ANYONE BOUGHT A NEW M SERIES?

[Muleskinner]

Okay I see folks buying M series tractors here, but has anyone bought one of the NEW M series tractors?? I'm interested in how the machine is performing and if the oil gets black as quick as the indirect style of engine.

 

[riptides]

Round here in Central VA, some dealers don't even expect to see them until the end of May.

The demand seems to be here already....

-Mike Z.

 

[Muleskinner]

Well my new M7040 was shipped by truck from the northern Calif plant today and should be at my dealer by Wednesday. (Barring the truck does not crash!) I will give a full report when I take delivery. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm going to keep my L39. I hope this takes care of my grading needs once and for all!

 

[JDPN]

I'm sure (We hope) you will include many photos in your "Full Report" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Did you get the cab too?

FEL?

Can't wait to hear the news!

 

[Muleskinner]

No cab. ROPS with a Kubota orange cover, FEL with Kubota factory option third function valve for grapple, bolt on HD bucket blade edge, R4 tires, 80" Gearmore 4G5 box blade custom ordered from Gearmore painted Kubota orange, not black, top and tilt with dual tilt cylinders, hydraulic shuttle shift and standard 8 speed trans. Better than ***! I wanted the engine turbocharged, but the turbo units (8540/9540) are too big of a tractor. I'm hoping this will be a good all around grading tractor. The only thing that worries me is 11.2 GPM on the M7040 VS the 23.0 GPM on the L39. I hope the FEL is as stout as the L39's.

 

[riptides]

Did you buy sight unseen? What price range for that beast?
If you don't mind me prodding?

-Mike Z.

 

[Muleskinner]

I have not bought it yet. I did a lot of research, ordered it, and will demo it for a week when it gets in. That is after they install the top and tilt system. Were looking at around $34-35,000.000 OTD.

If this machine is not what I want, then I will most likely get an L48. The L48 is a good match for my needs, I just don't want HST if I don't have to get it. I spoke with a Kubota west coast rep who told me the L48 should be on the board for a complete redo like the L35 was in around two year models. I can't wait that long. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Believe it or not, I've even been looking at a JD 4720. THAT will be my last choice, even though I keep hearing it's a good machine. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[bam747]

Just a thought...

Since you are considering the 4720, and it sounds like you may want/preffer a turboed engine, and you are looking at the new M series sized tractors (which look to be very nice in their own right), have you thought about a 5x25 series JD?

They are all turbo charged. PTO HP ratings are: 5225 @ 45, 5325 @ 55, 5425 @ 65, 5525 @ 75.

All are available with the 542 MSL FEL. It's rated to full height at 3214 lbs at the pivot, 2381 lbs at 800 mm (29") ahead of the pivot, and 3960 lbs to 59" height at 800 mm ahead of the pivot. The bucket level lift height is 121". You can order it with a SSL attachment system if desired.

All are available with 3-spool mid mount joystick FEL controls AND 3-spool rear SCVs.

Note that the 5425 and 5525 are rated at 6.6 GPM for steering use and 18.4 GPM @ 2828 PSI MAX for implement use (25 GPM total). The 5225 and 5325 are rated at 5.9 GPM for steering and 13.5 GPM @ 2828 PSI MAX for implements (19.4 GPM total).

All are available with 12F/12R or 24F/24R power reverser transmissions. The 24/24 is the 12/12 with a push button high low.

All are available with the 540/540E PTO. The E stands for "economy" and means you run the engine at 1900 RPM to get the rated 540 RPM PTO speed versus running at 2400 RPM to get the full rated 540 RPM PTO HP. That can save a LOT of fuel if you don't need the full rated PTO HP for some tasks.

Again, just a thought...

 

[Muleskinner]

Interesting. I never looked at them, as I always thought they were an AG tractor.

 

[bam747]

Well, yes, the 5x25 is considered a small utility AG tractor.

The new Kubota M-40 series are also considered small utility AG tractors.

The JD 5x25 series and Kubota M-40 series are direct apples to apples competitors to each other in size, weight, and HP.

Note that the new M9540 is one step higher in HP (85 PTO HP) than JD is offering in the 5x25 series (75 PTO HP max).

Picking from these two tractor series is going to be a very difficult task. JD does offer some optional "fancier" electro-hydraulic 3PH and PTO and transmission controlls as well as the all turbo motor line-up. But, some might consider these features "detriments". To each their own.

 

[Muleskinner]

So I guess the question is which brand makes a better product and to which brand you are loyal?

 

[JDPN]

You're right on that one muleskinner, it is up to brand preference and the price you're willing to pay. Right now its hard to see who makes a better product. The Deeres run a tad expensive MSRP, good luck finding a deal. The Kubota M40's are priced more competitively. Also, I have seen and sat on a M5040 up close on a dealer's lot. It's Big. also, wait til you see the BIG F***ing loader IMO they put on it thats massively built like the rest of the tractor. This thing should grade anything with a box scraper.

 

[SCDolphin]

I have been looking at JD 4120 and Kubota 4330. I think the Kubota is better overall. I don't like the flimsy JD hood and the JD motor is so loud it is unbelievable compared to the Kubota. However, I hate the location of the Fel controller on the Kubota compared to the JD. I am tall and my right leg is really cramped using the treadle pedal compared to the JD. I think Kubota will fix these on their new models. I just don't think I can wait that long.

Today I got on a M5040. Wow!!!! even though it was not a hydro all the controls are where they should be. It is quiet even at operating RPM's. The forward reverse feature is silky smooth. It is much more tractor than I started looking at but JD better look out!

 

[Muleskinner]

I'm a Kubota guy. One reason is, due to my mechanical background, I have an uncanny ability to notice the small things regarding any piece of mechanical equipment, be it a vehicle, tractor or whatever. "Perception of quality" is what I call it.

I had some problems with the quality control on the 210LE I demoed three weeks ago. Small things mind you, but things you would not find wrong with a Kubota product. Things like the front driveshaft not being painted and starting to rust already. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif This is a $60,000 tractor and not painting the driveshaft is inexcusable. Everything else on the machine is painted or coated in some manner.

Things like the round rubber air inlet hose from the air cleaner to the turbocharger housing being too short, causing it to not fit all the way over the turbo housing inlet snout. If that hose comes off while using the tractor on a dusty job, well you know the rest of the story.

Things like three hydraulic hoses mid tractor hanging down about six inches below the tractor to the point where they could be easily snagged and torn off or cut.

Little things like this that should have been fixed or finished at the factory, let alone getting by the dealer's pre delivery tech!!! Other than that the 210LE was a great tractor.

Also, when I went to the dealer I looked at the 4000 series tractors. The impression about quality and design I got was the same as looking at the difference between a domestic vehicle and a Lexus. (If that's a fair comparison)

 

[Muleskinner]

How come I can never post any pictures. The program always tells me the photo is too large? The photos are normal digital photos stored on my computer. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[froggy]

Download image resizer from Microsoft. This will fix your problem.

web page

 

[froggy]

Look at this thread, too:

web page

 

[Muleskinner]

Okay. Let's see if this works now.

 

[Muleskinner]

One more pic.

 

[riptides]

Looks like your getting some serious seat time. I await your delivery for some detailed "in-action" reports with the new M.

-Mike Z.