Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630

   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #1  

Dissolute

New member
Joined
May 2, 2006
Messages
20
Although the local Kubota dealer has not impressed me, I wanted to make a fair comparison between the 4320 and the Kubota tractor, and have the following questions for the board:

1. Laying aside the pro-Deere bias, is this a fair comparison?

2. What Kubota transmission best approximates the shift on the column drive of the Deere?

3. Which machine requires less maintenance and is more reliable?

4. Which machine is more maneuverable?

--The folks I have talked to see either green or orange. One contractor told me that in the multiple years he delivered farm machinery, he had never seen a Kubota tractor in the shop for much more than preventative maintenance.

I want to make a deliberate, logical decision, on this matter.

Thanks
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #2  
The 'Bota ia a simple reliable and rugged design. The Deere will have far superior ergonomics. I think Deere beats Kubota in the customer service area (maybe so few 'Botas have issues - they don't know what to do when one does..!)

On paper the Orange one's usually spec out better, but with loadmatch and superior ergonomics on the Deere, there may not be much real world diffeence. (oops you are looking at reverser, so the LoadMatch doesn't apply...)
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #3  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The 'Bota ia a simple reliable and rugged design. The Deere will have far superior ergonomics. I think Deere beats Kubota in the customer service area (maybe so few 'Botas have issues - they don't know what to do when one does..!))</font>

I would suggest you brush up on your specs regarding the Kubota Grand L series before making those kind of statements. The Grand L series is the full featured line.

Also please quantify ergonomics as what you perceive to be superior may not be to others.

Additionally, your statement on customer service is based on what? Rumors, fact, or just your biased opinion?

It's posts like yours that stir the pot and create brand wars here.
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #4  
OK, sorry.

Whenever I jump off my Deere onto any Kubota (even the full featured GrandL) all I can say is Spartan. And don't get me wrong, that is just what many are looking for. Lotsa folks seem to feel that Deere and NH are more ergonominc, although each buyer can and should try both for their own application!

I know of several episodes where it has been very difficult to deal with Kubota. But, as I stated, a broken Kubota is very rare. YMMVSYDFD....

finally, this is the JD forum. We are required to be be green biased!!!

But seriously, The Kubota Grand L is a fine machine.
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #5  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( finally, this is the JD forum. We are required to be be green biased!!! )</font>
Somehow my computer jumped me into the deere forum when I thought I was reading the general buying/pricing forum. Go figure!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

John
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #6  
I still haven't pulled the trigger or test drove the tractors I'm looking at (JD 4120 or Kubota 4330), but in my opinion the "thinking man's" choice would be Kubota. More standard "options" for less money. That being said, I'm leaning green for 2 reasons:

1) Sloped hood = better visibility.
2) Sentiment - I just want a green tractor.

On paper, either is a great choice. Kubota does have friendlier finance rates.
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #7  
Then agin, maybe you are nuts!

The thread got moved! And I hope I didn't come across as some Orange bashin' nutcase...
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #8  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The thread got moved! And I hope I didn't come across as some Orange bashin' nutcase... )</font>
I don't know how anyone else took it, but I would never think of you that way. Especially not you!
John
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #9  
The Deere has a turbo, the Kubota does not. Some consider a turbo unnecessary complexity and a potential maintenance item.

Your profile does not list a location. If you live at any kind of significant altitude, like say 6000', naturally aspirated motors loose approximately 3% of their sea level rated HP per 1000' of elevation. At 6000', that's 18%. That means the Deere 4320 is 40 PTO HP regardless. The L4630 Kubota, also rated at approximately 40 PTO HP at sea level, will effectively be 32.8 PTO HP at 6000'. This is not a green versus orange thing. It is a turbo versus naturally aspirated thing.

I'm guessing by "shift on the column drive of the Deere", you are referring to the 12F/12R power reverser transmission. If so, I'd say the Kubota's GST 12F/8R transmission most closely matches the Deere with Kubota having the added advantage of clutch-less shifting between all gears, forward or reverse as well as a creeper option to get really, really slow ground speeds at full PTO HP and speed (one reason many prefer the hydro transmissions).
 
   / Deere 4320 vs. Kubota L4630 #10  
I'm in the high tech electonics business and I didn't want all the sophistication on my tractor. I went with the Kubota because it didn't have electonic engine computers, turbos, e-hydro, electronic cruise, etc. and all those wires, connectors and switches to corrode or go intermittant.

In my 37 years of experience in industial electronics The sophistication is nice but comes with a price. Reliability is inversely proportional to sophistication.

Choose which is most important to you.

By the way, the dealers are pretty independant. The good, the bad, and the ugly exist among all brands. Check your dealers reputation.
 

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