Go Bottom4-way FEL for Kubota
 | candmgam
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15 South Australia 
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2004-04-29 84730
Just retired, and about to build/improve 10 acres in hill country near Adelaide, South Australia. I'm a novice to the tractor etc. world, and after a lot of reading in this forum, I'm about ready to buy a Kubota B2710 with FEL, slasher (rear rough mower). I'm thinking about a multi-purpose/4-way bucket for the FEL - similar to what I've seen on Bob-Cat equipment, but can't seem to find much information on this. My Kubota dealer has nothing but praise for the 4-way, which he can supply as a $US2,000 add-on to the base cost of around $US4,500 for the Kubota FEL, but I'd like to hear from people who've actually used one in the general landscaping, clearing, picking up fallen bracnhes etc. etc. area. Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place(s), and would appreciate assistance/pointers from anyone on this board. Thanks a lot.
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa 
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2004-04-30 84768
Greetings from The USA. I put a 4 way bucket on my JD 430 loader last winter and now since spring have just got to using it on a regular basis. Yes your dealer is right, you won't believe the tings you can do with it. I've also got a #48 Deere backhoe on the same tractor (4310), it's probably the neatest combination I've ever had, dig it out with the hoe, then grab it up with the 4 way and carry it away, brush, rocks, tree stumps, junk, or whatever. Like any machine it has it's limits, it won't keep up with a fullsize commercial machine, but with you being retired and me sort of retired we're not supposed to have to keep up with the rest of the world anymore. A few years ago I by chance was on a tour of the John Deere' Waterloo, Iowa tractor assembly plant and got included with a group of farmers from Australia, we must have talked for a couple of hours after the tour, super nice folks. Enjoy your new machine, Frank. ....
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| candmgam
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15 South Australia
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2004-04-30 84804
Frank, thanks for that - just the sort of information I was looking for. I've been considering the back-hoe as well, but never gone much further than that, so no real idea of capability, bucket sizing etc. I would guess at another $US5,000 or so on the B2710/fel/4-way price of around $US22,000 - not cheap, but from the limited time I've had to spend on the property, it seems as though there is an endless need for getting at stuff which would probably be beyond the FEL. Your comment on touring the JD plant is interesting - my brother-in-law just retired from grain-farming on 1000+ acres in Australia (Victoria), always been a big JD user, and has toured the US JD factory a couple of times - and he's a nice guy! I'll ask him if he can recall meeting a Frank! Thanks once again for the assist. Chris ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-04-30 84820
Chris, glad to hear back, still seems impossible to me that we can communicate so easily with people on the other side of the globe. If you're seriously considering a backhoe go back to the Kubota dealer and get his recommendation on what your tractor is capable of handling. I don't know much about Kubota's, but I do know from reputation that they build fine equipment. Dealers who have been in business for quite some time and have built a good repeat customer base won't sell you something that he knows you won't be happy with because he want's your repeat business too. ....
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Add Photo4-way FEL for Kubota
| candmgam
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15 South Australia
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2004-05-12 85883
Hi Frank - yes we're certainly in a global village. Interesting that there seem to be so few posts to this (or other) forums from non-US, or at least non North America. I find the information extremely valuable, not being part of a farming community, and so not being able to face-face with people with the information I need. Since we last exchanged, I've spent time at a local JD dealer - always meant to do this before making a buy decision, and was prompted to action by reading what equipment combination you had. I've always felt that, with the size/slopes etc. on my 10 acres that I should try to maximize HP, and after spending time with the JD folks, am swinging to the 4310 - additional 5 HP over the B2710 for what nets down to about $US2,000 more. JD 4410 is another $1,500, but dealer said that I would only benefit from the additional PTO HP (vs 4310), and wouldn't notice the difference in the sort of use I plan to put the machine to - not sure if this is valid, but suspect we're talking marginal increases, and I can use the $1,500 for other bits and pieces! They quoted me and additional $1,800 for the 60" 4-way bucket upgrade - apparently a genuine JD - but I haven't been able to find specs, picture etc. Do you know where I can find this? Thanks again ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-05-12 85898
Chris; Your JD dealer is right, in 98% of all the things you'll use the tractor for you'll never notice the difference betwen a 4310 and a 4410. The 3pt. lift specs, hydraulic specs, etc. are identical. The only reason I chose a 4410 for the second unit is for operating PTO powered grain augers during harvest where sometimes the 4310 just was'nt quite enough to keep up full capacity. I did consider going to the large frame 4000 ten series, but thought it might be a bit clumbsy for mowing etc.. I think the cost of the 4 way is about right to be Deere equipment. As I remember the bucket was in the 11 to 1200 range and the third valve and line kit for the tractor that are needed to operate the clam cylinders on the bucket brought the price up to about where you are. There may be a newer brochure out now on the 4000 ten series tractors that show the 4 in one bucket, but when I bought mine in December it was too new an item to be in print form yet. My dealer got all the info from Deere in a FAX to show me some pictures and the specs of the 4 in one. I just checked the Deere website for Australia and it wasn't shown there either, but I'm sure your dealer could get same info that mine did. the first 4 in one bucket is ever saw was one built by the Drott Co. back in the late 1950's, for crawlers so the idea has been around for a long time. The Deere unit is basicly just a minature version of a Drott. I've yet to find flaw with the one I have and would have a hard time parting with it. I'm sure there are other brands being built that will fit the 430 loader, but I've allways just felt better about having attachments that were designed by the same people who designed the base unit you're mounting it to. I've spent the last couple afternoons mowing road ditches and waterways around the farms with the 4410 and the MX5 rotary cutter, that's my way of relaxing, hope you find that too. Frank. ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2004-05-12 85906
Grapple buckets are far more useful in picking up and many different type chores over the 4n1 buckets. They do add more weight to the front then the grapple will and there bite is much smaller. Got to visit your fine country a few week ago but was basically in Sydney for the southern most. Great Country! Wonderful people! ....
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| candmgam
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15 South Australia
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2004-05-13 85922
Frank, Art - thanks for the comprehensive replies, it's really great to get informed opinion to balance off the dealer pitch and general reading. I may still go for the 4410 if I can do a little more dealer arm-twisting when they're trying to make second quarter sales targets, but the $1,500 could be put to good use I'm sure! Re the grapple bucket vs 4-way... I took a look at kwschumm pictures of a grapple and it looks good (his picture of a roll-over is a bit daunting!), but seems that while it would do a great job on loose branches etc. or limbs/logs, I might lose some earth moving capability (important to me at this stage of property development), as the bottom bucket on the grapple seems to be smaller and less solid than either the standard 430 or the 4-way...a combination of grapple and 4-way may be a winner!! I also have a lot of blackberry and gorse which I think will need the sort of grip that the 4-way will give me. Surprisingly difficult to find objective information from manufacturers on these attachments - haven't had a chance to ask the dealre to get JD to fax the info. Once again thanks - all grist to the mill - any/all further comments would be greatly appreciated. Adelaide is my home town, but I lived in Sydney for 20+ years before moving back here a couple of years back. Sydney has a lot going for it but Adelaide (pop. around 1 million) has a quiet beauty - and a much lower cost of living - ideal for retirement, and we were lucky to find 10 country-living acres 20 mins from the city centre. Can't to get down and dirty after 35+ years in the office. ....
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 | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2004-05-13 85934
candmgam, it wasn't clear from your post so I wanted to clarify. The BoDozer grapple in my pictures won't move dirt at all since it has tines on both top and bottom. Great for moving slash into piles for burning or for moving logs and rocks. When burning or using the chainsaw it's good to keep dirt to a minimum, so this grapple is ideal for that. When I need to move material I swap to a standard bucket, which takes only a few minutes. ....
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Add Photo4-way FEL for Kubota
| candmgam
Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15 South Australia
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2004-05-13 85942
Thanks for the clarification - I haven't seen a grapple, and the picture made it look as tho there was a solid bottom bucket. Seems like I could use a large number of attachments, I guess that's the beauty of having a CUT - your inventory sounds great. I'll add pieces over time but for the moment need to get the heavier stuff under way. I've got a contractor working on major landscaping right now - using a Komatsu 4 wheel loader with a 5 ton bucket - but when he's done there'll be a lot (months!) of finishing off to get to lawn, shrubs, trees planting etc. ....
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