Kubota vs Deere 30+hp

wushaw · Aug 17, 2005

I have a L2800 with a quick attach bucket that allows me the use of forks. They welded a plate to the back of my bucket. I paid 1200.00 for the forks and quick attach, welding....
It can be done, he just doesn't know or wants to sell you a bigger tractor$$$.
The dealer is charging for the upgraded valve since he knows about the OEM valve and the new valve is out of a discountinued model tractor L3010.
The L3130, L3430 position control works an inch at a time just like L3400 it is just butter smooooth.
If size/weight of tractor is not a factor then the Grand L series tractors are fine machines.

texbaylea · Aug 17, 2005

You can put the LA723 on the L3130 and it works fine but you have to push the salesman on this. Unless they move a lot of Grand L machines all of their L3130s come with the LA513 loaders. You may have to wait for them to order an L3130 an LA723 loader for you. Because of the performance deficit you will probably be happier with the L3430 however.

Vernon

JerryG · Aug 17, 2005

I don't have a Kubota, but try to keep up on what they are doing.
 The L3130, L3430 position control works an inch at a time just like L3400 it is just butter smooooth. 
From the Kubota web site, it says that all "Ls" have position control. The only inching anything is on some of the economy "B" models. Am I missing something about the position control on the Ls? Position control is position control. So what gives? And yes, I know about the quarter inching control.

N80 · Aug 17, 2005

When I bought my L4400 the dealer had me test drive a 3130(?). Every dealer tried, at least a little, to stear me away from the basic L series tractors. Another dealer told me that they had very low margins on the L series tractors and thats why they pushed the fancier and/or bigger models.

As far as the position control vs quarter inching, I don't really know what any of that means but the lift arms on my 3 pt raise and lower smoothly and continuously. No increments. The rear remote works the same way.

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 18, 2005

( Unless they move a lot of Grand L machines all of their L3130s come with the LA513 loaders. You may have to wait for them to order an L3130 an LA723 loader for you.

)

This is not correct. We choose every piece of equipment that comes to our lots.

( Another dealer told me that they had very low margins on the L series tractors and thats why they pushed the fancier and/or bigger models )

I would not agree with this either. Its up to the dealer what they make. Infact I would argue that its easier to make a good margin on the economy models.

N80 · Aug 18, 2005

Why, then, did each and every dealer consistently steer me away from the 4400 towards a similarly priced but smaller tractor with more features? This happened no less than 4 times. In fact, the dealer I bought the tractor from showed me his book on what he had paid for the 4400 and loader. Since he did this after we closed the deal I have no reason to doubt him. But, I must admit, since the deal was closed and I was excited about getting my tractor I didn't pay attention to the numbers and wasn't really concerned with what he made on the deal, but he was making a point of showing me that they didn't make much off of this model.

Just my experience. If I interpreted it wrong, it because I don't know anything about the tractor business. Maybe its a regional thing though since the price I got was lower than just about anywhere else I researched and one local dealer told me he had people driving long distances (Vermont) to buy tractors from him in NC.

Whatever.

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 18, 2005

( Why, then, did each and every dealer consistently steer me away from the 4400 towards a similarly priced but smaller tractor with more features? )

My guess would be maybe they thought it would be a good fit for you. I can't speak for everyone, but we sell more deluxe models than standand ones because most compact buyers are not used to being around equipment and HST trannys and important to them.

N80 · Aug 18, 2005

I think that is probably true too. It's kind of funny, one day I was test driving the 4400 and while I was tooling around the lot, the salesman was trying to sell my wife on the 3130 based on how easy it was to drive! Fortunately my wife isn't afraid of a manual transmission or a gear drive tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

ccsial · Aug 18, 2005

When I first got my L3400 HST the position control jumped about an inch each time it adjusted. Going down was smooth but going up it jumped about an inch. The dealer replaced, for free, the control valve and now it does not jump going up or down. I'm sure this is the way the 3130 and 3430 series work. This was an L3400 problem my dealer found on Kubota's web site and ordered the new valve to fix it.

JerryG · Aug 18, 2005

I am sure that he replaced it because of a defect. It wasn't originally designed to be that way. The way that it was stated above, it seemed as though there was a inching valve such as the quarter inching valve. I thought that I had missed something, but it looks like it was just a terminology thing.

wushaw · Aug 20, 2005

( I am sure that he replaced it because of a defect. It wasn't originally designed to be that way. The way that it was stated above, it seemed as though there was a inching valve such as the quarter inching valve. I thought that I had missed something, but it looks like it was just a terminology thing. )

I didn't say it was a quarter inching valve, I just said it works an inch at a time, I am sorry if I was mis interpeted.

N80 · Aug 20, 2005

I think there was some confusion and it seemed like the behavior you were describing was a normal feature of that type of valve rather than a defect. It seems to me that you clearly had a defective valve, not just an inferior one typical of that model tractor.

ccsial · Aug 20, 2005

"I just said it works an inch at a time" 
I'm not sure what you mean. My L3400 goes up and down quite smoothly and I can put it anywhere I want.

wushaw · Aug 20, 2005

( "I just said it works an inch at a time" 
I'm not sure what you mean. My L3400 goes up and down quite smoothly and I can put it anywhere I want. )

Like your FEL?? With infinite position?
I have to move my 3pt lever X amt before it will move(it feels like an inch..it could be more) and when it does you know it, with the origional valve it would jump...not smooth at all, like it was porting full pressure or flow to raise implement instead of a small amt of pressure to gently raise implement like on a Grand L series. It is better than it was but it is no Grand L series.

ccsial · Aug 21, 2005

( I have to move my 3pt lever X amt before it will move(it feels like an inch..it could be more) and when it does you know it )

I went out and tested mine. It moves X amount also but when it moves it is 5/16 inch. I just measured it at the front of the brush hog. It is not infinite like the FEL or the 3PH on my 1910. It is much better than it was though. You can't feel it jump now like before. This is true for up only. Going down is infinite.

Goog · Aug 22, 2005

Mine is the same. Moves much smoother after the new valve but goes X amount up when raising the 3 pt. Infinate would be nice. I was using my box scraper and sometimes you just want to raise a little bit and it's smallest increment is to much. I never even thought about this while tractor shopping. My fault. Is a GrandL infinate? I know of some really old tractors that are. Seems strange with all the new technology to go backwards on something simple like a hydraulic control valve. Go figure. Brian L3400 HST.

ccsial · Aug 22, 2005

To be honest, I'm not good enough to need it. My 1910 is perfectly smooth but when I'm moving and bumping around I can't seem to make real tiny adjustments. I always thought a 3PH with a fine and course levers would be nice. The fine lever would give about plus/minus an inch for full lever travel. Lucky for me I don't have to do a lot of grading.

I've never driven a Grand L but one would hope it is infinite. I suppose they try to keep cost down on these basic tractors. I still really love my L3400 though. It does all I want with no extra features to cause trouble.

Idaho10ac · Aug 23, 2005

I haven't posted since I test drove the JD and I have to confess that the green got me. I wanted a Kubota and it still got me. It didn't help that the dealer brought one 100mi for me to try up here in the mountains. It started when the dealer actually knew about the inner workings of the tractor and what difference they made. He was a good salesman and lifted the hood first thing. The whole hood go's up and exposes everything in the engine compartment. Changing the oil is right there and the battery is right up front. JD thought out every control placement. The JD also has added features LoadMatch and the quick attach on the loader that is compatible with my neighbors forks and comes standard. I could go on but this is the Kubota post. The price was $1000 less for more tractor and attachments. I was quoted $18,700 for the 3520 tractor with ehydro, hydraulics to the back, $3500 for the cx loader, rear blade $850 and $1720 for snowblower with hydraulic controlled shoot; add it up and that's the out the door price no tax because the dealer is in Oregon. That mean's no delivery but I'll take it. I totally blew my budget, but with the financing I'll pay $300/mo until I pay it off in the spring. Even my wife is happy. I'll give a follow up in the JD department. Thanks for all your help. I'm sure I would have been just as happy with the Kubota.

wushaw · Aug 23, 2005

( To be honest, I'm not good enough to need it. My 1910 is perfectly smooth but when I'm moving and bumping around I can't seem to make real tiny adjustments. I always thought a 3PH with a fine and course levers would be nice. The fine lever would give about plus/minus an inch for full lever travel. Lucky for me I don't have to do a lot of grading.

I've never driven a Grand L but one would hope it is infinite. I suppose they try to keep cost down on these basic tractors. I still really love my L3400 though. It does all I want with no extra features to cause trouble.

)

No it is not infinite it is just smoother. I had a L3130 parked next to my L2800 to see the difference and I couldn't even feel it when it would raise in small increments..I could just see it, it was nice.

BillG_in_TX · Aug 24, 2005

Jeremy,

It sounds like you got a good deal on a great tractor. That 3520 with a turbo will be a good match for all your projects, especially at 5000 feet.