New Tractor Decision

[PMH]

I'm a first-time tractor buyer. I'm looking at the Kubota L3010 versus the John Deere 4300. Attachments-bucket, blade, finishing mower, and auger. Have heard the JD is not what it used to be and has reliability problems. Would like to hear opinions from others. Thanks

 

[kerr]

Aint no songs about kubota orange!Except the one guys are singing who are waiting on parts.Drive em both the way your gonna use it,than decide.If ya use chewing tobaca the choice is easy,get one with a spitcan holder whatever color it ma be.L.O.L.

 

[Von]

I don't want to bad mouth any brand, but as I finished cutting my lawn with my Kubota B2710. I happen to notice that my neighbor was more than a little pissed at his JD 855 after parts fell off of it, and he could not finish cutting his lawn. Seems to spend as much time at the dealers as it does at his house. And he bought it new.

 

[kerr]

At least he can get parts for it!L.O.L..

 

[john_bud]

Kerr,

I have read the post about the slow parts, and I got the feeling that the dealer was the guilty party, not the manufacturer. A bad dealer can screw up any color tractor.

John Bud

 

[bbse]

I too am a new tractor owner. I just purchased a L3010 GST. I have around 35 HRS on it. I am thinking of trading it already for an HST model. I love the tractor, it is the way the tranny works that I don't like. I went looking at tractors with a B2410 or B2710 in mind. But after seeing the extra heft of L3010 for just a little more money I was sold. The mistake I made was not looking at all the options carefully. Check out Swapping GST to HST post in Kubota Owning Forum.

 

[toddler]

PMH,
JD seems to have fixed most of the initial problems they had with the 4000 series, so both are great tractors. Kubota may still have a slight edge in reliability, but they loose their advantage comparing ergonomics. Drive them both, climb on and off a few times, factor in price and dealer reputations, then buy the one that makes you happy. Can't really go wrong with either one.
Todd

 

[M. Sullivan]

Not even close in my opinion. Search this site, and do a general web search and you'll find a huge difference in problems with the green machines as compared to orange.

 

[JATO_RaT]

If its parts you need, maybe I can help with 4 dealers and the West coast distributorship all within about 50 to 60 miles, there is no shortage of dealers. The closest dealer, 3 miles away sells alot of Kubotas, he also sells JD. He had a total of 12 L48 TLB's on is lot and they are all gone. He has 6 more on order. Even the other dealers cannot believe how much this guy orders from Kubota. The lot will be full of fully assembled L3710, L4610's, L3010's, BX's etc, one weekend and the following weekend all he has are crates with new Kubotas inside waiting to be assembled. His ability to get me parts is great and I don't even have a Kubota. I think he does pretty well. Rat...

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

PMH

I started a thread called "biggest repair", just watch that and we'll let the old timers tell us about the 'Botas. Next I'll open it up to the green and blue guys and we'll start to get some idea of what breaks and what doesn't. So far, it's all been normal small stuff.

SHF

 

[JayinNH]

PMH,
I have about 30+ hours on my 3010 HST. I haven't had any problems except a leaky FEL control box which was replaced. Other than 3' around stumps in the ground I've been able to do everything I've needed. With it being new I can't say how well it will hold up 5 or so years from now but from what I hear on this site and from friends who have owned Kubota's I think you can't go wrong. (My 2 cents)
Jason

 

[kubotab]

PMH, I would not let parts problems at Kubota get you down. They are working on the problem. I needed a wiring harness for a B20 dealer said was on backorder. Dealer got me the harness out of Japan ordered on 5/31 got it today I would say pretty good service. I do like Scholten's Equipment in Burlington WA. Todd