Buying a new diesel .... Kubota!

[TBrennan]

Well I like my new 2003 Dodge Diesel so much I thought I'd buy another diesel. Since Cummins isn't offered in a compact tractor (that I know of), I ordered a new Kubota L3130HST and it's coming in Friday. It has a 3 cylinder Kubota diesel motor. Should help get my property in order.



Anyone with any experience to offer on these tractors? This will be my first tractor.

 

[mbaston]

I have used Kubota 4WD tractors many times. Worked great... a bit loud but oh well.

 

[Jengle]

We used to use one for cutting firewood. I don't know what size it was, but it was the three cyl. diesel 4x4. That thing would haul out logs bigger than a full size truck could get out. And get in there to get them where the big trucks couldn't get out. We used it to pull the logs out to the road where they could get cut up and loaded on the trucks. I was impressed with the work they did, and never saw the guy have to tank it up, when we worked all day at it. He also used to use it to till the garden, it did a really good job at that too.

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by mbaston

Worked great... a bit loud but oh well.

They're not loud to us 2nd Generation folks!



Rusty

 

[Ncostello]

My dads neighbor has a 1995 Kubota L2650, front end loader, finish mower, grader box, grader blade, bush hog... all the toys. He bought it to help build his new house on his property.



I ran it all summer in 95 when I helped him build the house. I can personally say it is one tough machine. I could lift full pallets of brick and carry around the job. Foot deep mud was no issue for the 4WD. It was tough and I liked the 2 speed rear end and 4 speed forward/4 speed reverse shuttle column shift. Made moving around easy, shifted like a truck if you wanted speed, and the shifter wasn't in the way. I think it was better than hydro. I like gear drive in a tractor.



He's the type of guy who lets me borrow anything he has anytime I want. I just go in his barn and get it no questions asked. Needless to say... I played with the Kubota all the time. Did well in snow too!! It had the Construction tires on it instead of turf or ag tires. They work well on most all surfaces.



Cold starts were never an issue, and it was great on fuel economy. It has a tough life as he isn't the best with maintaining the tractor. But it never fails to work perfectly.



The only problem he had was the front axle driveshaft tube vibrated itself to death and split. This is the shroud tube that keeps mud off the driveshaft.

 

[DMC]

I have a 2350 DT with front end loader,backhoe attachment, 60" bush hog, box blade, and 72" finish mower. Works hard bush hogging 10 hrs 8 gallons of fuel. I think its a great machine. 400 hrs no problems.



Don

 

[QRTRHRS]

Just in case you don't know, you can burn ag fuel and skip the road tax. Be fussy about your fuel source just like the Dodge. I treat my fuel year round. Don't forget the water drain. Change your oil and filter on schedule. Come summer, if you do a lot of cutting, the dust may clog the radiator. A good hosing with the radiator cold will clean it. Need more traction? Have calcium added to the tires if they did not come with it. Tractors usually have a dual air filter, an inner and an outer enclosed within a cannister. You may be able to remove an endcap and lightly vacuum the outside of the outer filter. This goes along with the plugged radiator. Look for a round rubber "nipple" with an end that flattens out. This is a dust collector. Squeeze it once in a while to expel any dust (if you have one). If you have occasion to disconnect any hydraulic quick disconnects such as for removing your front end loader if your getting one, cleanliness is godliness with hydraulics. You did get the loader didn't you? Watch your sidehills with a compact. Respect the high center of gravity and wear that seatbelt.



Hope this helps. Oh' yes, if you ever decide to add a backhoe attachment, get a subframe. Backhoe's for compacts can be mounted via the 3pt or subframe. The 3pt puts excessive stress on the transaxle housing and can crack it. Big $$$

 

[Milton]

I have a L-175 Kubota tractor which I bought new 25 yrs ago. . Been one fine tractor and still works like new. I also have worked on different skids steers which use Kubota's 3 cylinders and they seem to hold up well also. Good luck with the new machine.

 

[TBrennan]

Thanks for the great advice one and all. Safety is a concern and I will always have the ROPS up and be using a seatbelt for sure, it's hilly were I live. Yeah I was thinking I will get a hand pump and just pump diesel / kerosene from my home heating tank (275 gallon above ground) as needed since I likely won't be using that much fuel.



I got the heaviest front end loader I could, the LA723 (1870 lb lift capacity at the pivot point) and also got the Skid Steer Quick Hitch ooptions which let's you add any skid steer style attachments, as long as you don't need the hydraulics I guess. You can also change the front without tools with this option.



I figure later I can add an auxillary hydraulics system so I can use any type of hydraulic attachment hopefully. Looks like there is a ton of skid steer attachments available, if I can get the extra hydraulics working.

 

[TexEdwards]

I have a 15kw kubota gen set running a irrigation well during the summer months and 4 large travel trailers during deer season at camp. 15,000 hrs and no problembs. And that is 24/7 from the first part of May till the first week of Sept.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

How well do the newer little Kubota engines start in the cold?



I remember illflem mention that his Kubota was very cold blooded... and needed to cycle the glow plugs even if it was 90°F outside. This was after he had already run it up to temperature...



He didn't seem to think it was a problem... but I'm just curious.



Matt

 

[TBrennan]

From everything I've been able to find it sounds like they start without much problem at all. I probably won't know till next winter since it's warming up a little around here, I think it's headed above freezing this weekend!

 

[Ncostello]

The L2650 would fire right up even in severe cold. I did alot of snow plowing with it at night. It would be between 0-10 degrees, I'd cycle the glow plugs once and it would instantly start up. Granted it was a little noisy and I got the typical white smoke for a few seconds... but it didn't hesitate to start.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Cool... sounds like they don't have any problems firing off/running in the cold, then.



Matt

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

How well do the newer little Kubota engines start in the cold?



I remember illflem mention that his Kubota was very cold blooded... and needed to cycle the glow plugs even if it was 90°F outside. This was after he had already run it up to temperature...



He didn't seem to think it was a problem... but I'm just curious.



Matt

My Iseki powered Massey is like that. It will always start when cold though. Still, I plug it in for a couple of hours when it's cold prior to using it.

 

[Ncostello]

Having to cycle glow plugs at 90 degrees does sound like a problem to me. The Kubota only needed them in the coldest of weather... and that was just to make the starts quicker. It would start without them but would require extra cranking. Any other time, ie: 40 degrees and up, it just required the turn of the key and off you went without hesitation. I'd usually run partial throttle for a minute or two to get things moving... then work it as usual. I was always amazed at its starting ability. That tractor was my first experience with cold weather diesel use. I had heard horror stories about diesels and cold temps but this tractor kinda changed my mind.

 

[BIGDIG]

I use a 1985 M5030DT with loader bucket and various 3 point attachements,the rear tires are full of water(salt) so it wont be tippy like my 1998 L2550 with a loader bucket. We only use that for pulling our manuer cart,but on occasions its used for landscaping,very tippy with the empty tires. But they both run great,the 5030 is a great work horse,welded a receiver tube onto the top of the bucket for a ball/hitch to make it esier to move trailers. . The cold really doesnt bother them,the 2550 doesnt even have a plug,the 5030,well every once and a while we plug it in,but it will fire up. . New England weather sucks,but no problems with it starting. .

 

[Ncostello]

Yes... I almost forgot about the tippy part. Never use the front end loader for heavy material without having a bush hog or something heavy attached on back. Backwards wheelies are only fun for a little while .



Without 4WD... a loader is not fun. The front axle does ALOT of work when using the loader. The wide construction tires are nice for weight and stability. Even with rear weight the L2650 would often make the rear loose traction and only the front end was pulling the weight. You know the load is too heavy when you turn the steering wheel and the rear end just drags right and left! I personally wouldn't consider one without 4WD. I know 2WD will work if set up properly for front end loaders... but 4WD is instant assistance when needed.

 

[lschultz]

I had a M4700 no problems. Traded it in on a M6800 4wd with front bucket. Only have about 400 hrs on this and only one problem. The safety switch on the shuttle shift starting acting up so I just put me jumper on it and bypassed it. Brother in law has a Ford and he told me if I was gonna get a front loader to get 4wd and it does make a difference digging dirt,etc. Last year I bought me a BX 1800 with a mid mount mower and that is one hell of a cutting machine and sips fuel. Just bough me a rototiller for it to use on the garden. I'm gonna let the machine do the work now and mama can plant.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

My B-7100 has been a lifesaver here on our 5 acres - small enough for yard work, big enough to mow our field - we have a rear scraper, 42 inch mower deck and a rototiller for garden work. The rig always starts easy enough, and re-starts without the glowplugs if it doesn't sit TOO long - perhaps a half hour in summer weather. VERY economical - it runs all day on 3 gallons or less fuel, and I mean working hard!