Already commented once on this video, but I have to reiterate that Stanley is 100% about guys like us and helping us make better, well informed decisions and introducing us to new ways to do better business
I have a 97-2 with 2,000 hours of mulching on it thus far. My machine has NEVER been back to the dealer. It’s a great machine and I’ll definitely buy another
You also need to upgrade your case drain ASAP if you plan on mulching a lot with it. Factory has to much pressure on it and really needs to go directly to your tank
Got the same class Deere machine. I was told to idle up the machine when working to at least 1800 or so to prevent crystallization of the def fluid inside the system, Kubota's running rpm is likely different but keep that in mind. The old 95 models had a mass recall because their systems would crack in cold whether causing the def to corrode the electric systems, 97 should be safe from that. Also don't let the def expire in the machine over winter because again that crystallization will give you grief, if its sits too long just be on the safe side and rinse the def system with distilled water (or whatever Kubota recommends).
Stan, I wrote on your page before about my 2015 SVL 90-2 with high-flow. With only 460 hours I used my high-flow for the first time ( in 2023 for just 6 hours) and the hydraulic pump wore out then broke. Kubota knew they had a problem and never had a recall. They just extended the warranty a little longer. It cost me $4,000 for a new pump. I've learned they updated the pump twice now, so I hope you will be good, but they suck when it comes stuff that should be recalling... As for how many pumps. There are pumps for drive and 3 pumps stacked for the arms and auxiliary. Tony from Davison, MI.
This may have been mentioned already, but I would caution the auxiliary hydraulics-if you’re trying to run a hi-flow attachment using the low-flow ports(as the salesman said it didn’t matter), you’re going to create alot of heat trying to push more oil through a smaller fitting and pipe, leading to failure of both the attachment and hyd. system of the loader
Thank you for this video. I have not operated a Track loader or any other piece of construction equipment. I just bought a used 2023 97-2 to reforest high desert in Arizona, No hi-Flow no Door on this option. Wilderness land. lots of Junipers and volcanic rock to move around. This won't arrive until later this week, looking forward to more of your video's been a blessing so far, again my thanks. As for attachments, Root Grapple, Fixed Bar box scraper, Danuser Intimidator, Forks, couple a buckets teeth and no teeth.
You might consider a Demo-Dozer grapple bucket. They're not cheap , but may save you purchasing a couple of other attachments... so may save you money in the longer run. It's very heavy duty, and operates as a grapple, clamping-holding loader bucket, light dozing, has four 2" inserts in front to utilize trailer balls, chain hooks, or any tool you can imagine, fabricate and attach a 2" insert tubing to. See their website and youtube videos. I'm not associated with the guys, but a VERY pleased user in Texas.
Looks like a nice machine. Looks like with all that power that you need a higher backed bucket to take advantage of that power. I use an 88” wide bucket with a taller back and then added a rock guard to the bucket to keep the rocks from getting in the pinch points. A fully loaded bucket is 1.5 yards plus. Using a couple of Bobcat T770 that I think are about the same HP. All comes down to local dealer and the support you get. Nice video!
Really nice to see a Kubota dealer who wanted to work with customers. The Kubota dealers in NH (MB) are terrible. They act like you're wasting their time asking questions. One had me waiting almost 45 min for them to put an attachment I purchased in my truck. Kubota should really drop them they would get a ton more business.
We have the same skid at the road commission I work at. I love the power, I love the lifting capacity, I like how easy it is to bleed the hydraulic’s. The rattling cab is a huge flaw. I end up wearing earplugs because the cab rattle is so loud. Here is something to watch for, we had a real bad engine vibration show up. We couldn’t figure it out, after doing some digging we found some dirt was packed under the engine. I know I know, I can already hear “why aren’t you cleaning your engine bay?” Well we do every season, this is a machine that only gets about 80 hours a year put on it. The problem with the model year we have is that if you backed into a dirt pile, the vents on the back door actually scooped the dirt and dumped it into the engine bay. So someone was is it and not paying attention and after a while there was enough dirt to cause the vibration. It’s a simple thing but something that took some hard looking and digging into to find. I saw a little different set up on your back door so maybe that won’t be a problem for you. I agree with your review of it. Thank you for another great video 👍
Had a SSV65 for about a year. Most comfortable cab I have been in for a skid steer, with plenty of leg room and a great seat. Really liked the machine .... except for the pilot control for the travel. If on pavement or concrete you could run it above 1/2 throttle, however if you were anywhere that you could hit any sudden bump, you could not keep your hand steady enough to prevent the machine from suddenly moving side to side. Way too sensitive, and the guys soon did not want to operate it. We also had a problem with the injectors, which were replaced, but they have to be programmed to be accepted by the ecu. Overall a great machine if you could control it. Had it one year and traded it for an R530, which, other than the regen cycle, has been great. I have 6 Kubota's and my dealer is awesome. Kubota missed the mark with the wheeled skid steers.
@@Dirtmonkeydifferent style tracks make the machine chatter less. With the weight of the 97 the bogey wheels (which run hallway on the track indents ) compress the rubber enough to cause the vibration. Same tracks on 75 work fine
I agree 100% with the rattling doors, I run a Kubota KX057-4 mini ex every day, and I run it with the door open, very rarely do I operate with it closed and it rattles like hell! I've wondered if there is anyway to quiet it down. We're supposed to be getting a 97-2 also, can't wait!
agree to all your points good and bad on the 97. only other drawback with them is that you have to clean the belly pans every 100-150 hours; the belly pan will get full of sand/dust/material and cake in under the engine and hyd pump. You have to pull all the access plates and lift the cab and wash it all out. You will know when its time to do it when the machine gets a really weird/very noticeable vibration in the cab. Its a 2-3 hour process for one guy. Drive it up on some 6x6's or bin blocks for better access under and that makes the process much easier.
I run one of these 97s at work and I have a lot of the same thoughts as mentioned in this video. The machine is absolutely planted to the ground. You feel very well balanced and not as tippy as other skid loaders, especially moving full pallets. We also refer to it as a mini dozer sometimes too, cause it can peel and push clay soils pretty impressively. Also I agree, I hate the lock on the fuel cap. My boss also removed the screen from inside the tank. I probably would've at least left the part in there like you but it's my bosses' machine so his decision. Only real downsize is being 100hp it needs DEF and the regen on it sucks. But overall awesome machine. Less creature comforts than the CAT skids that I've ran but it's been very reliable, better performance, hydraulic pilot controls with no lag and a considerably lower price tag.
Looking forward to seeing it in action and how it shakes down with you and the guys. Maybe, just for grins and giggles, compare it with the others in the fleet- especially the ASV. Hope it treats you well!
Glad you are happy with your new machine.For what they charge for the new stuff it should be able to read and write too.Someday these high prices are going to come back and bite the companys.Lots of greed out there.Thanks😊
I'm with you in that as well but my other Major Issues I have is the hydraulic lines to the arms near lower pins build up with ice,dirt,rocks and break the fitting and there's Zero access. I cut a 27mm wrench down to fit in to service these lines.. a larger clean out hole and larger service access inside would easily fix this. Also the left side of belly pan has no removable plates making belly pan clean out time consuming.. The door rattle 😅 frames bend over time I have done countless glass and idler wheels I keep an extra box of inside service truck. POWER HOUSE MACHINE very capable. The HVAC system could use some improvement as well but does keep windows more clear than most of the CATs I see
Great machine and strong. Door sure is loud, just fuel and point nozzle to the side wall of the fill tube, it will fill lots faster than straight down the tube
As an employee in the R&D of one of the big three hydraulic companies, i would be interested if you could get a shot of the pumps or motors on these units when you do a video like this.
A couple tips for those. The door rattle is mostly caused by the tracks. The little black canister on top of the engine has a crank case vent filter that should be watched carefully in the winter or it will freeze up. The beeping after start up is normal it's just letting the turbo get up to temp. When you run a mulcher keep debris off of the top "hood" to keep temp down.
Personally Stan maybe you should have give Case a chance DL550 or a TV620B. Or maybe try John Deere 325G 74hp 2590lbs 331G 92hp 3100 lbs or the 333G 100hp 3700 lbs lift capacity.
Those doors suck when to lock them in place above you I rented one and that dam thing came loose over and over or you have to slam it hard to close shoulder breaker my opinion.. machine was immaculate..and Thks again for the skid steer videos with your son to help with getting an idea how it works etc … came in handy .. for my first time ever using a skid steer .. also windshield fluid holder is cheap leaks over time keep a eye on it
Hey Stan. I liked the video, great in depth info. At the start of the video, Sioux City is in Iowa. McFarlane's is in Sauk (Sawk) City. Siri gave you directions to Washburn WI which is in the opposite direction, all the way north on Lake Superior. Funny. Btw, McFarlane's has been a great resource for me for parts. Worth the drive up from Madison. God bless.
We've owned an SVL 90 around 10 years and it is a bulldozer. I can splash material and rough grade as fast as the trucks can dump it. Not a fan of the door rattle or fill port either. Like my R630 for snow way better though.
Hi Stan, congratulations on the new 97-2. I don’t personally own any Kubota machines but my old Bobcat 329G has the Kubota engine. Anyways something to watch for ( unless it’s been corrected ) is dirt has a tendency to build up under your loader arms and gets into the belly of the machine and packs. If not addressed on a regular basis it will cause lines and electrical failures. I hope you have great luck with your new machine. Btw - have you thought about testing out the Case Minotaur ( DT 550 )? Would love your opinion on that after a couple hundred hours using it as both a dozer and a compact loader
I got one just like the one you bought and the lexon door shakes like crazy and the cab is fairly loud. The only two things i dont like. the power to the tracks are super crazy.
the good old rattle on that frigging cab door.... you will grow to hate that, had a 95 was too heavy for what we were doing traded back down to 65, we do septics, good machine, I have asv 50 also 3,000 hr driving that, could give you a few lessons, stan, love my asv for grading, hate that door rattle on kubota, cant even hear the darn radio......
My 2019 T66 has geo fencing. Did kubota just finally introduce this for their machines? Everyone has their favorite brands. I have used both kabota and bobcat. I like the feel of the bobcat. Just feels more nimble over kabato.
I have a kubota 95-2s and I agree 100% on the fuel cap. I just had brush rip my cap off and I ran it over. $110 to replace the cap. I'm going to get a guard to protect it for next time.
The new SVL75s are a lot more fancy since the SVL75 I operated for a few years, I didn't mind the SV75 decent machine. The company I work for now has a Cat skid steer my biggest pet peave is the damn swing door I prefer the roll up door.
The swing door on the CAT D3 series is nice I love the cabs. CAT makes an overall better machine than Kubota and uses Kubota engines. I think CAT 1st, Kubota 2nd, Tacheuchi 3rd. Wouldn't really even consider anything else. Bobcat really fell off as did Gehl and New Holland / CASE. Never seen an ASV. Deere has improved over the years but is very expensive and has nothing on the CAT, Kubota or Takeuchi.
DOOD. I call dibs on your old skidsteer! Especially a non-running one. I want to restore one because I know nothing about them. Rebuilding it will give me a chance to learn. That plus I can't afford even a good used one heh.
Ey hey stan, it has been a good minute, school work is coming st me left and right but im tackling it all, I didn’t ge to catch the video last night, but im checking it out today, i enjoy all the videos and i really like that you tell it like it is, you are doing a great job with all the videos you make and keep on going my firend, we are getting nice cool weather here in N and soon the leaves will be falling and then i can move into leaf clean ups and then i hope winter comes early, i would love to have some snow for a white Christmas, thinking i might be asking for a bit much haha, but none the less something i wish for, anyways stan, god bless and go get em, your pal and friend Alexander costa
I am curious about the def heaters, and I have no experience with track loaders and if it will freeze up with snow loaded in tracks or just if there's frozen dirt and material in them.
It’s my 3rd year in I have 1 bobcat & just picked up a John deer . I have 2 more big location that I could possibly take but I don’t know if I can purchase 2 more and I don’t think I could keep 4 busy through landscape season only snow removal time . What would you recommend just sending it and trying to pick up to more ? A lease? Or maybe a rental for 2 more ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank Dirt Monkey .
Stan, Just passing along that Jason at Short Iron Backblades in Michigan passed away the other day. I remember you did a video awhile back of you at his Short Iron Shop.
Mm a fixed undercarriage verses a suspended undercarriage, I had an old boss in the early eighties who believed an agricultural tractor with water/ballast in the tyres was as good as a tractor with twice the horsepower without ballast, I believe he was correct. And I see the correlation between suspended and fixed undercarriages, more track on the ground better traction.
Heck yeah I have been commenting on here for yrs. But for the money and the dependable machine for the money for sure. I knew though you would like this machine. My svl 90_2 high flow I loved unreal power
It’s powerful but the TL12 gives it a run for its money. Just park them next to each other and look at the difference. Also most new kubota front doors rattle. You simply adjust the rubber stopper down lower to stop the rattle 🤙🏻
Man I live Kubota, till it's time to service. The -2 has a terrible location for the filters, and if they where put on two tight by a previous tech, that radiator is in the way. Can't wait to see what the -3 has to offer in person
When running the Kubota 4 in 1 bucket the visibility of the cutting edge on the clam side but rear is here and there with different angles of the bucket. But power wise and grade ability is untouched
I'd like to try one, I have case tr340b right now, 90hp. I've also been looking at wacker nueson st 50, impressive for price, and cat has a new 265 that replaces 289 I'm interested in.
I don't think that Kubota realizes that we are waiting for a 120 HP one ( that is not just dialed up) with 50 gpm high flow with a good reverse blower for forest mulching and better hydraulic and oil cooling that won't get clogged up and burn up easily if you don't spend two hours every day detailing it. Also an even bigger cab ( at least another 6 inches foot room and six inches cabin width. For guys who are 6'6" pro football size along with models that come with some very tough protective guards ..i would back that onto a tree in the woods within a couple of days and destroy that access door.
I can't believe you don't like the 65... I love mine but its all I've used in a track machine. Those 100hp machines are awesome but extremely expensive.
Im sorry but only good thing on this machine is the slide up door. We run multiple 333g deeres daily and demo'd a new 97-2 a while back that a dealer brought out and it ran for about 5 minutes and was parked cuz it was such a piece of crap compaired to the deere. Truly the deere out does every other brand of skiddy in every category except the asv for traction. You want a realy work horse and a skid that can actually be serviced, buy a deere, you wont be disappointed
I used a kubota svl 75-2 and I wasn't to impressed with the machine I feel like is underpowered. And other things that I wasn't to familiar with the machine was that bucket should lower 2 or 3 inches more before when you try to back drag some material the bucket doesn't go low enough to use the back of the bucket . And the last but not least is the bucket is to big for the little machine especially when you try to get a good scoop of heavy material or get clay the machine struggled a little bit.
That rattle is a sad design flaw. They should bulk up the top corners to stop that. That is a beast of a machine. I used one expecting to build a creek crossing in an hour, nope, I built 3.
Look back at dirt perfects video for the area he called the dirt funnel you've had enough issues with your cat blowing hose left and right. There's a spot on the Kubota where dirt collects and breaks hoses as well
It's polycarbonate, and/or Lexan (which is a brand of polycarbonate) They make treated polycarbonate which is drastically better about not scratching. I personally think they should run a 2 piece, with a think temporarily bonded outer layer (like phone screen protector) that keeps it cheaper to replace
