Kubota L3830 test drive

[willy1947]

I finally found a dealer who would let me play on a new tractor. It was a L3830 with the glide shift transmission. He priced it at $21,000.00 with the standard FEL, heavy duty bucket with bolt in teeth, pin on bucket, and R4 tires. Seems like a pretty good deal to me. It was $900 less for the standard gear transmission and $325 less for the ag. tires.

I was very impressed and felt comfortable on it. The frame size was also nice. It didn't seem like a compact tractor. It was quiet and smooth. The glide shift transmission (GST) was neat. I kept wanting to use the clutch, but didn't have too. It is a nice happy medium between a standard and a HST.

Its competition right now is a TC40 with a gear transmission. The local dealer is great and only 20 minutes away. The tractor is $100 more than the L3830 with gear drive. Both dealers offer similar financing options, the Kubota dealer is just over and hour away. The Kubota dealer moves some serious inventory too. They've been around for a long time and have a large facility. They are located in Huntingburg Indiana. I was also impressed by their knowledge.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Kubota. Seems like I get more for my money. I just don't like the styling of the NH. Tractors are meant to be made of metal and be square, not aerodynamic /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif However, I do agree it gives you some good visibility. The Kubota also seems pretty straight forward and has nice simple controls. But, I think the NH may have a little more power. It did not have FEL on it at the time, but when it is equipped with one I'm not sure I will like the controls for it. The NH's was mounted by the fender. I like this. I think the Kubota will be up on the loader. What do you think about that? Preferences?

I'm still checking out some JD's, but they seem awfully expensive. Other brands are still in the market, but I haven't found any dealers. I think someone emailed me about a Branson dealer not too far from here. I plan on making a trip up there too.

Just looking for some opinions /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Theowegian]

Hello Dave.

I just bought a Kubota L3130 w/ a FEL, (a L3830's little sister). Im very pleased with it. The other tractor that I was serious about was a NH33DA. So I understand the dilema between Kubota and NH. In the end, Kubota won out for me. For me, the Kubota dealer was excellent and the local NH was high $$. I think you may find there is maybe a few more warranty issues with the brand new NH but I do believe they are excellent tractors. My buddy at work ust bought a NH33DA and he loves it. I think quality and workmanship are pretty close, so it probably comes down to what ever tractor you feel more comfortable operating and which dealer seems to work with you better.

You cant go wrong with either one! But Im spoiled on the hydrostat and a bit biased on hydros over glide shift, I admit. The glide shift is excellent tho, and I wouldnt hesitate buying one if it appeals to you. It is a proven workhorse and will perform well for you, Im sure.

Good luck and keep us informed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jdcork]

Dave,
I was also considering a Kubota 7800 or the NH 33D. Ended up with NH35D and love it. I would have gone with either brand but I got a great deal on this one. The things that I liked about the NH are: tilt/telescoping steering wheel, swivel/adj seat, foldable ROPS, telescoping arms on 3 pt, a little better FEL capability, and last, but not least, better visibility of the bucket. Also, I am partial to the HST and am so glad that I got it. My wife loves to drive the tractor as does my son-in-law. Sure makes it easier for others to use the tractor.
Both are great tractors and you will enjoy either. Take your time and get the feel for both before you make a final decision. Gool Luck.

Jim

 

[Laminarman]

I love my NH40DA. I love hydro. The BEST move I made was getting HST. I let a friend drive it (has a Deere 4610). Said he could live with this machine easily and have saved 3K. Don't let the looks fool you. This is a piece of tough machinery. I'm very pleased. The loader and controls are simply awesome, and it's more comfortable than my car which is important into my fifth hour of brush hogging a large, 30 acre field.

 

[willy1947]

Thanks for the input! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I still can't make up my mind though /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Everyone loves the HST, which makes me think I'll be messing up not getting one. I've kind of test drove one, and didn't like the pedal setup. They all seem similar too. I hate the thought of losing power because of it, it adds $$$, and for instance I just rolled my ankle and couldn't have used it if I had it. The pedals are just not comfortable.

Am I making a mistake buying one without HST??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif The GST seemed like the perferct middle of the road. Plus my NH dealer can't get a gear model for 6 months. Last I looked he didn't even have one to test drive. Not to mention the geared or GST is considerable less $$$.

I just feel like I am making a mistake. Everyone loves their HST so much.

thanks,
Dave

 

[_RaT_]

As much of a fan I am of HST, the shuttle shift tractors or Kubotas GST are both excellent ways to go. Neither is going to disappoint you and my opinion is it will have little impact on resale regardless of which way you go. I only mention the resale aspect because it is often brought up. After driving the various tractor makes and models, I chose a L3830 HST. I found both the diesel and the HST to be arguably the smoothest I experienced. It also had what appeared to be the most durable of loaders. I'm fairly rough on them and it was a concern I had. Regardless of your choice, New Holland, John Deere, Kioti, Kubota etc., your going to pretty impressed with the abilities of these comapct tractors and the not so compact tasks they can do. Mark

 

[DAP]

WOW .. that's a lot of recommendations from others, all stated without you ever having mentioned just what you're going to be doing with this machine.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Yes, but he did mention what he was looking at and desired, we just went from there.

 

[willy1947]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The primary use of the tractor will be using a bush hog. The secondary will be using the FEL to clear fence rows and move some dirt/mulch when I start building. The tractor will probably never be used for finish mowing and only occasionally for drilling post holes. Plus my bush hogging will be in pretty open fields with little turning around.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Laminarman]

My feelings: if you're doing any appreciable amount of loader work get HST. Can't tell you how easy and time saving it is. I wouldn't worry about "lost power" with HST. Seems like you're looking at machines with capable power either way.

 

[riptides]

You mentioned comfort, stay with that thought. Now if your doing other work, not bushhogging, than open yourself up for suggestions.

You didn't mention that so get back to being comfortable.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[lablovers]

IMHO, buy what works for you. I drove both the HST and the shuttle shift. To me not enough of a difference to justify the cost difference and I bought the shuttle shift. If you can use a clutch then it "ain't no big thing."

 

[Laminarman]

Lablover

I have two chocolate labs and find that the HST stops immediately when my idiotic dogs run nearly under my tires. You have the yellow ones, and rumor has it they have more brains, so therefore gear drive or shuttle shift is okay for you, right?

 

[TNCHRIS]

having owned a massey ferguson 35 gas, and a massey ferguson 135 diesel rated at 35 and 37 pto hp both gear drive. i was in fear that my L3830HST (30.5 pto hp)would be a big loss of power. just the oposite it seems to have more. pto hp is rated with the tractor sitting still, so the hydros pump takes some power to idle, in this theory a tractor with power steering has less pto power than manual steering. this system of rating pto hp was created back in the early 1900s, most pto operations today are done with the tractor moving, so there is not that much if any differance in usable hp. kubota with 7 hp less than the massey will out work it in bush hogging and mowing. cut yard time from 3.5hrs to 2hrs. i could only see a hp differance in plowing but the 4x4 made up the differance. did you try using the cruise conrol lever? don't have to hold pedal down in foward. i'm sure i could use a hook to go to reverse and still use the hst with a broken foot as i never have to use the brakes, lift off the pedal and the tractor stops.
just my two cents.

 

[SteveH_CT]

My Chocolate takes offense at those remarks... he never runs in front of the tractor... He just decides to be right where I want to be... just standing there watching me - looks like he's saying "yeah man, just try to get me to move". Wasn't there a credit card commercial that said "It's everywhere you want to be". That's my Wally, everywhere I want to be.

Oh yeah - HST is great! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The Deere has selectable stop-start, it will start and stop fast (my favorite) or lessen the acceleration and deceleration curve so it's more gradual.

 

[Moon]

If the GST feels good to you, I don't think your making a mistake not getting HST. HST has it's good points, that have been covered thoroughly in other threads. HST works for me, but before I had that I had a old Ford 8N, and a Mitsubishi 20hp 2wd tractor. Both were gear. Stick with your gut feeling on this one. If the GST feels better to you than the HST go for it. Many on here have, hence the HST vs anything else debates. One size does not fit all, and neither does one transmission.
Moon of Ohio

 

[hosejockey2002]

My dad's looking at an L4330. We both test drove an L4330 HST and I beleive an L3830 GST and we both liked the GST better. I liked the hydro well enough, but frankly I do not care for the foot controls for forward and reverse. I am sure others will disagree but I felt I had much better overall control of the machine with the GST. My dad is also looking at a JD 4610, and the fact that they have nothing that compares directly with the GST is making him lean towards Kubota.

 

[RedRocker]

How exactly does the GST work? Do you use the clutch to start, then shift it like an automatic? Do you have to clutch to reverse? The HST pedal doesn't look all that appealing to me either, but I've yet to drive any of them.

 

[Gerald]

Dave, I have a 3010 HST and a 4330 GST. The 3010 has a FEL. The HST makes using the FEL much easier . Other than that I like the GST as well or better, a lot less heat while driving it. I think you would like either one.
Gerald

 

[_RaT_]

Horsejockey, for what it is worth, here is my version of how HST worked out for me. I have a twin pedal JD 510 mower, it's kind of a zero turn radius type. When I went looking for a tractor, I test drove several brands, Kubota included. Being familiar with the twin pedal on JD made it a natural for me to get on a JD 4600 HST and manuever almost like my mower. I tried the Kubota L4310 at that time and found the "treadle" type pedal definitely different. My first impression was one of "well this is strange". After fooling around for about 30 minutes at the gracious dealers lot, I become pretty familiar with the treadle pedal. Long story short, the smoothness of the Kubota engine/HST combination sold me on Kubota. Now, about 3 years latter, I find control of the Kubota to be superior to that of my JD 510 only from the perspective of actively being able to control the speed while on rough terrain (kind of a "seat of the pant's" type thing). Other then that, I find the use of either to be a non issue Only one time can I say that the single pedal was of great assitance was when I was digging around a culvert with my L48. Suddenly the front end dropped out from under me and I was going down into the ditch. I instinctively hit the reverse on the pedal just quick enough to hold my position, all four tires spinning wildly while I lowered the bucket and anchored myself. The whole process took maybe 1 second of time. Had it been a twin pedal like my JD mower, I may and I may not have hit the right pedal, there was no time to think, just do. After using the new design pedal on my L3830 HST now for a year, I love it. When folks try out my tractor, some put their entire foot on the pedal. That's a mistake. Place only toe or ball of your foot on the forward motion with your heel on the matte. Rat...

PS. GST and shuttle shift are also great choices. The days of full manual are over for me. I have a full manual transmission with my International 454. While it's still a great tractor, using shuttle or HST makes me appreciate what the engineers have done.