Current pricing L2501 and transmission choice

[Ricn]

So has Kubota changed some things on the 2501? my 2016 is very easy to change filters, have no issue with the grill guard or the rear tail lights.

 

[rScotty]

Did you buy the 2501?

Yes, the manual gear transmission is less popular and less expensive and has noticibly more power doing anything. But it isn't less popular because of any good reason other than pure convenience.

We know the manual is reliable as a hammer, but it has taken years for people to regard the HST as being reliable. I know, I was one of the doubters back in 2008 when I got my first HST. But it hasn't had any problem, done everything asked of it, and sure is crazy handy for loader work. Other TBNers say the same.

For anything else except loader work though, I would consider gears. And I certainly would if the price difference made a difference in getting a tractor or not. With everything else going on, it wouldn't surprise me to see some very good prices on small tractors with manual transmissions.

rScotty

 

[2manyrocks]

I bought the L2501 about a year ago. Have about 150 hours on it with most of it being grapple work. The 4wd and HST have been stellar. Perfectly suited to using the grapple to clear some overgrown trees.

It was worthwhile to add expanded metal to protect the front grill. Despite all of the brush work, my plastic grill is still intact. Based on the scrape marks on the guards I built for the filters under the tractor, I'd say those were worthwhile, too.

I still think it's a poor design to place those filters under the tractor and to position the plastic rear tail lights at the rearmost portion of the fenders. By comparison, my Mahindra 3525 has simple taillights mounted inward on the fender and the hydraulic filter is mounted above the axle near the operator's station (orange filter). The hydraulic lines are not under the Mahindra, either.

 

[Scottybdiving]

I started reading this post without realizing it was over a year since the OP. By now you have been enjoying your L2501 for a while. I concur that the HST is the way to go for the loader and grapple. However I had to drive 4 hours west to another dealer in a not so inflated market as where I live, and it saved me $3500. Therefore I would say you got a fare deal. Your deal was within a few dollars of my deal.

 

[2manyrocks]

Yesterday we had gully washing rains and heavy wind after not having had any rain for about a month. Our hilly driveway washed a bit and some limbs fell in the fields.

The cleanup with the L2501/grapple/landscape box was just about effortless. Had everything done in about an hour.

One thing in particular stands out in my opinion. The L2501 is not only faster at re-grading the driveway, it is also safer.
I could never move a box full of gravel back up the slope with our 2 wheel drive tractors. It was always a process of dragging back what I could. Stopping, backing down the slope, and pulling another smaller load back up the slope.

The L2501 has enough traction with the 4wd and loaded tires that I'm able to drag a full load back up the slope without having to stop and back down the slope like I was having to do before. In my mind, this is not only faster, but it is much safer because I'm not having to stop and reverse direction.