JD 2020 Diesel or Kubota L4200 GST?

My nice Kubota L4310 with loader was stolen this spring and I am needing a repalcement tractor. Unfortunately I did not have it insured, didn't even think of someone stealing it, so I don't have insurance money with whch to replace it. I can't buy a new one and have been looking at used tractors.

I have found a 1972 John Deere 2020 diesel with unknown hours that starts and runs well. It has a Great Bend 440 loader installed. The hourmeter shows 1,192 hours, but I know it has way more time than that on it due to obvious wear on some components. The seller wants $6,000 for it which to me seems reasonable, but I may be wrong. I have owned 2 Cub Cadet diesels and the Kubota, but never a JD. It is rated at 53 HP, has single rear remote, live PTO and power steering.

Just today I looked at a 1995 Kubota L4200GST with Kubota LA680 loader. It has a cab with AC & heat, radio and all glass is good. The AC does not work, seller said it probably eeds charged. The tractor has 1,972 hours and appears in very good condition. It has a grill guard, dual rear remotes, all shop manuals and detailed maintenance records. It was owned by a city parks department and used to clear snow on sidewalks and run a finish mower in the summer. Seller is asking $11,000 for it.

I know there is a large price difference, but my question is what will be the best value in the long run? What will be the easiest to sell in a few years if I want to? I really don't need the size and horsepower of the larger JD, but it seems like a solid tractor at a lower price. Will it require a great deal more maintenance than the Kubota? My L4310 had 1,450 hours with only minor issues. It did however overheat pretty easily in hot weather while pulling a 5' bush hog.

The tractor will be used for mowing with a bush hog, occaisional light loader work and misc. light tractor chores.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Steve Wyatt
Colorado

To me its apples and oranges. Id say the Kubota is a well maintained and 'right'. Usually with government surplus you dont get all the farmer fixes on stuff. A cab and stuff is sure nice to have winter and summer.

The JD should address your overheating issue. But theres a lot of potential issues on that much older tractor.

Regardless, and I know I dont need to say this. Make sure to bind insurance coverage the day you write the check.

The price on the 2020 sounds reasonable.

I've run 2020's but the gas version, they are a durable workhorse, and seem to have held up quite well all these years, yet that other one sure is attractive with a cab etc. I'm unfamiliar with the Kubota, if it's a compact or larger, that 2020 will seem heavier and feel like more tractor if you get my drift, not an easy one to decide on, double the cost, resale wise and feature wise, the other one would probably win, but the 2020 in good shape would also seem to hold it's value too, really is kind of a tough one to decide, you still may like the feeling of an older heavier well balanced tractor for loader work, some of the late model smaller ones can be a bit light for some work, but like you said, if a 2020 is a bit much anyway, and you can afford the other one, it is suited for what you mention you want to do with it, just might be the right choice.

I'd say the kubota would make a good replacement. Your overheating was likely plugged fins. My L5030 would get hot baling one year and I couldn't figure it out. Finally got up close and personal with the rad and about 1/4 of the fins were plugged in the middle so you couldn't see it from the side.

If you buy the one with a cab you,ll never want to go back. I brought a small 30hp kubota with a cab and its the best thing I ever did. I have two bigger tractors without a cab and I use the kubota the most. This is the third kubota I've had and I've always had good luck with them. The JD's are good tractors too and you can get parts and service for both which means alot to me.

Both tractors will easily meet your needs. Are you a tinkerer who likes to work on machinery? According to my research, the last 2020 was built in 1971. Maintenance and repair will not be done without expensive parts. However the $5000 rice difference will buy a lot of parts IF you can do all the maintenance yourself.

Given your choice and if the overheating is caused by a minor problem, my personal choice would probably be the Kubota. Fewer hours, a cab (I live in Montana), and two remotes.

If you decide to purchase the Kubota, find out what the cause of the overheat is. Many municipal tractors are not properly maintained. Since it's a diesel, check to see that the air filter is clean. Check the radiator to see if there are bubbles in the coolant when it runs that could indicate a headgasket problem. Finally, verify that the radiator fins and the AC condensor are indeed full of dirt and chaff. $11000 is a lot to pay for a tractor that may have some engine problems from the get go.

There's really a loader manufacturer called Great Bend? That's kind of like a tire manufacturer called Mega Flats isn't it?

Sorry, I'm not helping.

If you say that the tractor will have light loader work and it will cut grass, then for $11k on the Kubota then you could spend $5k more and get a 30HP Kubota or Deere for new. A guy on this site said he bought a new 2wd 5103 Deere for $17k.

I would get the 2020JD if I was you due to the Kubota being a city tractor and was likely abused somewhat.

As far as your old tractor being ripped off....You may want to look into getting theft insurance on the next one you buy for $50/year as a rider on your home owners insurance. (its well worth it)

my limited experiance says kabota cuts corners on bearings and welded assemblies. on the other hand i am not real fond of john deere (political reasons) whats wrong with IH or ford newholland or MF or deutz or belarus or case ETC ?

Is the Kubota 4WD?
My home insurance policy covers tools, small tractors,off road bikes etc. Get the policy out and read the fine print.

It is not the tractor he is looking at that has the overheating problem. The one he HAD STOLEN was the one overheating. Tom

I am bias because in the last 23 ears I have sold over 3,800 Kubotas but the L 4200 with the glide shift trans is a real nice tractor.
keep the condenser and radiator clean and you will ride cool if the rest of the air is ok.
Resale // ever year the mix or open to cab changes about 10 % right now over 30hp about 62% of what we sell is cab so you would think 5 yrars from now the cab unit would resell better.

Father has a Deere 2020 (gas) and I have a Kubota L3300GST. I've only driven his a couple of times. If the only thing you were ever going to do was hook up to a 3 bottom plow I'd get the Deere. Other than that I'd get the Kubota even with the price difference. I am a huge fan of the GST transmission (and I love the clutchless shuttle)

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate the collective wisdom and insight of the very knowledgable and helpful members of this forum.

This morning I hooked the bush hog up to the John Deere 2020 and could not get the PTO clutch to work. It worked fine without the mower attached. The owner said he always just shut the tractor off, pushed in the clutch, engaged the PTO and started the tractor. He has owned it for about ten years and used it that way, but I believe that is not a great idea. I am not really a tinkerer and am afraid of potential large repair bills, so I am leaning heavily toward the 4WD Kubota. The cab with AC would be a plus because my son, who will do a lot of the mowing, cannot work in the heat of the day due to a medical condition.
I really do like the feel of the heavier 2020, however.
My State Farm homeowner's policy specifically excludes coverage of "motor propelled vehicle or machine designed for movement on land unless it is used solely to service the insured location." This tractor was not at my home, but a couple of miles away on some other property I own. I will definitely get a rider naming the replacement tractor. Hard lesson learned!
Thanks, Steve Wyatt

Possibly a minor repair on the 2020. The clutch pedal has 2 positions high for pto low for non-pto. You can adjust it by loosening a 3/4 bolt that has a slide on the pedal. It makes the clutch higher so the pto clutch works. Mine will occasionally slide and the pto clutch will not work.......