L5030 General Advice Needed

[Gfranklin]

In need of some general information. My friend is looking at a Kubota L5030 with a hydrostatic transmission. A dealer has it on the lot for $9000 and I have not seen it yet. It has 2400 hours and is a 2003 model with loader. We do not know the service history other than used in a poultry operation. I will probably go with him to look at it this week. That is also about the extent of the budget available to buy a tractor with loader.

I am looking for pointers when I go look at this thing. With those hours I wish we had an idea of the service it received. He did say that the 3 pt. hitch arms would not lower unless weight was put on them. I don't know how to interpret that yet. I guess I could see how well it starts when cold and maybe run it up to operating temp and see how it drives around (I only have experience with gear transmissions).

So what tips can one give me for things to look at. I have a strong mechanical background and have been around machinery all my life but not Kubotas or hydrostatics. Any yeas or nays just based on hours and price? Where would I look for clues about wear and what could I expect from a 2400 hour tractor (I know that's a wide open range of possibilities) but what might be the typical things that happen at that age?

Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated!

 

[texasjohn]

My Grand L5030 has been rock solid, have about 1500 hrs on it now. I would assume that being around a poultry operation would expose it to corrosive fluids and look for such problems. There is a 3ph drop speed control knob between the operator's legs...this may be set to extremely slow/locked...and/or may be frozen in position by lack of use...releasing/adjusting this valve may solve the slow drop situation. I have mine to drop extremely slowly because I don't want any surprises when dropping a heavy 3 point load...

Lots of features can add to the value of the tractor...quick FEL attach, grill guard, cab, number of rear hydraulic ports, heavy/light duty bucket, etc.

If neither of you have HST experience, you will be confused at first...I love mine and it has never caused me any trouble...and after watching TBN for years now I have never heard of anyone else having trouble with theirs. A high pitched whine from the transmission is NORMAL. It is NORMAL to have some difficulty in moving gear shift between L/M/H ...just tap the rocker and put slight pressure on the shift lever and you will feel the gears mesh and lever slide into position. It is NORMAL to sometimes have difficulty in slipping into/out of 4 wheel drive...put slight pressure on the 4 wd lever and rotate the front wheels from stop to stop, left to right and back...somewhere along the way, the lever will slip easily into position as desired. Brakes should indicate some resistance, but will NOT hold the tractor against full RPM low range.

As part of the negotiations, you will want to have the dealer include a complete fluids change and greasing. Have them run a hydraulic relief valve pressure check...and tell you the pressure and what the specifications for the tractor are. My pressure was set slightly below factory spec and I had it raised to JUST beyond spec...made a HUGE difference in what the FEL can lift. Look at the front tires for uneven wear...from factory the toe in was incorrect, caused significant uneven wear. Front tires, being smaller than the rear are likely to show much more wear particularly since in 4wd they "pull" just slightly ahead of the rear tires. Front tires are rather expensive...another possible negotiating point. The intellipanel display has given me no problems...check it out and see that all the functions work. If it says something like "service required" this means that the hours for an oil change have passed and the counter has not been reset....This message is preset to come up at certain hour points...meaning that it is not related to the time when it was last reset...at least that's my belief.

As for price, that sounds like an extremely good price, assuming reasonable mechanical condition...I'd look past cosmetic stuff and try to find mechanical problems. Seat likely will be rough, paint also, hoses should be appropriately aged.

There are a number of tractors for sale here...at substantially higher price points...why?
Used L5030 for sale. Kubota, Kubota l5030 and more.

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what texasjohn said, with John's input and advice, I bought a used L5039HSTC in 2008 with 735 hours on it, more than doubled the hours and traded it in for about the same price on a new L5740 a couple of years later. No problems at all and the only reason I no longer have it was to avoid the L60 Series.

The 5030 is a really strong, light tractor that will work hard all day with little maintenance. I'd check the belts and hoses and go by condition. As mentioned see about maintenance as it is about due for another valve check/adjustment (every 800 hours) and it's pretty expensive.

Be sure to check for any oil leaks as a leak in the area of the bell housing where there is a pin to let water out may well indicate the tractor needs to be split for a new seal, not common, but it does happen.

 

[big bubba]

before the dealer does the service, look @ the air filter, inner & outer to get an idea of previous service & operating conditions. probably was dusty. texasjohn's comment regarding corrosive fluids is also well taken. might look at the wear on the hst pedal. too bad the poultry operation didn't keep service records, but sounds like it could be a pretty good deal if everything checks out. best of luck

 

[Gfranklin]

Thanks guys! Great information. If anybody else has any comments would love to hear them.

 

[DK35vince]

Price seems low to me.
Does $9,000 include a loader ?
I'm wondering what's wrong with it.?
Check it over well and test drive.

 

[Gfranklin]

Yes it does include a loader. No cab

 

[big bubba]

as a last resort looking for maintenance history, look up the previous poultry operator & talk to him about the tractor's use/care. if the dealer has nothing to hide and a sale to benefit, he should give you the info (assuming owner's okay w/it) just another piece of the puzzle. sounds like you're on the right track

 

[texasjohn]

as a last resort looking for maintenance history, look up the previous poultry operator & talk to him about the tractor's use/care. if the dealer has nothing to hide and a sale to benefit, he should give you the info (assuming owner's okay w/it) just another piece of the puzzle. sounds like you're on the right track

Great idea!

 

[skyhook]

Price seems low to me.
Does $9,000 include a loader ?
I'm wondering what's wrong with it.?
Check it over well and test drive.

I agree, take a good look underneath it for structure damage, poultry droppings are wicked stuff.
If it runs and drives good, that is a VERY good price, they usually go for almost double that at dealers.

 

[rabcon]

I traded my l5030 last June and got 18,600 for it . Tractor and loader with 2000 hrs. 2004 yr. Had it for 10 yrs. and was a greater tractor. Hopfully my new will be as good !! MX5200

 

[Gfranklin]

My buddy bought the tractor. He is very happy with it.

We took everybody's advice and checked it over real close. No corrosion issues, leaking oil or any other red flags. The dealer fixed the cylinder that was keeping the 3-pt hitch from easily lowering.

Really appreciate the help!!!

 

[wmonroe]

That's good, hopefully it works out just how he wants.

 

[TripleR]

Thanks for the update, I'm sure it will serve him well.

 

[SweBota]

The dealer fixed the cylinder that was keeping the 3-pt hitch from easily lowering.

What was wrong with the cylinder? I have that problem on my 5030 as well.

Also, have your friend check the oil level in the front axle, and check the seals there for leaks, its common.

Corrosion under the tractor can make the brake linkage stick which causes the brakes to stay on slightly all the time, and make the machine feel powerless in the HST.

/Marcus

 

[texasjohn]

good to know....thanks. Photo maybe!!

 

[Jaeger]

Check the radiator fins and the pre screen of the radiator.

Buddy bought a skid steer used in a poultry farm with 200 hrs on it blown engine (overheated)

Ended up dumping a Kubota 85 hp engine it in and for $8k has a $50K machine.

Poultry farms as filthy and dusty full of feathers etc.

If that thing has overheated I'd run away from it.

 

[SweBota]

What was wrong with the cylinder? I have that problem on my 5030 as well.

I have to admit that nothing was wrong with my tractor. It was just the 3pt valve under the seat. I knew about this valve very well, and tried to adjust it to remedy the problem. Well, it turned out that looking back at the 3pt arms while operating the lever and at the same time turning the valve between my feet, I was actually adjusting the seat air suspension knob which strangely had no effect on the 3pt......

You can see on the picture that they are pretty close....



Anyway it was a cheap fix, just some hurt pride....

/Marcus