I‘ve had the tractor now for four days. (I have a ‘02 MF451 for sale btw 
)
I’ve used the tractor a little for what will be it’s primary, most consistent use - pasture clipping with a 6’ Woods rotary cutter. I’ve operated the loader and taken both bucket and loader itself off the tractor - as well as fabricated skid steer attachments onto an existing hay spear and pallet fork.
So far, there is a lot to love about this unit!
- I was surprised at the pto power and how well it did that job. It is a slight pto hp downgrade for me but I dang sure couldn’t tell it. It actually felt stronger.
- I LOVE the HST tranny! In fact, that is the overarching reason I got the tractor. After borrowing a friends JD3830, I had to have one like it! It is almost the equivalent change as going from a standard riding mower to a ZTR. But with more benefits, like the ability to gently jog the tractor back or forth while on the ground hooking up implements (I know...”not safe”... not worried).
- I was also surprised at how quiet it is. I always wear plugs when hogging, but I didn’t with the Kubota. Now I probably will from here on just to retain my old ears, but bottom-line, it is quiet!
- Loader detachment: WHAT A BREEZE! My MF has this feature, and while it is not terrible, the Kubota is just much easier and faster. This is the first skid steer attachment loader I’ve dealt with, and that part is probably a wash. My MF QD bucket is harder to line up to get on, but once you do, you don’t have to exit the unit to latch it, it’s latches on its own. The Kubota is easier to line up to attach, but then you gotta get back off....no biggie.
There’s a few things I don’t like already.
- Whoever came up with the 3P hitch lift height stop knob needs whipped! What a POS! Just about useless. I considered robbing the one off my MF and swapping, but I just can’t do that to somebody. I gotta find a better alternative. Suggestions welcome...please!
- I was disappointed that this series didn’t come with extendable lift arms. (Neither did my MF) Being able to jog it with the HST helps...but not as good. I can’t use a QH because none of my implements will accept one.
- Last, but not least, gripe- R4 tires. I’m just not sure about these. I was hesitant to keep them on the machine. Dealer offered to swap to R1. He had a manual shift on the lot with them. They were installed in the narrower stance and I didn’t like that. I also see the value of the wider R4 fronts. We discussed it and he thought I’d be good with the R4’s. He’s an older gentleman and has been in the business here in my hometown for over 30 years, so I accepted his thoughts and took it as it was. Yesterday I was hogging the pasture and went across a patch that tends to stay damp in all but dead of summer, and while I didn’t get stuck, it slid around quite a bit and the tires got filled rather quickly. I was able to spin out, and engaged 4wd to get turned. But this experience concerned me. I didn’t have the loader on and I’m sure that affected the turning ability. But in my old MF 2wd, I don’t as much as spin one tread across this area. I thought I’d lower tire pressure a little and maybe put on the loader to see how it changes. I do have ballast in rears, not in fronts.
I plan on going to the dealer Monday and discuss swapping tires. I think I would be better served with the R1’s, and would be glad to pay labor to swap. I want to like the R4’s. I like the wide stance, lower CoG, wide, stable front tires for FEL work, less turf damage for the times I use it around the house. But I don’t want to have to worry about getting stuck all the time. With my old MF, I can watch closely and if my fronts ever start sinking, I can quickly get out of there and have only gotten stuck once - though I have had to bucket myself out a few times. Usually I can extricate myself before it gets bogged. But the way these tires seem to respond is to spin quickly and pack up. Might get you in a bind quickly. I have worked in rather muddy areas with my MF that I’m afraid I’d be ineffective with these tires, even with 4wd. I just don’t know. ??? What to do ???
I already have a right side handle and bucket level indicator on order. And I’m trying to decide what to do about a canopy...or not.
I’m not passing judgement on the 3PT hitch main operations yet. It has the “upgraded” anti-sway linkage, and it’s usable, maybe not the best, or the worst. Seems to have plenty of lift height, speed and power, is adjustable and reactive.
The seat is good, not great. No complaints. Steering wheel is bigger than I’m used to, but steering is responsive and I love the tight turn radius. Added a spinner and that makes a big difference.
I am interested it seeing what the emissions DPF system will be like doing the regen. I don’t expect it will be anything to worry about, just never had a tractor with emission control system of any kind.
I’ve been driving tractors for over 40 years, all kinds, from small to 150 up. Overall, I am very happy with the tractor thus far. As I said to open, there’s a lot to love about this little orange bugger! It might well be my last unit.
) I’ve used the tractor a little for what will be it’s primary, most consistent use - pasture clipping with a 6’ Woods rotary cutter. I’ve operated the loader and taken both bucket and loader itself off the tractor - as well as fabricated skid steer attachments onto an existing hay spear and pallet fork.
So far, there is a lot to love about this unit!
- I was surprised at the pto power and how well it did that job. It is a slight pto hp downgrade for me but I dang sure couldn’t tell it. It actually felt stronger.
- I LOVE the HST tranny! In fact, that is the overarching reason I got the tractor. After borrowing a friends JD3830, I had to have one like it! It is almost the equivalent change as going from a standard riding mower to a ZTR. But with more benefits, like the ability to gently jog the tractor back or forth while on the ground hooking up implements (I know...”not safe”... not worried).
- I was also surprised at how quiet it is. I always wear plugs when hogging, but I didn’t with the Kubota. Now I probably will from here on just to retain my old ears, but bottom-line, it is quiet!
- Loader detachment: WHAT A BREEZE! My MF has this feature, and while it is not terrible, the Kubota is just much easier and faster. This is the first skid steer attachment loader I’ve dealt with, and that part is probably a wash. My MF QD bucket is harder to line up to get on, but once you do, you don’t have to exit the unit to latch it, it’s latches on its own. The Kubota is easier to line up to attach, but then you gotta get back off....no biggie.
There’s a few things I don’t like already.
- Whoever came up with the 3P hitch lift height stop knob needs whipped! What a POS! Just about useless. I considered robbing the one off my MF and swapping, but I just can’t do that to somebody. I gotta find a better alternative. Suggestions welcome...please!
- I was disappointed that this series didn’t come with extendable lift arms. (Neither did my MF) Being able to jog it with the HST helps...but not as good. I can’t use a QH because none of my implements will accept one.
- Last, but not least, gripe- R4 tires. I’m just not sure about these. I was hesitant to keep them on the machine. Dealer offered to swap to R1. He had a manual shift on the lot with them. They were installed in the narrower stance and I didn’t like that. I also see the value of the wider R4 fronts. We discussed it and he thought I’d be good with the R4’s. He’s an older gentleman and has been in the business here in my hometown for over 30 years, so I accepted his thoughts and took it as it was. Yesterday I was hogging the pasture and went across a patch that tends to stay damp in all but dead of summer, and while I didn’t get stuck, it slid around quite a bit and the tires got filled rather quickly. I was able to spin out, and engaged 4wd to get turned. But this experience concerned me. I didn’t have the loader on and I’m sure that affected the turning ability. But in my old MF 2wd, I don’t as much as spin one tread across this area. I thought I’d lower tire pressure a little and maybe put on the loader to see how it changes. I do have ballast in rears, not in fronts.
I plan on going to the dealer Monday and discuss swapping tires. I think I would be better served with the R1’s, and would be glad to pay labor to swap. I want to like the R4’s. I like the wide stance, lower CoG, wide, stable front tires for FEL work, less turf damage for the times I use it around the house. But I don’t want to have to worry about getting stuck all the time. With my old MF, I can watch closely and if my fronts ever start sinking, I can quickly get out of there and have only gotten stuck once - though I have had to bucket myself out a few times. Usually I can extricate myself before it gets bogged. But the way these tires seem to respond is to spin quickly and pack up. Might get you in a bind quickly. I have worked in rather muddy areas with my MF that I’m afraid I’d be ineffective with these tires, even with 4wd. I just don’t know. ??? What to do ???
I already have a right side handle and bucket level indicator on order. And I’m trying to decide what to do about a canopy...or not.
I’m not passing judgement on the 3PT hitch main operations yet. It has the “upgraded” anti-sway linkage, and it’s usable, maybe not the best, or the worst. Seems to have plenty of lift height, speed and power, is adjustable and reactive.
The seat is good, not great. No complaints. Steering wheel is bigger than I’m used to, but steering is responsive and I love the tight turn radius. Added a spinner and that makes a big difference.
I am interested it seeing what the emissions DPF system will be like doing the regen. I don’t expect it will be anything to worry about, just never had a tractor with emission control system of any kind.
I’ve been driving tractors for over 40 years, all kinds, from small to 150 up. Overall, I am very happy with the tractor thus far. As I said to open, there’s a lot to love about this little orange bugger! It might well be my last unit.
