L3130 vs L3400

[tbone]

I had posted a couple weeks back about an L4240. I have now determined that for my needs a 25 hp (PTO) tractor should suffice. I am looking at two used Kubotas...one is an L3130 and the other an L3400. Both have 300 or so hours,both have loaders (3130 has a Woods 1012 loader), both come with box scrapes and both come with 5ft finish mowers. They are both priced at 13k. The biggest difference is the 3130 is gear drive and 3400 is HST.

Are there any service history concerns with either that would make one a safer bet than the other? Would love to hear your suggestions and advice. This is my first tractor. I will be buying a rotary tiller and bottom plow to maintain a garden. I will also use it to grade some rough spots in my 3.5 acre yard, move firewood around, mulch and general use around the 8-10 acre property. Thanks in advance.

 

[Hook]

I've owned an L3400 and I now own an L3240 which is the same tractor as the L3130 just a later model. Both tractors will easily perform the work you have described. The L3400 is a smaller frame tractor than the Grand L3130. Personally, I like the feel, additional weight, ground clearance, seat, floorboard and 3 point hitch features of the L3130. As far as the transmissions are concerned the HST would be preferable if you are going to be doing a lot of loader work. However, if most of the work involves ground engaging implements the gear shift would be my preference. Servicing the gear shift is cheaper than the HST. The last Super UDT I purchased for a HST was $105 per 5 gallons and I'm guessing the HST would required 8-10 gallons when doing the full service not to mention the price of filters. I would want to know if the 50 hour service was performed on both tractors. The price for both sounds reasonable. I think the biggest factor is the loader on the L3130 is not a Kubota loader. I am not familiar with how a Woods loader would function as far as ease of operation, reach, lift capabilities, etc. There are others on this forum that could offer you more information in that regard. I'm not aware of any service issues with either tractor. Hope this helps.

 

[tbone]

Thanks Hook. Agreed on the loader, I'd prefer it was Kubota if for no other reason that resale value down the road. Are you happy with your LA513?

The Woods loader has a 66 in bucket, quick attach, breakaway at pivot pins is 3020 lbs, lift capacity at pivot pins is 1375 lbs. Bucket reach is 28 inches.

The Kubota specs for a LA513 are 2160 lbs of breakaway at pivot pins and 1345 lbs lift capacity at pivot pins. Bucket reach is 21 inches.

The 1012 Woods seems to be in between the LA 513 and LA 723, which adds about 400-500 lbs to the 513's specs. Not sure what the most important specs are...breakout vs lift capacity, etc. I also dont know what a load of rocks or mulch weighs to know if I would need the larger loader option.

 

[Hook]

I am happy with my loader and doubt that I will ever need any more lifting capacity for what I do around here. Sounds like you have done your research on the Woods loader. One big advantage of the Grand L's that I mentioned before is the 3 pt. hitch features. It is far easier to attach a piece of equipment to the 3130 than the 3400. Another thing I noticed right away on the 3400 was how low to the ground the piece of equipment was even with the lift all the way up. Not the case with the bigger frame tractor. Even though the hp of the two tractors is about equal the additional weight and wider footprint of the 3130 is an advantage. Weight advantage is something you would notice with a heavy piece of equipment attached to the back or a full bucket load on the front. In my humble opinion, given your research on the loader, the 3130 would be more tractor for the money.

 

[tbone]

Agree and I am that is how I am leaning. I have been torn between these and a couple larger options. I started this search looking at a L4400, then M5700, then L4240 (which I really want. It has a 4in1 bucket, top/tilt). But these larger tractors are 17-18k and I'm having a hard time justifying it with my limited needs.

How wide is your rotovator? Does it do a good job for you? One thing that concerned me about the 3130 was it being wider than the 3400. With less than 30 PTO hp I can't get a 6ft tiller so I think I need an option that I can slide to one side to take the tracks out.

 

[Hook]

I love my tiller. It is 5 feet wide and does a great job. I do offset it as it does not quite cover the width of the rear tires (the same was true with the MF135). The key to using the tiller is to break the ground with an all purpose plow or disc before tilling. Our soil is heavy with clay. In some parts of the country you might get away with just tilling but not here. I use it in my wife's garden and also used it to landscape my yard. I do not have to break up the garden every year before tilling since it is in good shape and the tiller will turn it over easily. However, I like to sub-soil the ground with the all purpose plow and then till. As far as hp I don't even know the tiller is back there. I think a 3130 would easily pull a 6 ft. tiller as long as the ground is turned beforehand. On the other hand, I think you would be happy with a 5 ft tiller. Typically, 5 ft. implements go well with tractors in the 30 hp range. I've had the tiller for about 13-14 years and it has given me good service. One more piece of advice concerning tillers, make sure the ground is completely dry before tilling or you will end up with clods instead of fine loose dirt.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

The Woods loader has a 66 in bucket, quick attach, breakaway at pivot pins is 3020 lbs, lift capacity at pivot pins is 1375 lbs. Bucket reach is 28 inches.

The Kubota specs for a LA513 are 2160 lbs of breakaway at pivot pins and 1345 lbs lift capacity at pivot pins. Bucket reach is 21 inches.

Clearly the Woods loader is built alot heavier then the Kubota branded FEL. So why would you not want a Woods FEL?

 

[tbone]

Clearly the Woods loader is built alot heavier then the Kubota branded FEL. So why would you not want a Woods FEL?

Only reason is I was told by the Kubota dealer here that it lowers resale value if it isn't made by Kubota. But it doesn't bother me otherwise if it works correctly. I can't find much on the Internet in terms of reviews or real world experience but the few I found seem to be positive. Woods is known to make quility equipment so I hope the same applies here.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Woods is known for the front end loaders and especially for their backhoe's. The dealer more then likely just told you that because its sought after from customers for Kubota branded stuff and it may be hard for them to move used equipment with Woods on it. My dad has alot of Woods impliments he bought for his L275 about 30 years ago and they are still in great shape!

 

[tbone]

I asked the man who owns the 3130 if he ever encountered any scenarios where the tractor was underpowered. He said the only time is using his 6ft box blade on his steep driveway. When it fills up it bogs the tractor down. Anyone experienced anything similar with a 30 HP tractor? Is it a concern? Again, this is my first tractor so I really don't know what to expect and I guess I am still a little on the fence a bout getting a 30 HP vs the next step up...in this case a used L4240.

As you can tell the only thing I am certain about is that I want a Kubota!

 

[Hook]

Some will tell you to get the most hp you can afford. I've owned tractors in the 30 hp range for years and have never had one "bog down". When under a load all of them would spin the rear wheels. In my opinion if the tractor can spin the wheels it is not under powered. Does the owner mean it bogged down and would not spin the wheels or that he needed more down force (weight)? I have had to manipulate the lift to keep moving forward when using a box blade or sub-soiler but the wheels never stopped spinning. I'm sure the tractors you are looking at are 4WD. The 4WD is almost like having 10 hp more when it comes to pulling power. I would be looking for something in the 30 hp range to do the chores you have described. Yet, if you want something bigger you may not be happy until you get a bigger tractor and more hp will pull more, lift more and cost more. You already know more about tractors than I did when I got my first one. You know you want an orange one. I didn't find that out for years.

 

[helomech]

Yes a 6 foot box blade will bog down a 30 hp tractor in the right conditions. Heck it would bog down my old tractor a 50 hp Massey in places where I had a lot of traction. I have a 6 foot road maintainer I put on my 50 hp kubota and it will almost stop my mx5100 in low and 4wd when I pull it through sand.

 

[Hook]

Yes a 6 foot box blade will bog down a 30 hp tractor in the right conditions. Heck it would bog down my old tractor a 50 hp Massey in places where I had a lot of traction. I have a 6 foot road maintainer I put on my 50 hp kubota and it will almost stop my mx5100 in low and 4wd when I pull it through sand.

I'm not saying it wouldn't stop the tractor. That is what I meant by manipulating the lift to keep moving forward. All I'm saying is that I've never had an instance where mine wouldn't spin the tires.

 

[helomech]

I'm not saying it wouldn't stop the tractor. That is what I meant by manipulating the lift to keep moving forward. All I'm saying is that I've never had an instance where mine wouldn't spin the tires.

I actually posted that before I saw your post. I have had my 431 massey get enough bite to bog it down, but you are right most of the time it just spins the tires. My 4X4 Kubota 50hp has no issues with a box blade no matter how much crap it is pulling. Only the road maintainer has made it struggle. And even empty the road maintainer weighs I think 800 lbs.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I've got a B6100 and a 4foot box and it can bog down. My dad has an L275 with a 6foot box and his can bog down. Theres alot of force going on at work there, the tractor has to power itself uphill, pull the weight of the box plus whatever fill is inside the box. So yeah traction can be an issue especially on slops.

 

[tbone]

Theres alot of force going on at work there, the tractor has to power itself uphill, pull the weight of the box plus whatever fill is inside the box. So yeah traction can be an issue especially on slops.

The issue of pulling the weight of the tractor plus whatever else is behind it is something I had thought about in the 3130 vs 3400 debate. It seems like the extra weight of the 3130 would be an advantage in most cases but will it be an advantage or disadvantage for pulling the box blade around?

 

[Hook]

Yeah. I agree with you all. I wasn't trying to suggest it wouldn't bog down. I was just saying if you keep your rpms up you will have enough hp to keep the wheels turning. However, that doesn't help if you're not moving. I have a 5 foot box blade and when I sink it down and fill with dirt it will definitely stop the forward motion. A sub-soiler will do the same thing. My point to tbone is that I think a +/- 30 hp would do most anything he needed given his original post. By the way, years ago I had a 35 Massey Ferguson 2WD. That was the best pulling tractor for its size I ever owned!

 

[Hook]

Tbone I just saw your latest post while I was making mine. In my opinion the weight of the 3130 would be a plus no matter what type of work you are doing. You can still pull a box blade but you can overload either tractor. When using a box blade you take smaller bites if you are in loose soil.

 

[tbone]

I have a 5 foot box blade and when I sink it down and fill with dirt it will definitely stop the forward motion. A sub-soiler will do the same thing. My point to tbone is that I think a +/- 30 hp would do most anything he needed given his original post.

I'm curious if you guys know whether a 6ft box blade would bog down a 42hp mahcine? I assume there is some technique involved with properly using the BB or is just a matter of brute force when it comes to it digging in and filling up and continuing to pull?

 

[Eric McCarthy]

It more or less comes down to trial and error and find out which was works best for you to grade out dirt. As a few have mentioned you need to finess the BB up and down to get an even spread. A 30hp tractor with a 6ft BB will do anything you want it to do. Its often times said with a Kubota you'll loose traction LONG before you loose hose power. So a little bit of a bog down is normal is any situation, after all these are tractors and not bulldozers. If you want to drag a box and not bog down get a 100hp tractor and a 6ft box, then I'm almost certaint you'll never bog down.