Buying Advice Kubota M7040 advice

[AC180nj]

Hey guys,

Looking to pick up a mid-sized tractor that will primarily be used for maintenance around my 225ac farm as well as some hay making duties (raking, tedding, some baling as a back-up).

Running a Kubota M108S,CAB,4WD for mowing and baling with big wagons on hilly ground. Just got it this spring and couldnt be any happier.

The current maintenance tractor is a 10year old now Kubota L4330HST/FEL ROPS, Industrial tires. Darn good tractor at brush hogging, raking, tedding ... whatever we throw its way. The only thing I feel is that it's a bit on the light side and small side for maintaining some bigger pastures (30+ acres). My 14 year old son does most of this and work and is really pulling his weight around the farm now.

This is where the new tractor comes in. Wanted something with a cab, thats bigger, heavier & more stable but still handy and maneuverable. Probably go with an FEL as well, just to have as they always come in handy. I use a skid steer for most of the loading, digging.

I took a test ride this morning in an M7040HDC-1-4WD W/HYDRAULIC SHUTTLE & CAB, fully expecting to take it home. Around the tractor yard i was impressed with how manueverable it was, even with the 4WD engaged. Then, my son sat and watched me bounce around a small somewhat bumpy side hill nearby and when I rolled up to him, the first words were "looks like you were gonna tip over" (which is exactly how i felt). It was set up with 16.9-30 / 9.5-24 Ag tires, cast centers. Which seem skinny/tall/narrow (tractor and tires). Was pretty let-down to say the least.

Was thinking that if the tires were loaded R4 industrials (wider and lower), with cast centers, that might be the way to go. I dont need the Ag and probably better off when treading across the lawn here and there. Just not sure that this setup will make me happy. Was also wondering if the weight of the cab was adding to this tippy/top-heavy feeling. I love the insustrial setup on my L4330.

I left thinking I may need to look at something lower/smaller and forget about the backup-baling job for this tractor...

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Tx Jim]

If the M7040 feels unstable widen the wheel spacing's &/or add some weight. I use my '11 M7040 to cut hay and move rd bales. I've unloaded several 18 wheelers of hay with it. Mine has cast rear wheels but no other weights. It uses 1.5-1.7 GPH of diesel cutting the hay

 

[TripleR]

foreman Etexas had larger tires put on his last M7040 and really likes it, I don't care for the narrow tires it comes with either. My dealer puts larger tires on the M8540's on his lot so they are the same as the stock M9540. We don't even have ours extended all the way out on our M8540 and it is extremely stable on our hills. We don't have an air ride seat on our 8540, but would have if we had not needed it ASAP, would have also had cast centers as well.

rjkobbeman has an 8540 with Industrial tires, so you might look at some of his old threads, hasn't posted in a couple of years, so nothing recent.

 

[wmonroe]

I agree with the others, make sure the tires are set as wide as possible, it makes a huge difference in stability. Upgrading to larger tires like Foreman Etexas did will allow you to add more fluid which combined with the cast centers should make it very stable.

 

[Rustyiron]

I like the size of the 7040 but learned several tractors ago that 4sp/2 range trannys suck! No matter what your doing the right gear is in the other range! I can not figure why Kubota does not offer a 4/3 or at least a 6/2.

 

[case245]

I second 3RS advice on the wheels from the 8540 on the 7040 I have my tires at stock setting I never tipped or rolled I pulled a 7 ton dump trk around I lift heavy off set all the time I have my tires loaded and cast center for haying you ll be fine my tractor weight is 8500ibs

 

[TripleR]

I like the size of the 7040 but learned several tractors ago that 4sp/2 range trannys suck! No matter what your doing the right gear is in the other range! I can not figure why Kubota does not offer a 4/3 or at least a 6/2.

The new M7060 offers a 12/12.

 

[wolftree]

If I am not mistaken, rear wheel spacers are also available for the M7040 from Kubota.

 

[AC180nj]

Hey fellas...thanks so much for all the input!
Tx Jim, you got any hills down there? Great fuel economy...I'll be hard pressed not to run the M108 for running the discbine...we'll see.
3R, thanks for the heads up on foreman ET. you know if he's running R1s or 4s? The 8540 looks to be quite a bit more tractor than the 7040...i'm sure you love it. Cant you add the cast centers now? I did get a look at rjkobbeman's posts. Really thinking R4 is the way for me.
wmonroe, thanks for the heads-up on the width & tire size...I'll double check what setting that machine was on.
Rusty, as 3R states, it does look like the M7060 will offer the 12/12 as an option...or check this out .....maybe I'll convince the lil lady to move to nz so we can get one in an M40 version?? haha
http://www.kubota.co.nz/i/files/brochures/m40brochure.pdf
case245, thanks for that info. i'm actually not TOO worried about rolling it...it just felt like it was going going to. (not the best feeling in the world).

one more point on the R4s. With un-loaded tires and no weight, i've tackled some VERY steep hills, bushhogging with the L4330, 6' rotary without traction issues. I only run on those hills when the ground is firm and the dew is off.

 

[Tx Jim]

Hey fellas...thanks so much for all the input!
Tx Jim, you got any hills down there? Great fuel economy....

No hills just small mounds. I've checked my M7040 fuel consumption several by dividing hrs on tach used into gallons to fill tank up.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I have R1's

 

[AC180nj]

thanks foreman. nice machine! those tires look far better than the standard skinnies.

 

[TripleR]

Hey fellas...thanks so much for all the input!
Tx Jim, you got any hills down there? Great fuel economy...I'll be hard pressed not to run the M108 for running the discbine...we'll see.
3R, thanks for the heads up on foreman ET. you know if he's running R1s or 4s? The 8540 looks to be quite a bit more tractor than the 7040...i'm sure you love it. Cant you add the cast centers now? I did get a look at rjkobbeman's posts. Really thinking R4 is the way for me.
wmonroe, thanks for the heads-up on the width & tire size...I'll double check what setting that machine was on.
Rusty, as 3R states, it does look like the M7060 will offer the 12/12 as an option...or check this out .....maybe I'll convince the lil lady to move to nz so we can get one in an M40 version?? haha
http://www.kubota.co.nz/i/files/brochures/m40brochure.pdf
case245, thanks for that info. i'm actually not TOO worried about rolling it...it just felt like it was going going to. (not the best feeling in the world).

one more point on the R4s. With un-loaded tires and no weight, i've tackled some VERY steep hills, bushhogging with the L4330, 6' rotary without traction issues. I only run on those hills when the ground is firm and the dew is off.

Yeah, I could get cast centers, but we don't really need them, there have only been a couple of times they would have been handy in heavy pulling, and it seems like there is always something else on which to spend money, same with an air ride seat, extra set of remotes etc.

We run Industrial tires on our L5740 and a Massey Ferguson 375, only time we had traction issues was mucking out a pond, so you should be good to go with them.

 

[foreman Etexas]

thanks foreman. nice machine! those tires look far better than the standard skinnies.

The cost is 900 for the two fronts with rims and the ride is way better.
I also have it widened out 6in. Front and back and the rears loaded,doesn't feel tippy at all been threwalot with it,now the stock one will scare you,after been in the new one trying the same stuff.

 

[bigbull338]

3R ive got the cast centers on my 7040 as well as 2 sets of remotes thanks to the salesmens oh oh.personllly i like the 4 speed tranny with the hi an low.brother ran it yesterday speading a load of sand.he likes the hydro shift as much as i do.

 

[Bluegill2]

Like said, set those tires out farther and it'll feel like a different tractor. Loaded rears add a whole nother level of goodness!

 

[TripleR]

3R ive got the cast centers on my 7040 as well as 2 sets of remotes thanks to the salesmens oh oh.personllly i like the 4 speed tranny with the hi an low.brother ran it yesterday speading a load of sand.he likes the hydro shift as much as i do.

I'm glad it is working out so well for you, we love the hydro shuttle on ours. We could probably have gotten by with an 8/8, but we are so use to the 12/12 on our other machines, I didn't want to go that route. It is funny how I run different gears than my sons doing the same things.

 

[bigbull338]

3R im the same way i set the gear i run in an leave it.an i also have a set rpm speed i run in.then my brothers use the tractor an dont put it back in the gear i run in working.

 

[AC180nj]

Thanks again fellas. Any thoughts on running the M8540 sized R4s on the M7040?

For reference:
M7040 Recommended R1 Rears: 16.9-30 Diameter is 58.5", width 16.9" and weight is 174lb ea
M7040 Recommended R4 Rears: 16.9-24 Diameter is 50.6" width 17.4" and weight is 168lb ea

M8540 Recommended R4 Rears: 19.5L-24 Diameter is 51.8" width 19.1" and weight is 205lb ea

 

[wmonroe]

Do you need the R4's over the ags? Seems like you are going to be giving up a good amount of ground clearance and road speed even with the bigger R4's. I have nothing against them just playing a little devils advocate.