L3130: a good fit?

LedgeMagnet · Aug 6, 2004

I have been looking at Kioti, but I thought I'd take a look at Kubota, so I went to the dealer today.

I have 8 acres, mostly woods, mostly hilly and rocky, a small lawn (mostly gardens by now), and a small pasture with sheep, goats and a donkey in it.

I need something to gather firewood which would include light skidding of logs (One at a time is fine, though I do have some 20" pines I'd like to move at 16 feet length), move snow, repair a septic system (not a complete redo), move manure (out of a paddock and into a spreader, a smallish old ground-driven one), and turn more of my woods into pasture. I have no need to mow grass. My woods are pretty hilly, so things are tight, and stability is an issue. My most immediate concern is working in the woods to pull firewood and clear for grazing.

I would like to have something that would handle a BH later, though I don't think I'll be able to afford one now.

The dealer recommended the L3130 with the LA723 loader. It's a little heavier than the Kioti LK3054 and CK30 I've been looking at, has about the same power, and a significantly more powerful loader. I looked at the B7800: same power, but a lot lighter and with a weaker loader. I didn't think it was up to the job, but...who knows?

I was quoted 17965 for the 3130 with theLA723, loaded Ags, engine heater, bucket hooks. (Gear with synchro shuttle: "DT" model, not GST, not Hydro. I don't need the GST, and I don't want the Hydro.)

I'm curious about the price, but mainly I'm wondering if this is the right size/weight/power for what I want. I don't care much about PTO power, but I do care about skidding logs, the strength of the loader, and a tractor nimble enough to get around in some fairly tight woods (This last is a little contradictory re the first few, I know.)

So, what about this tractor and, if you happen to know, is the price a reasonable one: it's a good dealership, and I don't mind paying a little (a little) extra for that.

Thanks, for any help you can give.

40Kchicks · Aug 6, 2004

If most your work is going to be with the loader in tight areas you should reconsider the hydro transmission. It will make the tractor much more productive for you.

Eric

texbaylea · Aug 6, 2004

I have had my L3130HST for a week now. It is enough to know that if you should assess carefully how much loader work you will have. The HST is great for me but I would want a GST at a minimum for loader work. I can't comment on the price since there are significant differences in configuration. The L3130 seems a little much for 8 acres but only you can determine that.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 6, 2004

I would say it is a pretty good fit. I don't know the current going prices. I would say you are right on target with the loaders, the Kioti 130 is a more powerful loader than the 402 that I have on the B2910 (which is the same loader as used on the B7800). The L3130's loader is more powerful than the Kiotis. The other really good loader out there is the New Holland loader, take a look at their specs, I've not compared them to the LA723, but I did do a comparision on some smaller machines between the New Holland, the Kioti and Kubotas. The NH had the best ratings (on paper). I use a NH TC24 and a Kubota B2910, the smaller NH 12la loader has greater breakout strenght than the larger Kubota's la402, and the curved arms are amazingly superior to the Kubota's arms for visibility. But I admit to liking both brands and both machines. I honestly can't imagine you being unhappy with the L3130, it is fairly large for 8 acres (in my opinion) but not too large for the tasks you outlined. Also, HST is going to be much more productive than any other shift, it is also much safer on hills.

hillslider · Aug 6, 2004

Just curious....why have you ruled out the HST trans? I Have had my L3130HSt for over a year now and have foung the Hst trans to be great in the woods. When you have tight areas and are on hills the HST really shines. I have drug some pretty good size trees with mine. Roughly.....15" on diameter and well over 16' long. No problems at all. My property has some pretty good slope to it. My ability to tolerate the pucker factor is pretty low so I avoid any risky actions. Always try to go up and down the hills rather than across them. The L3130 is a good size tractor that has plenty of weight and power but is small enough to pretty much go anywhere. Have fun with your purchase.

DCRC · Aug 7, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't want the Hydro)</font>

Sounds like you may have gotten some bad information to rule out the HST at least without giving us some supporting facts.

Are you not wanting to spend the money on it , or possibly afraid of added repair cost down the road? I'm interested to hear why you've ruled it out.

I know one thing for sure. I love my HST! I say to myself everytime I get on my tractor:

"man, this thing is easy to drive".

Regardless of what tranny you pick, I think your really enjoy the L3130.

Have you taken one for a test drive?

LedgeMagnet · Aug 7, 2004

The tractors I've owned before were 40-50 years old and were geardrive, of course, no synchro at all. Two of the three had loaders. So I'm used to gears, and synchro shuttle (the FST trans) sounds pretty sophisticated from that point of view, whether for loader or other work.

I suppose I am prejudiced against HST because it is more expensive, because there's really only one weak link in a gear transmission (the clutch, and they last a long time if you treat them right), and because I don't like the idea that one o-ring, buried (expensively) deep inside a fancy pump can stop the whole rig. There is a lot of hydro juice travelling all over the place in there, and in my experience everything that can leak does in time leak, and if that leak is internal, you're screwed.

I am probably just old fashioned, but I've seen all sorts of hydraulic stuff stop working for no reason whatsoever, whereas gear or clutch failure is usually pretty clearly the fault of the bonehead moving the pedals and levers.

LedgeMagnet · Aug 7, 2004

As for the other points, I have no interest in buying something bigger (and more expensive) than I need, but I don't think the amount of acreage has much to do with it. I need to move logs, dirt, and rocks up and down hills, and I need enough weight/power to do so without giving up too much in the way of maneuverability. And I'd like - if possible - something that can handle my theoretical backhoe. Any experience out there doing these things with one of the smaller Kubotas?

I've pulled a lot of firewood out with an old Cub for example: 16 horsepower (I think) with loaded and heavily weighted rear tires. But I don't know if these newer tractors can do that sort of thing. I don't know what the Cub weighed, though I'm guessing it's more than any 16 hp modern tractor, but I could easily be wrong.

GregJ · Aug 7, 2004

I have done a lot of this type of work with a significantly smaller Kubota. I have a B7500 with a 4672 BH. I have removed stumps and done a lot of firewood with it. I even palletize all my firewood and haul with 3pt. forks. I do have fairly level ground and I am sure that a larger tractor could do the work more quickly, but the way I look at, that would cut into my seat time /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.
My recommedation would be to look at your budget and get a smaller tractor with a BH right now to help with the trees. It sure made my work a lot easier. I use my BH all the time. If interested, I can post some pics of what my little B7500 can do with trees.

Greg

Henro · Aug 7, 2004

I have a B2910 with loader and backhoe on 3.7 acres. So from where I stand I would say the 3130 would be a good fit.

My B2910 has been a hard worker. I have no complaints. But the larger tractor will do more for you and I bet you will be glad you got it in the long run. BUT it is a little bigger and that can limit how you get around in the woods.

With the L series I think you will have a greater choice of the type of chains you can purchase. I could not find anything for the B2910 except cross chains (I mean ladder) and they fall between the R4 lugs enough to limit usefullness to some extent.

You may want to avoid the R4s and go with R1s for better traction in the mid and wet/damp earth. I had to put my chains back on this summer, due to all the rain we have had this year, and I frequently have trouble getting up the back hill I have been clearing...and it is only 20 degrees in the steep parts! I wish for R1s frequently when I am there.

I say go for the larger tractor. It will get smaller the more you use it. I love my B2910 but if I had more property to use it on I would be looking at the L series, knowing what I know now.

The only thing that would push me smaller was if I had a lot of trees to get between where a larger tractor would not fit. Then the smaller B7800/B2910 with its higher horsepower/weight ratio has the advantage.

Make sure you get the LA723 loader as the smaller loader does not work when you want to add a backhoe. The loader works naturally, but the backhoe cannot easily be attached to a 3130 if it has the LA5xx loader, at least from what I have read here at TBN.

Let us know what you decide! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif