New Grand L's HST PLUS

[johnk]

Stopped at the dealer today and the new catalogs were out for the 07's. What caught my eye was the new HST Plus. It has a HST Response control to go with the rask. Also a Hydro 6 speed with load sensing and stall guard. Looks simple to use but complicated if something goes wrong. I know Kubotas are quite bullet proof but I'm really not a fan of buying a new concept before its track tested buy the consumer. What are your opinions??? I have a GST so I don't know what you HST owners think.?..

 

[wushaw]

That non-stall feature has been in use on diesel pickups for @ six years now so they may be using a little of that proven technology for that feature.
It will be interesting to see how it all comes out. I know I am not in the market for a new tractor...I still need to pay off the one I have now

 

[Z-Michigan]

I've now seen a couple of the L40's with HST and they look VERY nice. The new HST pedal is an improvement, even if you liked the L30 pedal style. I think JD and NH will have to catch up in the next year or two. However, after reading the Mxx40 series issues on the operating forum, I would wait til the L40's have been around at least 6 months before buying one.

 

[lawn_king]

I agree with johnk, there are always bugs to work out on new models. I myself was very lucky not to get a crooked loader B3030.

 

[art]

I find some comments here interesting! Maybe we've been lucky to but we sold or found no bent loader arms on the 3030's that we sold. We've not found any mass produced glitches on the Kubota's that were built in from the factory or by design. We have had isolated problems that may have been caused from not working with the operator enough to train how to operate the equipment properly. We've also seen some repairs that were caused from gross abuse of the equipment from overload or improper use. Kubota is one company that I feel perfectly safe in selling their new products and feel safe in saying that!

 

[lawn_king]

I find some comments here interesting! Maybe we've been lucky to but we sold or found no bent loader arms on the 3030's that we sold. We've not found any mass produced glitches on the Kubota's that were built in from the factory or by design. We have had isolated problems that may have been caused from not working with the operator enough to train how to operate the equipment properly. We've also seen some repairs that were caused from gross abuse of the equipment from overload or improper use. Kubota is one company that I feel perfectly safe in selling their new products and feel safe in saying that!

Agreed, however there are exceptions, even with kubotas high quality. There seems to be some issues with m models at present, lots of factory finish work, unfinished behind the dashboards.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Agreed, however there are exceptions, even with kubotas high quality. There seems to be some issues with m models at present, lots of factory finish work, unfinished behind the dashboards.

As a dealer, its kinda frustrating reading stuff like this when its simply not the case. The entire M-series thread is basicly about the experience of 1-2 people who represent a very small minority. We've been selling M's almost as fast as we can get them in and I've not seen a single one come back in the shop. I've been following the M-series thread pretty closley and from what I've read there's only one person who has an actual issue, the rest is just general confusion.

 

[lawn_king]

I stand corrected, and apologize, my interpretation of the m problems was that it was widespread. I, as you know are a loyal kubota owner and will continue to be so.

 

[n8wrl]

This is exaclty what is so useful, and potentially damaging about excellent sites like this. We all need to learn from everyones' experiences, good and bad. Even speculation becomes part of the 'permanent record'.

My experience with Kubota, and my dealer thus far mean I would try the new L40 HST in a heartbeat. I made a choice and got an L5030 based on price because I knew the 40's were coming out. But it was a tough choice! Just ask GlowPlug if he's happy with his M!

-Brian

 

[Muleskinner]

The M problem is wide spread if you bought an early one. The dash light problem is not just "confusion." Anyone with an early M will not have preheat, low fuel or 4X4 warning lights that operate. Kubota states the early M's did not have the proper wiring installed to make these items work.

Yet in the factory owners manuel it states these lights should work. So. I guess it comes down to if you by a new model right from the start of production you get items that do not work, but you pay the same as a later model that the items do work. If you wait until the product has been out for a year or so, then you get a tractor that has all of the items working on it.

There is also an acknowledgement from Kubota about the front curl cylinder problem. This is not "confusion" either.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The M problem is wide spread if you bought an early one. The dash light problem is not just "confusion." Anyone with an early M will not have preheat, low fuel or 4X4 warning lights that operate. Kubota states the early M's did not have the proper wiring installed to make these items work.

According to all the service information that dealers have access to the 4x4 light is not inculded with the first few units. Thats a known problem. If you are having problems with other indicators you need to look into getting these corrected as they are not mentioned in the service bulltins. The preheat and fuel lights should be working on all machines, there is a fair amount of confusion simply because these lights rarely illuminate to being with. There are also several other lights that look to be present on the dash, but not all of them are used on each model. These issues are best sorted out at the dealership, the internet is not a good source of information for this kinda stuff.

 

[Muleskinner]

My dealer has installed a "Field fix" for the preheat light as instructed by Kubota. My dealer informed me the low fuel warning light is also an "Early model issue", as the later serial numbered units have both the low fuel and the preheat indicator warning lights operational. Kubota is aware of this issue and refuses to fix it.

The internet is not the place to have this issue repaired or "sorted out", but the internet is the place to make early model M series tractor owners aware of the problem. If owners do not know about the problem and are not made aware of the problem by their dealers, as I was not until I discovered the problem myself, then how will they learn about the problem? I doubt seriously if Kubota will step up and make their customers aware of the problem. Ignorence is not bliss!

 

[slowzuki]

Not to take away from the Kubotas as I have an L5030HSTC and enjoy it but the hydro features are just a mix of JD's electronic HST controls and NH's pump controls to allow bi-speed. Maybe I'm wrong on this? It will certainly make the operation nicer but I don't like electronics.

 

[SkyPup]

Not to take away from the Kubotas as I have an L5030HSTC and enjoy it but the hydro features are just a mix of JD's electronic HST controls and NH's pump controls to allow bi-speed. Maybe I'm wrong on this? It will certainly make the operation nicer but I don't like electronics.

Sounds like a great modification for their HST trannys, I sure have enjoyed my last troublefree 1,500 hours of GST use though!

Here's part of their press release on the new advanced HST in Grand L 40's:



Debuting in the Grand L40 tractors is Kubota's newly developed,
electronically controlled hydrostatic transmission (HST) called the HST
Plus. It makes operating a tractor simple, while delivering maximum
performance.

HST Plus has four innovative functions that create a new dimension of
performance and ease of operation:
1. By simply adjusting a dial, the operator selects one of 13 response
levels for HST Response Control that appropriately controls
transmission response to the HST pedal.

2. Operators can choose automatic or manual mode for the Hydro Dual Speed (H-DS), which allows additional high and low shifting -- even while
moving -- within each hydrostatic speed range, to create a total of
six speed ranges.

3. In response to pressing a mode-selection button, the revolutionary
Load-sensing Stall Guard automatically manages power to the wheels,
preventing engine stall under load. This can be combined with H-DS for
the ultimate in productivity and ease of operation.

4. The new Auto-throttle-advance feature simulates the ease of driving an
automatic-transmission car by synchronizing tractor speed and engine
power with the HST pedal, while reducing fuel consumption.

"People can also choose Grand L40 gear models with Kubota's exclusive
Glide Shift Transmission (GST) for electronically controlled, clutchless
operation, or a fully synchronized main-and-shuttle transmission (FST) for
economic reliability," says Bifani. "This provides the ultimate in
flexibility to truly meet the needs of commercial and residential operators
alike."

 

[SkyPup]

Here's a link to their press release on the new HST setup:

Kubota Tractor Corporation - Company News

 

[Z-Michigan]

Not to take away from the Kubotas as I have an L5030HSTC and enjoy it but the hydro features are just a mix of JD's electronic HST controls and NH's pump controls to allow bi-speed. Maybe I'm wrong on this? It will certainly make the operation nicer but I don't like electronics.

I think that's basically correct, but Kubota combined the two and it seems like a great combo. They were also nice enough to leave 3 mechanical ranges vs. the 2 mechanical ranges you get on a TC45DA.

Messick - sure, the M problems may be a limited number of early production models, but how do you think those owners feel? As has been stated, they paid the same for theirs (probably more, really) than people who bought later and got all the features.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Messick - sure, the M problems may be a limited number of early production models, but how do you think those owners feel? As has been stated, they paid the same for theirs (probably more, really) than people who bought later and got all the features.

I'll send you a PM about this.