Go BottomL 3130 - Too large for mowing
 | RobbieF
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 9 North Carolina 
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2003-08-11 61515
I have been an observer of this board for several years now and I have learned a lot just from reading your posts. I am the proud owner of a 2001 B7500 HST with a 60" MMM. I also have several other attachments that I use with my tractor but its main purpose in life is finish mowing. I currently mow 2 acres but I also do other odd jobs for friends and neighbors such as field maintenance with a 4 ft. rotary cutter. I grew up on much larger tractors (40+ HP Massey's and Ford's) and the attractive finance rates being offered now have caused me to think about stepping up to a larger compact. My B7500 is a great tractor but on occasion a little more weight and power would be beneficial. A move to a B7800 or 2910 helps with HP but the price difference between these two (especially the 2910) and the L 3130 is not that significant and the L 3130 is a lot more tractor for the money. However, is this too large for my yard? I know I can maneuver the tractor fine but will the added weight take a toll on my lawn and will a newly cut lawn with the L 3130 (with 72" MMM) be less appealing than it is with my B7500? I would appreciate any assistance you guys can offer.
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York 
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2003-08-11 61528
I hope you make enough off your neighbors to justify this. I would think that the B7800 with a 72" deck would be the best for you. ....
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| zedosix
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 23 Ontario, Canada
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2003-09-14 63872
I went thru the same delima as you Robbie. I am very glad to have bought the b7800. I mowed about 6 acres of grass with this unit (it has the 72" mmm) and do believe it is more than enough tractor for lawn cutting. Don't forget the weight of tractor, man, mmm, probably the fel is still on when you cut, weighs close to 3000lb. You will be cutting in med. gear at full throttle so get your self some ear protection. I find it noisy.
Recently I purchased a zd21 with 60mmm pro-deck. It cut the grass cutting time from 6 hrs to 4 hrs. Just thought I'd throw that in.
zed. ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-09-15 63883
I have a 3,000 lbs. tractor/loader and I finish mow two places around an acre each with a riding-mower. In 2wd, the tractor packs down the grass when it's dry but doesn't tear it as long as I go slow in turns and don't try to turn very sharp. I stay off the grass when it's at all wet. The soil is very sandy here and it's more meadow than lawn. The tuft tears fairly easily.
The main reason why I stick with my beater of a riding mower is that it's faster than the tractor. There's a bunch of landscaping and outbuildings to maneuver around that would take time. The tractor would leave a bunch of trimming as well.
Similar to you, I need the size tractor I have for other work, and keeping a riding mower seems like a good compromise to me. Don't know what I'll do when the riding mower gives up.
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| Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2003-09-15 63886
Robbie, Zed tells of a tale I've seen before and if money was no object a nice L-5030 with cab and air with the large loader and skid steer bucket mounting to make pallet forks easy to install would be a good way to go. Then as Zed did buy the ZD to mow the lawn because the tractors to big. I have helped people with this problem before. Even the B-7800 is a little large to justify for your lawn but I know when a neighbor has a job to do I normally find myself getting the equipment to help him. I think it's a boy, toy thing. I do try to stay away from things that make my work day longer so I try to keep the lawn mowing time to a minimum. ....
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| RobbieF
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 9 North Carolina
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2003-09-15 63904
Guys, I really appreciate your input. My local Kubota dealer actually brought a L 3130 GST and a Bush Hog 72" ATH rear finish mower for me to try out and see how well the unit would perform in my yard. I must say that I am impressed. I live in the mountains of NC and our ground is very hard and as a result the 3130 doesn't appear to track up my lawn much at all and the tractor is very strong and extremely quiet. I originally planned on trading for a B 7800 and I really like that unit but for a relatively small difference in the monthly payment I could go with the 3130. I too sometimes feel that the 3130 is overkill for most of my needs but I burn wood and grow Christmas trees and I should have no problem finding plenty of uses for the 3130 if I decide to trade. After mowing a few times with the rear finish mower I have grown to like it. I don't know which mower I prefer the rear finish mower or the MMM. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for the input. ....
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| Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2003-09-15 63909
You are the one that needs to feel right with it. Glad you were able to demo. ....
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