Fix L3650 or buy new L2501

[bobkubota]

I have an L3650 with a great lift and the tractor runs great. Has 1200 hours running time. But it needs new rims and tires. This is a calcium issue. It also has a front axle leak. Looks like 3 to 4 thousand to fix. Rims are expensive and after market is not available. L3650 was made in 1993. Has 4wd and a GST. Easy to change gears and reverse.

Woud you just buy a new L2501 or fix the L3650.

I am 76 years old and hate to do even minor maintenance due to thining skin.

Tractor use is some mowing 3-5 acres with bush hog and trail clearing and maintenance. I also lift some logs but either tractor will lift the weight I need.

I need a reliable hobby tractor. What to do.

 

[VirginiaBound]

Since you're going to be paying for labor on the repairs, I'd go ahead and upgrade. At your age, I think theres a value to reliability and comfort.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That series is a very good series to have.
But if you can't do the work yourself, it can get really pricey.
So i would say a new one would be a good choice for you.
Go with a hydrostat over a geared, having a GST myself, they are closer to a hydro then they are a geared.

If your going to sell your old one, send me a message (click on my name to send me a message), I have a friend in your neck of the woods that might be looking for just such a tractor.

 

[PaulL]

If you don't like doing/are unable to do repairs and fixes, then it would make sense to get a new tractor. If you can afford it, then I'd say spend it, no point in leaving it to the next generation (as one of my cousins said of his brother when my aunty died - he's going to spend it all on hookers and blow).

One way to look at it is the L3650 is worth what it's worth - sell it for that, then buy the L2501. In 10 years time the L2501 will still be worth a lot more than the L3650 would have been, and you'll have had a trouble free tractor for 10 years. If you don't really have the ability to do maintenance now, that'll only be worse in 5-10 years.

 

[Nicfin36]

I think going with new is not a bad idea either. Since I have a L2501, which was recently purchased, I would advise you to drive one at the dealership before purchase. I say that since you say you want to bush hog 5 acres. I have no idea how often you tend to do this task. The one thing I notice about my tractor is it seems much slower than I thought it would be. Low range is incredibly slow, but I'm fine with that because it is needed anyway for precision work. Medium is still slow to me. I've only tried High and it seems a big jump in speed, but that range will be incapable of doing any work. I assume the L2501 is this way because it has been optimized for the 25hp engine.

I sort of was prepared for all this when I bought it. I didn't want the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and would have bought a L3901 if it did not have DPF. I bought my tractor for the backhoe work and the front end loader and I think it will exceed my expectations. I already had an older John Deere 2030 with a bush hog that I thought I might sell, but I have made up my mind right now to keep it and just use it to bush hog as I think it will far outpace the time it would take the L2501 to complete the same job.

Perhaps I am underestimating my tractor's potential. If I shed off the weight of the backhoe and loader, the tractor may appear much more snappy, not sure. Others that have had the tractor longer can certainly tell you more about it's capability.

 

[dlundblad]

How much money do you think youll have in your current L if you fixed it?

The new L will be just under 20k with a FEL, HST, 4WD and R4 filled (soy or beet juice) tires. I see you currently have a back hoe too.. that will be another 7.5k on the new L.

 

[Muzzy]

Go New, All Day Long, you deserve it, so much easier at this stage..

 

[BAP]

Going new has a lot of advantages for you. To help make the decision easier, I would get a quote from the dealer service department as to what it the cost would be to fix up your tractor. Then get a quote from the sales department for trading for a new one. Go to the dealer and drive the L2501 to see if you like it. Also get on a couple other sizes to compare. If you do all these things, I think that you will be in a much better place to make an informed decision. Good luck

 

[PaulL]

I would get a quote from the dealer service department as to what it the cost would be to fix up your tractor. Then get a quote from the sales department for trading for a new one.

In a perfect world they tell you what it'll be worth once fixed up, and how much to fix it up, and then give you the difference as trade on the new one. Very tidy, no work to do to fix it before selling it.

 

[bobkubota]

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

I have a buyer for the L3650 in as is condition. A new L2501 is in my future.

And after watching several YouTube videos of the L2501 mowing taller grass and weeds and some brush mowing I am sure the L2501 will work for me.

Now I need to figure out if I go with Ag or Industrial tires. Since I might in the future get a finish mower for the tractor Industrial tires might make sence. But I need to be careful with the width of the tractor as it is my understanding that a box blade should be wider than the width of the tractor. I also have a 5 foot tiller to consider. May start a new thread to help figure out the tires.

Thanks again.

 

[Cathy Liebchen]

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

I have a buyer for the L3650 in as is condition. A new L2501 is in my future.

And after watching several YouTube videos of the L2501 mowing taller grass and weeds and some brush mowing I am sure the L2501 will work for me.

Now I need to figure out if I go with Ag or Industrial tires. Since I might in the future get a finish mower for the tractor Industrial tires might make sence. But I need to be careful with the width of the tractor as it is my understanding that a box blade should be wider than the width of the tractor. I also have a 5 foot tiller to consider. May start a new thread to help figure out the tires.

Thanks again.

We started with an L2501 but it was slow mowing with the brush hog. You might look at the L 3901, not much more cost and much more power for heavy brush.