I would like to find a tractor to do everything I need which I know is almost impossible. I have 21 acres half pasture and half woods. I have found a 2004 M6800 4x4 fel rops non quick detatch kubota loader 400 hrs for 20000 and a 2005 L4330 4x4 cab no loader 50 hrs 18000. I will mainly bushhog and deal with downed trees but would like to be able to operate a small square baler like a new holland 273 or jd 336. Also I would like to be able to haul the tractor fairly easily behind my F-250 4x4. The L4330 looks brand new and seems to be 5000 less than a new one and you cant tell its used. It is a HST is this a problem, I heard they create a lot of heat in cab.
Which tractor m6800 or L4330
- Thread starter CaptainQ
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Captain: 2 questions here. One of size/HP, and cab or no cab. Project your needs in the summer & winter....is the cab a real advantage? The difference in size and HP between the 4330 and 6800 is big. I started out with a L4400 and ended up with a 7040 (same size/hp as 6800). The M series is awesome and a dream to handle. The question is cab assuming the condition of either tractor is comparable. You'll for one be able to do a lot more with the FEL and haying equip on the 6800. But many like to housed in a cab, to each his own...good luck! bb
kbotaman
Bronze Member
I was curious what the loader model number is if it's a Kubota the loader should be quick attach, however the bucket mounting may not be.
Z-Michigan
Veteran Member
Question is really how much hp you need and whether cab will get in the way. A cab would be REALLY nice for mowing in hot weather or removing snow in cold. But if you go into the forest and trees whack it, it could be broken. The small baler will probably run just OK with an L4330 and should run very easily behind an M6800. Also depends what size mower you're using - a 6' would run easily behind an L4330, go much bigger or heavier duty and the extra hp would be very useful.
HST shouldn't be an issue unless doing lots and lots of plowing or working much more than 21 acres. It would be very convenient to have for mowing and to some extent even for hay work.
HST shouldn't be an issue unless doing lots and lots of plowing or working much more than 21 acres. It would be very convenient to have for mowing and to some extent even for hay work.
art
Super Member
For long term I'd invest in the Quick attach! I'd recommend to just trade your bucket in for a QA bucket.
It comes down to the desire for the comfort of the cab VS the power and capability from the larger tractor. If you look objectively, the 6800 is easily 2x the tractor the 4330 is. Is the cab that important? Also, the HST does run hotter than a gear tractor or power shift, but not that hot. It's a great and very reliable transmission. Only you can answer ...
It's not a huge deal to pull the pins and swap bucket for forks. Probably in the 10 - 15 min range. Obviously, longer the first couple times and probably shorter once you get it all set up. Swapping over to a QA requires modifications to the bucket (welding) and the adaptor on the loader. Not cheap, but not horrible either. $5-700 if you have it done would be my guess.
It's not a huge deal to pull the pins and swap bucket for forks. Probably in the 10 - 15 min range. Obviously, longer the first couple times and probably shorter once you get it all set up. Swapping over to a QA requires modifications to the bucket (welding) and the adaptor on the loader. Not cheap, but not horrible either. $5-700 if you have it done would be my guess.
tydp
Silver Member
We had an M6800 2WD with Bush Hog loader for 3+ years. It had great power but handled like a much smaller tractor. We used it HARD. Never did anything to it except change oil, fill with diesel and fixed one flat. Traded it in on an M9540 4WD because we needed something bigger. You won't be disappointed. Oh yea, got a great trade in allowance on it.....Good luck.
I am just worried that other than the 5-10 acres of hay that i might mess with I am going to wish I had the smaller tractor for ease of hauling and so it will be easier on my yard when I am working around the house. You can get the L series up to a 57 hp. now so I am torn.
Z-Michigan
Veteran Member
daveinnh
Gold Member
I bought a used Kubota L4310 - HST w/ Ag tires about 4 years ago. I added a Curtis cab w/ heater and also installed a 12V fan mounter behind my head. That makes snow plowing tolerable and the cab (even w/o doors on) also keeps the branches off your face when driving through the woods. You may wish to price the cab add-on to mount onto a M6800. (add your own bigger wiper though).
I think the M68oo is quite a bit bigger. Ask if the transmission is "loader friendly" w/ a hydraulic shuttle. Switching from bucket to forks actually takes 3 hands space about 8' apart, so I just had an ATI quick attach installed on the loader after reviewing some threads here. Some Kubota owners complained that the Kubota-brand detach had some problems.
One important benefit of choosing the M6800 would be a wider track. Review provided remote hydraulic circuits too - ask the dealer for cost to add when comparing
I think the M68oo is quite a bit bigger. Ask if the transmission is "loader friendly" w/ a hydraulic shuttle. Switching from bucket to forks actually takes 3 hands space about 8' apart, so I just had an ATI quick attach installed on the loader after reviewing some threads here. Some Kubota owners complained that the Kubota-brand detach had some problems.
One important benefit of choosing the M6800 would be a wider track. Review provided remote hydraulic circuits too - ask the dealer for cost to add when comparing
You better sleep on this one.....otherwise the "bigger tractor syndrome" will forever haunt you if you intend to so some serious agriculture....that's what the M series is all about. Turf tires could be an option bb
sugarmaple
Bronze Member
My two cents worth after 3 years with a 4330 HSTC and no immediate plans to switch. When I bought the 4330, I thought I would sell the B-8200, but have been unable to make myself follow through on that. It would be missed.
The factory cab is wonderful, Grand L 40 series are even nicer with improved foot pedal location and a number of trans related gegaws that are nice, but not all that necessary. I REALLY like the lack of direct sun, glare, dust, heat and biting insects in summer and I love shirtsleeves in winter. It is so warm in fact that I frequently have to run the AC to keep defogged. The newer series cab seems to be sealed up better and quieter. Did I mention that I like the cab? Really good chains necessary for winter with R-4's. Duogrips are mediocre at best
Having said that, I regularly wish for more power, weight and width. The 4330runs a 79" kuhn discmower quite well. The M would do it even better with a better sense of security. The M would also be much better for the heavy grapple, but the 4330 does amazingly well. I can work the 4330 pretty hard for 9 hours on 11 gals of fuel. Pretty amazing r.o.i. in that respect. Don't know how the M would stack up. I would make a wild guess of five or six hours on 11 gals.
I have also learned that the cabs are very breakable and have smashed and replaced a fair amount of it. Operator not so smart sometimes. Also,
not great in the woods. Would love to dude it all up like they do in Europe with limb risers, cab protection, skid plates, but that is idle dreaming I'm afraid. Also, every QD implement has required building up the area that the tapered pin closes against so that when loads compress the downpressure spring, the pin does not jump out. I seem to be the only person I know with this trouble; maybe I use it too hard? It just seems like it is only the bottom 3/8ths of the taper that engages it's slot. Have broken those pins too, but if you weld some half inch barstock flush to the opening, problem solved...
So, yeah, I'd like an M, but not at the expense and aggravation of rejiggering all the implements, more fuel, more payments. And one learns to "make do" with what one has. Altogether the 4330 is pretty amazing, and actually it is probably a 4630 now because it will spin the extra hundred rpm that seem to distinguish between the two, not that I run it there anyway, but for the sake of bragging rights. The increase in power from new to broken in (250 hrs or so) was remarkable. Course too, I tried to keep the revs down during the breakin and only rarely run it WFO now. Everyone seems happiest at 18, 1900 rpms, or less.
Some food for thought. Maybe an M with a Cab? That sounds pretty good to me. If you look around on the web, there is lots of second hand machinery if one doesn't mind the risk that used entails. Good luck and remember that anticipation is half the fun. That, and endless hours on TBN.
The factory cab is wonderful, Grand L 40 series are even nicer with improved foot pedal location and a number of trans related gegaws that are nice, but not all that necessary. I REALLY like the lack of direct sun, glare, dust, heat and biting insects in summer and I love shirtsleeves in winter. It is so warm in fact that I frequently have to run the AC to keep defogged. The newer series cab seems to be sealed up better and quieter. Did I mention that I like the cab? Really good chains necessary for winter with R-4's. Duogrips are mediocre at best
Having said that, I regularly wish for more power, weight and width. The 4330runs a 79" kuhn discmower quite well. The M would do it even better with a better sense of security. The M would also be much better for the heavy grapple, but the 4330 does amazingly well. I can work the 4330 pretty hard for 9 hours on 11 gals of fuel. Pretty amazing r.o.i. in that respect. Don't know how the M would stack up. I would make a wild guess of five or six hours on 11 gals.
I have also learned that the cabs are very breakable and have smashed and replaced a fair amount of it. Operator not so smart sometimes. Also,
not great in the woods. Would love to dude it all up like they do in Europe with limb risers, cab protection, skid plates, but that is idle dreaming I'm afraid. Also, every QD implement has required building up the area that the tapered pin closes against so that when loads compress the downpressure spring, the pin does not jump out. I seem to be the only person I know with this trouble; maybe I use it too hard? It just seems like it is only the bottom 3/8ths of the taper that engages it's slot. Have broken those pins too, but if you weld some half inch barstock flush to the opening, problem solved...
So, yeah, I'd like an M, but not at the expense and aggravation of rejiggering all the implements, more fuel, more payments. And one learns to "make do" with what one has. Altogether the 4330 is pretty amazing, and actually it is probably a 4630 now because it will spin the extra hundred rpm that seem to distinguish between the two, not that I run it there anyway, but for the sake of bragging rights. The increase in power from new to broken in (250 hrs or so) was remarkable. Course too, I tried to keep the revs down during the breakin and only rarely run it WFO now. Everyone seems happiest at 18, 1900 rpms, or less.
Some food for thought. Maybe an M with a Cab? That sounds pretty good to me. If you look around on the web, there is lots of second hand machinery if one doesn't mind the risk that used entails. Good luck and remember that anticipation is half the fun. That, and endless hours on TBN.
