New (to me) L39 TLB

[mbradey]

1st time poster and 1st time tractor owner. I just picked up a Kubota L39 TLB last Saturday. I only have 2 hours seat time so far and it was great. I moved a couple of 6 ft high piles of snow back, tried scraping the gravel driveway in float with the FEL. Then I backed up to a snowbank swiveled the seat around and tried the backhoe. I can see the backhoe is going to be a big learning curve. This tractor with such little hp (39) seems unstoppable. I have already made my first mistake as theirs a very steep snow covered hill close to the cottage that I couldn't take the truck with loaded trailer down. I unloaded the tractor and drove down the hill in 4wd, 3rd gear. My plan was to jam in the cluch and ride it out if it started skidding. Luckly no slip, but at the bottom of the hill I noticed I was driving with the emergency brake on. That could of been bad if I had to push in the clutch...I'm travelling to the cottage next weekend to learn the tractor and cant wait. But I do have a couple of questions for any other L39 owners.
1) just back chains or chains on all 4 wheels?
2) what chains as their appears to be no room between the tire and fender at the back. Maybe wheel spacers?
3) front snow blade or inverted pto snowblower
This tractor will be used on 3 acres of water front property in Canada, Ontario for snow removal, clearing some of the land to build cottage home, garage, septic system, bury main electicity line, water lines etc.

Sorry only one picture when i flew to Collorado to test and buy tractor

 

[jmanatee2]

1st time poster and 1st time tractor owner. I just picked up a Kubota L39 TLB last Saturday. I only have 2 hours seat time so far and it was great. I moved a couple of 6 ft high piles of snow back, tried scraping the gravel driveway in float with the FEL. Then I backed up to a snowbank swiveled the seat around and tried the backhoe. I can see the backhoe is going to be a big learning curve. This tractor with such little hp (39) seems unstoppable. I have already made my first mistake as theirs a very steep snow covered hill close to the cottage that I couldn't take the truck with loaded trailer down. I unloaded the tractor and drove down the hill in 4wd, 3rd gear. My plan was to jam in the cluch and ride it out if it started skidding. Luckly no slip, but at the bottom of the hill I noticed I was driving with the emergency brake on. That could of been bad if I had to push in the clutch...I'm travelling to the cottage next weekend to learn the tractor and cant wait. But I do have a couple of questions for any other L39 owners.
1) just back chains or chains on all 4 wheels?
2) what chains as their appears to be no room between the tire and fender at the back. Maybe wheel spacers?
3) front snow blade or inverted pto snowblower
This tractor will be used on 3 acres of water front property in Canada, Ontario for snow removal, clearing some of the land to build cottage home, garage, septic system, bury main electicity line, water lines etc.

Sorry only one picture when i flew to Collorado to test and buy tractor

new L39 owner here too...

I am not sure you should chain all 4 because of binding but I really don't know that.

I bought 2 link chains from tirechains.com 15-19.5 Tractor Tire Chains
The 2 link are really worth it because the 4 link will work down into the tread and then they are worthless. I know this from my neighbors and from my case 680.

I did get the tensioners and they really hold the chains tight. (Keep checking them the chains will move over as you drive and need to be re-tightened)

As for spacing between fendoors and the chains, They are tight in there but so far I have not had them hit at all. On mine, there are two points that are close, the top bolt that holds the ROPs/FOPs and the top pin for the backhoe.

Neither have hit yet and I was driving down the road in 12th gear.

 

[mbradey]

Thanks for the reply. I bought 2 link chains for the front tires as my local dealer told me chains would not fit on the back. While I found out there's not enough clearance on the front. It hits in a couple of spots when you turn sharp. I'm not sure if I should try to return the chains or modify the L39 to fit them. I will be ordering wheel spacers for the rear from kubota and then get some 2 link rear chains. Glad to hear yours don't hit anywhere but it seems very little space on mine.

I got about 10 hours seat time last weekend clearing snow and starting to learn the backhoe. I had a blast and can now kinda plow the snow whith my FEL. I also removed the backhoe and installed the 3pt. I will be trying a very old 8' snowblower to see if it works. I'm not sure how others use the float position but I find with a small crown the tractor heads for the ditch with no steering. Most FEL snow clearing was done in non-float mode. I hope its not bad or hard on the engine running at 1100-1200 rpm but this feels right for me as im a newbie.

 

[jmanatee2]

Being new to this machine I am about to pull the hoe to try the 3pt with a Wood Chipper...

Was it as easy as the manual makes it out to be?

 

[mbradey]

It was very easy. Just 2 big pins, trick is to play with the backhoe until the pins unload and will turn and pull out. Took me about 1/2 and hour with no manual. It should take me about 10 minutes next time as last weekend was the first time the backhoe was ever off.

 

[moship]

I used these due to lack of clearance on my L3130 w/turf tires.

ASTA Traction, Anti-scratch traction aid (rubber tire chains)

They have worked well for me and my neighbor has had them for over 8 years without issue.

They may not be right for you, but they are an option.

Researching I found the recommended clearance for metal chains is 3" and the rubber chains is 1".

Have fun with the new tractor.

 

[Jay4200]

I will be trying a very old 8' snowblower to see if it works. <snip> I hope its not bad or hard on the engine running at 1100-1200 rpm but this feels right for me as im a newbie.

You are going to learn real quick that you'll need to run at full PTO speed when your using the snowblower. Run slower and it'll pack up like a wall of cement.

OTOH, once you've run the blower and get used to it, you'll never clear snow with your FEL again.

JayC

 

[mbradey]

Moship - i have looked at the rubber chains. They look great but I wanted metal chains for digging into the ice on hills. Great suggestion.

Jay4200 - Great to know about the PTO speed as I've never tried a snowblower. It's currently on an International 3414 and the user claims it doesn't have enough power to do it justice. Mostly he says his gearing is such that its too fast in the deeper snow and just bogs down even with full throtal. Anybody know the power of an International 4314 gas engine tractor?

 

[doelake]

Hi mbradley, I owned a L39 for 3 years before I traded up to the M59 last May. It was a great tractor with way more capacity than anticipated for a 39 hp. I was able to lift and haul more than my friend with his 55hp Massey Ferguson! I might suggest ice studs for traction, I've been using them for a month now.... they are awesome, very little cost, easy to install, and grip like glue on my roadway into my park. You're gonna love that tractor!!!
Anthony:thumbsup:

 

[doelake]

One other thing I forgot to mention, the L39 has a variable throttle control for the PTO. Just keep it to 540 RPM's on the intellipanel and you'll be fine. I have an old Mckee snowblower that I transferred from the L39 to my M59 and it worked great on both, I had to fabricate wings to extend the width though.