Advice sought re: Kubota L3710DT

[coss]

I've been looking for a tractor with a loader in the 35-40 HP range to run a 6' brush hog, move rocks and fire wood, and perhaps do small scale plowing and disking of less than 5 acres.

I was at a Kubota dealer this morning, and looked at a 1999 L3710DT with 2500 hours with an LA681 loader. It was used on a horse farm to load a manure spreader and to drag horse rings. The shop put new king pins on the front end to fix leaking seals, but the service manager otherwise found no problems. They had been servicing it since new. It had 1200 hours on it 2-3 years ago, and they doubled that amount since, and then turned it in on a 60 HP tractor. It appears to have been stored inside. It started right up in cold weather, the glow plugs worked, and all gears and hydraulics appeared to be in good shape. The clutch felt fine. The ag tires were perhaps 50% worn, with light age checking.

They are asking $13,500 for it.

Can you guys critique this model? What are its good and bad quirks? What should I look out for? Is that a decent price from a dealer?

Thanks.

 

[85Hokie]

looking at prices:


http://www.tractorhouse.com/listing...8397/1999-kubota-l3710dt?ohid=9998397&print=1



based on this and hours,- i think dealer is high

10500-11000 is more "fair" IMO

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The shop put new king pins on the front end to fix leaking seals

Was this the shop's / service manager's verbage or yours?

If it was the shop / managers words... walk away because they are feeding you a line as that tractor does not have king pins!

 

[coss]

Any thoughts on the merits of the machine itself?

 

[MadMax31]

Which Dealer? Sharon Springs asks way too much for used machines. Salem Farm has been fair. Columbia Tractor only wants to sell $100,000 machines. I have had zero experience with McFaddens but Im told they are a volume dealer. They have alot of auctions and dont like machines sitting in their yard.

 

[D2Cat]

Coss, you're looking at...." a 1999 L3710DT with 2500 hours with an LA681 loader." Dealer price $13,500.

It's a nice machine. 150 hours a year is probably a bit over average for the homeowner. If the tractor has had routine maintenance and not all beat up 2500 hrs is not a game changer.

The DT will make it set on the dealers lot longer then GST or HST. Folks get familiar with the last two and decide they will not go back to shifting gears, so they sell quicker. This should also reflect in the price. DT being less by maybe $1000-1500.

I can't make an intelligent comment on price without looking at Craig's List or Tractor House and try to find something similar in your neck of the woods. Prices vary by location, especially used equipment.

If you want to extend your search area you can usually find someone to load and deliver the machine at a reasonable price. Just get a quote before purchase if you do this.

If the dealer is near by, and you are seriously considering this machine, ask the dealer to bring it out so you can use it for a weekend to see how it works for you. Then you will have first hand information. If the dealer hesitates, offer to rent it for the weekend and if you buy it the rent is not charged.

I would work with the dealer to get a final priced worked out way before asking for anythings else.

In my opinion, patience is a virtue when buying equipment. Just don't get in a hurry and you'll never come to a forum and ask if you got a good deal AFTER THE MACHINE HAS BEEN DELIVERED! It's history and too late to ask. That only massages you ego...or gives you a headache!!

 

[coss]

Well, I decided to buy it. The dealer put me in touch with the previous owner who gave a full run-down of its previous use and maintenance. He seemed like a careful, thoughtful guy with some reverence for equipment. He corrected a misperception: the tractor got the same level of use throughout its entire life, and the notion that it experienced a sudden increase in use a couple of years ago was incorrect. It was used to load a manure spreader, drag a riding ring, and to move horse jumps around with nylon straps attached to the bucket. It never sat long, as it was used pretty much daily. It has no outstanding maintenance issues.

I paid $13,000, which is perhaps a bit more than a private sale would command, but I thought that the knowledge of its mechanical history was worth a bit of a premium.

Once I get it home, I'll take it out into the woods and fields and put it to work.

Thanks for the observations from those who responded.

 

[D2Cat]

Coss, good deal. That information you got from the original owner is worth a lot, probably 1-2 grand.

Does the owner, per chance have any manuals... Owner's or Workshop Manual? Might ask the dealer, or wait a couple of days and call back to the person you talked to about the tractor history. Their always nice to have for the details of your new machine.

If they don't have them you can get them from Kubota website.

 

[coss]

Well, I got it home this week, complete with Owner's Manual. It actually looks like it's in better shape than I had appreciated when I first looked at it.

It's now in the tractor shed till after mud season, which arrived with a vengeance two days ago. Driving a tractor through the fields now will merely make a mess!

Thanks to those who replied.

 

[workhorse]

Enjoy. If u need R4's I know of a dealer who has a set [emoji3]