D-DAY F3080

[Ranger Rick]

Buckeyefarmer here is a picture of mine.
Rick

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Rec'd a PM about my F3080. Here's my reply. They are trying to decide between a ZTR and F and asked about a cab and snow blower for the front. There is also a blade and sweeper option for the front.

The F is the top of the line deluxe luxury mower. I have a F2680E 60" Rear Discharge Deck that I mow my level rental property with and have for two and a half years. It is great. I chose the F because I can't dribble and run at the same time, one or the other but not both. I like a steering wheel, not levers. The seat on the F has an adjustment for bolster, weight of rider, tilt of seat back and arm rests and tilt steering wheel. It's more money but Barlows have given me incredible deals on both of them.
I just bought a F3080 4 wd 72" Rear Discharge Deck for home use. My home is on a hillside and I have to have 4wd. Used the F3080 today and it is incredible in precision, speed and control on my hills. My grass was a foot to two foot high in places since there was a delay in getting it due to Kubota sending the wrong seat.
The top speed of the F is 12.5MPH and the top speed of Kubotas ZTR is 10.6MPH but those speeds mean nothing other than on a paved parking lot. Don't think anyone could stay on either one anywhere near their top speed.
To me the rear discharge is the only way to go. No big rows of cut grass on the out side. The rear discharge decks lay it down more even on the ground plus the benefit of mowing right up against something on either side and not worrying where grass is blowing.
When I mowed today for the first time with the F3080 it would not go up my steepest hill, I thought I should have gotten the F3680 then realized I had it in rabbit instead of turtle speed. Dropped it into turtle and it will climb straight up a wall, I believe. Didn't need the 36HP and don't know why anyone would. My 26 HP is more than adequate on level ground. Hit the pedal to quick on it and it will spin the tire.
Flat land a F2680E and hilly land a F3080. No ZTR would do my home property as steep as it is.
I think there is a cab for the F plus a few front attachment options but I have very little snow and what I have I will clear with my BX25.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Buckeyefarmer here is a picture of mine.
Rick

thanks, looks nice. How do you like the LA724 loader & how it attaches? I notice it is a lot different than the LA723 I have. the loader support frame on the LA723 is a lot more steel than the LA724.

 

[EE_Bota]

You need a scorecard just to keep track of JT's tractors :laughing:

If you see a L3940 with a cab sitting around, take a picture so I can see what it looks like :drool:

John's reports themselves are a good a score card for the range of tracters that interest me. And I appreciate J_T's scoring method. He has been so generous with his descriptions and his pictures. And he has used such a variety of the Kubota product line, and he always tells up the pro's and con's of each unit. There is no way I am going to buy one of the models he has owned without reading what John has to say about it.

I read everything on the Kubota site about John's latest, and it is a SWEET unit. John showed more angles in his pictures than Kubota showed on their site. But unlike Kubota, John will come back later and tell us both what he likes about it and what he dislikes.

John seems like the sort of fellow that is going to get what suits him if he can find it, and when he is done with his research, he doesn't seem to kick himself for not knowing what he could not have known. Then he comes on here and tells people like me (who are self-kickers) what he has found out.

I can't see any downside to this latest mower. But if there is one, John will tell us. Where else are we going to get that? You can find reviews on the internet about products, and there will be good one's and bad one's, but you really don't know if the people know what they are talking about, or whether they had crazy expectations of the unit, or whether it is their first tractor. So you started out trying to evaluate a tractor, and wind up having to evaluate an anonymous poster.

But John always tells us chapter and verse about why he wants it, and what he thinks it will do for him. He tells us how he bought it, what he has done with it, how he maintained it, and darn near anything else a man would need to know to make a purchase. How in the world can we beat that?

John's my hero, and I appreciate his reports. And when he send's in pictures of those beautiful views around his property, it always picks me up a bit. It's relatively flat here, hot as a firecracker around right now, so it's like a little trip to the moutains for me. I pick at John some, and he takes it better than any man I know. But I though at least once I would acknowledge my debt, and say: Thanks John!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John's reports themselves are a good a score card for the range of tracters that interest me. And I appreciate J_T's scoring method. He has been so generous with his descriptions and his pictures. And he has used such a variety of the Kubota product line, and he always tells up the pro's and con's of each unit. There is no way I am going to buy one of the models he has owned without reading what John has to say about it.

I read everything on the Kubota site about John's latest, and it is a SWEET unit. John showed more angles in his pictures than Kubota showed on their site. But unlike Kubota, John will come back later and tell us both what he likes about it and what he dislikes.

John seems like the sort of fellow that is going to get what suits him if he can find it, and when he is done with his research, he doesn't seem to kick himself for not knowing what he could not have known. Then he comes on here and tells people like me (who are self-kickers) what he has found out.

I can't see any downside to this latest mower. But if there is one, John will tell us. Where else are we going to get that? You can find reviews on the internet about products, and there will be good one's and bad one's, but you really don't know if the people know what they are talking about, or whether they had crazy expectations of the unit, or whether it is their first tractor. So you started out trying to evaluate a tractor, and wind up having to evaluate an anonymous poster.

But John always tells us chapter and verse about why he wants it, and what he thinks it will do for him. He tells us how he bought it, what he has done with it, how he maintained it, and darn near anything else a man would need to know to make a purchase. How in the world can we beat that?

John's my hero, and I appreciate his reports. And when he send's in pictures of those beautiful views around his property, it always picks me up a bit. It's relatively flat here, hot as a firecracker around right now, so it's like a little trip to the moutains for me. I pick at John some, and he takes it better than any man I know. But I though at least once I would acknowledge my debt, and say: Thanks John!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! (As Goober says) You've made my day Mr Bota. I've always tried to make a considered decision on any purchase and do my due diligence, buy or don't buy and then move on. Often times I've messed up and life goes on. I've found all worth while education cost, either skin or money, On this board, several of us try to save others the skin or money we've paid.
OK, down side to the F models with rear discharge deck. They blow grass under the mowing machine which blows it up into every nook and cranny under it. Guess that's why it lays the grass down spread over the cut area instead of the piled up rows of a side discharge. I did my 50 hour service on the F2680 after 2 years and grass was packed every where under it in every nook and cranny. I know, I should have looked under it sooner. I would see the grass on top of the battery and on the vent screens and wipe it off but never really took the time to look under it. I now blow the grass off with my compressor every now and then.(I don't wait two years any more) I'm considering making a flap out of a hard rubber, like a truck mudflap, to attach to the top rear of the deck to see if it will blow the grass back a few more inches and maybe blow less under it. Looking for the truck mudflap. I know the deck lifts straight up to service blades, which I've never done yet but will one day so that may be part of the reason the deck doesn't go back a bit farther. A rubber flap shoud bend if needed. Guess the grass won't hurt anything but just being as informative as Mr Bota says I am. He can use my overseeder any time he wants and maybe, well not maybe, he can come mow my yard anytime he wants and enjoy my view with each pass.

 

[milkman]

John's reports themselves are a good a score card for the range of tracters that interest me. And I appreciate J_T's scoring method. He has been so generous with his descriptions and his pictures. And he has used such a variety of the Kubota product line, and he always tells up the pro's and con's of each unit. There is no way I am going to buy one of the models he has owned without reading what John has to say about it.

I read everything on the Kubota site about John's latest, and it is a SWEET unit. John showed more angles in his pictures than Kubota showed on their site. But unlike Kubota, John will come back later and tell us both what he likes about it and what he dislikes.

John seems like the sort of fellow that is going to get what suits him if he can find it, and when he is done with his research, he doesn't seem to kick himself for not knowing what he could not have known. Then he comes on here and tells people like me (who are self-kickers) what he has found out.

I can't see any downside to this latest mower. But if there is one, John will tell us. Where else are we going to get that? You can find reviews on the internet about products, and there will be good one's and bad one's, but you really don't know if the people know what they are talking about, or whether they had crazy expectations of the unit, or whether it is their first tractor. So you started out trying to evaluate a tractor, and wind up having to evaluate an anonymous poster.

But John always tells us chapter and verse about why he wants it, and what he thinks it will do for him. He tells us how he bought it, what he has done with it, how he maintained it, and darn near anything else a man would need to know to make a purchase. How in the world can we beat that?

John's my hero, and I appreciate his reports. And when he send's in pictures of those beautiful views around his property, it always picks me up a bit. It's relatively flat here, hot as a firecracker around right now, so it's like a little trip to the moutains for me. I pick at John some, and he takes it better than any man I know. But I though at least once I would acknowledge my debt, and say: Thanks John!

I went to see John a couple of months ago to do some tradin' and what you see here is all John. My brother and I wound up spending several hours visiting and looking over his place. I'm sure glad that I got to meet him and I'm going to have to come up with some kind of excuse to get back down there, I'm just afraid he'll insist I drive that new F and then take me by to see Barlows.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I went to see John a couple of months ago to do some tradin' and what you see here is all John. My brother and I wound up spending several hours visiting and looking over his place. I'm sure glad that I got to meet him and I'm going to have to come up with some kind of excuse to get back down there, I'm just afraid he'll insist I drive that new F and then take me by to see Barlows.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Your hard to persuade. I tried to get you to drive the BX25 and you wouldn't. I finally moved the single bottom plow you traded me from my drive way to the back of the hill. Everyone had finally seen it and heard my words of praise of how "pretty" in a tough way it is.
Same offer of mowing my yard anytime you want to come over.:thumbsup:

 

[EE_Bota]

he can come mow my yard anytime he wants and enjoy my view with each pass.

That's funny! I was sitting in the porch swing yesterday after reading about the "Fxxxx", and I thought if it were only a few miles, I would mow your every now and then just to use the F, see the views, and get a break from the heat. So, you read my mind! If not for the distance, I'd do it too!

 

[om21braz]

Hey John
Take extra care of this one cause I may have to talk to Brady when you trade up, across or down. I think that machine could find a home in my tractor stable. Make sure they use the SUDT if they change the hydro fluid. I know John its a tough job but someone has to do it so it might as well be you right. Oh might I add that is one nice looking machine,Congratulations.

+1 You might have several interested

 

[rglaser]

JT,

My ZD323 has all the seat adjustments you describe, I think all the Kubota ZTR's do. And I can use full speed on a couple spots in my yard (it's much flatter than yours). Sounds like the F is the perfect mower for your yard. Looks a lot like the toro groundmaster mowers they use where I work. Would you mind PM'ing me what you paid for your F? Any idea what the 2wd F's can be had for?

-Rob