Would you pay $1,500 for 14% more HP?

[rumwrks]

About 50 of these

Hire a guy with a decent sized excavator to come in and pull them.

Price/effort/time/reward that'll win hands down IMHO.

 

[halfBaked2024]

I may be mistaken, but thought turbos add more complexity.

I mentioned to the dealer - annd he was trying to sell me the 494!

Apparently the Kukje turbos have the same astounding track record as their engines?!?

 

[chim]

I have no experience or input for the turbo. I can say that it's a lot easier to have a lack of HP or weight than it is to have an excess. My next to last tractor was an L3200. They wanted another $1,500 for an L3900. The L3200 was replacing a B7500 and the extra 11HP and 1,000# was substantial. Turns out that after a half dozen years of the L3200 I wished I'd have gone with the L3900. Of course had that been the case I may not have gone with the L4240

 

[halfBaked2024]

Turbos in the good old turbo Diesels are still reliable.

Older such engines for from Catepillar, John Deere, International Harvester, Cummins etc. are good examples.

Dealer said he’s had zero break-fix jobs on these turbos.

 

[big bubba]

6.7 additional hp isn't much. tractor weight is as much your friend as as extra hp.
if you're questioning additional hp, look at your future tasks, possibly unseen as well.
i'd look at 70+ hp utility tractor. just a turbo for that size tractor isn't much. maybe hire out the work you illustrated. all the best, just don't rush into a purchase you might later regret for not going larger.

 

[halfBaked2024]

I have no experience or input for the turbo. I can say that it's a lot easier to have a lack of HP or weight than it is to have an excess. My next to last tractor was an L3200. They wanted another $1,500 for an L3900. The L3200 was replacing a B7500 and the extra 11HP and 1,000# was substantial. Turns out that after a half dozen years of the L3200 I wished I'd have gone with the L3900. Of course had that been the case I may not have gone with the L4240

In the boating world, they call this two-footitis: more is always better. I promised my better half I’d even name it after her if I could increase my spend a little. FYI, those stainless cooking pans hurt almost as much as the cast iron ones!

 

[halfBaked2024]

Any addition increases complexity.
Turbos are good at increased elevations. They pump more air into the cylinders.
New school turbos are much more reliable than old ones.
If you are working your machine hard before you shut down it's good to let the engine idle for a few minutes. It gives the turbo time to cool down and cycle oil through.
Other than that I've had no issues.

Great post, thanks!

 

[TN8Man]

In the boating world, they call this two-footitis: more is always better. I promised my better half I’d even name it after her if I could increase my spend a little. FYI, those stainless cooking pans hurt almost as much as the cast iron ones!

I always wondered why they called it two-footitis. I went from a 18' to a 24' and then looked at over 30'. Two feet is just not enough for most boaters. But as you get older the downsizing starts. Now we are happy with the pontoon.

 

[TN8Man]

Basic stuff for you veterans, but practical information for computer programmers heading into retirement

The dealer I purchased from also suggested swapping the rear tires/rims to get a wider footprint which they did. My T494 is more stable on hills than my NX50 Kioti and I don't even get close to that feeling I'm near the tipping point but then again I don't put the tractor in a position to get close.

 

[5030]

I may be mistaken, but thought turbos add more complexity.

Emissions do but hairdryers have been around for decades and well proven so not really.

 

[5030]

About 50 of these

Better get yourself something with large gonads, tractive effort as well. I prefer a stump grinder myself but with a grinder the stumps have to be cut a lot lower.

 

[halfBaked2024]

I always wondered why they called it two-footitis. I went from a 18' to a 24' and then looked at over 30'. Two feet is just not enough for most boaters. But as you get older the downsizing starts. Now we are happy with the pontoon.

 

[5030]

Dealer said he’s had zero break-fix jobs on these turbos.

The most important aspect with any turbo charged engine is cooling the turbo down after running it hard. I idle both my Kubota's for about 2 minutes to allow the hot side of the turbo's ceramic bearings to cool off and get fresh oil. Besides, both of mine are straight piped and I love the sound of a turbocharger.

 

[5030]

Keep in mind that if you excavate any stump, you are left with a hole that has to be backfilled. With a grinder the depression is minimal and really no backfilling plus stumps are a PITA to get rid off. They don't like to burn and are messy. I much prefer grinding them and most stump grinders will grind at least 8" below grade as well.... and, the chips from a sharp toothed grinder are very similar to a wood chipper so you can use the excess for mulch

 

[halfBaked2024]

My experience out here as well, having hired out stump grinding in the past. The other thing that happens out here is the stumps will petrify.

Keep in mind that if you excavate any stump, you are left with a hole that has to be backfilled. With a grinder the depression is minimal and really no backfilling plus stumps are a PITA to get rid off. They don't like to burn and are messy. I much prefer grinding them and most stump grinders will grind at least 8" below grade as well.... and, the chips from a sharp toothed grinder are very similar to a wood chipper so you can use the excess for mulch

 

[TN8Man]

Keep in mind that if you excavate any stump, you are left with a hole that has to be backfilled. With a grinder the depression is minimal and really no backfilling plus stumps are a PITA to get rid off. They don't like to burn and are messy. I much prefer grinding them and most stump grinders will grind at least 8" below grade as well.... and, the chips from a sharp toothed grinder are very similar to a wood chipper so you can use the excess for mulch

That's why I have a dump trailer and the local landfill is free. I don't do burn piles anymore. I do still stump grind if I know a stump left underground won't be a future problem. I will also hire a local dozer guy to push over the big trees for me.

 

[halfBaked2024]

Hire a guy with a decent sized excavator to come in and pull them.

Price/effort/time/reward that'll win hands down IMHO.

Thank you for the advice and absolutely, this has been my experience at other project locations. But, the minute contractors show for estimates and see this view, prices escalate quickly for services. It’s crazy out there, man. First world problems I know, but thus, the tractor purchase. A man quickly has to figure out what he’s willing to do and when he will pick up the phone.

 

[ChiefBodie]

Thank you for the advice and absolutely, this has been my experience at other project locations. But, the minute contractors show for estimates and see this view, prices escalate quickly for services. It’s crazy out there, man. First world problems I know, but thus, the tractor purchase. A man quickly has to figure out what he’s willing to do and when he will pick up the phone.

We have a similar problem but different. When contractors see some of our circumstances they seem to want to do a little extra to help out. But we don't mind.

 

[CalG]

Great point… we’re right around 1,310 ft. MSL, so I think we’re good.

I am dealing with a lot of broken up shale rock embedded in soil to carve out access roads/trails in hilly (max 10-15%) sloped terrain, but mostly 5-10% slopes. So, considerable box blade and rock bucket work. I can take my time here.

Also have woods to clear and stumps to grind/backhoe out. For me, really just trying to make sure with a loaded bucket that I don’t get too underpowered to manage those slopes.

nice thing about slopes and hills,

Free horsepower on the way down!

I make use of that feature all the time!

 

[JethroB]

I made the 15% power jump (+$2,000) going from a Kubota L4760 open station to a L5460 cab tractor. Same tractor & base engine but with an added turbo. I wanted a cab and the L5460 was came available after searching for months in 2022. For my mostly mowing purposes I don’t notice the extra power. An increase in fuel usage and regens definitely . I typically run out of traction before power.