Glacier FarmMedia – We’ve talked in recent years about the top end of Kubota’s tractor offerings as the brand has added new and more powerful models.
Those new higher-horsepower tractors, along with expanded implement lines, have been a high-profile part of the company’s widely known desire to become a significant player in the mainstream agricultural equipment market.
However, in mid-March, Kubota turned its attention back to what has long been familiar territory for the company, the compact utility tractor segment. The company announced it has added two new models to its legacy Standard L series tractor line — the L3302 and L3902.
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Most farms need a small tractor to keep things tidy around large yards just as much as they need a good field machine. More than a few L series models will continue to find homes on working farms, and not just on hobby acreages.
Strategic upgrades
The L series can trace its beginnings back more than 55 years, so it has seen several updates and design changes over the generations. Kubota claims the L series has been the No. 1 selling compact tractor in North America for more than a decade.
The addition of these two new L02 models are intended for what the brand calls the “do-it-yourself lifestyle of Canadians.”
“The upgrades on our new L02 compact tractors were strategic and universal to introducing the next generation of our popular Standard L series line,” says Chris Isaac, product manager, compact tractors. “With the new L3302 and L3902, we added enhanced operator comfort features and modern styling as well as key operational features, such as the new, independent PTO on the HST models, while keeping affordability top of mind.”
With the usual Kubota diesel engines under their hoods, the L3302 and L3902 offer two power ratings, 33 and 37.5 gross horsepower, respectively. These diesels use a common-rail system with electronically controlled fuel injection, and the brand claims the engines were designed to reduce noise and vibration for a smooth operator experience, combining that with fuel efficiency and good performance.
Both new L02 four-wheel-drive models are available with either gear drive or HST (hydrostatic) transmissions. The HST provides speed and forward-reverse control by pressing down on a foot pedal. The gear drive transmission has eight forward and eight reverse speeds.
New features
A feature new to the L02 line this year is an independent PTO on the HST models, allowing for quick engagement with the flip of a switch while operating the tractor.
Operators familiar with earlier L series models will notice the new tractors offer a more spacious operator station, which includes standard rubber floor mats and improved suspension seat with optional arm rests.
Other improvements that help make things more comfortable for the operator include ergonomically designed lever grips and steering wheel, while the new LED lights and side work lights make working after dark a little easier and safer.
The new L02 models get a bit of a facelift, too, with a new curve to the hood and updated grill. That, according to the brand, gives the L3302 and L3902 an improved look, along with a better feel for operators, making it a “premium compact tractor.”
Designed specifically for the L3302 and L3902, the LA526 front-end loader is deeper and has a maximum lift capacity of 1,144 pounds (520 kilograms) at the pin and a reasonable maximum lift height of 94 inches (2.38 metres) at the pin.
To make work go a little faster and more efficiently, the loader valve is designed for simultaneous boom and bucket operation with a regenerative circuit that increases speed and dump times. When not needed, the loader can be removed without tools or purchasing additional “parking” kits.
– This article was originally published at Grainews.
