Hi Folks,
I've pretty much decided to sell my 1954 Farmall Cub, and get something a bit more capable. I have about 1/4-mile of steeply sloped driveway to maintain - winter snow removal and summer grading (asphalt grindings). I am also aiming to sell about 9000BF of timber from my 12-acre woodlot, and am expecting to fell the trees (black birch) and skid the logs. Have a grading project in my future, too - a terraced hillside garden with native rock retaining walls (my mountainside property is very rocky).
So, have kind of settled on the Kubota L-series as a good compromise between power (enough) and size (not too massive) for what I want to do. Thinking I want at least 25 hp, and a loader. Don't need it for mowing, as our yard is <1 acre (I have a G1800 for mowing). I generally inclined to sacrifice convenience and creature-comforts for reliability and dependability. So, no fancy electronics. Probably don't need HS transmission. Cab sounds nice, but will be a clearance issue in the woods, so I'll make do without that. Probably need 4WD. Looking to avoid the later emissions-burdened models. Would like to buy a used tractor, ideally something with less than 1000 hours on it.
What are the best Kubota engine models for dependability?
What are the transmissions least prone to trouble?
One model I've thought about is the L2350 (1991-1998, D1105 motor, I think), though it's at the bottom end of my preferred power range.
They seem to be very reasonably priced, used ($5000-$7000). An L2350 is selling at auction nearby in a couple of weeks, with 978 hours on it.
I welcome any recommendations, general to specific.
THANKS!
-Paul
PS, there's a non-running L2550DT selling at that same auction, but without a loader. Has the D1402 motor, very good rubber, and I bet it will go CHEAP! Worth a chance?
I've pretty much decided to sell my 1954 Farmall Cub, and get something a bit more capable. I have about 1/4-mile of steeply sloped driveway to maintain - winter snow removal and summer grading (asphalt grindings). I am also aiming to sell about 9000BF of timber from my 12-acre woodlot, and am expecting to fell the trees (black birch) and skid the logs. Have a grading project in my future, too - a terraced hillside garden with native rock retaining walls (my mountainside property is very rocky).
So, have kind of settled on the Kubota L-series as a good compromise between power (enough) and size (not too massive) for what I want to do. Thinking I want at least 25 hp, and a loader. Don't need it for mowing, as our yard is <1 acre (I have a G1800 for mowing). I generally inclined to sacrifice convenience and creature-comforts for reliability and dependability. So, no fancy electronics. Probably don't need HS transmission. Cab sounds nice, but will be a clearance issue in the woods, so I'll make do without that. Probably need 4WD. Looking to avoid the later emissions-burdened models. Would like to buy a used tractor, ideally something with less than 1000 hours on it.
What are the best Kubota engine models for dependability?
What are the transmissions least prone to trouble?
One model I've thought about is the L2350 (1991-1998, D1105 motor, I think), though it's at the bottom end of my preferred power range.
They seem to be very reasonably priced, used ($5000-$7000). An L2350 is selling at auction nearby in a couple of weeks, with 978 hours on it.
I welcome any recommendations, general to specific.
THANKS!
-Paul
PS, there's a non-running L2550DT selling at that same auction, but without a loader. Has the D1402 motor, very good rubber, and I bet it will go CHEAP! Worth a chance?
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