Replies

1. 
   frenchy | Oct 02, 2009 02:01am | #1

   Both are good  (I've sold them both)  depending on where you are and the dealership nearest to you (and his level of parts inventory)  either would be a good choice..

     Here in the midwest John Deere wins hands down  simply because of the abundance of well stocked John Deere dealerships and the relative absence of good Kuboto dealers..

    I can't think of any dedicated Kubota dealers while I could drive to  5 differant John Deere dealerships.

1. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 12:23pm | #9

   Thanks Frenchy .

2. 
   seeyou | Oct 02, 2009 02:30am | #2

   A buddy of mine owns a John Deere/Kubota dealership. He thinks they're pretty equal products and would buy the one he could get the best price on. Frenchy raises a good point on local parts availability.

   copper p0rn

1. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 12:26pm | #10

   Grant ,

   Parts are both available close by . Kubota is a proven commodity here with lots of these units around , just like the Green .

   Up in the air a bit , but might pull the trigger while 0% is available .

   Thanks .

   Looking forward to more copper pics too.

   Walter

3. 
   Sphere | Oct 02, 2009 03:20am | #3

   Get the Kubota, so when it breaks down you don't get the dreaded, John Deere letter.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

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1. 
   mesic | Oct 02, 2009 07:58am | #7

   Ah yes, I was a recipient of one of those letters when I was just a pup. About exactly 63 years ago. As our ship came into Bombay the Captain told me I was in charge to keep the scum (people) of the ship as we laid in the harbor waiting to dock. Well, the first one to stick his head over the gunwale told me, when I rushed to kick him off, that my girlfriend had just married. I laughed then but a couple days later I got a letter.

2. 
   Scott | Oct 02, 2009 08:34am | #8

   >>>the dreaded, John Deere letter.Bwaahahahahaaaaa...Gawd, srsly, I don't know how do you come up with this stuff.....

   Edited 10/2/2009 1:35 am by Scott

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 02, 2009 12:58pm | #14

   Old, old, old...

   Masey Ferguson got his letter from Alice Chambler,..... John Deere, is all she wrote.

1. 
   Scott | Oct 02, 2009 05:32pm | #20

   Ok, I'll crawl back under by rock...... ;)Scott.

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 02, 2009 06:44pm | #22

   Naw, don't bother

   I just heard it probably a few years before you were born.

   I'm older than Piffen :-(

3. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 12:29pm | #11

   Duane,

   Thats still better than the Mastoid Ferguson e mail !!

   Get back taking some more copper pictures soon ,  please !!

1. 
   Sphere | Oct 02, 2009 02:45pm | #17

   I'll work ongetting the pics problems ironed out, camera/comp/phone issues has me bent over.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

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4. 
   Jamie | Oct 02, 2009 03:59am | #4

   I spent a lot of time researching tractors before I bought my John Deere.  I think either Kubota or Deere are good.

   Here's why I bought a JD: 

   1.  the nearest Kubota dealer is further than the JD dealers around here

   2.  the JD dealer is in a small town whereas the Kubota dealer is in the city (better customer service in the small town)

   3.  JD pretty much rules the ag market around here, so I have confidence in both the company and the dealers being in business for a long time

   4.  The JD actually was cheaper than the Kubota (did NOT expect that, BTW)

   5.  it's really a pretty color of green.  :)

   It's been a great tractor with no issues, although I think the Kubota would be nearly the same.

   jamie

1. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 12:30pm | #12

   Thank you very much Jamie !!

5. 
   Jamie | Oct 02, 2009 04:04am | #5

   BTW, if you can, I'd suggest the hydro model over the glide shift.  May just be personal preference, but especially during loader or blade use, the hydro on my tractor is awesome.

   Jamie

1. 
   Bing187 | Oct 02, 2009 07:09am | #6

   For what it's worth;

   I have a few friends that are "into" tractors...restoring, buying and selling, etc. Very knowledgeable on the subject.

   My friend Ken is a huge JD fan. Has won trophies with restorations he's done. Meticulous guy with a great amount of mechanical know how.

   He and I were talking about small tractors recently, and he's gone off JD for a few reasons. One is the Orange Box version of their goods, cheapened down to sell in their stores...Not the typical quality of the past JD's. The bigger reason, tho, is that JD is systematically yanking their franchises from the Mom-n-Pops, closing dealerships left and right. The rumor is that once they've eliminated these small dealers, JD will open their own dealerships, so the $ all goes to them. Wallmart world we live in, I guess.

   He has nothing but good to say about Kubota; well built, reliable, well engineered..........

   I don't think you would go wrong with either one in the size you're looking at, both good machines. I would guess dealership locale and parts availability would be the big deciding factor. And whose heater and snow blower is rated best......You poor guys are probably about to get your first frost and snow this month.

   Bing

1. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 12:32pm | #13

   Thanks Bing , thats very helpful .

   Kubota is still M and P around here so far .

   Walter

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 02, 2009 01:19pm | #15

   Our gas departmentstarted using the small Kabota about 12-13 years ago. At the time Deere did no make a small tractor with a hoe and bucket so orange got the bid to replace all the under powered Dig-It POS that we initialy purchased.

   I'm talking about small tractors in the 20 to 30 hp range that get a lot of work. they are hauled all over the place, loaded on off and on trailers to do as many as 4 or 5 jobs a day. They have a remarkabely good maintenance tract record. Kabota parts and service has also been outstanding.

   We have recently started gettin a few JD as replacements for some of the worn out Kabota's. Price is the driver for the decision.

   I have had a 35 hp JD with 4wd since 90. Added a front loader to it in 91. The 4wd makes the little beast perform like a larger 50 hp tractor. Lift weight is limited by the weight of the tractor itself, not the hydrulics or power.

   I have operated both the Kabota's and the JD's at work. Given the same price, I would lean toward the Kabota. The hydrostatic shift and quicker responce on the hydrulics give it the edge in operation.

1. 
   IMERC | Oct 02, 2009 01:21pm | #16

   how is JD's service and parts availability??? 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

2. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 02, 2009 04:21pm | #19

   I'm about 22 miles outside of Louisville, in farm country. The JD dealers here are great , although high $, on both parts and service. Farmers are thier meat and tatters, they really catter to them.

   At work, I haven't heard any complaints about JD service. This is a fleet size operation, so I sure that make a differance.

3. 
   Sphere | Oct 02, 2009 06:52pm | #23

   Over here, Ford and New Holland rule the land.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

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4. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 03:49pm | #18

   Dave ,

   Thank you very much for all that info .

   I'll be trying out both a glide shift and a hydrostatic on Sat . morning .

   The glide is a 50 horse and the hydro a 52 .

   I'll post the results of my test tomorrow nite .

   Thanks again ,   Walter

6. 
   jc21 | Oct 02, 2009 06:20pm | #21

   Both are good, imho. Place I worked at a few years back had a Kubota (L3010 HST hydro iirc) ........ used and abused- they couldn't kill it. Not familiar with the model you're considering but if it's anything like the smaller Kubota's it should be a good one. The smaller Kubota's afaik are still all metal; JD uses composites for hoods and fenders in many of their models. Composites don't rust but some don't think they hold up as well. Parts availability seems better with JD; not that you couldn't get parts for Kubota- it just took longer. Local dealer who sold both said much the same. If you're also considering a hydro unit (HST) Kubota uses a single rocker pedal setup while JD uses a twin pedal setup. On the L3010 I never had an issue but on some other Kubota models I've sat on I did given this arthritic old body. As for dealers I think it wouldn't be an issue where you are. In years past I've heard good things about Union Farm Equipment (Kubota). Never dealt with Hammond. Bottom line- I don't think you'd go wrong with either. Sit on and drive both brands. Comfort/features/price will push you to one or the other.

   "There can be no doubt that Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the abject worship of the state…Socialism is in its essence an attack not only on British enterprise, but upon the right of ordinary men and women to breathe freely without having a harsh, clammy, clumsy tyrannical hand clasped across their mouth and nostrils"  -Winston Churchill

1. 
   theslateman | Oct 02, 2009 10:06pm | #24

   JC,

   I've talked with both Union Farm and Hammond in Union , but my best pricing is just up the road at Dorrs in Bangor .

   I'll be trying out both a glide and hydro tomorrow , and will have more to go on then .

   Thanks for your help .

   Walter