L3130 is out, may need to go with NH

[grwoolf]

I think the L3130 is a lot of machine for the money, but probably just too big and heavy for my future needs.

I like the L3400 size and weight, but the jerkyness of the 3pt hitch is a deal-killer. I tried the tractor with a box blade last week, and it is unusable for final grading work. There is no way to bring the blade up except in 1-2 inch 'jerks'. My dealer is going to see what can be done about the problem, but thinks this is probably just the way it is. If I want a finely adjustable 3 pt hitch on a Kubota, my options are a B3030 or a L3130, nothing in between. I'd say Kubota has a big hole in their lineup. The B3030 is an 1800 lb machine, the L3130 is 3300.

I like the quality of Kubota and I like the dealer, but I am leaning hard toward the NH TC33DA. It has all the features of the L3130 in a package the size of the L3400. I am a little concerned about dealer support, parts availability, etc., but not sure what my options are at this point. I also looked looked at JD3320, but this was way expensive.

I am going to wait to hear back from Kubota on the 3pt fix for the L3400, we'll see what happens.

 

[_RaT_]

It's odd that your needs are so unique that there is not a Kubota that would fill it. The NH is fine and would be a good choice as well as many other manufactuers. When you say it is too heavy, what does that mean, 3300 lbs spread out over 4 large tires is not that much especially when you figure lbs per square inch. If your grading, the extra weight is almost always helpful. Interesting, when I do final grade work, very rarely do I do it with the position control but rather the hydraulic top link. Without a hydraulic top link, final grading goes on forever.

 

[SkyPup]

I've been grading our 3 mile limerock rock for two years with our L-3130 GST with a 84"BB, no problems whatsoever. TNT helps allot though.

 

[tralderman]

What kind of grading our you doing? What tool are you grading with?
I have used/sold the L3400DT with a back blade, box blade, and pulverizer and I do not find hitch adjustment to be a problem.
When using a box scraper to grade, I find slight adjustment to the top link affect the grading process more that up/down adjustments to the 3-point arms.
You are missing the boat if you are judging the tractors based on that one feature. There's a lot of little things a guy can learn to "live with" to wind up with the best tractor.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I tend to be one of the few who agrees with you that there is a gap in the product line up between the capacities of some of the machines. I use a B2910 and can't say there is anything wrong with it, it is flawless in what it does, but it is no L3130. On the other hand, I also use a NH TC24D, and like that machine a lot too. But the TC24 is almost up to the capacities of the B2910 in a package the size of the B7610. The TC33 is not up to the L3130 in capacity, but clearly exceeds the B7800/B3030 in probably every way that matters, while still offering a fairly small footprint to fit into tight places, and a modest weight, fitting in between the B7800 and the L3130.

I think there is room for a "fully featured" L3400 in the Kubota line up, because that is what the TC33 really would compete with if it existed. BTW the curved arm loaders on the TCs are really a pleasure to work with. I can't speak for your local NH dealer support, if the dealer is quality you should have no problems, but I can't see from here if he is a good one or a louse!

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I think if you closed off the restricter valve for the 3pt drop you will find that you have better control.

 

[grwoolf]

When you say it is too heavy, what does that mean

I am basing that comment on the opinion of others on this board. I would like to eventually finish mow, and the general opinion seems to be that you can mow with a 3130, but it is far from ideal and the ground needs to be dry, etc. Also, the 3130 is quite a bit bigger than the L3400/TC33DA from a manuverability standpoint. I have never mowed with anything bigger then a riding mower, so I am trusting the opinions on this board.

What kind of grading our you doing? What tool are you grading with

My immdiate project is to bring in some loam (less than 1000 yards) to put in about 2.5 acreas of seeded lawn (bermuda). I have done this before on a smaller scale and have used a box blade and regular rear blade with good results. I don't claim to be a very good operator and maybe I am using the tools wrong. When I get into high and low spots, I find myself making constant corrections to the rear blade. I will also feather the blade up to gradually clear the box of material. I can't see how this would be done in 1-2 inch 'jumps'. By adjusting the valve on the restrictor, this only helps going down, not up (where the problem is). I will also be doing rough grading on my drive, but no concerns there.

I'm making my tractor decision based on a lot of things, not just the 3pt problem. All machines have their good and bad points. However, I know this problem will be very annoying to me, so why sign up for that?

 

[btolle]

Sometimes a small thing can become a huge annoyance if it happens to be something you use a lot. Sounds like that could be the case.

I put a lot of stock into what "feels right". If the Kubota does not feel right then it may not be the right machine for you.

NH builds some fine tractors. I would have looked at them before I bought the B7510 but there is no local NH dealer.

I did shop the Deere but it didn't "feel right" for me so I never got into pricing or other specifics.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Bill Tolle

 

[JT1972]

The L3130 is physically a larger machine and aggressively priced. But what about performance for the operator? For the homeowner/estate owner this is going to be a bulkier unit to maneuver than the TC33. It’s more difficult to get on and off of the larger L3130, especially for women and senior citizens. Visibility to the front and to the sides will be greatly impaired vs. the New Holland design not only due to the larger physical size but due to Kubota’s long flat hood and the bulky dog-leg design loader. Get on the unit and take a look for yourself. The L3130 is a tank compared to the TC33! Do the “blind spot” visibility demonstration which is how much and how far you can see close to the front and sides of the loader. This is a real eye-opener and the NH unit wins this competition by about 5 feet.

Does the homeowner/estate owner care about compaction and turf damage on his lawn? Probably yes. The TC33 design will be much more forgiving on his turf vs. the larger L3130. And what about parking the tractor in the garage? Generally space is at a premium.

Swivel seat, incline/decline plane, sloped hood design, tilt/telescoping steering column, color-coded embossed controls; these all add up to the user-friendly aspect of the rugged but compact TC33.

Commercial Operators

Obviously the commercial operator will be in many cases more inclined to go for the larger unit, but again what about soil compaction and turf damage? That’s a consideration. The TC33 will still outperform the larger L3130 in confined spaces and on many landscaping jobs. The TC33 has more engine horsepower and more PTO horsepower than the larger L3130, in other words, better horsepower-to-weight ratio. That means productivity. The L3130 has to drag around more dead weight with less horsepower than the TC33. This can mean a sluggish performance and fuel inefficiency. And fuel economy is extremely important with today’s diesel prices. The commercial operator may even have to buy a larger more expensive trailer to haul his L3130 vs. a TC33. This might be a deciding factor.

Loaders

The homeowner will appreciate the styling of New Holland’s curved boom design. And again, visibility from the operator platform is no contest. Do the blind spot demonstration. Safety of superior visibility.
The commercial operator will appreciate Kubota’s higher lift capacity but he needs to balance that with the safety and productivity advantage of the New Holland design. Remember, superior visibility means superior safety AND productivity. Does Kubota offer cast boom ends, rifle-barrel grease zerks and an industrial strength rectangular torque tube? No they don't!! These are real commercial grade loaders. Durability should be a major consideration for the commercial operator and New Holland has the advantage.

The “Big Three”:

OK, I saved the easiest for last. NH Supersteer/Sensitrak is a NH exclusive, regardless of the size of tractor the customer prefers.

1.The smallest turnaround diameter for greater productivity, quicker job completion and more fun.
2.Sensitrak automatic engage/disengage of 4wd for less turf damage and less tire damage. “Set It and Forget It”.
3.Longer wheelbase for a more comfortable, stable and safe feeling ride. You can really tell the difference. Try it!

 

[grwoolf]

Jerry,

You must work for the NH marketing department, sales team, other. If not, you should.

I'm already convinced that the features of the TC33DA are a best fit for me. My primary concerns are:

Support and Service - The dealer is not really focused on tractors. His primary line of business is fork lifts and construction equipment. It is a smaller shop. I have not even been able to drive a hydro drive since they don't have one in stock. That said, they seem very eager for my business and have bent over backwards during the sales cycle. I hoep that would continue after the sale, but who knows. My bigger concern is from some of the posts on TBN with not being able to get NH parts. My expectation is that I should be able to get any parts within a 2-7 days on a tractor built in the last 10 years. I have never owned a tractor before, so maybe my expectations are too high. If it takes 2 weeks or longer to get parts, I can't imagine how commercial operations put up with this.

I am also concerned about the engine quality. I believe Kubota makes outstanding diesel engines. I found the HN engine (shubora or something) noisey compared to the L3130. Noise does not always mean rough or weak, but the Kubota just felt like a superior engine. I know nothing about the NH engine and how good it is, how reliable, etc.

General Reliability - When I looked at the NH, it seemed well engineered, but I probably give Kubota and JD the edge on reliability. I'm not sure I have anything solid to back that up, just a feeling. There seems to be more posted problems with new NH machines than on Kubotas, as a percentage, on TBN. This isn't much of a good statistical analysis, but I don't have much else to go on. Consumer reports does not follow compact tractor reliabiltiy!