Go BottomKubota L3240 experience
 | JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY 
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2008-04-13 152936
Bought BX2200 4 years ago. Traded to B7800 3 yrs ago and yesterday traded it to dealer for a L3240.
Owners/dealers what's the good/bad/ugly of L3240?
With 0% interest for 42 months I traded and got $3000 cash back to payoff a car loan so my payment are same but of course for a longer term now. So, if you need to justify to yourself or spouse trading tell yourself or spouse you had to do it to save the interest costs!!!
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York 
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2008-04-15 153005
All right, you asked for the good the bad and the ugly while here it comes! It just so happens with Kubota products they normally are introduced without a glitch and after being out for the time they have been they are just doing fine. We've not seen them have any quality issues of build or design at this point. ....
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| JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2008-04-15 153013
Thanks Art. I was hoping you would reply and hoping the reply would be positive. ....
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| JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2008-04-18 153104
I traded my B7800 to a L3240 last week. The dealer didn't have one in stock so he was to get one from another dealer. Stopped by Thursday to see if he had it. He told me he just unloaded a new one off the truck sitting outside in the driveway rather than get one that had sat out on a lot for awhile. I'll be out of town for a week so it's ok and rather have a just birthed one. He showed it to me in the crate . Looks small with no wheels or attachments!!! So my new L3240HST LA724FEL and Ind tires is delivered but waiting to be dressed and filled before coming home. Even though it's my 5th Kubota purchase in 4 years I'm a little anxious to get on it, belt in and go!!! Also starting to heat up outside so told him to add a cover to the top. ....
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| booger
Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Johnstown Pennsylvania
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2008-04-26 153271
Had my L3540 delivered last saturday. The machine is a beast. I've had huge issues with the woods BH80-x backhoe. I've blown 3 seals on the hoe cylinders. 2 on the dipper cylinder and 1 on the swing cylinder. It's now back the shop for the 4th time.
The tractor itself is a monster and kicks but. ....
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| botayota
Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 New England
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2008-05-03 153419
John,
I'm currently tractor shopping, my 1st, and was all set to
get a nice B3030, but after looking, and riding this tractor, I'm thinking I may outgrow this size tractor quickly. It looks to me you've been upgrading rather quickly to a larger tractor over the last 4 years. Did you find that the B7800 was just not enough tractor for your needs?
Thanks,
BY ....
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| Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2008-05-04 153426
It is important to know what types of jobs need to be done as well as the time frames. I've got BX's that manage 7 acres fine but I've also got people with small M-series doing it!
Time and money seem to go hand in hand, less money, smaller tractor, more time will still normally get the job done.
It is a good idea with a diesel to operate it at good temperature for the tractor engine health. To start and turn off and never get the engine up to temp will certainly shorten the best of designs life. ....
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| JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2008-05-04 153427
Actually the B7800 was big enough for my needs. I traded cars yesterday mostly because I like trading. I've had close to 100 cars so that shows you my mentality about trading. Guess 5 Kubotas in 4 years and still having 3 of them shows I may have transferred my car trading to tractor trading. That's what my wife and brother say. The 0% interest for 42 months attracted me and my B was paid off. I got some extra money back (equity in B)and paid off another car I own so same monthly payment with a new tractor which changed 6% car loan to 0%. Have now put a few hours on my L3240. More comfortable seat, bigger scoop of dirt and able to push a bit bigger rock so a bit faster than B. Can set HST Mode 3,rev to 2200 and start digging and pushing and it goes. Have not attached implements but believe it will be a bit easier since I usually do it by myself since the L has the telescoping arms. I bought quick attach arms for the B so that helped. I don't do any farm type work so I don't know about pulling hugh discs, massive landscape rakes and awesome box blades and 6' tillers. My boxblade is about 4', landscape rake 6', tiller 3' and disc single row 6' (made to be pulled by a horse) and RFM 6'. Use the BX1500 for 6' rolling reseeder/aerator and funnel type fertilize spreader. The B pulled them all without any problems except when I switched from a cheap light weight 6'rfm to a heavy duty more expensive 6'rfm. When I turn going downhill in a ditch line I could feel the mower sort of swinging the B which wasn't really a problem and never really noticed it except in that situation. I live on a fairly steep hillside. The BX feels more secure on the hillside but the B seems to feel more stable than the L but that may just be from the lack of familiarity with the L. As others suggest, determine your daily, weekly, monthly and annual needs. Then decide which to buy for 95% of your jobs and when to rent that monster for that once every 2 or 3 year job. Or do it with what you buy but take longer doing it. The B probably would do all the jobs I require but slower and that was the same feeling I had about the first BX, except for the ground clearance on the BX. Also with diesel fuel costs the B problaby runs cheaper, I don't know. This will probably start anothe thread. Which costs more: 2 hours of running a B or 1.5 hours of running a L since the L will do in 1.5 hours what takes the B 2 hours. This is not a proven theory just a speculation from my personal experience. Let me know if you have any more questions. ....
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| JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2008-06-03 154190
Have some updated experience now on L3240HST Plus. After 12 hours moving dirt and mowing I'm not thrilled with the L. Changed RPM's to 2600 as manual suggests which seems to be really reving it up. It's better for moving dirt. More comfortable seat and suspension but for mowing up a steep hill I'm not happy. It slows down to much and the 6' Landpride RFM slows down to much, will not maintain it's speed and PTO RPM's. Dealer told me to let off pedal instead of flooring it and I tried that but still no improvement. With partial pedal you can feel it down shifting itself to low low but I do it manually because it seems to slow to much before it does it automatically. OK on flat land but no better than the B. Have it in low low going up steep hills and mow with it all ways in low (L) high (RABBIT) on flats. Ran the B7800 in M at all times mowing and rarely ran it over 1700RPM which did not seem reved to high. Guess the weight difference of the L vs B really takes it's toll with very little difference in HP. My next trade will probably be the L for a B3030 or B7800 with FEL. Also traded my BX1500 for a BX2350 60" MMM last week so that will be my main home mower and the F2880E that I ordered on the 20th for mowing a flat mobile home park still hasn't arrived. ....
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| fbragg
Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5
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2008-08-06 155864
I just tried out my new L3240 this afternoon to mow pastures. It loses a lot of power up hills and in thick grass. I tried both L-Low and L-High with RPM around 2500-2700. I also tried M-Low with little difference. I left the loader arms attached and wondered if taking them off would help with the power?
Also, on my old tractor, I had a exhaust pipe that vented hot air up and away from me and the tractor. This one blows hot air directly on my feet and legs. It was very uncomfortable in 95 degree heat! Any suggestions? Do they make a baffle of some sort to redirect that air flow?
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2008-08-06 155869
FBragg, you don't specify, but based on the physical size of your tractor I'm guessing you have a 5' bush hog?
If that's the case, you certainly will notice a power loss trying to cut heavy stuff up hill in thick grass.
You have (optimistically) 25hp to the PTO, a 5' rotary cutter in heavy stuff is a big load, never mind the hills.
If you are noticing hot air on both legs, it's not the exhaust. The exhaust only comes out on one side. More likely you are noticing the hot air off the radiator. Given the load you had the tractor under, that would certainly explain it.
Best of luck. ....
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| fbragg
Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5
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2008-08-06 155878
OK, thanks for the info. I was using a 1965? John Deere 2010 and cutting with no problems. So I thought with more HP it should cut at least as well. The hot air is worse on the left than the right but both sides are hot. Hopefully my pastures won't get this bad again. My old tractor finally sputtered to a halt and the pasture hasn't been mown in about 6 weeks. I did like the 3 point hitch float though. I used to scalp a lot of places with the old tractor. But this one floats the front much better in rough places. Thanks again for the reply. ....
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| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2008-08-07 155899
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Mystery solved!!
I'm not sure about the more horsepower idea though, my books show a 1960's JD 2010 as being 47 hp at the PTO, almost double that of the Kubota you have now.
Now for the cutting tip. If you are cutting rough or uneven ground replace the upper link with a piece of chain just a tiny bit longer than the upper link was. That way if the mower needs to pivot on the two lower arms to follow the ground the chain will allow some movement. When you lift the chain goes taut and everything works as usual.
Best of luck. ....
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| fbragg
Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5
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2008-08-07 155901
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That would explain it! Thanks for the tip about the chain. Much appreciated!
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-08-07 155907
There is one area I think the chain can get you in trouble cause as they say been there...had cutter on the back of a tractor with 3 arm just unhooked to allow the same float. Did not realize in backing up to turn around the cutter was backing up a steep slope but sure did when the pto shaft had pushed together all it could an the cutter was still tilting. The stift 3rd arm probably would have helped prevent the damage. I have know of people using a short amount of chain there to allow float but not unlimited. For my cutters of two different brands they have used a hitch design to allow for controlled float. kt ....
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| fbragg
Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5
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2008-08-07 155911
Thanks, I'll take it into consideration. My understanding was to use a chain 'slightly' longer than the top link. But I was very happy with the float as it is, compared to what I was used to!
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