familyman
Platinum Member
It's time to let you all know how well this tractor has served me.
I was shopping for a machine to excavate 2 walls of my foundation, provide drainage for same, and perform numerous landscaping/improvement chores on my 2 acres. The plan was to buy the machine, complete the work (in whatever amount of time it took), then sell it. I was hoping to recouperate most of my investment and not pay contractors to do what I was very well capable of doing. I knew it would take time, but it seemed to be the most cost-effective approach.
I was looking at a BX23 at my local dealer, who came outside to chat. He said the BX could do it, but for not much more money, the L2800 could do it easier and faster. I was concerned at how quickly the dollars were adding up, but I could see the sense, and hey, I was going to sell it and get back a big piece of my money anyway, right?
Delivery day came, and I rushed home to see a big (what I thought of at the time as big), beautiful orange machine in my driveway.
I gingerly began my education in the ways of the constant-mesh transmission, the backhoe, and the FEL.
The L2800 is built with typical Kubota quality, and just feels right, to me.
At first I found the unsychronized shuttle awkward, and had to constantly remind myself to " stop and shift". It also took a good number of hours to get a good feel for which gears were good for what, in which range. I no longer think about these things. Now, it's all by feel.
It has plenty of power. It doesn't have the weight to dig well in hard ground with the FEL, and loses traction when I push it too far, but good technique helps as does the toothbar (ATI).
The backhoe tore the toplink mount out of the transfer case. This had me really worried at first, but the dealer took the blame, explaining that the shop left off the reinforcement bracket, which is needed and normal for a BH installed on the 3-pt. It was fixed and returned in one week, this time with the needed bracket. A subframe is on order from BrushHog, as I intend to use the backhoe even more in the future, and the subframe will make mouting/dismounting faster, as well as take the load off the 3-pt.
I've heard talk here at TBN that Kubota loaders are generally weak compared to the competition, most notably New Holland. The 463 FEL on my L2800 can lift a heaped bucket of crushed stone, and while it doesn't seem about to catapult the load over my head, it has never failed to lift any of the materials I move as high as needed. The bucket curl however, is quite strong. The backhoe is a good counterweight, and I wouldn't put a 3-pt. mounted weight back there of less than 1,000 lbs (in the absence of the backhoe).
It has no problem pulling my 72" Befco boxblade, and I've moved alot of dirt with it. In fwd at 2000rpm, 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear low all work well, depending on conditions.
I've skidded about a dozen trees, the largest about 20" in diameter, as if there were nothing behind me.
The transmission driven PTO has not given me any problems at all. Numerous posts here had me curious, as people seemed put out by its supposed inconveinience and some kind of awful ratcheting noise. I can only assume they need a lesson in common sense with regard to engine rpm, and the engine/clutch/PTO relationship. Mine works just fine. I run my Woods RM59 mower (which I love) and haven't had a hiccup. 2000 rpm is plenty, and over grown grass goes by just like the rest.
Some people are also having trouble with the 3-pt. hydraulic lift, saying it's "jerky". If you go up incrementally, it is. If you do as I do, and pull the lever nearly all the way back and then lower it to the height you want ( use the numbers near the stick), it's as smooth as butter.
Would I buy it again if I were starting over? No. My uses are heavy on digging and I find myself wanting more FEL and alot more backhoe (10' would be nice!), but those needs are beyond the intended scope of the machine. That means that the L2800 has expanded MY scope. It's a very well made, sturdy, reliable, hardworking tractor which has earned my respect and appreciation. It would probably take me a decade of constant use to come near to wearing it out. If I get a larger machine, I may very well keep this one to use on jobs that require a tractor that is maneuverable around homes, has a really nice motor, is great at ground engagement work and mowing, and is just plain solid. I may not buy another L2800, I'm definitely not sorry I got it.
I was shopping for a machine to excavate 2 walls of my foundation, provide drainage for same, and perform numerous landscaping/improvement chores on my 2 acres. The plan was to buy the machine, complete the work (in whatever amount of time it took), then sell it. I was hoping to recouperate most of my investment and not pay contractors to do what I was very well capable of doing. I knew it would take time, but it seemed to be the most cost-effective approach.
I was looking at a BX23 at my local dealer, who came outside to chat. He said the BX could do it, but for not much more money, the L2800 could do it easier and faster. I was concerned at how quickly the dollars were adding up, but I could see the sense, and hey, I was going to sell it and get back a big piece of my money anyway, right?
Delivery day came, and I rushed home to see a big (what I thought of at the time as big), beautiful orange machine in my driveway.
I gingerly began my education in the ways of the constant-mesh transmission, the backhoe, and the FEL.
The L2800 is built with typical Kubota quality, and just feels right, to me.
At first I found the unsychronized shuttle awkward, and had to constantly remind myself to " stop and shift". It also took a good number of hours to get a good feel for which gears were good for what, in which range. I no longer think about these things. Now, it's all by feel.
It has plenty of power. It doesn't have the weight to dig well in hard ground with the FEL, and loses traction when I push it too far, but good technique helps as does the toothbar (ATI).
The backhoe tore the toplink mount out of the transfer case. This had me really worried at first, but the dealer took the blame, explaining that the shop left off the reinforcement bracket, which is needed and normal for a BH installed on the 3-pt. It was fixed and returned in one week, this time with the needed bracket. A subframe is on order from BrushHog, as I intend to use the backhoe even more in the future, and the subframe will make mouting/dismounting faster, as well as take the load off the 3-pt.
I've heard talk here at TBN that Kubota loaders are generally weak compared to the competition, most notably New Holland. The 463 FEL on my L2800 can lift a heaped bucket of crushed stone, and while it doesn't seem about to catapult the load over my head, it has never failed to lift any of the materials I move as high as needed. The bucket curl however, is quite strong. The backhoe is a good counterweight, and I wouldn't put a 3-pt. mounted weight back there of less than 1,000 lbs (in the absence of the backhoe).
It has no problem pulling my 72" Befco boxblade, and I've moved alot of dirt with it. In fwd at 2000rpm, 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear low all work well, depending on conditions.
I've skidded about a dozen trees, the largest about 20" in diameter, as if there were nothing behind me.
The transmission driven PTO has not given me any problems at all. Numerous posts here had me curious, as people seemed put out by its supposed inconveinience and some kind of awful ratcheting noise. I can only assume they need a lesson in common sense with regard to engine rpm, and the engine/clutch/PTO relationship. Mine works just fine. I run my Woods RM59 mower (which I love) and haven't had a hiccup. 2000 rpm is plenty, and over grown grass goes by just like the rest.
Some people are also having trouble with the 3-pt. hydraulic lift, saying it's "jerky". If you go up incrementally, it is. If you do as I do, and pull the lever nearly all the way back and then lower it to the height you want ( use the numbers near the stick), it's as smooth as butter.
Would I buy it again if I were starting over? No. My uses are heavy on digging and I find myself wanting more FEL and alot more backhoe (10' would be nice!), but those needs are beyond the intended scope of the machine. That means that the L2800 has expanded MY scope. It's a very well made, sturdy, reliable, hardworking tractor which has earned my respect and appreciation. It would probably take me a decade of constant use to come near to wearing it out. If I get a larger machine, I may very well keep this one to use on jobs that require a tractor that is maneuverable around homes, has a really nice motor, is great at ground engagement work and mowing, and is just plain solid. I may not buy another L2800, I'm definitely not sorry I got it.