Sold my L-39 yesterday

_RaT_ · Mar 20, 2007

L39Builder said:
That's the final reason I didn't buy the 48. I thought the gears were all wrong. Combine that with the power soaking HST trans and it just didn't feel right.

Yeah but there are times that "power soaking" transmission is just so nice especially when working in small yards, running post hole diggers where you can infinitely creep F/R instantly, move almost as quickly as I can on our Skidsteer when using the loader, mowing backwards down a steep slope while just touching the mower into the pond, yep, it has some distinct advantages but then so does GST or manual transmissions. I use a Kubota L4840 (slightly smaller of the L5440 Dick has) routinely. It has shuttle shift, lots of power and either spins the wheels, kills the engine or starts hopping if it gets into something that won't move. That has its good points and its bad. For loader use, I still much prefer HST.

rbargeron · Mar 20, 2007

mike69440 said:
......Think we ought to invest in Front & rear Chain sets?

.........On wet slushy icy snow I could not even maintain traction up a moderate grade, never mind push snow!........

My R4's don't bite very well on packed slush either. This winter I never got around to putting my chains on (no snow until Feb.) Chains don't do much good hanging on the wall

curtisfarmer · Mar 20, 2007

My L48 accedent plowing did some damage: Bent foot step which punched in the Hyd. filter, scratches on the fender and 1 bump, nasty rubs along the top side of the Rops/fops canopy, and some other pain in the *** things to work on. You should see the trees, wrecked. It looks like a tractor trailer wiped out. It was like 11:45PM, snowing, and I had other places to plow.......so I power my way out, driving and backing over trees as thick as my leg. No problem. Plowing up hill in the nastiest, wet snow of last week in a L48 is a problem. I use High range down hill plowing 1,000'+ driveways no problem, up hill in H, no way. The L48 is so heavy, 9680 lbs. + with filled tires, it has to be slow unforunatly. I mow about 20 fields a year with the L48 as well, and yes, it could be faster mowing, but where I live in NH things are rocky and hilly so most time the speed is OK. Most times. I am brushing out 1-2 acres of trees with my KX121 and man, that thing is great. Same arm basically as the L48 (I backed them up out reached and they where the same lenght) but the excavator arm has that high curve and more power although the L48 backhoe with thumb is amazing. I wish the L48 went 3mph+ in medium range. I wonder how the new HST on the 40s will work out with the TLBs.

Builder · Mar 20, 2007

Now that we're on the subject of L-48's and no longer the selling of my L-39, anyone got a good stock tip?

mike69440 · Mar 20, 2007

L39Builder said:
Now that we're on the subject of L-48's and no longer the selling of my L-39, anyone got a good stock tip?

If I did, I'd have a Plan instead of a dream for a KX-80-3 sized Excavator.
This would be a great income generating retirement toy!
I would love to see the excavator market bottom for a few months.

Builder · Mar 20, 2007

mike69440 said:
If I did, I'd have a Plan instead of a dream for a KX-80-3 sized Excavator.
This would be a great income generating retirement toy!
I would love to see the excavator market bottom for a few months.

I really lost a lot of sleep deciding if I should go with an excavator and a skid steer or a full size extendahoe 4x4.

The full size backhoe won out because I just can't keep one more machine around the shop.

............although a little 40HP JD or Kubota 4x4 for my York rake & snow blower might just squeak by.

Muleskinner · Mar 20, 2007

You guys keep talking about plowing snow and snow chains. I would give my left nut for some rain or snow. This has been the dryest winter season on record in So CA. It rained one time for about ten minutes and snowed about one inch the whole season. Were drying up out here.

On another note while talking about transmissions in the L48, just think how the L48 would work if it had the GST transmission with a torque converter like a construction tractor!

witel · Mar 20, 2007

Muleskinner said:
You guys keep talking about plowing snow and snow chains. I would give my left nut for some rain or snow. This has been the dryest winter season on record in So CA. It rained one time for about ten minutes and snowed about one inch the whole season. Were drying up out here.

On another note while talking about transmissions in the L48, just think how the L48 would work if it had the GST transmission with a torque converter like a construction tractor!

Last summer, this area was under severe drought conditions. I had bought my land and started having a home built on the side of the hill. About 20 yards further up the hill from the house, I also had a water-well drilled 650' down. It was an artesian well, and water was pouring out of this thing to the tune of 200-300 gallons/minute ... and flowing around the foundation. The builder had to stop the drillers in order to dig a trench around the foundation prior to capping the well. This winter, the area was hit hard with snow. No more drought. All the reservoirs are back up to peak levels. I keep looking at the well-cap, and wondering what I'm going to get out of that thing. And the drive ... snow turning to mud ... and going up the hill to the house. I'll need to be prepared for next winter.

Regarding the L48 transmission (HST) and L39 transmission (GST), I've been reading that the GST is better for FEL work, but HST is better/safer when doing work on slopes. Can you guys provide some incite based on your personal experience? The boss gave me permission to consider carving a series of switchbacks up the hill. The view of the mountains is awesome up there, so it'd be nice to make it easy to get up there, and sit on a decked-area with a beer and my dog.

mike69440 · Mar 21, 2007

witel said:
Regarding the L48 transmission (HST) and L39 transmission (GST), I've been reading that the GST is better for FEL work, but HST is better/safer when doing work on slopes. Can you guys provide some incite based on your personal experience? The boss gave me permission to consider carving a series of switchbacks up the hill. The view of the mountains is awesome up there, so it'd be nice to make it easy to get up there, and sit on a decked-area with a beer and my dog.

Regarding HST, Given my limited experience with using a JD, for close in loader work the HST is the more productive way to move material, given equally skilled operators. The GST is fine also. I hated the feel of the HST anytime I had to drive the tractor across a field. If you want to chug down a road to your neigbor, Go GST. I do a lot of chugging around, and for ground engagement and general travel, give me the L-39 GST.
Regarding the size of the L-39 vs. L-48, the L48 loader beats the L-39. Tight spots, the L39 beats the L-48 by a lot. Figure an L-48 has another 1,000 lbs weight and an extra foot of reach with the hoe, so being fair, the L-48 will out dig an L-39 by 10%. In the Mud, The L-48 has advantage due to tire size & ground clearance.
Both are good machines.

Builder · Mar 21, 2007

The L-39 is more ergonomically advanced, too. Easier to see out of and over the hood. Not sure if the newer L-48's have the more advanced "intelli-panel" side instrument cluster that's as nice as the L-39's.

From an operator's standpoint, the L-39 is more like the full size I'm borrowing right now. The critical functions are displayed on the side (fender) so they can be viewed in either seat position. The bucket arms and backhoe boom are curved, too. More like a modern full-size backhoe. The GST is a lot like a full size hoe, too. Except even more speeds forward & reverse. Full size hoe has the collar shift lever on the steering column and a shifter on the floor. Only difference with an L-39 is the shifter is nicer-it's on the fender.