What happened to GST?

Jay4200 · Oct 2, 2010

I just looked on Kubota's site to price out an L4400, and saw that the '00' L-series is only available in gear or HST. I'm a GST man - what happened to glide shift? Am I being forced to step up to a poofy Grand-L?

Personally, I think the number of models available is ridiculous. I've been considering getting a B-sized tractor, but literally gave up trying to figure out which would be best - I found it impossible to decipher the 435 different but similar-sized models that all seem just about identical to me.

There should be 4 models of tractors - teensey, small, medium, and large. Make everything else an option.

JayC

David_Kb7uns · Oct 4, 2010

If you go through the prior products list from Kubota , it has been quite a while since the GST was offered on an Standard L series, With the electronics for the GST it will be matched with the ItelliPanel instrument cluster found on the Grand Ls. And because of I think the power transmission capabilities of the GST, it is only on the GL3240 up to GL5040 with the two larger tractors derated in HP for the GST versions.

The Grand Ls are not poofy either, walk around one and climb under it and you will find quite a bit of heft in the frame and castings along with a lot more loader capacity and the large external 3 point cylinders.

David Kb7uns

Jay4200 · Oct 4, 2010

David_Kb7uns said:
If you go through the prior products list from Kubota , it has been quite a while since the GST was offered on an Standard L series, With the electronics for the GST it will be matched with the ItelliPanel instrument cluster found on the Grand Ls. And because of I think the power transmission capabilities of the GST, it is only on the GL3240 up to GL5040 with the two larger tractors derated in HP for the GST versions.

The Grand Ls are not poofy either, walk around one and climb under it and you will find quite a bit of heft in the frame and castings along with a lot more loader capacity and the large external 3 point cylinders.

What I meant by poofy is that they have stuff like the "IntelliPanel instrument cluster"

.

JayC

TripleR · Oct 4, 2010

Jay4200 said:
What I meant by poofy is that they have stuff like the "IntelliPanel instrument cluster" .

JayC

I like poofy.

JOHNTHOMAS · Oct 4, 2010

What happened to GST?

HST is what happened to GST. Probably couldn't sell enough of them after people tried the HST to keep making them.

crazyal · Oct 4, 2010

My guess, too few people wanted it. Either they wanted gears and a clutch or they wanted HST and Kubota wasn't selling enough of them to justify having all three in the line up.

crazyal · Oct 4, 2010

I think you'll have to step up to a M5040 to get the transmission you want Jay.

bilrus61 · Oct 4, 2010

I just traded in my L4200 to a L5040 both with GST. I've got 25 hours on the L5040 and really like the larger sized tractor. While its only 7 PTO horsepower stronger the whole larger frame gives me a "little big tractor" feel while the L4200 was a "big little tractor".:laughing:

Yeah it does have "poofy" stuff like telescopic links but I'll overlook that for now. Here is what makes it so much more tractor than my old and faithful L4200. Much stronger loader with 20 degrees more bucket rollback. Coupled with the 72" bucket instead of the 60" on the L4200 I can easily carry twice the gravel with it. Cat. 2 three point hitch with extendable links. Woof! Bigger tires and stronger three point lift make me feel like I'm on a monster.

Downside is the hourmeter is actual hours instead of engine revolutions! I like the engine revolutions hour meter better as I have a WATCH to keep the time. As with all electronics I highly doubt it will be as durable as the old guages that worked perfectly fine on my L4200. I guess that just the difference in the hour meter system will put 1/3 more hours on this tractor at the same rate of use as the L4200. Much of my tractor use is hauling gravel/soil which I do at 1400 to 1600 rpm. Other stuff I've not been too happy with is a too sinsitive OPC that turns the tractor off if you lift up in the seat any at all. The gas lever is mounted too far away down close to the dash. I find with my arm I have to sorta reach around and under the steering wheel and the loader joystick to change the gas. Other than those three issue the tractor is so far darn near perfect.

It has the exact same engine as the MX5100 that is Kubota's main economy utility tractor at present. I counted 14 of them on my dealers lot today! So its a engine that Kubota is going to sell lots of and have lots of parts for for many many years. The MX5100 has the exact same PTO rating as the L5040 GST , 44 PTO hp. My friend is a partial paraplegic and used to use a hydro. Years ago after I got my L4200 I told him to check out the GST and now he is on his second Kubota with a GST. They are a very nice transmission.

nebraskasparks · Oct 4, 2010

I was looking at various models with shuttle shift or glide shift...had the same ideas about hydrostatic being a lawn mower option until I started renting a couple various models.

My old Jubilee was a man's tractor with armstrong steering...with the FEL it took a lot of manhandling. Over the age of 50...I like all the poofy stuff, power steering, pto that engages without having to double clutch and move a lever down by my ankle, wheels that engage all the time even when moving around muddy areas and the best feature is the intellipanel that says "hey old fart...press clutch to start engine!"

I'd rent one the L series and give it a good work out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Agrantina · Oct 4, 2010

Hey- I like my L3240 GST.. and yes I bought it over the DT and HST do to the price. It had been at the dealer for about 1yr, but only had 3 hrs on it. It was put on the lot and everyone walked by it to the HST. Me too at first. Then after getting serious about buy something in my price range I looked at it and the dealer really wanted to sell it. I was not getting a FEL and just wanted the basic tractor with AG tires. The grand is just that GRAND..I love the GST and I am completly satisfied.. Now I can see that the GST and hills don't like each other so you have to be alittle careful- but nothing any different than a clutch gear tractor. The DT and GST has more HP on there PTO rating than the HST does for what thats worth:thumbsup:

AndyG