L4400HST vs. L3940HST ?

[Grateful11]

We've pretty much decided to go with the L3940, I realize the L4240 has a bigger
loader but we're not planning on moving mountains or anything. We have the IH574
with a loader. This mainly a tractor that's mainly all little more agile, user friendly
and a backup for feeding the cows, we've already had one breakdown where we
had to have emergency service in order to keep the cows fed.

Edit:
BTW: What's the left single pedal for on this series of tractor for? I noticed it
has a hook to hold it in the depressed position.

 

[PHILIP8N]

It is a clutch. You must depress it for starting. I also depress it before engaging pto, then slowy release to engage driven component. I think you are suppose to use it when switching between low, medium, and high gear ranges, but I rarely use it for that. You can also use it to imediately cancel cruise control or disengage pto. I thought it was odd to see this on an HST tractor, but it has good uses. Philip.

 

[TripleR]

The presence of a clutch is about the only thing I don't like on these tractors. I only use mine to start and after that, don't touch it to change gears or engage/disengage 4WD. This is about the only thing that would put me in a different brand.

 

[Grateful11]

A clutch. The dealer that it looks like we're going with said it was for PTO engagement.
I asked because another dealer told me it was a creeping feature, like I've seen on some
forklifts, I knew that didn't sound quite right. So basically you have to use it to start
it and to engage the clutch. Do you have to stop moving to shift into the different speed
ranges? You'll have excuse some of my questions, the only Hydro we've ever had is JD GT's.
Also when you press this clutch does it stop the movement of the tractor? That would be like
the PTO on the old IH140.

 

[PHILIP8N]

It is defenetly a clutch that disengages the transmission and pto. Cant remember if it disengages hydraullics or not. You must use it to start. The manual says to use it to shift between gear ranges (and maybe 4wd engagement), but I do not do that either unless something is in a bind and it is hard to shift. I like it to slowly engage my driven pto equiment. Yes, you should top moving before shifting from low, medium, or high ranges. Dont forget, you have a low/high hydraulic pump selector at your fingertips. With 3 gear ranges and 2 pump ranges, you have a total of 6 forward and reverse speed ranges. Yes, when you push in the clutch, power to the transmission and rear axle is disconnected. Does this stop the tractor? Depends on if you are on flat land or on top of a hill. Philip.

 

[TripleR]

I really wouldn't over think the whole clutch issue. I only use mine to start the tractor and haven't come across any situation in which it was needed. To stop the PTO, I just use the independent lever like I do on all my other tractors; didn't even realize the clutch disengaged it.

I had really hoped the clutch would be eliminated in the L40 Series; mine is an L30 Series. To me, this is a weak point in the Kubota design.

 

[Grandad4]

I think removing the clutch from the drivetrain on the HST models would require a different design between the gear drive and glide-shift vs HST units in each model tractor. By keeping the clutch, everything is the same back to the tranny on each model, so it probably lowers production costs, parts inventories, etc. Now that there are some models that are HST only, that may not be so much of a factor.

My habit has always been to use the clutch to gently run up the brush mower, etc. at low rpm, but that's just me.

 

[TripleR]

I think removing the clutch from the drivetrain on the HST models would require a different design between the gear drive and glide-shift vs HST units in each model tractor. By keeping the clutch, everything is the same back to the tranny on each model, so it probably lowers production costs, parts inventories, etc. Now that there are some models that are HST only, that may not be so much of a factor.

My habit has always been to use the clutch to gently run up the brush mower, etc. at low rpm, but that's just me.

That could be the reason; don't really know, I just know it is about the only thing I don't like on the Kubota.

I do the same. My tractors with the exception of the John Deere have a clutch built into the PTO engagement lever, so I use that to spool up the mowers. Models will vary as on my Case, there is a gate where you stop on the engagement lever to allow the internal PTO clutch to begin turning the PTO and begin to spool up prior to full engagement. My Kubota requires you reduce RPM's then engage.

 

[Happyman]

You will love the L3940 HST. I have the same tractor and hit 352 hours last weekend. I was at my dealer, Cavalier International in Ashland, VA this weekend renting a no-till seeder. Happened to see my sales rep and mentioned to him how impressed I have been with the tractor. This is my first farm tractor (first farm, too) so I went in to a first tractor a bit blind. As it turns out, I push the heck out of the 3940 and could probably use every bit of a 5740! But my point is that this Kubota takes every bit of my whip and keeps coming back for more. I figured I would have broken something or caused a failure somewhere in the hydro or HST system.....but nooooo! Amazing piece of equipment with some amazing engineering. Not one piece broken or a single failure in 352 HARD hours. I'm talking heavy backhoe work (BH90x), 7' box blade and landscape rake work. Running an 8' finish mower over 15 acres, 10 acres of harsh Harley Rake work, 7' tiller working a 1/2 acre garden, 4 days of constant 565 PTO rpm running a Wallenstein BX 62 chipper, towing and running an 80 bushel PTO powered manure spreader, running a Greenscape SC600 no till seeder over rough terrain for 2 days and lifting very heavy equipment with the pallet forks (BTW, get the universal skid steer disconnects for your FEL).
I love this tractor and the Kubota quality :thumbsup:
And Cavalier International (Thanks Luther!)

 

[Grateful11]

Happyman it sounds like you're working her over pretty good.

>"BTW, get the universal skid steer disconnects for your FEL"

We're getting the Quick Attach FEL with the 2 levers for changing out the loader
implements if that's what you mean. I'm a little curious about which bucket it's
going to come with. The dealer said he doesn't order any round back buckets
anymore, I just don't want to get the light materials bucket, I need to find out
bucket model numbers of the 72" buckets. Right now we're getting a bucket
and a bale spear. I hope by this fall to get a Backhoe and Grapple for the FEL
with the 3rd function option. Not sure about the Backhoe thumb.

As far as the PTO clutch thing it doesn't sound all that bad because you can ease it
on. On our IH 574 it's all on or all off and if you have a 6' Bush Hog behind you when
drop the PTO in gear sometimes it can cause quite a shutter/jolt to the Bush Hog.
It can handle but it can be quite abrupt even at lower RPM's. As long as we can
engage the PTO and then start working that's fine with me. Unlike our 140 you have
to engage the PTO and have it in gear and then let out the clutch bringing the PTO
on and starting the tractor movement at the same time. The 140 had enough power to
handle this but try a Cub on a hill with big Woods belly mower, it can be a bit tough.