My new (used) Kubota L3200

[Rosohatica]

First of all I want to thank all of you guys who have helped me on my journey of buying a used Kubota L3200. I finally did it and I am a proud owner. And I traveled to France to get one!
Attached find the picture. It has only 260 working hours and general it looks real good. I am worried a bit about one detail. I have noticed that paint is missing on the bolts connecting front axle case and bevel gear case on the right front wheel. You can see it on the images. The seller didn't know anything about it because he also bought used. Do you have any idea why would someone want to open this during lifetime of only ccs 200 hours? Should I be worried about this or it just might be the case that someone wanted to tighten the bolts? But its just on one wheel side.

Another thing is that tires are pretty worn out. Especially the front tires. The guy said its because tractor has been run a lot on asphalt dragging trailer. Is this normal after 260 hours? Best wishes, and thanks once again.

 

[Moose7060]

Looks very nice. Congrats!

 

[Rosohatica]

Looks very nice. Congrats!

Thanks

 

[mcmxi]

What a nice tractor!

 

[ken erickson]

I have noticed that paint is missing on the bolts connecting front axle case and bevel gear case on the right front wheel. You can see it on the images. The seller didn't know anything about it because he also bought used. Do you have any idea why would someone want to open this during lifetime of only ccs 200 hours? Should I be worried about this or it just might be the case that someone wanted to tighten the bolts? But its just on one wheel side.

If Kubota shipped your tractor the same as my L2501 , purchased new in 2019, the right front axle assembly is not attached. The dealer is responsible for installing and filling the front axle with the correct amount of fluid. My tractor looked the same with paint missing off those bolts.

There are many threads and posts on double checking the fluid level as some dealers when setting these tractors up did not correctly fill or even fill period with the proper oil.

 

[Rosohatica]

If Kubota shipped your tractor the same as my L2501 , purchased new in 2019, the right front axle assembly is not attached. The dealer is responsible for installing and filling the front axle with the correct amount of fluid. My tractor looked the same with paint missing off those bolts.

There are many threads and posts on double checking the fluid level as some dealers when setting these tractors up did not correctly fill or even fill period with the proper oil.

Thanks a ton. You eased my mind. You are probably right. I just looked at assembly instructions I got with the tractor and it shows this detail you are talking about. Initially apparently there was only a plate covering the front axle case. Then the plate gets removed and bevel gear case gets screwed on.

 

[ken erickson]

Thanks a ton. You eased my mind. You are probably right. I just looked at assembly instructions I got with the tractor and it shows this detail you are talking about. Initially apparently there was only a plate covering the front axle case. Then the plate gets removed and bevel gear case gets screwed on.

Your welcome and nice tractor!

Any chance you could take a picture of that part of the assembly instructions and post it here? I would love to have it for my files. At one time I found an online picture of some L frames, can not tell you the model for sure , on crates and it was evident that they were shipped with the bevel gear case un-attached.

 

[Rosohatica]

Your welcome and nice tractor!

Any chance you could take a picture of that part of the assembly instructions and post it here? I would love to have it for my files. At one time I found an online picture of some L frames, can not tell you the model for sure , on crates and it was evident that they were shipped with the bevel gear case un-attached.

Thanks ! Here you go.

 

[ken erickson]

Thanks ! Here you go.

Fantastic, thank you !

 

[fried1765]

First of all I want to thank all of you guys who have helped me on my journey of buying a used Kubota L3200. I finally did it and I am a proud owner. And I traveled to France to get one!
Attached find the picture. It has only 260 working hours and general it looks real good. I am worried a bit about one detail. I have noticed that paint is missing on the bolts connecting front axle case and bevel gear case on the right front wheel. You can see it on the images. The seller didn't know anything about it because he also bought used. Do you have any idea why would someone want to open this during lifetime of only ccs 200 hours? Should I be worried about this or it just might be the case that someone wanted to tighten the bolts? But its just on one wheel side.

Another thing is that tires are pretty worn out. Especially the front tires. The guy said its because tractor has been run a lot on asphalt dragging trailer. Is this normal after 260 hours? Best wishes, and thanks once again.

A VERY nice looking machine!
I have a 2006 Kubota, with 261 hours, and while mine is nice, mine does not look as sharp and new as yours.
Congratulations!

 

[Rosohatica]

A VERY nice looking machine!
I have a 2006 Kubota, with 261 hours, and while mine is nice, mine does not look as sharp and new as yours.
Congratulations!

Thanks

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Check front tire alinement, as that does look like road scuffing.
Make sure it's not in 4wd on asphalt.

 

[ken erickson]

Check front tire alinement

I had a grand total of 10 minutes of run time after my new L2501 was delivered and the right side tie rod end fell out and off. The dealer’s tech that did the set up never tightened the crown nut nor installed the cotter key. When different service tech came to my house he discovered the toe in was wildly out of specs. Axle oil level was very low also.

 

[Rosohatica]

Check front tire alinement, as that does look like road scuffing.
Make sure it's not in 4wd on asphalt.

Hi, you mean the tire wear seen on images could be normal due to paved road ride? Maybe the guy did rode it in 4WD on the road. Or you see something that indicates front tire alignment?

 

[Rosohatica]

Based on seen, do you think I should replace the front tires immediately? And if I do so, should I replace all 4 tires at the same time, is that recommended? I know for cars it is.

 

[fried1765]

Based on seen, do you think I should replace the front tires immediately? And if I do so, should I replace all 4 tires at the same time, is that recommended? I know for cars it is.

It seems very obvious that your tires do have excessive wear, for the number of hours on your tractor.
Probably due to continued use of 4WD on concrete or asphalt.
I would suggest that you not replace them until/unless they become an issue with YOUR specific use of the tractor.
Poor field traction ????
Then..... get new tires!

 

[Rosohatica]

It seems very obvious that your tires do have excessive wear, for the number of hours on your tractor.
Probably due to continued use of 4WD on concrete or asphalt.
I would suggest that you not replace them until/unless they become an issue with YOUR specific use of the tractor.
Poor field traction ????
Then..... get new tires!

I understand. Here is a better view on the tires if it means something in the context of regular asphalt use vs 4wd asphalt use.

 

[PaulL]

The 4wd is set up so the front tires turn a little faster than the rear (even after allowing for the different sizes). This helps the tractor to turn on wet ground, and I guess is better than the fronts being a bit slower (it's probably impossible given wear etc for them to be exactly the same). That's fine on soft ground where you should be using 4wd. But much like an off-road vehicle with part time 4wd (i.e. no centre diff), if you drive them on the road in 4wd you get drive train wind up - the front wheels trying to go slightly faster than the rear puts tension on the drive train until it's enough to cause the tires to slip. Hence the accelerated wear.

I wouldn't particularly worry about it with 220 hours, but it would put more strain on the drive train than you want. Definitely don't keep doing it now you own the tractor. I wouldn't replace the tires unless you have reason - if you have lack of traction in your use then replace them, if not, they'll probably last a decade if you don't drive in 4wd on tarmac.

 

[Rosohatica]

The 4wd is set up so the front tires turn a little faster than the rear (even after allowing for the different sizes). This helps the tractor to turn on wet ground, and I guess is better than the fronts being a bit slower (it's probably impossible given wear etc for them to be exactly the same). That's fine on soft ground where you should be using 4wd. But much like an off-road vehicle with part time 4wd (i.e. no centre diff), if you drive them on the road in 4wd you get drive train wind up - the front wheels trying to go slightly faster than the rear puts tension on the drive train until it's enough to cause the tires to slip. Hence the accelerated wear.

I wouldn't particularly worry about it with 220 hours, but it would put more strain on the drive train than you want. Definitely don't keep doing it now you own the tractor. I wouldn't replace the tires unless you have reason - if you have lack of traction in your use then replace them, if not, they'll probably last a decade if you don't drive in 4wd on tarmac.

Thanks for explaining.

 

[ctfjr]

Very nice looking tractor. Good luck with it!

About 5 years ago I picked up a used L3800, pretty much the same machine. It had just over 250 hours on it. Its been great for me and now has just over 600 hours.