Both compact · Yanmar against Kubota
Yanmar YM342 vs Kubota L3770
| Spec | Yanmar YM342 | Kubota L3770 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$31,899 | ~$31,829 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Shuttle | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 41.4 hp | 37 hp |
| PTO hp | 31.0 hp | 28 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,500 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,726 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 3,190 lbsat the ball ends | 2,646 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 14.6 GPM | 8.03 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Kubota |
| Weight | 3,916 lbs | 3,726 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 13.2 gal | not published |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | Yes |
| Hydrostatic | No | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
Yanmar YM342
What they like
- The 2,500 lb loader lift at the pivot pin is the same figure Yanmar quotes for the YT347, a machine costing roughly $13,500 more
- Category 1 and 2 hitch at 3,190 lb on the lower links opens up implements the Category 1-only YM2 series cannot carry
- 14.6 GPM total flow, with 9.3 GPM on the implement circuit, is generous enough to run a third-function grapple alongside the loader
- 540/540E dual PTO speeds let light work run at lower engine revs, cutting fuel burn and noise on a rotary cutter
- Independent PTO here, unlike the transmission-driven arrangement on the cheaper YM2 series
- 13.2-gallon tank and 15.5 inches of ground clearance suit long days over rough pasture
What they complain about
- 8F/8R synchronized reverser with a dry single clutch means every direction change on loader work goes through the clutch pedal
- 31.0 PTO hp from 41.4 gross is a 25% loss, which is steep next to the YT347's 39.5 PTO hp from a similar-sized engine
- No cab is listed for the YM3 series at all, so cold-weather or dusty work means dressing for it
- Yanmar does not state the aftertreatment for this engine, so DPF or DOC service costs cannot be read off the spec sheet
- 3,916 lb bare weight makes this a two-person job to move without running it, and it needs a heavier trailer than the YM2 machines
Kubota L3770
What they like
- $31,829 buys the same K-Command display, Stall Guard and drive-mode iHST that the $52,200 L6070 runs
- 3,726 lb in ROPS form is over 900 lb heavier than an L3902 of similar power, which is real loader stability
- 2,646 lb of three-point lift measured 24 in behind the lift points, a conservative figure that still beats the whole Standard L range
- Toolless loader removal with integrated parking stands, so the LA806 comes off without a spanner
- Cab is offered on the cheapest model in the range, which the Standard L02 tractors cannot be ordered with at all
What they complain about
- 8.03 gpm is the lowest pump output in the Grand L70 range and noticeably slow on loader cycles
- Naturally aspirated, so it gives up the low-end torque the turbocharged L3970 has for only $3,150 more
- Deluxe trim means a navigation pad rather than the jog dial, and no multi-function loader joystick
- Kubota does not publish a fuel tank capacity for any Grand L70 model in its brochure or spec table
- The LA806 lifts 1,726 lb at the pivot pin, less than the 2,147 lb a much cheaper L4802 manages