Thoughts on Kubota f-series mowers

Mikefromcny · Jul 7, 2018

I bought a 03' f2560 off Craigslist a year ago, for a great price. I sold my exmark Lazer z after. I don't miss the gas, or the ride. I do kinda miss the Zero turn capabilities.

Just wondering what the general opinion on the f series mowers are, how many hours could you get out of one with good maintenance, and are there any known issues? Mine seems to be a good mower...only known issue is the mower PTO shaft is loose where it meets the mower gear box. 2500 hours.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 8, 2018

Have you read the many posts from us F owners on this forum you've posted to? If so, you'll know what most of us think about our Fs and the few issues we have. If you have specific questions many of us are glad to reply. Welcome to the F world!!!!! If you read the posts you'll see many of us have also previously or in addition to the Fs own or owned Zs.

628pm · Jul 8, 2018

I second JT's comments. I bought a new f2690 little less than a year ago. Just like any other Kubota, you maintain it properly it should last for a long time. Will you have issues, we all come up with something from time to time. My last true mower was a zd326, while I think I could mow a little faster, but this F is so much more comfortable and I can mow my ditches when they are wet. You couldn't do it with a zero. Read some of the posts about the F's, John had an issue with the gear box and replaced the oil with I believe 00 grease if I am right. John correct me if I am wrong. I will be doing that when I change the oil in the gear box. Replaced the front mower tires with solid tires. About all I have done.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 9, 2018

628pm said:
I second JT's comments. I bought a new f2690 little less than a year ago. Just like any other Kubota, you maintain it properly it should last for a long time. Will you have issues, we all come up with something from time to time. My last true mower was a zd326, while I think I could mow a little faster, but this F is so much more comfortable and I can mow my ditches when they are wet. You couldn't do it with a zero. Read some of the posts about the F's, John had an issue with the gear box and replaced the oil with I believe 00 grease if I am right. John correct me if I am wrong. I will be doing that when I change the oil in the gear box. Replaced the front mower tires with solid tires. About all I have done.

I replaced the leaked out gear oil with 00 grease because it leaked out due to gasket damage caused by the 2 bolts coming out of the attachment points on both sides of the gear box but not sure I'd replace it under properly operating circumstances, like gear box is holding the gear oil inside it. If you do you'll need to determine the correct quantity of 00 grease to put in the gear box without overfilling.
I also had a ZD326 and a Z121 and per Kubota spec sheets the F has a faster top speed so in a parking lot the F would win. The Z may be a bit faster mowing where lots of tight obstacles (21 rental units and rental storage units with tiny yards) are what is being mowed but the fields where the septic leach lines are located the F is the clear winner and with 1/4th the effort or maybe even less because the F stays fairly true to going the direction you want without constant corrections like the Z or that was the case for me with open areas not as smooth as a golf green. The total time to mow the entire property was faster with the F and so much less effort.

art · Jul 9, 2018

Can't talk on that model for longevity but we do have them out beyond 4,000 hours with normal maintenance our high hour F-series was used at a golf coarse and is still working for a home owner! It was just over 10,000 hours when it left the golf coarse. Still going! Have other models above five thousand hours.

4570Man · Jul 9, 2018

I like my F series Kubota. The front deck in nice. It cuts string trimming down a lot. My biggest complaint with the unit is the length. I can’t haul 2 mowers on the same trailer where 2 zero turns would fit. Next complaint is the traction of my 2wd unit is pretty bad. They’ll last a long time. They’re premium commercial mowers.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 9, 2018

4570Man said:
I like my F series Kubota. The front deck in nice. It cuts string trimming down a lot. My biggest complaint with the unit is the length. I can’t haul 2 mowers on the same trailer where 2 zero turns would fit. Next complaint is the traction of my 2wd unit is pretty bad. They’ll last a long time. They’re premium commercial mowers.

I took my 2wd F2680e home to hillside property one time to see how it would do vs my F3080 4wd. The F3080 4wd of course had no traction issues. The F2680e would not climb my steepest hill directly in front of my house until I lifted the deck slightly and then it climbed it

fine and it also backed up the steepest hill with deck fully dropped. The F2680e 2wd did the rest of the yard with slopes and valleys and ditches fine. Surprised me how well the 2wd did traction wise with the slight change of lifting deck a hair or backing up.

4570Man · Jul 9, 2018

JOHNTHOMAS said:
I took my 2wd F2680e home to hillside property one time to see how it would do vs my F3080 4wd. The F3080 4wd of course had no traction issues. The F2680e would not climb my steepest hill directly in front of my house until I lifted the deck slightly and then it climbed it fine and it also backed up the steepest hill with deck fully dropped. The F2680e 2wd did the rest of the yard with slopes and valleys and ditches fine. Surprised me how well the 2wd did traction wise with the slight change of lifting deck a hair or backing up.

It makes a big difference since it transfers a good bit of weight to the drive tires.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 10, 2018

4570Man said:
It makes a big difference since it transfers a good bit of weight to the drive tires.

Never thought of that. I was thinking of the front deck wheels pointing into the steep bank like it was trying to plow or go against a wall and just barely lifting them off the ground allowed it to go forth ........probably both are factors.