Used M59 - any known problems??

[lhansman]

I have been going back and forth for a few months now trying to decide whether to add a Laurin cab to my B26 or purchase a used M59 with a Laurin can and just under 500 hours on it. I had decided to stick with the B26 and add a cab but the dealer still has the used M59 with the Laurin cab on it and they have dropped their asking price a considerable amount. I haven't nailed down final numbers, but just based on what they are now asking it looks like I could trade my B26 (which has 504 hours on it) and give them about $25,000 and have the M59. It will cost me about $11,000 to put a Laurin cab on my B26 so for about $14,000 I can move from the B26 to the M59. I did spend some additional money on my B26 this year (thumb, front hydraulics) but fortunately the M59 also has these options.

Sorry to ramble on a bit but I wanted to give some background. I am going to finally go and look at the M59 on Saturday and so I wanted to ask the M59 community if there are any know problems or issues to look for in an M59 with around 500 hours on it. I read somewhere about one person whose pumps failed around the 500 hour mark but I can't seem to find anyone else who has had this problem so I am hoping that was just a manufacturing defect. Are there any known where and tear issues that I should watch for on the M59?

Any particular tests or things I should look for on Saturday when I am at the controls?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[mike69440]

Not knowing your needs, I can't comment, but 500 hours on an M59, is just enough to put a few well needed scratches on it. Better than new, as it has a cab.

$11,000 for a cab just seems like burning money, especially for a B26. I bet you could find an old running full-size Case BH with cab for about that.

Real big jump from a B26 to an M59. Consider selling the B26 yourself as you will come out way ahead, then picking up a small tractor, to do the little stuff. Having two tractors is handy.

 

[BeezFun]

You don't mention what tasks you have- as the other poster mentioned that's quite a big jump in size. There must be things you've been doing with the B that you can't do with the M just because of the size and tearing up the pasture or whatever. Can you really live without the smaller tractor? I'd also ditto selling the B yourself, you'll get a lot more money for it than on a trade. I'm always amazed how much people pay for things on ebay.

To answer your original question, I've been reading the forum for a long time and don't recall anything other than a few isolated posts about problems with the M.

 

[lhansman]

Thanks guys. The main issue I have with the B26 is that on commercial sites most pallets of materials arrive weighing around 2,000 pounds. It doesn't matter whether it is brick, block, ceramic tile, vinyl tile etc. This means that to move this stuff on a job site with the B26 I have to break the skids down right away which costs time. In addition there are many times when I wish the hoe on the B26 had another foot or two of reach.

I actually wanted to upgrade to an L45 because it would address both of these job site problems for me and not be too big. However when I started looking around I stumbled on this M59 which already has a Laurin cab on it as well as all the other accessories I want and I can purchase it for less than a new L45 optioned the way I want. I would then have to spend around $11,000 to install the Laurin cab on the L45 as I am tired of moving snow in the cold. I can purchase this used M59 for about $15,000 dollars less than a new L45 with the Laurin cab so it is attractive to me for that reason.

Looking at the differences in size and weight between an L45 and an M59 there is not a huge difference and the M59 actually has a tighter turning circle. The truck and trailer I have will move either machine so that is not an issue either.

Personally, I only have an acre of land at home but I do have a lot of landscaping and excavation work to do in pretty boney ground so the power of the M59 is certainly appealing. I do a number of side jobs throughout the year with the B26 and its small size is nice but in looking back over the past few years there have only been a couple of jobs where I could not have fit either an L45 or M59.

I am going to look at the M59 Saturday and see if it is too big.

 

[lhansman]

I quite liked the M59 I saw yesterday. The size is fine and it was sure nice to sit inside a cab on a cool, windy day for a half hour or so. I am going to see if I can purchase the M59 but right now I think the dealer is at least a few thousand too high in his pricing so we'll see.

 

[MarkV]

Will hauling the M59 be an issue. I looked at one but it put me in the CDL license range and I didn't want to go there.

MarkV

 

[lhansman]

MarkV

I live in Ontario and I discussed this with a provincial police officer a while back as I have a 7-ton dumping trailer. I already have a truck license so I can drive any size truck but I am only allowed to tow up to 10,000 pounds. To tow a tractor trailer type truck in Ontario you need to have a class "A" license with the "Z" endorsement for air brakes. According to the officer for my situation Ontario now has a "Restricted A" license which would allow me to tow more than 10,000 pounds but would free me from the log book requirements of a class "A" driver. I need to get down to the licensing office and confirm this information and take the test if I get the M59.

Lauren

 

[Duffster]

Will hauling the M59 be an issue. I looked at one but it put me in the CDL license range and I didn't want to go there.

MarkV

What are you going to tow it with?

 

[lhansman]

Duffster

F350 Super Duty Diesel

Lauren

 

[jdonovan]

Thanks guys. The main issue I have with the B26 is that on commercial sites most pallets of materials arrive weighing around 2,000 pounds. It doesn't matter whether it is brick, block, ceramic tile, vinyl tile etc. This means that to move this stuff on a job site with the B26 I have to break the skids down right away which costs time. In addition there are many times when I wish the hoe on the B26 had another foot or two of reach.

I actually wanted to upgrade to an L45 because it would address both of these job site problems for me and not be too big.

I was looking at a 45 as well, but the 45 was right on the edge of lifting 2000lb pallets. Most of the pallets I've been handling are in the 2500-3000 range, and the M59 handles them no problem.

The only complaint I've got on the M59 so far is that I think its a bit light on the rear. I don't have loaded tires, and find I have rear traction problems when I've got a heavy front load, even with the hoe on. If I take the hoe off and swap a box blade on then I'm REALLY wishing for more weight.

The only other complaint is the M59 makes me think I've got a case 580 under me and it clearly doesn't have the power of a larger 'yellow' machine. But for most of what I want it to do it does a good job.

 

[lhansman]

Jdonovan

I realize the 2,000 pounds is kind of the limit for the L45 so the 3,900 pound lifting capacity of the M59 is certainly attractive. I wasn't even considering the M59 until I found this used one with the cab on it and having seen it I definitely want it. I just need to see how flexible the dealer is as it has been sitting on their lot for at least eight months. They recently dropped the price by $5,000 but I think they are still at least that much too high based on the used asking prices I am seeing on the internet.

Lauren

 

[rScotty]

The only complaint I've got on the M59 so far is that I think its a bit light on the rear. I don't have loaded tires, and find I have rear traction problems when I've got a heavy front load, even with the hoe on. If I take the hoe off and swap a box blade on then I'm REALLY wishing for more weight.

The only other complaint is the M59 makes me think I've got a case 580 under me and it clearly doesn't have the power of a larger 'yellow' machine. But for most of what I want it to do it does a good job.

I've noticed the same thing. Mine could handle some more weight in the rear tires because even as heavy as the M59 is, the hydraulics are stronger than the tractor is heavy. Of course feeling the rear end go light makes a nice safety feature to keep from over-stressing the frame and tractor. It's mostly a loss of traction remediable with the 4WD lever. It doesn't feel like it is going over.

I'm not a fan of fluid filled tires, so if I did add weight it would be with the iron wheel weights Kubota made for the M59. Maybe Kubota noticed that it could handle some more weight too.

No, it's sure not a Case 580....but it has more in common with commercial machines than it does with the smaller TLBs. It's more relaxing when handling heavy loads.

 

[jdonovan]

I'm not a fan of fluid filled tires, so if I did add weight it would be with the iron wheel weights Kubota made for the M59. Maybe Kubota noticed that it could handle some more weight too.

I'm not a big fan of the fluid either. My local tire shop is pushing me to foam. I'm using my M59 for land clearing and site development, so I'd love to be able to avoid the flats from sharp roots and other site debris.

They are estimating that it will be around 1700-2000 lbs to fill all 4 tires, which should make a nice difference in traction. However I'll need a new trailer then as it will push me over the weight my current one will carry.

I've read the manual and it says no filled tires with the backhoe on. I get the feeling they are expecting you to take wheel weights on/off when the hoe comes on/off. I just don't think any owners are going to do that.

 

[ManAtArms]

Are the Kubota rear wheel weights available in the us? How much are they?

Tx.


Mark

 

[jdonovan]

Are the Kubota rear wheel weights available in the us? How much are they?

They are listed as available on the kubota configurator for about 270/pair of 110lb weights, looks like a max of 3 per side. 660lbs. Filling the tires with calcium adds about 900lbs. So for someone who doesn't want liquid, and is ok with a bit less weight, it looks like a viable option.

 

[doelake]

I find that adding sand/ gravel or a big rock in the hoe bucket can act as a temporary counterweight, rather than changing the balance of the TLB with weights or loaded tires.

Hope you get the M59, Lauren....you'll be glad you did:thumbsup:

 

[Grandad4]

I've read the manual and it says no filled tires with the backhoe on. I get the feeling they are expecting you to take wheel weights on/off when the hoe comes on/off. I just don't think any owners are going to do that.

Someone told me once that the tire ballast vs. backhoe thing involved the ROPS design and the lawyers. Too much weight and the ROPS might not stop a rollover. So the manuals all say do one or the other, not both. Can't say for sure, but that's what I heard.

 

[Martian]

A B26 to an M59 is a HUGE jump. Is there any reason besides "want" for the jump. Although it may seem a big machine would always do a better job a small machine will sometimes do just as well because of well the smaller size or stature that the M59 can get into. If the M59 can get in where you need I would go for it as it will give you a lot more power but sometimes bigger isn't always better.:thumbsup:

 

[SPYDERLK]

I've read the manual and it says no filled tires with the backhoe on. I get the feeling they are expecting you to take wheel weights on/off when the hoe comes on/off. I just don't think any owners are going to do that.

Cushioning.
larry

 

[powerstroke444e]

Can't wait to here if you get it. Someone said foam well we have foam in fronts on m5400 and all around on b26 and will never go back to fluid. No problems in 1000+ hrs.

I find many times would like a bigger hoe but just as many wishing for a smaller mini ex. Just the b had more gpm to run attachments.