cuzncletus
New member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2003
- Messages
- 24
I don't want this post to turn into one of those "my tractor is better than your tractor" debates because you would sound stupid and be wasting your time. By insight, intuition, and intense study of the subject matter I have picked the perfect tractor on my first attempt. I'm not surprised. After several days in the command center of my L3130DT I am simply awed at my decision.
I washed my little Samurai lovingly like a geisha today (I'm not "like that", guys, OK? I'm just making a metaphore, alright?) after another day of Kubota vs. the semi-tropical jungle of SE Georgia. I'm scratched, and came close to broken, but the Kubota looks almost as good as new. And Lord knows it should have packed it in and quit like a sissy on the Bataan death march after what I've put it through. I thought clearing my woods was going to be tough; that's cake. 8 or ten years of unchecked first growth in a hot, humid climate is what's brutal. Now regular brush grown up in a field won't even make the song of the motor hit a flat key. It simply doesn't know it's there. Clumps of small trees, palmettos, pine saplings give you a minor sense of accomplishment but barely change the tenor of the diesel half a note. What I've done with this tractor isn't comprehensible to people who don't live in the deepest South. It's so tough here Kudzu gets overgrown and can't survive. The brush quickly gets 10-12 feet tall and absolutely impenatrable. But I don't think anything has gone through the Georgia woods with this much destructive force since General Sherman's army.
Using the FEL like a claw, pushing branches up or smashing brush down, with my 60' Bushhog brand bushhog I've been able to clear several acres of jungle in a few hours of operating time. I'm ashamed I've taken a brand new machine and broken it in under such brutal conditions. My wife says I'm too cheap to pay for dozer time and am using the L3130 like a D-9. "Exacto-mundo, my pet." Dozers merely push things down. I push it down, then chew it up under the bushhog. I am bowed, humble, in awe of the capability of both these pieces of equipment. Apparently I haven't done much more than scuff the paint on either one. The tractor just grunts harder but never stalls. The "Squealer" bushhog has the vegetation making terrified noises like Ned Beatty in that famous scene along the Chatahoochee River, filmed in the other corner of this state.
Praise aside, I have these observations: One, I bought new (one reason was good used wasn't much cheaper) because I wanted ROPS. I haven't rolled it over yet but I'm still convinced it might have saved my life. What I really need is a cage and I've learned to "cool it" a little on my aggressiveness. But I believe I would have been knocked out of the seat if it weren't for the rollbar.
Two: I love the standard transmission. When I get into one of those "Oh, Sh-o-o-t" situations I've instinctively stabbed for the clutch. I didn't have time to remember a new motor skill. Also, I'm yet to use the hand throttle in my dense woodlands. I do not have the luxury of a set throttle. I use the foot throttle exclusively for the work I'm doing.
Three: I've read several posts from people who question if the little 91 cu. in. engine has enough power. It made me wonder, too; my motorcycle engine is this big. Let me clarify any misconceptions. Regular bushhogging is accomplished in high range. For the tough stuff I found myself using 4th in low. I never went over 2000 rpm. I don't know how to explain it other than the fact that we all know diesel cubic inches aren't the same as gasoline cubic inches when it comes to torque. The tractor (loaded R4's) runs out of traction way before it runs out of power.
Four: This is classified as a compact tractor. In my mind the upper limits of compacts are the JD 790, TC30's, Kubota 2900's, etc. With a bucket and bushhog, this thing hangs off both ends of my two axle car trailer and seem to strain its 3500 lb. axles. It might be a small tractor in the sense that a Ford 8N or MF 135 were small tractors, but like them in their day the Kubota is more limited by time than size. Bigger may mean faster but bigger doesn't neccessarily mean more.
Obviously I'm very satisfied with this set up. It will accomplish what I purchased it to do. After my 25 acres (signed an offer on the adjacent 20 Friday) is cleared and a large portion sold I'm not sure how much use I'll have for it. I'm committing heresy again here: Then I may go trade my L3130 for a smaller tractor. With a standard transmission, of course..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I washed my little Samurai lovingly like a geisha today (I'm not "like that", guys, OK? I'm just making a metaphore, alright?) after another day of Kubota vs. the semi-tropical jungle of SE Georgia. I'm scratched, and came close to broken, but the Kubota looks almost as good as new. And Lord knows it should have packed it in and quit like a sissy on the Bataan death march after what I've put it through. I thought clearing my woods was going to be tough; that's cake. 8 or ten years of unchecked first growth in a hot, humid climate is what's brutal. Now regular brush grown up in a field won't even make the song of the motor hit a flat key. It simply doesn't know it's there. Clumps of small trees, palmettos, pine saplings give you a minor sense of accomplishment but barely change the tenor of the diesel half a note. What I've done with this tractor isn't comprehensible to people who don't live in the deepest South. It's so tough here Kudzu gets overgrown and can't survive. The brush quickly gets 10-12 feet tall and absolutely impenatrable. But I don't think anything has gone through the Georgia woods with this much destructive force since General Sherman's army.
Using the FEL like a claw, pushing branches up or smashing brush down, with my 60' Bushhog brand bushhog I've been able to clear several acres of jungle in a few hours of operating time. I'm ashamed I've taken a brand new machine and broken it in under such brutal conditions. My wife says I'm too cheap to pay for dozer time and am using the L3130 like a D-9. "Exacto-mundo, my pet." Dozers merely push things down. I push it down, then chew it up under the bushhog. I am bowed, humble, in awe of the capability of both these pieces of equipment. Apparently I haven't done much more than scuff the paint on either one. The tractor just grunts harder but never stalls. The "Squealer" bushhog has the vegetation making terrified noises like Ned Beatty in that famous scene along the Chatahoochee River, filmed in the other corner of this state.
Praise aside, I have these observations: One, I bought new (one reason was good used wasn't much cheaper) because I wanted ROPS. I haven't rolled it over yet but I'm still convinced it might have saved my life. What I really need is a cage and I've learned to "cool it" a little on my aggressiveness. But I believe I would have been knocked out of the seat if it weren't for the rollbar.
Two: I love the standard transmission. When I get into one of those "Oh, Sh-o-o-t" situations I've instinctively stabbed for the clutch. I didn't have time to remember a new motor skill. Also, I'm yet to use the hand throttle in my dense woodlands. I do not have the luxury of a set throttle. I use the foot throttle exclusively for the work I'm doing.
Three: I've read several posts from people who question if the little 91 cu. in. engine has enough power. It made me wonder, too; my motorcycle engine is this big. Let me clarify any misconceptions. Regular bushhogging is accomplished in high range. For the tough stuff I found myself using 4th in low. I never went over 2000 rpm. I don't know how to explain it other than the fact that we all know diesel cubic inches aren't the same as gasoline cubic inches when it comes to torque. The tractor (loaded R4's) runs out of traction way before it runs out of power.
Four: This is classified as a compact tractor. In my mind the upper limits of compacts are the JD 790, TC30's, Kubota 2900's, etc. With a bucket and bushhog, this thing hangs off both ends of my two axle car trailer and seem to strain its 3500 lb. axles. It might be a small tractor in the sense that a Ford 8N or MF 135 were small tractors, but like them in their day the Kubota is more limited by time than size. Bigger may mean faster but bigger doesn't neccessarily mean more.
Obviously I'm very satisfied with this set up. It will accomplish what I purchased it to do. After my 25 acres (signed an offer on the adjacent 20 Friday) is cleared and a large portion sold I'm not sure how much use I'll have for it. I'm committing heresy again here: Then I may go trade my L3130 for a smaller tractor. With a standard transmission, of course..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
