kubota longevity

[Anonymous Poster]

How long do Kubota tractors (less than 25 hp diesel) generally last before they need rebuilds?
Also, assuming one was well maintained, would 900 hours be excessive or just broken-in?
Thanks.

 

[Carl_NH]

Fryman,

Age dependent, an 82 /w 900 hours and having oil changed with normal maintenance is still good for lots more work, while the same vintage mistreated is less.

You don't give enough information to make a rational discussion for or against your position, however Kubota units will run for a long time - probably in excess of 4-6000 hours without any engine concerns pending mainatenance and usage.

Carl

 

[frank_f15]

what kind of hours was put on it? hard, easy? how old? really need more info for a qualified opinion.

 

[PowerMax]

In my opinion, a Kubota diesel with 900 hours on it is just barely broken in. This is assuming it was maintained according to mfr'ers recommendations. I've had twin cylinder gasoline engines with over 2000 hours that were still running strong.

Jeff

 

[gordon]

At 900 hrs it's about ten percent used up if in those hours the oil has been changed and the filters clean. But if abused 900 hours could be pretty well on it's way to being used up.

My last Kubota had over 7000 hrs on it when I traded it on the one I have now so everything is relative I guess. I've got an old post on here about my last L3750 and the hours on it if your interested.

Gordon

 

[Mike_Dumond]

A 1978 B6100Dt, 3000 hard hours and all I've done to it is change the clutch and pressure plate. Guess you could say that I ride the clutch too much.

 

[PaulT]

I recently heard, or read somewhere (probably on another thread here/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) that the life expectancy of a CUT is about 10000 hours, properly maintained. If the tractor hasn't been maintainted well so far, I would assume that its useful life has been shortened significantly (30% or more), since the first 50-100 hour maintenance routines are so critical to breaking in an engine (as opposed to breaking an engine).

 

[robertm]

PaulT,
I'd have to agree. I spent alot of time researching the life expectancy of the various diesel engines in CUT's, and most I talked to (right or wrong) state that a Kubota diesel is rated at 8,000 to 10,000 hours. John Deere (Yanmar) diesel engines seem to barely meet 5,000 hours. That is just what I've received as far as input from many dealers (both Kubota and Deere). That is why I went Kubota. I have a friend who owns a nursery and runs structly Kubotas, and many of them he says have run over 5,000 hours with barely a wrench on them. Hope mine will go that far!

 

[Buster57]

It seems like all the nursery people out here in Oregon use Kubota while all the rental people use JD. I think it is a tax deal? Kubotas, as used in nurserys, are expected to last many years while John Deere must have rapid depreciation for rental yards(My guess?) The JDs always look relatively new because they are. This is one reason why I would never buy a rental return JD. They have all had tough lives before you buy one.
I would expect 3000-4000 hours max for a JD rental return and 6000 - 8000 min for non-rental Kubota.

 

[kyoders]

There shouldn't be any difference in depreciation, as far as taxes go. Uncle Sam usually sets a schedule for a class of equipment, no matter how long it actually lasts. If rental yards are using Deere for monetary reasons, I would guess they get better resale from the unit when they retire it, whether it is justified or not. I would agree that buying a used rental machine would be risky. On the one had, the rental place should be doing good maintenance on it to protect their investment. On the other hand, the renters probably don't think twice about abusing them.

Kevin

 

[Kodiak]

Most rental yards lease there machinery unless they go ahead and purchase that item at the end of the lease. Seldom will you find a rental unit with over 500 hours on it.

Same with a lot of nursery and orchard owners. Most of the manufacturers offer special lease programs. I know that here in Washington. The local John Deere dealer has low hour program return tractors for sale. They told me that the stipulations of the lease included, hours could not go over 350, and they can't use the PTO for anything. Basicly they are pulling carts or loader work. Local dealer then gives them a complete service, fixes anything that needs it including cosmetics and installs a new loader if it wasn't equipped with one, before putting it on the sale line.
I beleive Kubota offers a simular program. This provides a good incentives as the operators of these businesses don't have worry about such a large cash outlay and they can constantly replace their equipment. Unfortunately some of those rental units that weir abused make it out into yhe public and you don't always know which ones they are.

 

[BrianA]

If well maintained 900 hours is just getting started!

 

[Buster57]

The Pagoda program is the John Deere program you are discussing. If you want a tractor that meets the specification that the large vineyards, typically in California, use then you are in like Flint. Sometimes they have weird specifications-like manual trans only with no FEL. However, if it is the tractor you want, it is a great program. You should be in touch with you local dealer to reserve one ahead of time if possible-they sell like hotcakes! I am unaware of Kubota having a similar program and if they do it is not on such a large scale. Also-shop the heck out of Pagoda program tractors. I Oregon the Fi_ _ _ _ Company charged almost full price on the Pagoda returns while a dealer in Roseburg gave a huge(~20%) discount.
I looked into this program very hard but could not handle the stigma attached to the 4300. If it were a 4310 I would have bought it. They all come with warranties and are basically demos. All in really great shape.

Relating to rental returns, renters have no clue what they are renting in CUTs. We are talking serious abuse. They(rental yards) can then turn them in at 4 years or 800 hours, used tractor dealer gives it a paint job and sells them to an unsuspecting public that is going to get a bad surprise. It happened to me on my JD 318. A new Onan engine and $2000 later and I tell everyone stay as far away from rental returns as possible. You may have better luck, take your own chances…