MX 5100 review and info

[Code54]

The new MX5100 came today and I am impressed. I was asked by a few people to post a photo and answer a couple questions.
I had a L3700SU before this one and liked the tractor and felt it was a good machine despite the jerky 3pt hitch. The new 5100 is very smooth both lifting and lowering and I did not notice any jumpiness on the 3pt. I also had to lift about 900lbs from the bed of my truck today and it picked up up very easily and smoothly with the front loader (set of SSQD forks on). The tractor was far more stable and even without a counter balance I felt planted to the ground (flat only had to drive back about 10 feet however)
I also noticed it is far more stable on our WV hills and the larger wheels and tires do provide a smoother ride.
Anyway, I hope this answers all the questions I was asked and if there are other let me know!

 

[Bob77064]

Congrats Code, great looking tractor.

 

[weldermike]

Congrats code, mine was delivered last week, im loving it as well. Merry christmas to YOU!!!!

 

[k0ua]

The new MX5100 came today and I am impressed. I was asked by a few people to post a photo and answer a couple questions.
I had a L3700SU before this one and liked the tractor and felt it was a good machine despite the jerky 3pt hitch. The new 5100 is very smooth both lifting and lowering and I did not notice any jumpiness on the 3pt. I also had to lift about 900lbs from the bed of my truck today and it picked up up very easily and smoothly with the front loader (set of SSQD forks on). The tractor was far more stable and even without a counter balance I felt planted to the ground (flat only had to drive back about 10 feet however)
I also noticed it is far more stable on our WV hills and the larger wheels and tires do provide a smoother ride.
Anyway, I hope this answers all the questions I was asked and if there are other let me know!

Looks great, and thanks that helps confirm about the 3pt. as I knew you wold know what we are talking about on the jerky 3pt, you would be an objective observer of the Mx5100. I am starting to turn a little green now with envy, though Whatever are you going to do with all that new found lift capacity and horsepower? I was just thinking about a couple of rocks I would like to move but cannot lift... Oh well.. enjoy that new great looking powerful tractor:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[KYDan]

I live in Central Kentucky in the knob area just outside of Frankfort. I bought a new 5100 in August of this year equipped very similarly to yours. To-date I really love this tractor. I have been waiting until I have used it for over 100 hours to post a full-blown review. I have about 70 hours on it so far and other than a couple of peeves, the differential lock, and the brake pedals on the right side of the tractor just above the HST pedal, and the noise level, it is darn near perfect for my uses. It is markedly more stable on the hills than my L2900 was and the loader is amazing. I put a toothbar on it and it is truly a digging machine.

 

[dlmpsy]

Code54, I have the MX5100 as well, so far I like it very much. I live in Summers Co., WV...on top of a mt. so I can relate to hills. Remember, rear ballast is your friend.

 

[KYDan]

Yes, I had the rear (R4's like yours) filled with eco fluid as a part of the deal. I also put 1/2 gallon of slime in each of the front tires, not for weight, but for protection against the multi inch long locust thorns we have here.

 

[Code54]

dlmpsy - Hello neighbor! I know you understand, every darn thing here is on a hill, to put my shop in I had to get a dozer to give me a nice flat spot because I don't have a natural area that is more than 10x5' that is really "flat". How much rear ballast have you been using? I have a 740 lbs concrete "block" I normally use but been thinking of enlarging it a bit ? What is your thoughts?

K0ua - The 3pt is a lot better - the only part of my 3700 3pt I will miss is when I us the post hole digger - on the 3700 I never had to shake it to get the dirt off, it did it automatically !!!! One of the main reasons I wanted a much stronger loader was for moving rock. We are doing a BUNCH of landscaping and I was always coming up short on lift capacity. My neighbor is great and lets me and my wife gather all the rocks we want off his land and we had several rocks that I could only push onto my carry all (it is a SUPER heavy duty thing I bought at an auction just for getting rocks). It was a pain because I would have to take it off the 3pt, roll the rock on it, strap it in, then hook it back up so I could carry it out of the woods. Now picking them up should not be an issue. Then again I can just hear my wife "can't we get that boulder over there now that you have a bigger tractor"
I also must say Barlows was great to deal with, they brought the tractor on time, driver was great, and the whole process went well. heck they even had it totally fueled up (when I got the 3700 I was luck to make it in my garage without running out - They made me prove there is some fuel even after the gauge says "E"

KYDan
Which bucket did you get and where did you find your tooth bar? I got the HD bucket and it is already "drilled" and I was thinking that if I could find a tooth bar to match the holes I may just have to get one!

Happy Holidays all!

 

[k0ua]

Then again I can just hear my wife "can't we get that boulder over there now that you have a bigger tractor"

That reminds me of a funny story that a guy I used to work with told.. Seems his wife was nagging him to go and get a rock for their front yard decoration that she had seen on a road trip of about 40 miles away. Finally she nagged enough that he got his FIL's Case 580K Backhoe and a big trailer and dump truck to go and fetch up this decorative rock. When he got there he just looked at the rock in amazement He told me he estimated the rock to weigh about 20 tons.:laughing: It seems that when you get a bigger tractor you can pick up bigger rocks and then you want to pick up the rocks it won't pick up either!

James K0UA

 

[KYDan]

KYDan
Which bucket did you get and where did you find your tooth bar? I got the HD bucket and it is already "drilled" and I was thinking that if I could find a tooth bar to match the holes I may just have to get one!

Happy Holidays all![/QUOTE]

I actually bought two toothbars, both of them from Iowa Farm Sales. One is a WR long toothbar and is the standard version. The other is a custom flat toothbar that I only use for leveling as it is easy to break teeth loose from it. I had to drill two sets of 3/4" holes in the bucket to make them work. Not what I really wanted to do, but it worked out OK. The HD bucket is tough and thick. I shopped around locally, but no one could come close to the price. The staff at IFS were helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable and the shipping was super fast. I ordered some extra tooth chisels (caps) as I have already lost two of them. I found one and stuck it back on and I had to replace the other one. I suggest you order some extra crush pins for those times. They threw in the pins, the tooth chisels (caps) were $10 each.

 

[KYDan]

It seems that when you get a bigger tractor you can pick up bigger rocks and then you want to pick up the rocks it won't pick up either!

James K0UA
[/COLOR][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Yes, I have already had to scoot two up the driveway to where the boss wanted them and then re-grade the driveway. I must admit that they do look good though. Pink granite with mica in them. She bought them at a great discount from a local nursery that was having trouble moving them (pun intended) for a pretty good price. We now are known as the rockhounds!

 

[Martian]

Nice tractor, congrats Code:thumbsup:

 

[Code54]

THANKS!

I Googled Iowa Farm Sales and didn't get a hit on a dealer. Do you know if they have a website in a different name?
Are you happy with the WR long tooth bar?

I was messing around with the tractor this evening and I must say I am thinking I now need to add a 2nd set of remotes so I can get the hydro tilt function - I will be calling Barlows tomorrow!

 

[KYDan]

THANKS!

I Googled Iowa Farm Sales and didn't get a hit on a dealer. Do you know if they have a website in a different name?
Are you happy with the WR long tooth bar?

Yes, here is a link to the toothbar section of their website, their price includes shipping.

Iowa Farm Equipment -- Bucket Toothbars & Cutting Edges


QUOTE]

 

[MtnViewRanch]

THANKS!

I Googled Iowa Farm Sales and didn't get a hit on a dealer. Do you know if they have a website in a different name?
Are you happy with the WR long tooth bar?

I was messing around with the tractor this evening and I must say I am thinking I now need to add a 2nd set of remotes so I can get the hydro tilt function - I will be calling Barlows tomorrow!

When you check on that second remote, see if you can get one with the float position. It sure can help out when finish grading.

Side link built for your tractor. $275
Hose kit. $40
Hydraulic flow restrictor. $10
Shipping. Whatever it costs me. ??

 

[dlmpsy]

Code54, I have my rear tires filled, so I guess that adds a total of at least 600 more pounds, I often use a box blade as well---probably around 450 pounds. I have the HD bucket, which adds around 150 to 200 pounds more than the standard dangling off the front. If you don't have your tires filled, it might be a good idea to increase your rear weight from your approx. 750 lbs., or get your rears filled at some point...that weight will always be there. You'll never truly know until you start working. I do know that with my rears filled & the box blade, a slight slope can make the rear feel a little light...the higher the bucket, the more tipsy, so be careful. My brother has a dk35se & the sales brochure recommends around 1,000 lbs. when using the FEL.

I was using the bush hog this summer in some tall grass with a slight slope, cutting around the edge of a field...I had done the same thing many times with my old MF 35. I had my bucket raised about a 1 1/2 ft. or so (and rolled back some), unbeknowst to me there were a few high & low spots up ahead. The bucket cleared the first spot with no problem, but when I made it to the second spot the tractor stopped instantly. What happened was the front tires were in the first low spot at about the same time as the bucket was nearing the uphill side of the second little hump and the bucket dug in. If the spacing of the humps were just a few inches different, nothing would have happened. Moral of the story, be careful and take your time, at some point something will happen. If you can, inspect the area where you are working, look for groundhog holes, stumps, wire, humps, etc. This year we had a lot of yellow jacket nests, each time I drove the tractor I found a new hole where a skunk or bear had a snack the night before. On a hill this could be very dangerous. Our hills are nice to look at, but present a danger that some may not realize.

 

[Kyle241]

Congrats! I also have the MX5100 and really like it. It's a very smooth running tractor and agree with the larger tires, they help a lot. Next Spring I am also opting for a tooth bar as there is no need at this time up here.

 

[Code54]

I did have the rears filled figuring it would add some extra weight, I never have had too much weight that is for sure. I was looking tonight at how I can add some weight to my concrete weight block and it should be easy. I like it because I can carry a LOT of weight very low, the last thing I ever want to do it tip it over!
Funny thing is back when I was in college I was on the "grass crew" for our local school system is the summers. I always drove the larger tractor and looking back it is nothing short of amazing I never turned one over. When I used to brush hog I used an older Ford with R1's that sat a good bit higher than the MX5100 and we always cut across the hill (as the guy than ran the crew liked the lines going in that direction (great idea huh). Anyway I can recall sliding downward on the hill several times and never even slowing down. The guy that ran it always said, it will slide, they can't flip.... Looking back I am lucky to be alive!
KYDan - thanks - That was a big help! Do you find you use your tooth bar a lot. I been running a regular bucket for about 5 years and have done a LOT of digging but never had the tooth bar - thinking I may have been missing something.

 

[Code54]

Kyle241 - How do you like your BH92? I would love to get one someday down the road. Do you find it is "big enough"?

 

[KYDan]

KYDan - thanks - That was a big help! Do you find you use your tooth bar a lot. I been running a regular bucket for about 5 years and have done a LOT of digging but never had the tooth bar - thinking I may have been missing something.

You are most welcome. And, yes I basically have one of the toothbars on the bucket all of the time depending upon what I am doing. I leave the standard one on probably 75% of the time as it is much stronger than the flat one, but the flat one is perfecting for cutting soil level and back dragging. They are an amazing tool and remarkably versatile.