Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L's vs. others

icat · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

CTyler, RaT, Casimir, Bird - Thank you all. Your suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated.

We just got back from taking a look at the tractors on the lot again and my wife had an interesting observation. She reminded me that we had visited 3 different dealers (Roach Kubota in Katy, Sealy Tractor in Sealy, and Rioux Farm in El Campo) and at each dealership we told them what we wanted to do with the tractor. In every case the dealer indicated that the L3130 was an excellent choice. But more importantly, none of the dealers tried to move us up to a larger tractor. Even when we asked "what if" questions (like if we had 50 acres) the answer was still the same - the L3130 will handle the job.

As a result (and after looking at the tractors again today) I have decided to stick with my original choice after all - the L3130 HST. I actually signed papers yesterday morning for the tractor, but I didn't check the specs on the Ford 3910 until yesterday afternoon. Hence the need for clarification on the issues I mentioned. I wanted to be able to call the dealer Monday morning bright and early if I decided to change anything. I'll be posting details of the deal I worked out with the dealer in another post. Thanks for the assist!

5030 · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

I can tell you are picky, you own Porsche(s) right? I didn't know Ford made tractors any more. I thought they were New Holland. I had a Porsche once, a 911T but I could'nt afford parts so I got a 'vette.

icat · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

Vette's? Been there, done that! Had a '72 T-Top when I was 19, a '77 T-Top when I was 22, and a then new '80 T-Top (a 4 speed no less) when I was 24. Graduated to Porsche about 8 years ago and haven't looked back yet! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The turbo on the 951 is rather addictive!

My favorite vette story is from the 72 though. I went into the dealer and asked for new rubber oil cap (the one on the valve cover). The tech looks up the price and says it's $29.95 or something along those lines. Well, back then $29.95 was a lot of money. So I asked him what one for a '72 Caprice would run. He looks the part up and says it's $9.95. Then he says - Hey, what'ya know - it's the same part number. So I say, "OK, I need an oil cap for a '72 Caprice..." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JATO_RaT · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

I've mentioned it before, but it's worth repeating. I think the L3130 is the bargain tractor in the whole line of L30's and comparable competitors. Price, loader and size, it's really a great, well thought out setup. I think you have made a great choice.

5030 · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

Get the Kubota. I'm a lot older than you I believe. I had a '66, 427/390 convertible. it was Milano Red with tan leather interior and had the cast aluminium wheels with knock off hubs and off the roads. Back then I was 18 and the girls loved the car, besides it would run 150+. I am much more sedate now.

I have a toy of sorts, that is besides my 5030. It stays inside through the winter too.
It's a 97 Ford 350 crew cab 4X4 with a 7.3 IDI turbo diesel. The engine is Gale Banks'ed, the transmission is a Jet e4OD with a prototype B&M valve body. It's lifted 6" over stock with a complete axle flip in the front care of ORU. The rear end is laoded with 410 gears and locked by ARB. The front axle is 410 also and run open. Naturally, owning a machine and fab shop allowed me to modify the chassis myself and being someone who likes things to last a long time, everything on the driveline including the spring shackles are greasable. She gets 20.5 mpg empty and 15 pulling and it will light the tires from the stoplight and on the 1-2 shift and that's on 12.5" wide rubber.
Besides, I like looking down at the girls in their cars yet, especially in the summer..............................
(dirty ole man)

I forgot to add one thing. Being a drag racer at heart, I get great enjoyment out of blowing away newer Ford Diesels at the stoplight. the only one that gave me a run for my money was a 2001 with propane injection. He ate me at the light but I reeled him in in the end.

icat · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

( I have a toy of sorts, that is besides my 5030. It stays inside through the winter too.
It's a 97 Ford 350 crew cab 4X4 with a 7.3 IDI turbo diesel. The engine is Gale Banks'ed, the transmission is a Jet e4OD with a prototype B&M valve body. It's lifted 6" over stock with a complete axle flip in the front care of ORU. The rear end is laoded with 410 gears and locked by ARB. The front axle is 410 also and run open. Naturally, owning a machine and fab shop allowed me to modify the chassis myself and being someone who likes things to last a long time, everything on the driveline including the spring shackles are greasable. She gets 20.5 mpg empty and 15 pulling and it will light the tires from the stoplight and on the 1-2 shift and that's on 12.5" wide rubber. )

Can I get a "Tim Allen" grunt! Oh yeah! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

( Help me understand why the more narrow tire will not have as much grip as the wider tire. Is it the 'depth' of the lugs (I hope that's the right term) on the tires? )

Dang, Keith, are you trying to get me in too deep? Maybe over my head? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Yes, it's both the depth of the lugs and the spacing (farther apart on the R1 or ag tires). So usually the R1 will have better traction in the situations most tractors are used in, but like most things, there can certainly be exceptions. R1 will get through mud better, the lugs are better at self cleaning; i.e, not getting gummed up, etc., but I'm sure there can be conditions in which the R4 would get better traction.

Bottom line is that I think you've made your decision and I think it's a good one and you'll be happy with it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And you sports car fans just had more money than I did; I had to settle for an Austin Healey Sprite. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif When I was young and single and had the Healey, my best friend and co-worker drove Corvettes, so I've had a little experience driving a 61 Corvette with two 4-bbl carburetors and a 4-speed stick. He had both the soft top and the hard top for it, then traded for a Stingray the first year they were out.

Bird · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

( asked for new rubber oil cap (the one on the valve cover). The tech looks up the price and says it's $29.95 or something along those lines. Well, back then $29.95 was a lot of money. So I asked him what one for a '72 Caprice would run. He looks the part up and says it's $9.95. Then he says - Hey, what'ya know - it's the same part number. )

Some folks might find that hard to believe, but my dad opened his own auto parts store when I was a teenager (he'd worked in the business before that), and you'd be amazed at how common similar situations are. My buddy's '61 Vette had dual points and they were pretty expensive. Two sets of points for a '55 Olds were much much cheaper and were the same thing. Now I don't recall ever seeing the same part number used that way, but we did learn that frequently the same part was used in boxes with a different part number. I also remember replacing one bad front wheel bearing in my own '55 Cadillac and dad's cost on the bearing was 50 cents (I don't recall what the ungodly retail price was for a "Cadillac" wheel bearing).

icat · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

Bird my man - No, No, No, good buddy! I'm the newbie here - not trying to get anyone in too deep ('cept maybe myself)! As I understand it you're right about the R1's having more traction, I'm just wondering why it works that way? Smaller footprint digs in better is the only thing I can think of. I'm guessing that the R4's tend to "float" on the surface where the R1's "dig in" for traction.

What the heck, the R4's look really cool (now is that a lousy reason to buy tractor tires or what /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif). I'm gonna love 'em!

DK35vince · May 11, 2003

Re: Torque, HP, Speed, and 4wd on Grand L\'s vs. others

( What the heck, the R4's look really cool (now is that a lousy reason to buy tractor tires or what /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif). )

Not really,That was one of the reasons I wanted them !! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif