Noisy cabbed B3030

srs · May 28, 2008

I was just wondering if anyone with the cabbed B3030 are upset with the excessive noise level in the cab. I have a brand new B3030 HSDC, belly mower, and FEL, (17 hours). My wife and I both agree that it is really noisy inside. She commented that the speakers will probably blow as she has to turn the volume up quite high while mowing. I sent a letter to Kubota headquarters complaining of the poor sound proofing done with this tractor. I have not received a reply yet. I also remember Neil (from Messicks) stating that Kubota had a really tough time making this tractor quieter. I'm thinking of trading the HSDC for a non cabbed B2630 (quieter?) tractor with just a FEL and buy a separate zero turn to cut the grass. Just to let you know Kubota has a thin foam pad under the rubber floor mat, no insulation on the bare metal under the seat and on the wheel wells. There is some insulation under the metal just about the transmission. Also, there are numerous openings where the pedals, levers, etc. enter the cab. This allows for cold weather, bugs, and especially noise to enter the cab. An attempt to sound proof this tractor would be a nightmare. I'm hoping Amigauser, Lawn_King, and BizDoc can give me their imput. Great tractor but boy is it noisy. Your thoughts.

lawn_king · May 28, 2008

You could improve the soundproofing of that cab. You could put better material under the rubber floor mat and carpet on top, foam fill the plastic lever guides remove the roof and line it with bubble bag and put some insulation material under the plastic dashboard/console. The B cab is not as quiet as the L cabs, it is however a heck of a lot better than any after market cab and there is a big increase in noise when you open the cab door,i dont think an open station is quieter?

amigauser · May 28, 2008

I agree that the B3030 cab is not super quiet. Like Lawnking said, if you open the cab door and compare the sound level inside the cab with it open vs. shut there is quite a difference so the cab does eliminate some of the noise. It is definately not car quiet and I did not expect it to be when I purchased mine. It is much quieter than an add on cab. I was originally going to get a Kubota BX and add a aftermarket cab, the B3030 cab with heat/air looked to be a better option so that is why I purchased mine. You do have to crank the stereo to hear it but the factory speakers are not that great so that could be part of the problem. Both the cab heat and air work extremely well and that is mainly why I wanted a cab. It is great working bug and dust free and cool in the warm months and warm and dry in the cold months while plowing snow

. Having the cab lets you work in rainy or snowy weather with no concerns.

I don't think a open station B3030 or B2630 is going to be any quieter than a B3030 with a cab. The Grand L cabs have better sound proofing but they are much larger tractors than the "B" series. If I was buying today I would probably get a Grand L 3540 only because I like the 724 loader vs the 403 on the B3030. I use my tractor mainly for loader/grapple/pallet forks and some 3 pt work so a Grand L would be a plus. For mowing a B3030 cab is a pretty nice setup.

ficord · May 28, 2008

I have a b3030 with cab and just love the machine. When I first got it I thought it was a little noisy but after 80 hrs on it I dont even notice the noise anymore, although I dont have a belly mower so yours must be louder then mine. When I remove the floor mats I say to myself I could caulk some of the seams and holes so dust and fumes dont enter the cab, but I want to wait until the newness wears off then I will seal it up mostly for dust entering the cab.
You will regret gettng an open cab try to get used to it and keep in mind that it is possible to quiet it down in the future but once the cab is gone its gone.
I think if you list the pros and cons about the cab and no cab you will choose the cab

lawn_king · May 29, 2008

You say your machine is brand new srs? Wait until decembers first big snowstorm, you will be posting about how you love the cab!

srs · May 29, 2008

Ok guys I thank all of you for your replies. Lawn_King, you are correct about the first big snow storm. Even though I have a pickup truck with plow sometimes with real heavy snows I have to use the loader. That is where the heated cab will be worth it. Perhaps I'll try to improve the sound proofing as suggested. Like I previously said I sent a letter to Kubota HQ around Memorial Day but haven't received a reply. I guess I was hoping the interior sound level would be more car like. Amigauser, never really thought about the speakers not being especially good. The more I think about it the more I might just keep the 3030 and maybe get rid of the belly mower and buy a zero turn. ficord, I'll have to get some caulk type material and start to seal the holes. Decisions? Again thanks guys I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

smfcpacfp · May 30, 2008

I wear air protection in my B3030. Glass doesn't make good sound deadening material. Did you think that it would? The only possible hope would be to redirect or lengthen the exhaust, or run the engine slower if possible.

As much as I would like to have a radio in the cab, it just won't work.

PSDStu · May 30, 2008

I am trying to decide between a Cab B3030 and L3240 when I upgrade sometime in the next few weeks and am glad to have discovered that at least with the B3030 that the noise level can still be a little high, and that the cab still allows some dust to enter.

It looks like the L series is a little quieter based on what LK wrote and he has had both models.

I wonder why they offer a radio if you have to wear hearing protection?

Biggest reason for a cab for me is to get out of the sun here, as well as the dust/sand when running the rotary cutter, and mower.

Thanks for info on the B3030!

Stu

srs · May 30, 2008

smfcpacfp said:
I wear air protection in my B3030. Glass doesn't make good sound deadening material. Did you think that it would? The only possible hope would be to redirect or lengthen the exhaust, or run the engine slower if possible.

As much as I would like to have a radio in the cab, it just won't work.

smfcpacfp, I don't know if glass makes a good sound deadening material or not, but the 3030 HSDC should be a lot quieter than it is. Kubota has done a terrible job at sound proofing this tractor, plain and simple. There are so many openings in the floor, near the levers, etc., I don't understand that. Compare the smallest cabbed JD to the 3030 and the green version is so much better. And regarding the radio why offer it as an option if it just won't work?

srs · May 30, 2008

kubotafan, no doubt about it the cabbed tractor is really nice with the AC and when winter comes I'm sure I'll love the heat/defroster, etc. I too have plowed snow with my old open cab tractor and nearly froze to death. And we will keep the 3030 and just work on some kind of sound proofing. Just to let everyone know I love this tractor other than the noise. The loader is an absolute joy to operate, attach and detach, the belly mower does a great job, much easier to attach/detach then my old tractor. Nuff said! Thanks to everyone.