Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110's

[_RaT_]

Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

Even though the inventory of L39's is very low, my dealer managed to get some in, sort of. He has them sold. On the other side, he has 6 brand new JD TLB 110's. JD has either really caught up on the manufactuering side or they are not selling quite as fast as they did in the past. At any rate, the L39 would certainly be a consideration if I was in the market for a compact TLB. I definitely think Kubota was thinking about the JD 110 when designing the L39. I do think that Kubota made the right decision going GST over HST on this small TLB. My personal experience with the L48 is that I don't think HST allows the JD 110 or Kubota L48 much utility beyond an earth moving machine. If that however is your ultimate goal, then they are very good at that. After driving a L39 which is basically a shuttle and L48 there is no question that the loader speed on the L48 with HST is faster. The L39 is a very nice TLB. Perfect for a small construction type with relatively small projects.

 

[RobS]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

I sat on a 110 yesterday just for fun. We have a new dealer nearby and they happened to have one on the lot. Sure is a solid looking machine but way overkill for any of my needs.

Not sure why you think GST is better than HST in these machines? The Deere has a switch for the HST that you can reach from the hoe seating position to creep the tractor along. That alone would be worth it's weight in gold I would think /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

(BTW, not intending to declare GST/HST war here at all!)

 

[_RaT_]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

"Not sure why you think GST is better than HST in these machines? The Deere has a switch for the HST that you can reach from the hoe seating position to creep the tractor along. That alone would be worth it's weight in gold I would think

(BTW, not intending to declare GST/HST war here at all!) "

No no, Rob, no wars. I had the L48 and drove the JD 110 and just found the medium range in HST to slow for purposes like mowing. The L39 with its smaller engine and fair amount of heft will probably benefit from the GST somewhat in its multipurpose abilities. I tried mowing with my L48 but it was just way to slow. I thought it would be a little faster but at 4 mph max at full RPM in medium, it just wasn't going to work out. I was looking for a full capability loader more then a multipurpose tractor back then. I just thought the multipurpose would be a little more multipurpose with the L48. The L39 certainly would fill that need a little better and primarily because of the GST. On the ohterhand, my L3830 with a removable loader fills my needs to a T. You are right, the JD 110 is a solid looking TLB as are the two from Kubota. With the JD 110, armour under the bottom is an absolute must. Just crawl under one and you will promptly understand. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PS the HST on the JD 110 and it's ability to creep to position is a great asset. You can actually do this very easily on the L48 as well. It's not as high tech though, you just need a stick and push the pedal with it. Works very well and is quite cheap. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobS]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

I've not studied either machine closely but my impression of the 110 is that I would not want to cut grass with it. It's one heavy machine! Deere lists 7280 lbs with loader and boxblade. I suspect they target it at commercial landscapers and earthmovers, not the multi-purpose market that most of us represent.

What is the weight on the L39?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[SkyPup]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

About 7,000 with FEL and BH, the BH is easily removable with a standard 3PT and PTO on the rear (opt. on JD), the FEL doesn't come off.

 

[_RaT_]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

To call what I cut grass would be a bit generous but found with the weight of the L48 in our dry California conditions that compaction was really not an issue. I can see where rain falls year around that this might well be an issue. The L39 weighs about 6987 lbs with hoe and loader.

Sky, The R4's on my L3830 work very well, but then, I very rarely have to deal with mud. When the rain stops, I have a day or two to let things dry out and its back to moist very workable soil. The huge advantage I see with my R4's over my neighbors R1's (on an otherwise identical tractor) is that the front wheels stay afloat with heavy loads on them far better. With the stock R1's on his L3830 and full pressure, I was able to still flatten the bottom down to almost the rim, they just don't come close to handling the load of the stock R4's. It makes steering more difficult and the ruts in the wet soil almost instantaneous. Hopefully or you, you can get Michelin to make a set of tires for the front of your L39. The rears simply won't wear out until many thousands of hours.

 

[SkyPup]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

Rat, you are right on about the R1's bottoming out with a full load and sinking into a mud pit instantly. However, with the R1's if you dump the FEL load you can get out again, with the INDs you can't. The INDs appear to be stouter sidewalls for loader work like you stated though, they do not flatten out with extreme loads like the R1s do. I still need more traction than what the INDs present where we are, just have to watch it more carefully to avoid getting massively stuck like Jim started out doing with his new L39 right out of the box..... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

There is absolutely no argument in my mind that R1's are so much better at traction in wet and even dry conditions. I have found after having both R1's and R4's in my soil conditions and my uses, the R4's work quite well but fully understand where they will not and can understand folks preference for them. If your work involves any amount of work on hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete, the R4's are superior. For most of us, that is not the case.

I would also experiment on inflation pressures. While the manual may have the tires in the 20 PSI area, I have found my rears can easily handle 12 PSI with not rim popping of signs of under inflation. I carry a 1600lb landscape rake on the back of my L3830 which would roughly equate to the L39's hoe. The fronts I vary depending on use, lots of loader use and I have them pumped up, for mowing, they are at about 14 PSI.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

Rat...A 1600lb landscape rake! What on god's earth are you doing with such a thing /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I didn't know they even made 1600lb landscape rakes. I think my 72" woods weighs in at somthing like 400lb.

Yep, the industrial tires are all but useless in wet soils. Although, I'd have absolutely NO lawn left if I had the R1s. I think I need two tractors. Maybe the wife will let me get a 3030 next month when the lawn starts really growing fast...I doubt it. That would be a nice pair of machines though.

 

[_RaT_]

Re: Kubota L39 and JD TLB 110\'s

Jim, check this out! Mines about 12 years old now. Harley Pro 8