Kubota F series

[Pete6114]

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.

Show your dealer the pics and see what they think yet?

 

[cold1313]

Just spoke to my Kubota dealer briefly and he said he thinks the F series would sit (the operator) about as high as my B3200. I'm not sure how this would reduce my "pucker factor" then....

 

[Pete6114]

Just spoke to my Kubota dealer briefly and he said he thinks the F series would sit (the operator) about as high as my B3200. I'm not sure how this would reduce my "pucker factor" then....

The F sits closer to the ground and is way more bottom heavy then a 3200, i would say. It also seems to me that the wheelbase is pretty wide. ( I'll measure it later today when i cut grass) Then there is a big heavy deck, adding to a very low center of gravity. All in all, i'd rather be on a F then a B on the slopes showing in the pics

 

[cold1313]

Wheelbase is about the same (rear wheels on the B to the front wheels on the F). I was referring to the seat height - it would "feel" the same, but yes, I figured the deck weight and the lower engine would create a lower center of gravity.

 

[Pete6114]

I was referring to the seat height

Got ya, but i meant the with of the tires.
Front is 54 inches and rear is 50 wide

 

[cold1313]

Wheel Base:
F - 51.2"
B - 65.6"

Width:
F - 53.9"
B - 53.8"

Tire Width:
F - 12" Front, 9.5" Rear
B - 12.4" Rear, 7" Front

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Had a B7800, B3200, B2320 and B2620 as well as many BXs and 3 different Fs. Your dealer is confused. Way confused.
I sold my F2680e and bought it back a year later and the in between buyer had the turf tires changed to bar tires thinking he could make the 2wd be more like a 4wd which didn't work which is how I got it back. I hated the bar tires for my level mowing at the rental property and on the drive ways. Turfs on my F3080s are no issue except in mud and I avoid mud. The turfs on F3080s are used on my steep hillside property. Turfs have more rubber on the road than the other tires.
I mow a ditch line at the road and keep one drive wheel on pavement and go and the front deck does lift with the hydraulic lift lever. I just doesn't go to 90 degrees with hyd lift.
Are you reading any of the other posts here on the Fs?
The F with the 4wd is the best available machine available today to do the jobs you've described, bar none. You could use 3 or 4 different machines for some specific areas that might in total be faster or safer or quicker but noting in a single machine will beat the F 4wd for your needs. If you get the 72" deck then you'll be better using the F for all mowing of larger areas than the tractor with RFM.
I mow drop off hillsides, trails thru the wooods and my yard with trees, rocks, gullies and ditches with my F. About 5 acres at home property. Did I already ask you if you've read any of the other posts us F owners have posted on this forum?
Most Fs are sold to government and large estate mowers and most dealers have never owned or used one themselves and know very little about them. Had three employees and owner tell me not to get the RFM and I insisted since I have owned about 5 different RFMs, even the ones pulled behind my tractors, and know they are the best option for several reasons. Have you read any of the other posts on this forum about the F models?

 

[Pete6114]

Wheel Base:
F - 51.2"
B - 65.6"

Width:
F - 53.9"
B - 53.8"

Tire Width:
F - 12" Front, 9.5" Rear
B - 12.4" Rear, 7" Front

Of the 3 other Kubota products i had, of which all had MMM, this F is by far the most stable. I dont have the slopes you show in your pics, but i do have one strip to cut that has given me the willies every time before. I dont even think about it now.
I guess you just have to try one yourself.

 

[cold1313]

Had a B7800, B3200, B2320 and B2620 as well as many BXs and 3 different Fs. Your dealer is confused. Way confused.
I sold my F2680e and bought it back a year later and the in between buyer had the turf tires changed to bar tires thinking he could make the 2wd be more like a 4wd which didn't work which is how I got it back. I hated the bar tires for my level mowing at the rental property and on the drive ways. Turfs on my F3080s are no issue except in mud and I avoid mud. The turfs on F3080s are used on my steep hillside property. Turfs have more rubber on the road than the other tires.
I mow a ditch line at the road and keep one drive wheel on pavement and go and the front deck does lift with the hydraulic lift lever. I just doesn't go to 90 degrees with hyd lift.
Are you reading any of the other posts here on the Fs?
The F with the 4wd is the best available machine available today to do the jobs you've described, bar none. You could use 3 or 4 different machines for some specific areas that might in total be faster or safer or quicker but noting in a single machine will beat the F 4wd for your needs. If you get the 72" deck then you'll be better using the F for all mowing of larger areas than the tractor with RFM.
I mow drop off hillsides, trails thru the wooods and my yard with trees, rocks, gullies and ditches with my F. About 5 acres at home property. Did I already ask you if you've read any of the other posts us F owners have posted on this forum?
Most Fs are sold to government and large estate mowers and most dealers have never owned or used one themselves and know very little about them. Had three employees and owner tell me not to get the RFM and I insisted since I have owned about 5 different RFMs, even the ones pulled behind my tractors, and know they are the best option for several reasons. Have you read any of the other posts on this forum about the F models?

John - How is my dealer 'way confused'? The only thing that he stated was he believes the operator seat height would be fairly close between the two. Not having seen an F in person, I cannot compare.
I did read the other threads on the F Series, at least 6 pages back, and I watched the videos that you posted. I'm just surprised the turf tires don't spin, since you have potentially went grass that you're driving onto (since you just cut it with the deck out front). My B3200 with the R4's couldn't do this small section of hill because the ground was to wet over the weekened, but it was also trying to drag my Woods mower behind it. I should have put the mower up and tried going up but didn't feel like rutting up the yard more.

Could you remind me what "RFM" is?

Now my task is where to look for gently used units as Barlow's hasn't returned my inquiry and buying new from my local dealerships doesn't seem like it's in the budget.

 

[jcummins]

Cold1313....you can look when I started this thread...May 2013. That's when I started looking in earnest for a used F3080 or F3680 with 72" deck. It took me two years. I used craigslist a lot, found the one I bought on craigslist. The buy has turned out good. Beware, not all craigslist deals are good. I think with the DPF issue on F3990...used Fs are tighting up. So best of luck. I still see a few, scattered around...where are you located. PM me if you don't want to post that. I bite the bullet so to speak, and went from southern Illinois to the other side of Albany, NY for mine. Yes it was a drive. But good price..low hours.

On my pond dam, the steepest one, it's about 20-22 degrees, and with undulations...which you just can't predict perhaps a tick more. I side hilled all of it with the F without to much issue. I have another area on the inside of another pond that is about 1...shy of 2 deck widths, with pond water on the down side. I think it is also 20-22 degrees, but with that water there, for some reason the pucker factor seems to increase 5 fold. I can make one pass, but can't get myself to make the pass right next to the water. Guess I'm saying, the pucker factor is very variable depends on different factors.

Chevron tires, haven't decided whether I want to crack for them or not. The turfs do terrible...in mud...not to terrible on the slopes. If I was somehow convince they would improve the perceived grip...on the slopes... I'd put them on the F in a heartbeat. For the most part I can avoid the really muddy areas.