Kubota M7500 for budget multi-use tractor, thoughts?

[Nathan Hall]

Hi folks, I'm trying to find a tough, reliable, versatile, maneuverable used tractor in the $8,000 to $13,000 range. It'll be transported to a few sites ranging from 2 to 8 acres for industrial hemp farming in Appalachia (eastern KY), mostly working on rich bottomland soil but occasionally doing light duty on rocky compacted reclaimed mined land. I'm hoping for 60-80 engine hp, 4wd, loader, and at least ROPS. Subsoiling, discing, rototilling, planting (drill and broadcast), loading and spreading manure, and sickle bar mowing will probably be its main duties.

I've been trolling around the used equipment sites for a few weeks and I think I just stumbled onto a good deal but I'd like a quick reality check if you don't mind. I found a Kubota M7500 (81 hp engine, 72 hp PTO) with lowish hours (low 2000s), 4wd, loader, ROPS, and apparently no mechanical problems for $8,900. Talked to a nearby Kubota dealer and they said it'd be no problem to get parts for it and work on it.

Can anyone give me a sense of whether this is a good price, and if this is a good reliable-ish tractor for the work we're trying to do? Thanks a lot

 

[nybirdman]

The tractor is capable for sure;I would "pay"a tractor mechanic to inspect.

 

[motownbrowne]

The tractor is capable for sure;I would "pay"a tractor mechanic to inspect.

That's darned good advice. You might spend $200-300 for a ride-along mechanic who could save you thousands of dollars and a many headaches further down the line.

 

[IslandTractor]

The tractor is capable for sure;I would "pay"a tractor mechanic to inspect.

Nathan Hall at this point has only one post. Not clear if he is a tractor newbie or and experienced tractor owner who has just joined TBN. Certainly if the former it would be a very good idea to pay a mechanic to go over the tractor. These are pretty simple devices compared to automobiles and there isn't much that goes wrong with them unless they are not maintained properly. That would be my focus. The Kubota has lasted 2000 hours so is unlikely to have been severely abused or ignored. So long as the loader has been greased and fluids changed there isn't a whole lot more that needs attention. Simple tests for loader leakdown and 3PT strength would be pretty easy to do (if you had an hour or two to observe).

 

[jeff9366]

That is a large tractor to move between small sites: 2 to 8 acres.

Around 8,800 pounds with a loader and fuel.

You will need a Heavy Duty truck and dual axle trailer at the minimum.

M7500 was produced in 2-WD and 4-WD. You will find 4-WD essential.

Certainly reliable if well maintained. Good price for 4-WD.

Certainly ENOUGH TRACTOR (if 4-WD) for the tasks you have enumerated.

LINK: TractorData.com Kubota M7500 tractor dimensions information

 

[Nathan Hall]

Thanks and feel free to keep it coming. I'm somewhere between a newbie and experienced, logged around 300 - 400 hours on 40 - 60 hp JDs, Fords, and MFs, done small jobs (mainly changing engine oil and hydraulic fluid) but definitely not an experienced mechanic. I'm going to take it by the farm equipment place that serves as a Kubota dealership and pay them to thoroughly check it out for sure. I mainly wanted to make sure this model isn't especially problematic or known to have major failures at a certain point.

I've got a 96 Dodge 2500 Cummins diesel to haul it with, and I'm planning to get a 14k GVW gooseneck trailer to haul it with. I know it's on the big side for smaller acreages, but I figure it's better to have a little too much power than not enough. Plus we may expand to larger acreages in the future if the work on reclaimed strip mines pans out