Buying Advice Shopping Advice - Small L's
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Anonymous Poster
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Muhammad, I believe that the L2250 never came in a GST model and all the books I have show it made between 1985-1991. The rest of your fact sheet looks good.
Muhammad, I believe that the L2250 never came in a GST model and all the books I have show it made between 1985-1991. The rest of your fact sheet looks good.
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Tom,
Ya know, I think you're right... I don't know how that got in there! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif GST was offered on the L2550 and L2850 after the L2250 was discontinued, now that I think about it. F/DT only on the L2250. I should have caught that. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
So, I'll make that correction... no L2250GST model!
Tom,
Ya know, I think you're right... I don't know how that got in there! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif GST was offered on the L2550 and L2850 after the L2250 was discontinued, now that I think about it. F/DT only on the L2250. I should have caught that. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
So, I'll make that correction... no L2250GST model!
gordon
Veteran Member
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Bigger is better.
More hp is better.
Get work done faster with more hp.
Smaller is bad you will be unhappy. Yea right you would be happy right now with a diesel garden tractor. Just don't jump into something you might regret later.
Bigger is better.
Gordon
Bigger is better.
More hp is better.
Get work done faster with more hp.
Smaller is bad you will be unhappy. Yea right you would be happy right now with a diesel garden tractor. Just don't jump into something you might regret later.
Bigger is better.
Gordon
scruffy
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Gee
Whiz! You guys really know how to hurt a guy. My Ol orange klunk doesn't have power steering, only has 17.5 horsepower, 792.9 showing on the clock (which works just fine thank you) Hours are perported by ex-owner to be right on, and according to a couple of people with long acquaintence to the tractor swear that is correct. By the way, it's still the old L175/L1500, Tires look newish, everything is tight as a drum, runs great, but old owner sure didn't know how to treat a tranny! Brakes even look great!
Gee
Whiz! You guys really know how to hurt a guy. My Ol orange klunk doesn't have power steering, only has 17.5 horsepower, 792.9 showing on the clock (which works just fine thank you) Hours are perported by ex-owner to be right on, and according to a couple of people with long acquaintence to the tractor swear that is correct. By the way, it's still the old L175/L1500, Tires look newish, everything is tight as a drum, runs great, but old owner sure didn't know how to treat a tranny! Brakes even look great!
OP
Harv
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Gordon -
I certainly would like to get a bigger, more powerful tractor than an L2250, but I'm simply not sure I can justify the extra cost (I'm already way over budget as it is). For just a few thousand more I realize I could get the extra horsepower I crave, but it seems wiser at this point to put that same money into some decent implements. (I'm trying to convince myself here).
Since I started this thread I've been convinced that I can do better than just "get by" with the smaller tractor if I give serious attention to wheel weight and rear ballast. Keep in mind also that I have never owned a tractor before so whatever I get will be the most powerful one I've ever had.
Then there's the "trade up" angle. Certainly a 2250 should be enough tractor for me to learn the ropes and discover for myself what I really need to get my particular jobs done and maybe trade up later. From what I've read here, there shouldn't be too many tasks that go undone due to diminished capacity (I'm talking about the tractor here /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif), but rather some tasks will simply take longer. More tractor time! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
There! Not sure if I convinced myself, but I feel much better.
Gordon -
I certainly would like to get a bigger, more powerful tractor than an L2250, but I'm simply not sure I can justify the extra cost (I'm already way over budget as it is). For just a few thousand more I realize I could get the extra horsepower I crave, but it seems wiser at this point to put that same money into some decent implements. (I'm trying to convince myself here).
Since I started this thread I've been convinced that I can do better than just "get by" with the smaller tractor if I give serious attention to wheel weight and rear ballast. Keep in mind also that I have never owned a tractor before so whatever I get will be the most powerful one I've ever had.
Then there's the "trade up" angle. Certainly a 2250 should be enough tractor for me to learn the ropes and discover for myself what I really need to get my particular jobs done and maybe trade up later. From what I've read here, there shouldn't be too many tasks that go undone due to diminished capacity (I'm talking about the tractor here /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif), but rather some tasks will simply take longer. More tractor time! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
There! Not sure if I convinced myself, but I feel much better.
OP
Harv
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Just got an eyewitness account from my broker of that L2250 with 212 hours at that nursery.
He says,
"Basically in good shape -- power steering needs work, so I'll just replace it. Seals leak, but I'll take care of those, too, and change all the fluids."
Dubious already -- although kept under a roof on an outdoor patio, it doesn't sound to me like it was well maintained.
He goes on to say,
"Oh, and an extra bonus -- it has a canopy!"
My broker keeps forgetting I have to get it through a garage door. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Bottom line -- I took a pass. As much as it hurts to go back to square one yet again, that one just didn't give me the warm-and-fuzzies that I was hoping for.
Anybody thinks I should have taken it? If you convince me fast I might still be able to grab it.
Just got an eyewitness account from my broker of that L2250 with 212 hours at that nursery.
He says,
"Basically in good shape -- power steering needs work, so I'll just replace it. Seals leak, but I'll take care of those, too, and change all the fluids."
Dubious already -- although kept under a roof on an outdoor patio, it doesn't sound to me like it was well maintained.
He goes on to say,
"Oh, and an extra bonus -- it has a canopy!"
My broker keeps forgetting I have to get it through a garage door. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Bottom line -- I took a pass. As much as it hurts to go back to square one yet again, that one just didn't give me the warm-and-fuzzies that I was hoping for.
Anybody thinks I should have taken it? If you convince me fast I might still be able to grab it.
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Yeah, good condition, I've seen those before. Probably not taken care of over those 212 (if actual) hours like you guys would! (Read Bird's spotless tractor.)
Your opinion matters most for you, since it is going to be your tractor, and it is your money... I'd wait for the next one, it might (hopefully) be 'the one'.
Good luck...
Yeah, good condition, I've seen those before. Probably not taken care of over those 212 (if actual) hours like you guys would! (Read Bird's spotless tractor.)
Your opinion matters most for you, since it is going to be your tractor, and it is your money... I'd wait for the next one, it might (hopefully) be 'the one'.
Good luck...
gordon
Veteran Member
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Harv, I'm sorry to hear that I thought you finally had you new baby so to speak. Your doing the correct thing on this tractor I believe. I'm sorry but I just don't buy that 212 hours at a nursery. If you had doubts about it it's best to pass as you said. Be happy with whatever size you end up with but the posts below about sizing of implements are correct if you don't have to buy them twice that is the best route to go. But the bottom line is the allmighty wallet if mine was thicker I would have alot more add-ons and a tiller and a freedom hitch and a 4 in one bucket, but it's not so I'm happy with what I've got as will you when you find the right one. It will be worth the wait if you end up with a tractor that your happy with in the end. No sense in having doubts. Once again good luck in your quest!
Gordon
Harv, I'm sorry to hear that I thought you finally had you new baby so to speak. Your doing the correct thing on this tractor I believe. I'm sorry but I just don't buy that 212 hours at a nursery. If you had doubts about it it's best to pass as you said. Be happy with whatever size you end up with but the posts below about sizing of implements are correct if you don't have to buy them twice that is the best route to go. But the bottom line is the allmighty wallet if mine was thicker I would have alot more add-ons and a tiller and a freedom hitch and a 4 in one bucket, but it's not so I'm happy with what I've got as will you when you find the right one. It will be worth the wait if you end up with a tractor that your happy with in the end. No sense in having doubts. Once again good luck in your quest!
Gordon
gerard
Veteran Member
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Only thing you might want to check on is your garage door height. When I bought my L2500DT [2/00] the folding ROPS was not even possible to get as an option. Dumb I know and my only complaint but you won't get in your standard garage door with the ROPS. It's a few inches too high. (Actually my muffler is even about 1/2 inch too high)
Only thing you might want to check on is your garage door height. When I bought my L2500DT [2/00] the folding ROPS was not even possible to get as an option. Dumb I know and my only complaint but you won't get in your standard garage door with the ROPS. It's a few inches too high. (Actually my muffler is even about 1/2 inch too high)
Anonymous Poster
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
What is the reported asking price for tractor and loader? What seals are leaking? Seals are cheap, but depending on where they are the labor can be high or a no brainer.The L 2500 model you are looking at is a bottom end old style gear shifter between the legs, non live PTO I still believe and will not have the resale that most others will because of this style. The brite side is that there are plenty of people with non PS & 4X4 looking to move up and haft move to this type and the rest get a joy to drive tractor. And to there are many people stuck with graymarket junk that if they ever can find a sucker they with jump on a L2500,2600,3000. Good luck and hope this helps.
What is the reported asking price for tractor and loader? What seals are leaking? Seals are cheap, but depending on where they are the labor can be high or a no brainer.The L 2500 model you are looking at is a bottom end old style gear shifter between the legs, non live PTO I still believe and will not have the resale that most others will because of this style. The brite side is that there are plenty of people with non PS & 4X4 looking to move up and haft move to this type and the rest get a joy to drive tractor. And to there are many people stuck with graymarket junk that if they ever can find a sucker they with jump on a L2500,2600,3000. Good luck and hope this helps.
gerard
Veteran Member
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
tom does bring up one good point I forgot to mention, the NOn live PTO. This is a drawback for bushhogging and snowblowing. Since you're in CA I don't think the snowblowers a problem. The bushhogging is only a pain if you have a lot of maneuvering, backing etc to do (Non live PTO means when you throw in the clutch the PTO also stops turning, makes it difficult creeping backwards and cutting cause to have the pto turning you have to let the clutch out all the way) Re the resale, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Your expereience has already shown you that if you take care of a compact you'll get your money out of it. Yes you'll get less for a basic no frills one (which the DT IS) but then you also pay several thousand less in the first place!
tom does bring up one good point I forgot to mention, the NOn live PTO. This is a drawback for bushhogging and snowblowing. Since you're in CA I don't think the snowblowers a problem. The bushhogging is only a pain if you have a lot of maneuvering, backing etc to do (Non live PTO means when you throw in the clutch the PTO also stops turning, makes it difficult creeping backwards and cutting cause to have the pto turning you have to let the clutch out all the way) Re the resale, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Your expereience has already shown you that if you take care of a compact you'll get your money out of it. Yes you'll get less for a basic no frills one (which the DT IS) but then you also pay several thousand less in the first place!
OP
Harv
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Gerard, Tom -
Good points you bring up. When I talked to the dealer a couple of hours ago I specifically asked about the PTO and he said it does have live PTO. He even went on to explain all the variations on live and independent PTO's. Since you own one, Gerard, I'll put more stock in what you tell me. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif My brush-hogging will be mostly open field and road clearing. Don't expect too much fine maneuvering.
Yeah, the ROPS won't fit through the door as is, but I'm told it's the kind where the top section can be removed, inconvenient as that is. I hadn't thought about the exhaust stack, though. But from what I've read on this board, that's a more easily solved problem than the ROPS.
Gerard, Tom -
Good points you bring up. When I talked to the dealer a couple of hours ago I specifically asked about the PTO and he said it does have live PTO. He even went on to explain all the variations on live and independent PTO's. Since you own one, Gerard, I'll put more stock in what you tell me. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif My brush-hogging will be mostly open field and road clearing. Don't expect too much fine maneuvering.
Yeah, the ROPS won't fit through the door as is, but I'm told it's the kind where the top section can be removed, inconvenient as that is. I hadn't thought about the exhaust stack, though. But from what I've read on this board, that's a more easily solved problem than the ROPS.
gerard
Veteran Member
Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
If you have mostly open field you won't mind the NON live PTO but I would check anyway just to see if the dealer knows what he's talking about, should be a good guage of his knowledge! I know I DON"T have a live PTO. Just go, fire up the tractor, have the dealer kick in the PTO and then tell him to throw in the clutch. If the PTO still runs at the same speed it's a live pto. Re the ROPS yes you can easily remove the top, just a bolt on each side and the top comes off. I haven't done it yet but shouldn't be too difficult. Just isn't hinged which, if I had to take it on and off the first thing I'd do is find someone who welds and have them weld a hinge on the back, then you could take out the bolt and just fold it down without having to muscle it around. The mufflers a different problem although it would be a pretty simple task to shorten that a little too if you had to.
If you have mostly open field you won't mind the NON live PTO but I would check anyway just to see if the dealer knows what he's talking about, should be a good guage of his knowledge! I know I DON"T have a live PTO. Just go, fire up the tractor, have the dealer kick in the PTO and then tell him to throw in the clutch. If the PTO still runs at the same speed it's a live pto. Re the ROPS yes you can easily remove the top, just a bolt on each side and the top comes off. I haven't done it yet but shouldn't be too difficult. Just isn't hinged which, if I had to take it on and off the first thing I'd do is find someone who welds and have them weld a hinge on the back, then you could take out the bolt and just fold it down without having to muscle it around. The mufflers a different problem although it would be a pretty simple task to shorten that a little too if you had to.
roysallis
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Harv,
From reading your posts it appears that you have ruled out all brands except Kubota. Maybe you should not limit your search. Even though Kubota is very good so are NH and JD. If you are open to other brands, even Massey Ferguson, you may be able to get that extra horsepower that I feel you really want. Try http://www.johndeere.com and go to the Farmers/Ranchers/Used Equipment section and see if they have anything in your area. Like the song says "Shop around".
Harv,
From reading your posts it appears that you have ruled out all brands except Kubota. Maybe you should not limit your search. Even though Kubota is very good so are NH and JD. If you are open to other brands, even Massey Ferguson, you may be able to get that extra horsepower that I feel you really want. Try http://www.johndeere.com and go to the Farmers/Ranchers/Used Equipment section and see if they have anything in your area. Like the song says "Shop around".
OP
Harv
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
You're not the first one to make that suggestion, Roy. My broker has been saying the same thing.
All I can say is, I did a lot of research and gathered a lot of data before I started shopping. My conclusion was that, for me at least, Kubota was the right tractor. It would be politically incorrect for me to go into much detail here, especially since NH, JD and others are certainly fine tractors in their own right, so let's just call it an emotional choice at this point.
Remember, I have never owned a tractor before, so I don't know my keister from a hole in the ground, and I admit it. So in lieu of good arguments, let's just say I think orange goes better with my complexion. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
You're not the first one to make that suggestion, Roy. My broker has been saying the same thing.
All I can say is, I did a lot of research and gathered a lot of data before I started shopping. My conclusion was that, for me at least, Kubota was the right tractor. It would be politically incorrect for me to go into much detail here, especially since NH, JD and others are certainly fine tractors in their own right, so let's just call it an emotional choice at this point.
Remember, I have never owned a tractor before, so I don't know my keister from a hole in the ground, and I admit it. So in lieu of good arguments, let's just say I think orange goes better with my complexion. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
W5FL
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Re: Shopping Advice - Small L\'s
Harv, Simply ask the dealer to demonstrate how you engage and disengage the pto. Put the tractor in gear and see if he can make the pto shaft rotate and the tractor not move.
For me, it is not that important of a consideration, since I can mow for a long time without needing to reverse directions.
Some tractors used a dual clutch to get a pto that could be kept going while the clutch was partially depressed.
Harv, Simply ask the dealer to demonstrate how you engage and disengage the pto. Put the tractor in gear and see if he can make the pto shaft rotate and the tractor not move.
For me, it is not that important of a consideration, since I can mow for a long time without needing to reverse directions.
Some tractors used a dual clutch to get a pto that could be kept going while the clutch was partially depressed.
