Kubota vs John Deere

[jbsoonerfan]

Hey guys, I'm looking to get a compact tractor and trying to decide between Kubota or John Deere. I'm specifically looking at the Kubota L2501 and the JD 3025e. Does anyone have experience with either one or does anyone have experience with either brand? Pros or cons? I have done a tone of research and it seems every video I watch or review I read is biased in some way. Thanks for your input.

[Way2slow]

I'm not familiar with either as for the tractors go.  I have had tons of experience with Kubota engines and have a ZD28 diesel powered mower and have formed a bit of an opinion about those.  Bobcat ran Kubota diesel engines and I worked as a road service tech for a Bobcat dealer for 12 years, and saw more than my fair share of engine problems.  Which I will also say, many of those were caused by people using starting fluid.  If there was one thing I did learn, was that if you sprayed starting fluid in one, there was a very good chance you were going to break a piston at the rings groves.  Couldn't count how many engines I rebuilt over the years with that problem.  My ZD28 currently has a cracked head, and seeing the massive number of heads for that engine listed online, that must be a fairly common problem with them.  With only 1,200 hours, I've had to replace the whole drive system where one of the hydrostat broke.

My main JD experience, outside of their skid steers and big tractors has been with my neighbors.  He has a smaller one with the backhoe and front bucket.  It looks like it has been through several wars and that plastic hood has been gone, but the only real problems he has had with it has been hydraulic.  Over the 15 years he has had it, I think I've resealed every cylinder on it at least twice and replaced the main hydraulic pump once.  In defense of that, I will also say he's not going to pay $45 for bucket of good hydraulic fluid when he can buy some off brand for $20 and has probably never replaced a filter or changed the oil on anything he owns, and not sure he even knows what a grease gun is.

[Sam]

I have a 2100 Cub Cadet riding tractor with a 48-inch deck and it performs OK.

 

I would put my Cub Cadet on the same level as the John Deere with the Kabuto rated higher based on the sales baloney the Cub Cadet guy told me many years ago. And Kabuto cost more.

[A-Jay]

Another vote for Cub Cadet ~ 

 

 

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

If it’s green it shouldn’t be seen.....

 

That’s what my stepdad says. He has a Case IH. 

[Crappiebasser]

I have a JD 3032E and have been happy with it. I chose it over the 25 at a friends recommendation because he said the 25 was a little too weak for the front end loader I was going to use on it. I have about 400 hours on it with zero issues so far. Only thing I really hate is it came with a seat PTO safety switch. To use my PTO log splitter I had to jump the safety switch wiring or set a cinder block in the seat.

[jimmyjoe]

  We have plenty of both brands where I live, especially the utility-to-medium power bracket. As far as I know, every problem under warranty has been resolved by both brands. Although I'm not that deep into it to be 100% certain, a local mechanic said that problems out of warranty are neglect, abuse or stupidity. He said they're "six of one, half-a-dozen of the other" as far as service life goes. Mind you, this is tractors and not mowers. I don't follow mowers at all. Hope this helps.     jj

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

  We have plenty of both brands where I live, especially the utility-to-medium power bracket. As far as I know, every problem under warranty has been resolved by both brands. Although I'm not that deep into it to be 100% certain, a local mechanic said that problems out of warranty are neglect, abuse or stupidity. He said they're "six of one, half-a-dozen of the other" as far as service life goes. Mind you, this is tractors and not mowers. I don't follow mowers at all. Hope this helps.     jj

Isn't that the truth.

A-Jay