which Kubota

[gandalf]

Thanks again for the comments! I'll probably have some questions about impliments and attachments too, once I get the tractor. I have a "school of hard knocks" tendency to "over buy," 'cause I hate to be dissatisfied because I cut corners to save a few bucks. The problem I've been having is that when I go to a dealer for any of the brand name tractors, their's is always the best! I'm not naive, and know that they want to make a sale, but it makes it hard to make up ones mind. JD has a history(but still japanese). NH looks ergonomically fantastic(still japanese). Kubota has almost all of the market share of tractor sales(Japanese all the way), and all the rest get the scraps! Right now, I like the M series Kubota's, like maybe the M4700-4900, but by the time it's equiped with a loader, rear box blade, quality bush hog etc--man that's a lot of money!!! I guess a person gets what they pay for!

"I love the smell of diesel in the morning."

 

[Anonymous Poster]

RE: "I love the smell of diesel in the morning"

Didn't I read recently that diesel fumes are one of the most carcinogenic things on the planet?

What are they going to take away next?

Coffee, Cigarettes, Alcohol, Milk, Sex, Underwork, Overwork, Engine Oil on my Fingers...

I'm going to be left with nothing but my toy excavator and my sandbox.

Ooops can't even have that, recent news reports that "play sand" purchased from a well known toy store chain was found with asbestos in it. (no kidding)

I guess I'll just have to set the toy excavator on a table and look at it...can I at least still READ about life?

I agree, diesel does smell nice, pending death not withstanding. Reminds me of accomplished tasks in the outdoors.

 

[Billc]

Sam, I still believe that your tractor decision should be based on whether you are going to be working on 40 acres or 5 acres. You have to determine that first.

My brother and I bought tractors about the same time last year. (Sorry to bore you folks who hear me repeat this time and again) He has 17 acres and went with the 3710 hydro. He loves it though he wishes he went with the 4310 hst. I have 34 acres and went with a 5400. My tractor is just right...though a 6800 would have been just right even better! Sam, your thinking of bigger is better is correct. I've never wished I bought smaller. When you BOMBed your 2500 don't you still wish for just a little more hp?

When I bought my 5400 I needed a tractor right then...end of year and tax reasons. Plus the new M series (4900 and 5600 wouldn't have been delivered to dealers until March or so. I would have liked to have a fully synched trannie like Wens but I didn't have that option.

Sam, to me the best thing about the L series is the hydrostat trannie. It is wonderful to use. The best thing about the M series is everything else. I am not knocking the L series fellas, but for me, when I'm bush hogging, lifting, pulling, knocking over trees, etc. an M series is a more stout tractor.

The gears on my tactor are a pain in the ass, but I've gotten really good with them. Don't think too much about which gear I should be in, I just go there. Think a fully synched trannie like Wen's would be even better.

Think Wen said he puts his tractor in gear and leaves it there for an hour or more without having to change. Sam, I change gears all the time. I live on a mountain and a lot of my property is bumpy...but not as bumpy as it used to be.

As to the seat of a M series, it is much better than the seat of a L series. A M seat has a big o' shock absorber in it. He you hit a bump you gently bounce up a down.

Hope this helps some, Sam. Try doing a key word look up on 4700, 4900, 5400, 5600, 6800, etc. There's some good stuff that's been talked about in the past several years. MarkC brought up a good point a few days back, there are not a lot of folks on this board who have the bigger Kubotas, so getting info sometimes gets frustrating. Someone on this board just bought a M9000, when he asked for info don't think any of us could help him....we could only admire him. So take advantage of the archives, Sam.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Jim I'm sure you're correct that the Blue tractors are great. There is only one rub, at least for me. I knew the opportunity to buy a tractor was a once in a lifetime deal. It will have to last the rest of my life. If parts became an issue or new model problems, I would have been most unhappy. My question boils down to this. Who will make Deere tractors next year or who made them last year. It is the same for New Holland, Ford, or whoever they are today. The uncertainties of the Ag market and constant manufacturing changes make Orange the unquestionable leader in this category. Kubota builds their own machines, not relying on third party work. The company has very secure financial footing and will not change form owner to owner , at least hopefully. Their designs work. Maybe not the best in all categories but overall their market share bears out the obvious. We can all argue about color,size,power,ergonomics,and so on but in the end the manufacturer that maintains quality and consistent product lines win out. I'm positive your Blue machine is nice and works real well. This is no diatribe against Blue or Greene just my views on what seems to be a popular subject. My L4310 GST works real well too. Good Tractoring!!!!.

 

[ejb]

>>Who will make Deere tractors next year or who made them last year.

Yes, but name a Deere tractor, old that you cannot get parts for?..I am a sort-of antique tractor fan, and know for a fact that there are parts available, thru one source or another for almost every Deere tractor made...even those that are 50+ years old. I am not saying that you should or shouldn't buy a Kubota because of this, but you are using a flawed arguement to convince youself that Kubota is more likely to always have parts available...how do you know? Just because they build the whole machine now, doesn't mean they always will, and it also doesn't mean that they will always stock parts for all of their old models. The only conclusion that you can draw is that they built their entire machine themselves...Very few companies build their entire product these days, those that do are not necessarily better, and those that don't are not necessarily worse.

Any idea how many different companies are involved in putting together a Boeing 757? Do you still feel safe flying them?

That said, Kubota make very good tractors, so does NH and so does Deere.

 

[W5FL]

Spare parts are normally available to some extent for all popular tractors. The only catch is at what price. Parts for my Massey were available: Steering Cylinder $800.00. Crankshaft Pulley $150. Bushings $50. Casting $600.00. Pin $150.00

My dad made all of the tie rods for his John Deere because the parts were prohibitively priced. Someone is making a lot of money on spare parts. John Deere spare parts may be available, but they are so expensive.

I have never priced NH parts so have no idea where they stand. Kubota spare parts seem to be pretty high too. Normal maintenance items seem to be about average priced including UDT.

Now, if you will just look in the Tractor Supply Catalog and buy the tractors (old tractors) that they have spare parts for, they are priced right.