L4300-Looking for Comments

Bob_Young · Sep 11, 2004

Visited my local NH/Kubota dealer this week to see if I could get a good price on a 4WD NH TC40 with loader. Salesman steered me toward a new Kubota L4300 with LA682 loader. Due to sales incentives, the price seemed quite attractive. The L4300 seems more basic than the TC40, but I can live without some of the bells and whistles.

I'm looking for comments from those familiar with this machine, particularly anyone who is in a position to compare this machine with the TC40 or TC45. Cold weather starting, reliability, perceived mechanical shortcomings, horror stories, NH comparisons are all of interest. Applications are snow removal, landscaping, haying, mowing and tillage.

Going into this my only reservations are whether my eyeballs will get used to that orange paint and whether the machine will turn into a rust magnet like all the used Kubotas I've examined. I own a couple of blue Ford farm tractors from the 60's and 70's and think highly of them.

Is this the best forum for this question??
Thanks.
Bob

Bob_Young · Sep 15, 2004

Well I guess we've established that the L4300 is NOT a popular machine. Other than being somewhat basic compared to Boomers and such, could anyone venture why this might be?

There's often a reason when buyers avoid a product in droves. I'd hate to spend the money to find out what that reason is.

nobull1 · Sep 15, 2004

Well I think you answered your own question.These tractors are just plain Jane.I have owned one for the last 8 months and have put about 70 hours on it. I think they are the best buy out there if you don't want all the bells and whistles.I would buy another without question as it does all I want and more.If there is anything you would like to know just ask away.

JimME · Sep 18, 2004

Bob,

I've owned an L4300DT for 3 years. I echo NoBull's comments.

What will you be using the tractor for?

Bob_Young · Sep 23, 2004

Thanks for responding nobull and Jim. Right now it looks like I may be going ahead with an L4300 purchase. I don't need the bells and whistles, a simple basic tractor will be fine. With the current pricing, it seems I can get the L4300 with an LA682 loader for about what I'd pay for a bare TC40 or 45. As partial to blue (and green) as I am, this is appealing.

Jim, I plan to use the tractor for mowing (both with a bush hog and sickle bar), cleaning up junk and brush on about 55 acres, tillage and light haying (small square bales). 12 years ago, my property had 3 small hayfields that I enjoyed working each year. I would like to get them going again. I have a decent baler, a good rake and a haybine that's not too bad but my old Ag tractors aren't dependable. They'd make good restoration projects if I wasn't trying to work them.

equipman · Sep 24, 2004

Bob Young
If you are comtemplating purchasing a L4300F or DT, you should do so before Oct 1 because the Kubota programs are going to change that day and the tractor will probably cost around $1200.00 after that date.
Lewis

Bob_Young · Sep 24, 2004

Thanks Lewis, you probably just saved me serious $$$ as I was unaware of any urgency. Guess I'll hafta get my butt in gear.
Bob

Bob_Young · Sep 29, 2004

JimME and/or equipman: Planning to drop the hammer on a new L4300 tomorrow....last possible day for the program. Need to know if the tractor will support two rear remotes in addition to what is needed for the FEL.

'Nother words, with the FEL in place I want to have two additional remotes available for rear mounted implements. The salesman says yes, but admits he's new to equipment like this. Don't want it on the lot looking at me and then find out about a hydraulic limitation.

I'm aware they'll cost extra.

equipman · Sep 29, 2004

Bob Young
On Kubota tractors, the loaders are plumbed into the hydraulic pump and don't utilize remotes for operation. The L8408 is a double spool remote valve for the L4300. It will require an L8410 which is a hose stay kit. Good choice on the tractor, you will save some serious money buying tomorrow and not waiting until Friday.
Lewis

JimME · Oct 1, 2004

Bob,

It looks like you may have already bought the L4300. I think you'll be happy.

I'm not sure what the pto requirements are for your haybine and baler.

I've done a lot of mowing (bush hogging) this year with a 6' Bush Hog. Probably mowed 60 acres or so.

The tractor is very versatile. It can do many things. It's very maneuverable and reasonably powerful. If I had to complain:

1. The cooling system is marginally sized. For average CUT type duties it's fine, but prolonged heavy work or some hay dust/seed in the radiator screen will send the temperature up. I did some plowing this spring and then pulled a disc with a drag behind it. The tractor had the power and traction to pull the disc+drag but the temp started to climb after awhile (didn't overheat). While bush hogging hay field recently, I sometimes had to stop every 30 minutes to clear the radiator screen (will overheat).

2. The short wheel base is a blessing and a curse. It makes the tractor very maneuverable but also makes for a bumpy ride when spending hours mowing fields for example.

Overall the tractor is great and can do mulitple tasks.

Good luck

Bob_Young · Oct 1, 2004

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the response. Yes I did buy the L4300. Thanks for the heads up on temperature. I will be doing bush-hogging, plowing and disking with it. Won't be pulling disk and drag together as both are 3-pt. I've noticed my Fords get warm too when the radiators get loaded with chaff while bush-hogging. Something to watch for.

FWIW I'll post the prices paid here. Some kind of incentive program on the tractor and loader was in force to the end of Sept. so I acted a little sooner than I might've to take advantage of it. I'm no good at haggling so others could probably have done better. Have never bought from the dealer before, but he's sort of a personal friend from another area of interest....so didn't shop either.

L4300DT $12,930
LA682-1 Loader w/L2207-1 valve & L2234 66" bucket $3,665
L8408 & L8410 dual remote kit $885
Block heater $65
Load Rear Tires $250

The following is going on a separate invoice that I haven't signed yet:
Woods HBL72-2 6' rear blade $ 848
Woods BB720 6' Brush Bull $2,147
Herd M-96 3-pt, 3-bushel seeder $365
Horst GR48 Utility Grapple (to be welded on bucket) $1,025
Rossi BF-210 sickle bar mower $2,305

I may get an additional heavy duty bucket and have the grapple welded on that.

Would be more comfortable with a good 50hp AG tractor (M4900 or TT55), but wouldn't have been able to afford the implements with what they were going for. The unexpectedly low price (to me anyway) of the L4300 made a lot of other things possible.