how confident he is in the product. He builds his own 4N1 buckets and does some very nice custom hydraulic work.

JeffInDaUP · Apr 23, 2001

TREEFARMER2,
My total package listed above came to around 29,800, with just the L4610,FEL,Curtis Cab,ballast,toothbar,lights, and heat coming in at 26,500-with or without R4's(could have gotten R4's for same price as my ags-dealer thought I'd be happier with R4's-time will tell!!)

Would loved to have purchased the TL48, but it was out of my price range, and...call me a whimp, but I really wanted a heated cab! I don't think you'd miss the greater lift capacities with the agricultural chores you will be doing. Let us know what you find out, drive them all, and have fun shopping!

Jeff...MI.

TREEFARMER2 · Apr 23, 2001

Jeff, sounds like we will be doing the same thing except for the snow. I live in GA, been years since the last snow. How do you operate the HST transmission (I've never driven one)? and how reliable is it? and what kind of service does it require? I just reread my MF brochure and my tractor PTO is rated at 41 hp, so the 4710 may be the "right" size. Thanks again for the response!

Bird · Apr 23, 2001

TREEFARMER2, if you've never driven a HST, it's kind of like going from a manual transmission car to an automatic./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Just put the range selector lever in the range you want, set the throttle, and step on one pedal to go forward and another one to go backwards. Simplest arrangement there is, I suppose. And I think you'll find they're just as reliable as automatic transmissions in cars; perhaps even more so.

Bird

frank_f15 · Apr 23, 2001

treefarmer: can't really help u with your tractor choice, don't know to much about them big boys. but with hst trans i can give u my opinon. they are great!!! u use one pedal to go forward and a heel pedal to go backward, the farther u push on pedal the faster u go. the big advantage is u will be able to keep your rpm where u want it and still just creap along or go faster just with a push of your toe. realibilty is very good as far as i have researched. i have it on my tractor and love it.

HR_Mutt · Apr 24, 2001

TREEFARMER2
Consider one more vote for the HST transmission.This is my second Kubota with it and I love it/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.I do most of my work in medium range and think you will be grinning after operating your new tractor (shiftless). Some of your uses would be a perfect matchup. Are you considering the FEL also?
regards
Mutt

JeffInDaUP · Apr 24, 2001

TREEFARMER2,
The L4610 has a PTO rating of 40.5(39 w/HST)-real close to your MF, and competes with the JD4700 as the biggest Compact Utility Tractors. For me, the JD was about 2500-3000 more(JD4600 was closer), and with both being great dealers I finally made my decision based on price, gut feeling,regional acceptance, and Kobota's long history of building compact tractors. Even found a neighbor that has owned one for 25 years! He bought it new and other than maintenance he has put very little money into it-even has original tires.
By the way, I went into this really wanting a JD, even probably would have paid a little more for one, but the Kubota just felt right in the end.

Jeff...MI.