Kubota L48 HST ---SLOW

Sully2 · Jul 29, 2006

RAT: 4.5 MPH is too slow to mow?? I dont have the foggiest idea so that why I am asking..? I dont mow with my B3030 and dont intend on it..but have no idea what a "good" mowing speed really is??

LarryRB · Jul 29, 2006

I hog mow with my 48 quite a bit, Just never thought about the actual speed I do it in. In my case, I cannot use the high range and always use medium.. Medium is not very fast, for sure.

_RaT_ · Jul 30, 2006

4.5 mph or about that is pedal to the metal full throttle. I found mowing with the L48 I only needed about 1900 RPM with no noticeable improvement in power and no difference in the cut. The fuel consumption went down, but the speed dropped to much. With my L3830, I cut at about 2200 RPM in medium. The L3830 does 7 mph at full throttle so I would say I am going about 4 to 5 mph at 2200 mph. After using the L48 for a few years to mow, yeah, my opinion is that medium is to slow even for loader work where your moving material any distance. I got pretty good at shifting from medium to high to move the load. I would suggest the L48 either have another range or bump medium range a couple of mph. It was a great dirt digging/ripping tractor.

Sully2 said:
RAT: 4.5 MPH is too slow to mow?? I dont have the foggiest idea so that why I am asking..? I dont mow with my B3030 and dont intend on it..but have no idea what a "good" mowing speed really is??

Doc_Bob · Jul 30, 2006

kjbpe said:
It appears that medium is just slow and high is underpowered after the responses.

Why is medium to slow? To slow for what?
Bob

PS I pick a speed to mow based upon load on mower, height and thickness of grass and terrain.

kjbpe · Aug 2, 2006

I checked the speed in medium against a 200' tape and a stop watch. It was within 1/10th of a second of the published medium speed. I guess it's just my perception, but it's slow for loader work. Is it true that the L39 has about the same capacity/breakout forces as an L48? If so, it seems the L39 would be more versatile for small jobs. Oh yeah, I bought the oil SUDT and the three filters, WOW a $350 oil change! It makes me wonder if the guy who owned it before me actually changed the oil every 200hrs.

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 2, 2006

My biggest complaint with the L48 is that high range is just too high. The L39 feels more powerful because of the GST, even though its really not - its darn close. The L48 will probably be updated in the not too distant future (not 07), its getting to be one of the older tractors now.

_RaT_ · Aug 3, 2006

MessickFarmEqu said:
My biggest complaint with the L48 is that high range is just too high. The L39 feels more powerful because of the GST, even though its really not - its darn close. The L48 will probably be updated in the not too distant future (not 07), its getting to be one of the older tractors now.

Neil, I cannot understand why high is so weak on the L48. As I mentioned, I would bet my L3830 HST with one less cylinder could pull the L48 in a tug of war with both in high range. There is no question the L48 could outpull most anything in medium including my L3830 in low where they both have close to the same speed. I have yet to try the L39, but I'm pretty sure the L48 will outpull it in any range but high. High is just so weak even though the top MPH for it is almost identical to my L3830. I don't get it. It needs a MH range for loader work or something like the NH where you can press a button to get to a different range. Medium speed of 4 mph is just to slow for many, many things.

monkeymonk · Aug 4, 2006

_RaT_ said:
High is just so weak. I don't get it.

I think we need an explanation from kubota on this one.

I agree with you High is weak Unless your on a total flat area just cruising.

Is that what its for? cruising to jobs or just back and forth from this to that on the flats?

I wouldn't trade or sell my 48 for nothing!

The L39 just doesn't have the weight or power. I liked the 39 I tested but not more than the 48.

For me Medium is just fine for loader work, its not like Iam in a loader marathon,take it slow with heay loads

Anyway someone (dealer/kubota) with the answer PLEASE chime in.Why is High so Weak?

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 4, 2006

I've talked to an engineer about it before, there is a mechanical reason for it. I can't really recall exactly what it is, but there is some kind of scaling problem with hydrostatic drives and the L48 is about the limit when it comes to size and weight for this kind of transmission. High is ment to be a travel speed, why they would not have just geared down just a bit lower - I don't know.

LarryRB · Aug 4, 2006

I agree, high is just for travel only, although I can rarely use it.. Too many hills here to be effective.,. It would be nice if medium was two or so miles per hour faster... As for loader work, and mine has done a lot of it. medium works fine. Again. not much level or near level in my neighborhood, so it works out well. Now that Neil has said it will be getting an upgrade sooner or later,,, I think Kubota and the other tractor mfg's have it figured about the time you pay off the machine, a new design conveniently works it way to the forefront.