Comparison Looking at L4600, Mx5100 and M5140

[foreman Etexas]

 

[johnking]

The ad prices look a little high to me.

 

[deadmoose]

I reserve the right to be wrong here: but the MX is really an L frame, correct? So, I will take the minority stance and say go with the M. Pay a few bucks more now and be thankful that you did later. 20 acres is a nice chunk of property. For now the mx may do all you want and more. What about in 2 or 3 or 5 years? How long do you plan on keeping this tractor? I just traded in my L. I loved it for its original purpose. But comparing it to my new M it is night and day. The L is a small homeowner tractor. When you step up to the M you step up in many ways. Look close at both tractors and see what you think.

If any kind of field/plow/tillage/hay work will never happen this could possibly nullify all of what I have said above. L/MX series are CUT's. M are Utility tractors. Meant to stand up to agriculture usage. An L will do it but won't like it. An M will thrive with these tasks.
$0.02 from me.

 

[JC-jetro]

At the least a visual compare and contrast when you have L and MX series shows very clearly the n]back end and front end is a lot beefier than L series. MX rated for cat II hitch. L is not. I have done my comparison just setting them side by side and done some simple axle measurement. L4600 is not on your basic L chasis, it is a lot beefier than economy L but not as beefy as MX.

JC,

 

[sixdogs]

The MX is on an "L" frame, has a beefeier front axle, more cubic inches, HP and weight and is destined for the user that wants extra oomph in a smaller package. I have one and also have an L4300 and there is a world of difference between the two in power and handling. Where the L4300 is light and bouncy, the MX sticks like glue and is noticably more powerful. It is now my small 'go to" tractor.

The M5140 is indeed on an "M" style frame yet retains some of the characteristics of the "L" in that it has the same engine and cubic inches as the MX. It has a greater 3 pt lift capacity, that can prove helpful and would likely have a better ride on rough terrain because it weighs 900 lbs more. It's still in the 50 HP area and that would be kind of low for a farm tractor.

 

[Bluegill2]

At the least a visual compare and contrast when you have L and MX series shows very clearly the n]back end and front end is a lot beefier than L series. MX rated for cat II hitch. L is not. I have done my comparison just setting them side by side and done some simple axle measurement. L4600 is not on your basic L chasis, it is a lot beefier than economy L but not as beefy as MX.

JC,

Right, the L4600 is built on a Grand L frame.

 

[TripleR]

I had read somewhere on here that the MX was also on the old L30 frame, but maybe not. Is the MX5100 built on the M5140 frame or what? Just curious.

 

[JC-jetro]

Gents, let's look at the pic and you make your own mind.

MX5100/4700 are exactly identical with the exception of Turbo on 5100 and telescopic lift arms.

MX 5100/4700 back end.

L 4600

L3800

Close pic of MX rear axle

close up of MX front axle

front axle L4600

MX4700

L4600 is not economy L, MX is more beefier than L 4600. They all 3 different classes. PTO engagement, difference between live and independent between L4600/4400 and economy L is hugely different. we need to compare apple and apples. it is how much you pay, how much you expect to get in return and the level of mechanical complication one chooses.
MX5100/4700 is just hits the sweet spot as it has many functional refinement of grand L but in a utilitarian style that still reminiscences tractor of yester years.

JC

 

[TripleR]

Rear of L5740.

 

[JC-jetro]

Other than obvious heft there the external tandem lift cylinders are a great feature.

JC,

Rear of L5740.

 

[Surgeon]

So confused...which models have the tandem external lift cylinders?

 

[dex3361]

So confused...which models have the tandem external lift cylinders?

The GL series have the external lift cylinders L5140 is a GL.

 

[Code54]

The GL series have the external lift cylinders L5140 is a GL.

Correct - the MX5100 is an internal lift machine

 

[JC-jetro]

So confused...which models have the tandem external lift cylinders?

Can you identify the external tandem list cylinders? in general grand L's , 30 or 40 series have them like pictured below.

below is one on bigger John Deere tractor.

usually external lift might have bigger lift capacity and very little diassembly is required to repair and replace leaky seal. 5140 has external lift cylinder and 4600 and MX5100/4700 have internal that is one larger cylinder bore right under the seat. Withe the main seal and a back up for MX5100/4700 and L4600 it will be many many years before replacement becomes necessary and it is not a huge repair either.

JC,

 

[3boys865]

Getting ready to pull the trigger on either a M5140 Hydro-Shuttle or a MX5100 HST with 4WD, R4's, FEL, SSQA and 3rd function valve for the loader to run a grapple. Best quotes (cash) I have so far are $29,700 for the M5140 and $25,000 for the MX. Probably leaning towards the MX5100 HST.

Anyone currently running R4's on the M Series tractors? How have they performed on a tractor with that size / weight? I will be using this tractor for both field work (cutting) and general maintenance. Would prefer the R4's for the maintenance work and will definitely get them on the MX5100, just wondering how they would perform on the M Series.

Hope to get this finalized and ordered this week!

 

[sixdogs]

I have R-1 ag tires on my MX5100 and they work great in both yard and field. Unless it's a dedicated yard tractor, I have found the R-1 ag tires better suited to both tasks. On a heavier tractor--say 6500 lbs and up I think R4's would work better in a yard situation but I have an 8000 lb Deere 5520 FWA with radials and it's only a problem in the yard maybe 1% of the time. The R4's that I have on smaller tractors are find in the yard--they still make marks---but you lose half the horsepower in an ag situation and if it's damp they load up with clay. Yard work is a finite experience and ends after a few years. Field work continues forever. Just my free advice here.

 

[3boys865]

I will not be using the tractor for mowing near the house, I have a ZTR that I use for finish yard work. I will be using the tractor for mowing acreage around the house with a rotary cutter and a lot of tree clearing and grapple work. I was thinking R4's for several reasons. The grapple / loader work will be a lot of turning / back and forth etc... and I was concerned about how damage that would do to the field. Also, I thought the R4's would hold up better for lifting trees with the grapple. The R1's on the M5140 I have looked at seem so narrow that it seems they might not hold up as well as the R4's for lifting trees with the grapple or other heavy loader work.

However, I was thinking that the R4's might not be ideal on a larger framed heavier tractor like the M50/60/70 series. If the ground is dry, how much field damage do the R1's create when doing typical loader / grapple work? I don't want to give up traction if it is needed for the tasks, but would prefer not to damage the field more than necessary either.

I have also received some advice that I would hurt the resale value of a M series tractor if I put R4's on it because nobody would want R4's on a tractor that size? Is that true?

 

[TripleR]

offhand rjkobbeman is the only one I can remember with R4 on an M Series, he has them on his M8540 opem station. He hasn't been on in a while, but you might search his old threads, he seems to know quite a bit.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/174697-wait-almost-over.html

 

[sixdogs]

You are right, R4's don't sell well on larger tractors. I could PM you an M6040 or 7040 photo with R4's that is in great shape and low hours but no takers. R-1's in FWA are tough on the grass so I use 2WD and am reasonably careful. No damage unless the ground is wet. I put in lawns and occasionally use my 8000 lb Deere 5520 in the dry weather of summer and I can discern do difference in ground damage unless the R-1's are in FWA and I make tight turns under speed.

Lawns are way more durable than people give them credit for. I have R-4's on smaller 4200 lb tractors and R-1's on my MX5100, etc and JD5520 and all are OK. I really don't see much difference on grass. Now, I didn't always think this way and really agonized over 1's and 4's on the MX5100. In my view, much concern over nothing and puckering got a grip on me for a while till I relaxed. For field work, however, there is a definate difference between R1's and 4's and 4's won't cut it. You are not going to hurt fields in dry Tennessee in the summer. How many damaged fiels do you see when you drive around? I'll bet none or nearly none.

Maybe look at it this way; where will you use the tractor most and where will it be most important to you? Either way you won't go all that far wrong. Just don't get hung up on R-4's thinking they are some sort of majical. They aren't.

By the way, R-4's have way less ground clearance and cause more compaction in clay soil. I'll bet you need ground clearance and I'll bet you have clay and that compaction is an issue. Again, my 2 cents here.

 

[3boys865]

Thanks for the feedback. How do you like the MX5100?