Buying Advice Kubota L295DT Advice Needed

[UnCrash]

Hi,

New to this forum and first return to tractors since my childhood with Fords from the 80's.

I've purchased an old 5 acre old farm and want a tractor to do the winter plowing and help me recover 3+ of the acres which is a mess with alders which have prevented proper drainage for maybe 50 years or more.

A guy that I had an old tractor that I looked at but didn't purchase contacted me over the holiday weekend and said he had just the tractor for me. First message said that it was a L2950T which I wasn't able to look up.

I'll attach my correspondence with him and some pictures which don't show the dents to the grill which I saw when looking at the tractor today.

You had some interest in a ford tractor I had for sale.

That tractor is gone but I now have another one. It is a Kubota 2950T, 4 wheel drive, very low hours and very clean. I can send you some photos of it. This is a very good unit and is about the same size as my Deere 790.

I think it may be just the size tractor you were looking for. Please let me know if you have any interest.

Mr. Duffy,

I forgot to tell you the price. I need $7400 for it.

Mr. Duffy,

The tractor bucket is completely stock. The tractor has not seen much use so
the bucket is in great shape as is the rest of the machine. The tractor is
not here right now but I can arrange that if you are seriously interested.
At the very least I can get you more detailed photos right away.

Thanks,

I will have more pics for you within an hour. The only thing wrong with this
tractor is that it needs one headlight. I will have to go get the tractor in
the next few days.

This model was produced from 1990 to 1993. It was a one owner tractor. The
family that owned it sold it when they sold the property. It was used for
some light bush hog work and occasionally moving snow. It has never seen
industrial use.

Mr. Duffy,

Here are a few additional photos. You can see by the condition of the tires that this unit has not been mistreated. I plan to go get it on Saturday so it is here for you on Sunday to view. I am going to Florida for 9 days on Tuesday of next week. If this turns out to be something you want, I need to get the deal done by Monday afternoon. Please understand that I have very little room in the price. Tractors of this size are quick movers and if you don稚 want it, it goes back to where it was which is a better market for me. Personally I think this tractor is ideal for what you want to do. It is big enough for an aftermarket light backhoe and will do almost anything you might need it for.

Please let me know of you can be here on Sunday.

So I went and looked at it and liked what I saw. The front end looked much older than a '90 as he said but when he offered to deliver it to me for $7300 and I said how bout welding a hook on the bucket for me and he says yes, well then we have a handshake deal. I'm to get the money tomorrow from my Credit Union.

I'm a little at a loss now that I've done more homework and see that it's an older machine. I welcome your thoughts.

Please see my flickr photostream for the pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/9962787@N05/with/6416035031/

For comparison's sake, note that here in Maine the used tractor market is much higher priced than in other parts of the country. See this current Craigslist ad for a 1985 kubota L235DT for comparison... http://maine.craigslist.org/grd/2710477635.html

 

[Grandad4]

The L295DT was sold from 1978 - 1982. Here is a link to some information about that model:

TractorData.com Kubota L295 tractor information

Good basic tractor that looks in decent shape for a 30 year old unit. You may want to compare the as-new photos in the above link to yours to spot any discrepancies. The ROPS on yours is definitely not standard... looks like the skeleton of a home-brew cab or something. Looks to be quite a bit lighter built than the original factory ROPS. Would be interesting to know what's up with that.

 

[UnCrash]

The ROPS thing really looks like a canopy frame. Does look factory, or if aftermarket is a perfect fit for the tractor. Doesn't look home-made, but I agree that it won't do anything for you in a roll-over.

 

[UnCrash]

Thanks for the response Grandad.

I spoke with the seller this morning along with my local Kubota dealer. The dealer said that the price wasn't out of the question if it was in excellent condition...

The only issue with the tractor seems to be SLOW FEL up and down movement, the bucket curl is at a reasonable rate of speed. The seller said that it would be better with just a change of the hydraulic fluid.

I called the seller this morning and informed him that the tractor was at least 10 years older than he thought (he just bought it to resell here in Maine which is a little side business of his).

We had a good conversation and he realized his mistake, and said this is how it was communicated to him.

He gave me a new price of $6,900 delivered which he said would get him out of the deal even, and would cover his gas costs.

Any thoughts from you tractor veterans would be appreciated.

I told him I would give him an answer by this lunchtime...

 

[UWAdventurer]

I had a L2950 w/FEL and traded it this past summer for a L3400 W/FEL & back hoe. The 2950 was a solid old machine, I used her hard for 10 yrs and she still ran great. Had a little over 1000hrs when I traded her. With a little care I would think it would make you a good machine. I would have 3 hooks added to the bucket and the edge of the bucket reinforced. Put one hook in the middle and on over each hydro cylinder.

Good luck.

 

[Grandad4]

How slow are we talking about? Barely moves or just kind of slow? Is engine revved or at idle? I'm no hydraulics guru, but if the fluid is bad or low, or the filters need replaced, wouldn't that affect everything hydraulic, not just the lift circuit on the FEL? For example, is the 3 point working OK... with an implement attached? If it's just the FEL lift and the engine is revved enough but it still is too slow, I'd be thinking of a problem with the loader control valve, in the lines or the cylinders.

How does engine start and run? Clutch OK? Gearbox and drivetrain? PTO? Steering and axles, hubs... no leaks, no slop? 4WD working OK? Brakes? Those are the key working components, in addition to the hydraulics, where money can be spent on essential repairs. If they all seem pretty good, you've probably got a good basic machine. No guarantees, of course, but they have a reputation for reliability so the odds are in your favor.

 

[UnCrash]

Thanks for the response.

My thinking was inline with yours on the speed of the loader. At mid rpm the curl of the bucket was quick, but the loader up and down was slow. I don't believe that a fluid flush will change that, has to be something else.

Power Steering was good, started right up, and all other observable mechanicals seemed good.

The seller recommended that I walk away from the deal if I was unsure so I took him up on the offer

Still looking for the right tractor and truly appreciate your responses.

Cheers

 

[rbargeron]

My 2 cents is I think it's a good tractor and $6900 is a good price.

I've had two of the next size up, the L345 which has 4 cylinders but is otherwise nearly identical. This one appears to have original paint (the yellow pedals are a hint) and looks like it's had a relatively easy life. That cage on top looks like the original Kubota accessory that appears in the old brochures - usually when a backhoe was installed. It wasn't a fully-tested ROPS but is an early example of a roll-inhibitor that would keep the tractor from going all the way over in a low-speed tip situation.

About the slow-lift of the loader, it might be just a plumbing hookup issue. The loader is not the one Kubota offered - its a better design, more suited to this tractor size, and is removable, with parking stands. There are some extra hoses up front - maybe something is just hooked up wrong - there or at the valve, or at the hydraulic block under the seat. $6900 delivered is a decent price - the L295 is bigger than a L235. I can see where he would be willing to have you back away. Tractors this size are popular and this one could bring more if you don't buy it.