Kubota F series

   / Kubota F series #211  
jccummins had a ZD326 and a pond with dam. He traded his ZD to an F. I have F and Zd326
. The ZD isn't for slick grass on a hillside for sure. The F has limits like any piece of equipment but it is the best Kubota has available for hillside mowing. The new models are a F2990 and F3990. I think. Previously the F26xx was 2wd but a recent purchaser says he has a F2990 4wd. Contact Barlows and get a price because that would be a bit high for the F2990, I think. Check around and read other posts here on this Kubota Lawn and Garden forum with F in the name.
 
   / Kubota F series
  • Thread Starter
#212  
Yep sure did go ZD326 to F3680. I thought about Chevron tires on my ZD, and might have tried it if I didn't find the F3680. Even with improved tires on the ZD, you have no steering, just the twist of the drive tires to control direction, and that is the slope mowing problem.

Here is a thread I did on mowing my pond dam with the F3680. I tried twice to mow this by sidehilling with the ZD, and ended up at the bottom each time. I perhaps could of mowed in on the diagonal, but turning both top and bottom poses other problems with the ZD. For me...the F serves me much better.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...0-finally-found-time-mow-pond.html?highlight=
 
   / Kubota F series #213  
can't imagine spending that much cash on a specialized area for mowing. more importantly, if you do, just to wish you the best on safety
 
   / Kubota F series #214  
can't imagine spending that much cash on a specialized area for mowing. more importantly, if you do, just to wish you the best on safety

The F is also faster for mowing large open areas than the Z as well as being more comfortable riding especially at faster speeds if not on a paved parking lot and the F has a faster top speed so would win a race on a paved parking lot. Z is more maneuverable by a slight hair than the F but that's it's only advantage point and evaluating needs is necessary to determine total winner.
Small/Tiny flat lot, super smooth with no overhanging trees/stuff and lots of stuff/trees (not with low limbs to catch roll bar) then the Z is the winner hands down but all other lots the F is winner hands down. So, what do you have and how much money do you want to part with for the best for you machine is the question?:D:cool2:
 
   / Kubota F series #215  
JOHNTHOMAS--Is your old F still at Barlow's?
 
   / Kubota F series #216  
Hey guys...new to the site. I just had my local Kubota dealer bring over a demo ZD326. I love it, except for when she went sliding down my slopes on my property. Slopes that my old Grasshopper (front mount deck) with Chevron tires handles just fine. I did a little research and I've come across a few people putting on different tires similar to what JD uses or the bar tires from the Kubota BX's. They say it improves a lot, but I'd like to see how much, and how the tires act on flat ground (i.e. how much do they dig.)

I have a dam for a pond that I would love to be able to mow with an F series. My first year, I used my B3200 with a 3pt finishing mower to cut it. That was a bit scary. The tractor just feels to narrow and tall to be mowing at the slope of the dam. Especially if it was a little damp at the bottom, it would slide or spin a tad and the pucker factor would increase very quickly. After doing that a few times, I quit doing it. This year I've been weed wacking it, takes about 4 hours with my commercial grade weed whip. It sounds like a 4wd F series with the right tires would do the dam, but talk about sticker shock.

It looks like a mid level, new, F series is going to be around $25k. Compared to possibly a ZD with bar ties and continue to weed whip a few times a year. I get very nervous buying used equipment since most is used commercially and beaten up pretty good. Plus, no financing (like 0% from Kubota).

Unless I've missed anything?

I was in the same boat as you.

Actually, I was getting ready to pull the plug on a grasshopper 30 hp diesel, ended up communicating with JT here on the forum per some questions, and the next thing you know, what I was going to spend on the grasshopper I ended up buying one of JT's F mower with around 100 hrs on it LOL

For me, the time to look for a mower is like when you're looking for a car, when you know you're going to need one, but you don't need it this minute. Take your time and if you look around, you should be able to pick up a lower mileage F mower at a decent price (considering what they go for new). Of course, like a used car, know the mowers history and talk to the shop if they owner ever took it in for service.

You're right though about being commercially used and sometimes beaten. Found a great deal in Tenn on a F mower with around 1,300 hrs on it (when I was "browsing"), but after doing some digging, found out that not only was the tranny replaced, but so was the hydro, and the first owner (2nd owner was selling it) used it for commercial use and per the shop, his guys beat the living snot out of it because it wasn't there mower.

Although the F doesn't have the feature of the automatic raised deck like the grasshopper, no regrets on changing my mind.

I also test drove a used ZD 30 hp range mower. As you noted, I also didn't like the fact that it didn't seem in control on some of my steeper slopes which knocked it out of my search.
 
   / Kubota F series #217  
JOHNTHOMAS--Is your old F still at Barlow's?

I don't know but I still say it is a deal/great buy/once in a life time opportunity if it is still there. I'd buy it back in a heart beat if I could even slightly justify it to myself that I need it but with 2 Zs and an F, I can't.
 
   / Kubota F series #218  
Sorry for the late reply, got busy with work and with yard work. Thanks for the reply everyone. I don't know much about the F Series other than everyone seems to say this is the mower for slopes. I see they only come with Turf Tires and I think that'll be an issue...I'll get into that later.

So I think I should start with what I have to mow and then let you, the experts, tell me whether the F is for me or not. If I'm going to shell out this kind of cash, I need it to do everything without a doubt.

My "weekly" mow around the house is about 3 acres. If I were to get this machine I'd probably add another acre, possibly. I have another ~3 acres that I mow with my Kubota B3200 with a 3 point Woods finishing mower. That part gets done around once a month or so depending on the weather, as part of this land is slopped near my pond and the banks are pretty steep, so I stay away with the B3200. She just feels to narrow and tall. The pucker factor goes up and the rear sometimes does want to slide with that 1,000lb Woods mower behind her. My tractor has R4 tires on them, or "bar tires" or "semi-ag".

Mowing around the house is pretty easy. Out front there is a decent little hill that runs alongside the road, which I mow along with my Grasshopper (with Chevron tires). She crab walks but she gets it done. If I think it's the slightest bit wet, I don't mow it since I'm right alongside the road. Here is a picture: 1.jpg

Right now I do not mow that section up and down, as when they put drainage along the road and my lawn, there is an asphalt "lip" which the deck would hit. (The ZD326 I demo'ed went up and down just fine, especially with the hydraulic lift deck). Not sure how I would mow this with the F? Since the F deck doesn't rise, I would think I'd have to mow alongside the road? But then I have issues with the electric pole and guide wires. (I mow between these now as my Grasshopper doesn't have a ROPS). I'd have to stop. Turn 90 degrees and head uphill? Might be an issue.

Now the fun stuff, my pond.
I took a few pictures with my Polaris Ranger and put an angle meter on the floor boards, I figured this should get it fairly close.

This is the "easy" bank.
2.jpg
I either back the Kubota with the mower to the water, or very carefully do it with the Grasshopper. Just in a few spots since I'm not real comfortable at the moment doing either. I have sandy soil, so I don't want to go a sliding.
This bank shot read 18 degrees.


Now the fun part. Here are a few shots of the dam:3.jpg4.jpg5.jpg

The steepest point of the dam measures at 25 degrees. The bottom of the dam there isn稚 much of a level surface and it drops off into a small stream. I was able to mow this with the B3200, however if the dirt was damp, she would spin because I think she was trying to pull the Woods mower and didn稚 add weight to the rear tires. We mowed this up and down. We found it easier to mow down hill and then drive back up and around, then back down again. This is where I think the Turf Tires might not be good enough on the F Series.

I do not think I can mow this side to side since this is more 澱owl shaped and that would mean at certain spots, the mower could have the wheels on different angles as it travels across the curved section. I think this could big a slide point.

Here is a shot of the bank at the top of the dam. I壇 like to be able to drive towards the water, and let the deck angle down (negative angle) towards the water. Will the deck angle down at a negative angle? 6.jpg


Sorry for the long post. Let me know if you have questions and I値l try to clarify.

So my questions are:
1) Will the F series do everything? Most of it? Will I need different tires?
2) Buy new? Best place to look for a used model?
 
   / Kubota F series #219  
cold1313: I just got my F and i have no experience with slopes like you have. What i do know though, is that i wouldnt want to try it unless the mower has 4X4, like some F models have (not all).
Some dealers have used F mowers that they may let you try-before you buy on your own property. My dealer would drop off a brand new one to try, if that's what i want.
 
   / Kubota F series #220  
4wd is definitely a must. No doubt about that. I'm not even sure this machine in 4wd with turf tires would do what I need. Not much bite to those tires. I've got a call into my dealer about a demo.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2018 Toro Grounds Master 7200 72in Zero Turn Commercial Mower (A50322)
2018 Toro Grounds...
2008 John Deere 608C combine head (A50657)
2008 John Deere...
12 FLATBED W/ 300GAL WATER TANK (A50854)
12 FLATBED W/...
2017 FREIGHTLINER M2 S/A SWEEPER TRUCK (A51406)
2017 FREIGHTLINER...
2004 INTERNATIONAL 4300 BOX TRUCK (A51222)
2004 INTERNATIONAL...
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Crew Cab Pickup Truck (A50323)
2018 GMC Sierra...
 
Top