Grand L3X30 Questions ???

[Neophyte]

I drove a Kubota L3830 and NH TC35D today at a dealer who carried both. They did not have a L3130 or L3430 in stock but the L3830 is similar. I was not really considering Kubota until I drove it. The engine was noticeably more quiet than the TC35D and the HST was both less noisy and smoother. It also seemed like the loader hydraulics were smoother on the Kubota. I did not like the placement of the controls or the treadle pedal on the same side as the brakes. I also did not like the long hood (poor visibility) and all the orange metal (I'm a plastic fan and I don't like the orange color). Despite these small complaints, I think the Grand L3X30 series is a nice machine! I think I could live with some of these things with that sort of performance. For me, the L3130/L3430 are definitely in the running with the NH TC33D/TC35D and JD 4310/4410.

With that said, I have a few questions about them.

1. It says the mid-PTO is semi-independent. What does this mean?
2. Can you have the mid-PTO engaged without having to engage the rear-PTO? That is, can you have mid alone, rear alone or both together? This is one of the things I truly hate about the JD machines.
3. Can you brake steer with these machines using the cruise control or does the cruise control disengage by pressing the left or right brake? Someone was telling me you need to hit both brakes to disengage the cruise. If this was the case, then it seems like you could use cruise to brake steer. I still wish they would have put the brakes on the left side like the TC35D.
4. What is the cost for the 3 remotes?
5. Is the MMM raise/lower controlled by its own remote or by the 3PH control?
6. How quickly can you attach/detach the MMM on the L3X33 series?

I appreciate the help. Thank You.

 

[rjsmit1]

I don't know the answer to your questions about the MMM and Mid PTO, but I can tell you that I have not needed to brake steer my L4330 HST with 4 wheel drive in the 30 hours I have had it. Your uses and needs may be different, but the tractor will turn on a dime without brake steering.

 

[Neophyte]

rjsmit1,

Keep in mind that I live in Maine. When clearing snow with the bucket and the front wheels are off the ground, brake steering is a necessity. Also, on hard packed snow or icey ground, sometimes brake steering is your only option. I have used it on a Case 580K for these reasons, so I would think I might use it on a compact as well ... but I could be wrong.

 

[glennmac]

You certainly are researching a lot of ground. You probably could have gotten answers to all of these questions from your test drive and the dealer.

The retail price for the remotes is readily available from the dealer and from carverequipment's website. It is about $1400. No one knows what kind of discount, if any, a particular dealer will give.

You should be able to brake steer with the cruise lever and by hitting one split brake. Easily testable. Unless one likes to brake steer just for the sake of brake steering, it probably is not done much with hst tractors, because hst is so simple and quick to to a 3pt turn.

The mmm is connected to the 3ph, that is how it is lifted, and hence it will always go up with the 3ph. Like the 3ph, it goes down by gravity. Meaning, it probably can be pinned so it stays up when the 3ph goes down. You will probably be limited to one particular size of turf tire (only) with a mmm on a 3x30. Dealer will know. If the mmm is like the one on the 3x10 series, it is probably a hugely expensive bear that is hard to install and remove, and which will have no independent market value except for use on 3x30 Kubota's.

The pto's are separately runnable. Whether you can run both at the same time, I don't know. Dealer should, and it also is easily testable by trying to engage both. I cant think of a scenario where I would want to run both at the same time, although there is probably some combination of implements that may be amenable to such.

 

[_RaT_]

You can brake independently on the HST but effectively it needs to be done in cruise control where it is easy. When plowing snow, I doubt you would use cruise control. The treadle pedal is something that folks at first thought they would not like but later found it not only great, but better in function, I concour. If differential braking and plastic are needed, I think you should be looking at the JD 4310 or larger or the NH, the Kubota is not going to fill your special needs very well. I agree that the engine on the Kubota from my test drive are clearly the quietest and smoothest, that was my prime criteria. I never use differential braking therefore it is not an issue. The color and whether it's metal or plastic never entered the qualifier criteria. Rat...

 

[grandad]

You touch on the one situation where differential braking has value for me... working in low traction situations. I've found no other reason for a brake turn since the hydro is so natural and quick (my experience only... please reach your own conclusions).

Down where we live, it's usually mud, not snow/ice, but the result is the same. That said, there have only been maybe 3-4 times in 175 hours of operation where the mud had me using differential braking.

One thing puzzles me though. Why are your front wheels off the ground using the FEL? With an MFWD tractor, you are losing lots of traction that way.

 

[Neophyte]

Glennmac,

Yes, I have been researching a lot of ground. In the end, I will probably have spent as much time on a new tractor as you have with your R1W tires.

I asked the dealer many of these questions. However, he was a new salesman and did not have many answers. Thanks for mentioning Carver Equipment. I checked their site and they had other useful pricing information as well.

I forgot to test this feature on the L3830 since their was a thunderstorm headed our way and the salesman was in a hurry. I don't expect to brake steer much but I was still curious if it could be done.

I have never heard about the tire limitation with the MMM. To the best of my knowledge, the other brands and models all can accept a MMM with R1s, R3s or R4s. I will have to ask them about this specifically since I want the R4 tires.

I was not so much concerned about running them at the same time. I was more concerned about running them independently of each other. The only times I could see a need to run them together would be a MMM and Grass Collection System or a Front Blower and Sander. I don't foresee either of these applications in my future.

 

[Neophyte]

_RaT_,

You are correct, I would rather not use cruise control for plowing snow. It was more a question out of curiosity and to see if it was possible to brake steer at all.

I don't mind the treadle pedal. I just did not like the fact that they placed the brakes on the same side as it. In some ways, I like the treadle pedal better. For instance, I think it would be nice for a 3PH Snow Blower where you are turned in the seat and traveling in reverse. It would make the reverse pedal easily accesible to your right or even left foot.

Differential braking and plastic are not huge considerations for me. Certainly not large enough to discount this line of machines. These were simply minor pet peeves and somewhat said in jest.

Orange people sure are touchy! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Neophyte]

Grandad,

Same here, low traction situations are about the only time I would want to use brake steering and it would be rare.

The front wheels like to come off the ground sometimes when you float the bucket to clear snow.

Like I said, the brake steer question was one out of curiosity more than necessity.

 

[Neophyte]

Glennmac,

By the way, as you know, the L3X30 series does not come standard with a mid-PTO. Therefore, none of the Grand L machines on the dealer lot had a mid-PTO that I could play with and the new guy certainly did not know.