Ok...so I'm seriously thinking about upgrading my tractor...what I've got now is the tractor that I learned how to use a clutch on in the mid 60's...1961 Farmall 140.

I'd like to buy a 35-40hp diesel 4x4...but...I really don't want to get into the electronic injection age. So I'm thinking late 80's to early 90's maybe.

I'd actually prefer to have an old standard type tractor frame (cast engine block/transmission/rear end housing) than a newer style ladder type frame. Or so I think anyway...The way I see it is if I stay old school with mechanical injection, transmission/drivetrain I can do any needed repairs over the years. And not have to deal with electronics.

This is a hobby farm use tractor only...not gonna be out there making a living with it.

Would prefer John Deere, Case or International. I know the Kubota's are real popular but I've worked on some of them and not only are parts really expensive some of the matl's used are iffy.

Does anybody know what years they stopped making manual injection and went to electronic?

My 2008 kubota L3400 is mechanical. We need to stop playing phone tag.

+on Kubota. When we had some acerage I had an L2600DT and my neighbor had a L3400 - both were tougher than we could imagine and the regular maintenance was easy to do.

Aside from the usual add-ons I used a PTO driven stump grinder and a PTO driven chipper (6") that while they really bogged it down still ran fine.

Whatcha gonna do with Louie's Farmall ? Does it need to come back to the neighborhood ??

Now Phil...We've been down this road...

I'm gonna go take a look at a very low hour Kubota on Monday...not sure of model yet but in the range I'm looking for.

This one has a backhoe attachment on it...I hear pro's and con's to them....

35-40HP is a lot for a general tractor.

Even the very capable B21 TLB is rated at 21 or so HP (even though it is pumping more fluid).

But, like all things, better bigger now than smaller later. You can get an old 580 Series pretty cheap, too, but it's hard to move without a real truck.

35-40 isn't really that much for a working tractor on a farm. I want to be able to run a decent baler, swather and pick a round bale on each end when needed. Rather underwork a bigger one...than overwork a smaller one...

So this new toy followed me home today...

After much research I found the Kubota to be the best priced and have a way better resale value than any others...

So I bought this 2014 L3200, with a LA524 loader with quick release bucket, BL77 backhoe, Land Pride SGC1060 hydraulic grapple and a Land pride BB1260 Box Scraper. Has a sun/rain cover installed and the tires are filled with beet juice for ballast.

Tractor has 106.7 hours on it, spent it's entire non working time in a closed dry shop.

31hp and the last year before you had to start running DEF in them for emissions.

Overall I'm really happy with it.

My apprehensions about the Kubota are all gone.

Oh jeez, you're gonna have some FUN with that thing.... I suspect that by tomorrow afternoon you're gonna have trenches dug all over the neighborhood!

Is that an invite to come practice at/in your hood?

Yes. Right behind my house is about 17 acres, which starting this week is getting all torn up for a housing development.

I'm sure they'd appreciate some help.

That's probably how the previous landowners felt...when your development got cleared and built!

NIMBY damn it!

Shit. Good point.

Damn that is a pretty machine!!