Deciding between L series & MX

[rbtjr]

After much study, we opted for a MX5800 over other MX models and an L4701. Our MX replaces a L3800, which in turn replaced a M5700. MX and L both had/have HST transmissions, which I will always opt for in the future. Our decision was based on more tractor in the MX, all things considered, than in the L4701, for not a large price increase, and within the MX series not a huge cost for the upgrade to the 5800. We are very happy with our MX and in retrospect would have made the same decision. We have a/ loaded rear tires and b/ the rear wheels set all the way out for stability (an option that wasn't available on the L3800, so we put 4" wheel spacers on each rear wheel). Although the 5800 has both telescoping stabilizers and telescoping lift-arm-end connectors, we installed the Pat's quick-connect system. Since all of our attachments are Category 1, we used the Pat's system that fits on a Cat 2 tractor lift arms but reduces to a Cat 1 on the attachment side. Works very well.

 

[backwaterdogs]

thanks again everyone for the input!

Definitely looks like the mx is the way to go instead of l4701. dealer suggested only $400 or so more than l4701, but no firm quote yet. Havn't priced the 5800, but my guy is telling me to get the 4800.

I feel like I can pull my 7 ft mower thru the my mowing task...not so sure about pulling that 10ft cultivator at any depth. Dealer did say they'd throw in part for self install of remote at cost (thats fine with me).

Will be calling kubota dealer in the am to see how the MXs all price out.

 

[jeff9366]

Will be calling kubota dealer in the am to see how the MXs price out.

You can determine MSRP and explore universe of Kubota MX options on Kubota's web site:
Kubota Tractor Corporation - Build My Kubota

 

[majorwager]

Kubota website is adequate for ballpark pricing. BUT it doesn't reflect individual dealer willingness to discount. Buyer isn't privy to factory incentive programs, or how long a tractor has been sitting on the lot. Some are volume dealers with greater discounts to qualify for factory rewards and prestigious sales acknowledgments, others don't pursue those rewards, content w/ low volume or are locked into a less populated area where high volume isn't attainable. My dealer was two thousand less expensive than 3 other local kubota dealers. He simply wanted to move that tractor, his reasoning not my concern.

 

[saray]

I decided on the Mx 4800 like you have been going back and forth. Rented both after using both the MX was the winner it is not much larger in frame size, but added power and weight won me over. Just ordered my MX still waiting for delivery. Hope this helps

 

[saray]

I decided on the Mx 4800 like you have been going back and forth. Rented both after using both the MX was the winner it is not much larger in frame size, but added power and weight won me over. Just ordered my MX still waiting for delivery. Hope this helps

I got 6' bush hog telescoping 3 pts hitch loader and grapple with 3rd function. Price $32500.00

 

[SDT]

The MX4800 has Three Point Hitch turnbuckle Lower Link stabilizers and fixed length Lower Links.

MX5200 and MX 5800 have Three Point Hitch telescoping, pin adjustable Lower Link stabilizers and extendable Lower Links, as do all the Kubota Grand Ls. I have never read a TBN post reporting damaged factory telescoping, pin adjustable Lower Link stabilizers or extendable Lower Links.
These refinements make connecting Three Point Hitch implements much easier.

As extendable Lower Links retract after implement attachment, this attachment method does not increase tractor/implement length. Aftermarket Quick Hitches increase tractor/implement length 4" (+/-) which often requires longer PTO shafts or adding PTO shaft extensions. I occasionally read TBN reports of broken aftermarket Quick Hitches, including broken Land Pride Quick Hitches.


No DEF.

I speculate cooling capacity increases with turbo addition.

You have now.

The structure attaching the stabilizer bar to the right lift arm broke on my L6060 within one year of delivery. It was replaced under warranty.

Long story but my Woods BB720X mower is heavy, about about 100 Lbs. beyond the recommended mower weight for the 6060. Could have been poor steel but not certain. Watching carefully and will not be surprised if it breaks again or the other side breaks.

Yes, the mower is heavy, some of the ground is steep and the work often requires rapid and repetitive direction and/or steering changes resulting in transient loading, but I do not hit obstacles with my mower.

This is not 1950, margins are much more narrow than times past and things are not overdesigned to the degree that was once common. This is (just) one of the reasons that I strongly recommended against using a mower substantially beyond the recommended mower weight in another thread.

SDT

 

[Oldoak]

This is not 1950, margins are much more narrow than times past and things are not overdesigned to the degree that was once common. This is (just) one of the reasons that I strongly recommended against using a mower substantially beyond the recommended mower weight in another thread.

I definitely agree with that. And the latter is purely common sense.

 

[KB7722]

It depends upon what you are mowing, how often you plan to mow it and how fast you expect to travel when mowing, among other things.

I use a Woods BB720X 6' rotary cutter on my L6060 and it's all it wants some of the time. My mower is heavy, some of my ground is steep and some of my cover is heavy. I would not even consider a 7' cutter for my L6060.

I use a Woods BB840X 7' cutter on my M9960 and it too is sometimes all it wants in the spring when in EPTO.

I do try to mow as fast as conditions permit and my mowers cut well.

I would consider nothing more than a 6' cutter for the 4800 unless the mower is light, the ground is relatively level, you plan to mow light cover and mow it often and not too quickly.

You must be talking about thick dense grass to bog down a m9060 with a 6'. Even you would have to be running fast. I ran a m6800 with a 10' and it would cut any weeds and brush you through at it. Thick bahia grass was the only thing that bog it.

If I were buying a bush hog for a tractor that had under 50hp pto, it wouldn't be 7'. Since you have one you can run it but will have to adjust speed, cutting height, and maybe take smaller bites depending on what your trying to cut. The weight of the cutter would be the only other question.

If your going for a big 4020 why consider going so much smaller in size. You could get an M series like a mx5800 or m6060. They are much more nembile than the old 4020 and will be better suited for the larger cutter. I do about the same with my tractor. I use it around the yard, maintain rideaways in and around woods. I loved my m6800 2wd it was a strong tractor for its size. I've since up graded to a m7040hd with loader. I love having the loader which imo required 4wd, but it's a much larger tractor than the m6800. Mx5800 should be a good compromise, but I'd compare dimensions and price to m6060 for kicks.

 

[SDT]

You must be talking about thick dense grass to bog down a m9060 with a 6'. Even you would have to be running fast. I ran a m6800 with a 10' and it would cut any weeds and brush you through at it. Thick bahia grass was the only thing that bog it.

If I were buying a bush hog for a tractor that had under 50hp pto, it wouldn't be 7'. Since you have one you can run it but will have to adjust speed, cutting height, and maybe take smaller bites depending on what your trying to cut. The weight of the cutter would be the only other question.

If your going for a big 4020 why consider going so much smaller in size. You could get an M series like a mx5800 or m6060. They are much more nembile than the old 4020 and will be better suited for the larger cutter. I do about the same with my tractor. I use it around the yard, maintain rideaways in and around woods. I loved my m6800 2wd it was a strong tractor for its size. I've since up graded to a m7040hd with loader. I love having the loader which imo required 4wd, but it's a much larger tractor than the m6800. Mx5800 should be a good compromise, but I'd compare dimensions and price to m6060 for kicks.

The mower that I use with my 9960 is a Woods BB840X, a HD 7' not 6' cutter. I use it because I have it, having bought it for use with a 60 PTO HP tractor since sold (long story). I am currently shopping for a 15' BW to replace it.

Seven foot cutters are far from ideal due to length and weight well behind the lift arms. Moreover, grass clearing becomes an issue in heavy cover resulting in increased loading. Indeed, a 7' cutter will require more HP than a twin spindle 8' cutter in many (most?) conditions.

That said, a 7' cutter is a relatively light load for a 90 PTO HP tractor such as an M9960 in most conditions.

In my case, I bought the optional EPTO unit for my 9960 so as to avoid operating at 2600 RPM in order to achieve 540 PTO RPM in light load conditions. EPTO allows 540 PTO RPM at approximately 1,700 engine RPM, reducing fuel consumption and significantly reducing engine wear, hence "Economy PTO." Works great in most conditions, but I usually mow as fast as is possible for ground and cover conditions. My plan was to replace my 7' cutter with a HD 8' fully mounted, twin spindle cutter but I have not done so.

At 1,700 RPM, the 3.8L M9960 engine is not generating anything close to 90 PTO HP. Though I usually mow at about 600 PTO RPM (maybe, 1,800 engine RPM) in order to increase engine RPM and torque when in EPTO), it is not uncommon for me to find myself torque limited with my 7' cutter when doing my first cutting in the spring when cover is most heavy. Unless I anticipate increased cover load early enough and mash the foot throttle, I can run out of torque rise. This requires me to stop in order to change from high to low range as high range 1st gear is too fast and I need to change to low range 6th or even 5th gear. Worse, changing ranges often requires me to change in/out of EPTO depending upon conditions. This requires me to completely stop the PTO, dismount the tractor and change the rear mounted EPTO lever. Yes, cab equipped M5-111 tractors have the EPTO lever mounted inside the cab, a much needed improvement (perhaps upon my past recommendation to my Kubota representative), but my 9960 is a 2015 with the EPTO lever rear mounted.

So, yes, one can "bog" an M9960 with a 7' cutter.

SDT

 

[KB7722]

Oh in EPTO. Sorry I missed that.

 

[JohnnyMX]

I just searched for 6 months to figure out what I needed based on my chore list and was going between an L3900 or an MX. I ended up with an MX5200 and added Rim Guard to the rears. I have 60 acres and was stepping up from a 20hp Kubota. This tractor does circles around the old one. The loader lifts everything I need it to within reason and my 6' cutter made really quick work of my tall brush during testing at speed. My old one I had to crawl to let it keep up.
I took the opportunity to get the quick hitch and made sure all my implements take it. That is one difference between the 4800 vs. 5200/5800 as the upper models come with telescopic arms. I have one implement that this will come in handy on. My tractor was used, otherwise I would have gone 4800.

Pro's of MX to me over the L
- The tractor is a brute based on hp and just raw weight
- Very stable and tight turning for its size
- HST/cruise is nice for mowing my old tree farm and getting in between, around and under all of the trees; not to mention the loader/grapple.
- This makes tasks incredibly easy and quicker from the 20 hours I've put on so far.

Con's
- There is no way I'm rolling across my lawn unless it is frozen or 100% dry. I used to get away with that on the L245 with R1's but no way with this. RUTS
- Wider/Longer - I can't pull in my barn now with the loader and an attachment on at the same time (hence my wanting a quick attach)
- Got Bridges? I do and I trusted it for my old tractor but do not for the MX. Newer stronger boards are required.

The tractor is a brute.

 

[majorwager]

JohnnyMX
Might depend upon soil consistency and drainage. Drive across lawn consistently with MX. Loader attached 1200 lbs, cab 900 lbs, mower 600 lbs, hydraulic power unit 550 lbs, plus base tractor. Early spring can present restrictions, short term. R-4 rubber. Even septic field no concerns. No current bridges, drive through the creeks (2)

 

[goeduck]

Con's
- Got Bridges? I do and I trusted it for my old tractor but do not for the MX. Newer stronger boards are required.

I hear ya. I trust my two bridges up to about 15,000 lbs and probably need to drop that over time. Old train tressel timbers. I had been thinking of using semi truck trailer beds with axles removed but have no idea what they would support.

 

[JohnnyMX]

You are probably correct given it is the "squishy" season here in upstate NY. It would also help if I remembered to turn off my 4wd when it is questionable and not needed. R4 here as well. In the dead of the summer I don't expect issues at all or when (IF) it ever dries out. The prior owner had the bridge in place and had 3 8" I beams on a 66-68" center so I'm not worried about strength there but just rotted decking.