L4400HST vs. L3940HST ?

[Grateful11]

My wife and I are seriously thinking of getting one or the other. The L4400
looks to be a tried and true simplistic tractor. The Grand L40 series looks
very nice and has a lot creature comforts that both of us like. We're looking
at the long haul, every tractor we have except the Super H was bought new
by my late FIL and meticulously maintained by him and my wife, always
shedded. The Grand L40 has a lot electronics and that scares me a bit
but on the other hand the comfy seat that swivels, the HST Plus system and the
tilt wheel among other things would go a long ways to getting me into a
tractor seat, I hope. My back and left leg are basically keeping me from doing
much of anything with our gear model tractors. We're looking at a difference
of about $2500 between these 2 tractors. Is there anything going on with the
Grand L series that we need to take into consideration or the L4400 for that
matter? Is there any other model that we might want to consider?

We will definitely be getting a FEL, a backhoe is kind of up in the air due to
it's cost right now. I think the L3540 would suffice but my wife has said no
way, no how to the 3 cylinder engine. One of the things the tractor will be
doing is moving small 38-42" dia. x 4' wide Round Bales. She also plans to get
a small grapple bucket for pasture management, cleaning up and such. So
a third option on the FEL will be necessary. We need something to fill in for
the IH 574, that has a FEL, but is used for so many other things it's used
basically everyday for something but it's getting older and does not have a
quick attach loader and is a bit large for a lot utility work.

 

[roger 4400]

My wife and I are seriously thinking of getting one or the other. The L4400
looks to be a tried and true simplistic tractor. The Grand L40 series looks
very nice and has a lot creature comforts that both of us like. We're looking
at the long haul, every tractor we have except the Super H was bought new
by my late FIL and meticulously maintained by him and my wife, always
shedded. The Grand L40 has a lot electronics and that scares me a bit
but on the other hand the comfy seat that swivels, the HST Plus system and the
tilt wheel among other things would go a long ways to getting me into a
tractor seat, I hope. My back and left leg are basically keeping me from doing
much of anything with our gear model tractors. We're looking at a difference
of about $2500 between these 2 tractors. Is there anything going on with the
Grand L series that we need to take into consideration or the L4400 for that
matter? Is there any other model that we might want to consider?

We will definitely be getting a FEL, a backhoe is kind of up in the air due to
it's cost right now. I think the L3540 would suffice but my wife has said no
way, no how to the 3 cylinder engine. One of the things the tractor will be
doing is moving small 38-42" dia. x 4' wide Round Bales. She also plans to get
a small grapple bucket for pasture management, cleaning up and such. So
a third option on the FEL will be necessary. We need something to fill in for
the IH 574, that has a FEL, but is used for so many other things it's used
basically everyday for something but it's getting older and does not have a
quick attach loader and is a bit large for a lot utility work.

Hi. A month ago I went to my Kubota dealer and tried a L4400, I was dreaming of that machine. But I also went to my Massey Ferguson dealer and tried a MF 1643 Hst... oh what a tractor...I received my new Mf 1643 last week and love it...they are the same price +-... so the best thing go and try both ..they have specs that are almost the same but the 1643 is very confortable, more luxous and .....go see one you,ll understand.... and the mechanic is almost the same as the l4400. Good luck. Roger

 

[dex3361]

I have the L4400HST and like it very well. I can name a few places that the L3940 with the LA724 FEL outdoes the L4400 with the LA703 FEL. The FEL is a little stronger on the LA724 and it has a better rollback angle. Oh the L4400 is about 350# lighter which is not a plus in my book. That said the L4400 has 5 HP more on the engine and PTO. The thing that made the deal for me was the money and the simplicity of the L4400HST.

 

[TripleR]

I am in a similar situation to you in that age and partial paralysis in my left side is making it very uncomfortable for me to use my geared tractors, so my wife and I went looking for a new one not long ago. After looking at the 3400 and up series, we quickly decided we wanted the added comfort and features of the Grand L Series. Features such as a flat work station, tilt steering and such might not be that big of a deal to some, but if you are a little long in the tooth or have mobility issues, they are almost a must have. We finally decided on a L3940 HSTC or bigger. Before we ordered, we saw a good used L5030 HSTC at the dealer and out of curiosity asked the price; little haggling later and we owned it.

I won't go into Kioti, Mahindra, Massey, JD or any of that as my assumption is you have already narrowed your choice to the two in question. Between the two the Grand L would be my choice hands down.

 

[Grandad4]

From the sound of things, either you are an IH person yourself or you married into a family of them, so you must be an OK sort of guy But don't let that stop you from going with one of those orange tractors for your chores... they make some great equipment.

As between the L4400 and the L3940, you really couldn't go wrong with either one, and you seem to have their differences pretty well pegged.

The Grand series is about 10% larger/heavier than the basic L of similar HP, which gives it some additional capability in situations where that size helps. And that kind of leads me to think the bigger size of the Grand would be an advantage for you, particularly since you figure to use it in your farm operation in place of one of the IH's. In fact, you ought to at least look at the next size up, the L4240, which has a much stronger loader than either the L4400 or L3940.

If you do some research on here on TBN about the latest HST plus on the Grand's, you'll find it gets an almost unanimous thumbs-up from buyers. I cannot recall reading about a single owner who was unhappy with the HST-plus, or anyone who had a malfunction. Will it hold up for 60 years like the gearbox in my '49 M ? I doubt it, but it will probably be doing chores reliably for someone in the year 2035, just like the primitive engine computer in my '85 Mazda still works even though the car around it is falling apart.

I'm sure others will have more advice. Take it all in and here's to best wishes as you make your decision.

 

[Grateful11]

TripleR you are correct my left leg is partially numb and also my foot. I had
back surgery last year, double spinal fusion from S1 to L5 and L5 to L4. I didn't
have the numbness before the surgery just pins and needles type pain and the
sciatic type pain running down to my foot. Left foot clutching is nearly beyond me
at this point, I only have about half the strength that I had in my left leg.

Grandad4: I did indeed marry into an IH family. What we have now is some
fine equipment and each one has it's place here on the farm. I don't dare
mention getting rid of any of them, those would be fightin' words with my wife.

dex3361: I really like the simplicity of the L4400 but after climbing into the
seat of the L3940, that seat with adjustable back angle, swiveling from side
to side is darn hard to resist but the L4400 does look to be built tank tough.

roger 4400: I mentioned looking at a Massey the other day and I thought
I had started WWIII, I didn't realize she could speak that loud and I'm
still not really sure which chord I struck with her on that one but let's just
say I haven't mentioned it again.

She's very passionate about her tractors and I'm glad she is. She also knows
how to take care of them. Here's her fleet now:

 

[art]

I like the fleet and it's to bad the 574 didn't get the 2250 loader instead of the lighter model. There aren't to many 686's that have been turbo'd that is a rare one! Do go for the grand L!

 

[Grateful11]

Thanks art! The 686 had an M&W turbo put on it after my FIL bought it, it didn't
quite have the pull he thought it would but the turbo took care of that. It was
tested about 10 years and was putting out 106hp at the PTO.

roger 4400 got me thinking and I went over to the Massey site and watched a
comparison video between the MF1643, a NH and the L3940. One of the things
that really struck was that the Kubota has the Hydro pedal and the brakes on
the same side, how are suppose to use the steering brakes without moving your
left leg over the right side? I my case I'd have lift my leg over to the right
we've used the steering brakes quite a bit and that disturbs me that Kubota
decided to put them on the same side. I'm going to a dealer tomorrow that
sells both Massey and Kubota.

 

[crazyal]

The HST doesn't have much of a hump, maybe an inch or two at most. Not sure if that would cause a problem for you. If you are thinking of the GL I would look into the 4240 (that's what I've decided on). The loader on it lifts higher and more. I never really looked at the 3940 so I don't know home much more it costs.

 

[Grateful11]

The problem I see with the brakes and the hydro pedal on the same side is if
you're doing loader work and need to use the steering brake you're going to
have to drive cross-legged. I can't see any reason why they would do that
unless they don't want you using the steering while applying power with the
hydro pedal. We move quite a bit of manure every year, we have about
10,000 sq.ft. of concrete lots where the cows spend quite a bit of their time
and manure and steering brakes kind a go hand in hand so to speak.