M59 Discussion Thread

[Charlesaf3]

Overall the TLB line from Kubota is fairly decent, but I can see some areas where the machine would benefit greatly if just a bit more robust.

I知 sure convinced themselves that the TLB line is commercial duty, but that痴 controlled condition test lab, vs real world abuse.

I would think that for $55K another manufacturer could offer an M59 sized TLB that could outperform the M59. The M59 has a few areas where there just is not enough meat in the thing. Adding just another 600-1,00lbs of metal in the right spots would make it a true industrial commercial machine. For what Kubota is asking, the machine could be a bit more robust.

Some parts of the frame, the loader and bucket are going to take a beating with a few thousand hours of use. The pin diameters and bearing areas of the pivot points are going to get hammered out to fast from heavy use. It would not take much to put in grease seals to hold the grease & minimize contaminants, A 12.5" wide tire in front would be nice for flotation. Guards and Sid plates are too thin.

When you drop that much coin for a machine, you hope that the thing is built for the long haul.

For landowner farm and small commercial work, a Full size TLB is too heavy in soft ground and Mud, so a machine in the 10,000 lb range definitely has a place.

Maybe... it's not as light duty as you think. I've used mine HARD for 1000 hours. And I've bent stuff, but considering what I've done with it, which is full sized backhoe stuff, no complaints.

I actually think the computer will give me issues first. In general, Kubota reliability continues to impress the pants off me. The stuff just works, I've still had no occasion to learn anything about the engine.

 

[lwm]

Hi all, I've joined the M59 club. Roger Love guided me through the process, I ended up with a used one with 260 hours. Came with the factory top&tilt (I need to get cylinders), front hydraulics, Bradco pallet fork.

A little use today was trimming the trees that were leaning on the phone line and the guy wire such that that I couldn't drive under them:

Jon trying out the bucket of the M59 as a trimming platform.<br>We were getting weight off the guy line - it was low enough the backhoe hit it.

I also used it to re-ditch a ditch today, loved the creep feature, that rocks. Also like that it has enough power to pull a 24" bucket while I'm pushing it to the side because I'm at an angle to the ditch. That backhoe is a beast.

I'm looking to add a grapple (leaning towards the WR Long 2 ram 72"), a scraper blade (I do road work), and maybe a skid steer mower (wondering if 16 GPM is really enough). Oh, and the thumb on backhoe, we're on steep hillsides and want to clear trees along the road so having a way to reach down and grab the tree is neat.

I've had it for 48 hours or so, liking it, love the skid steer quick attach, like the power, the size is a little scary but I'll get used to it.

I ended up using my B21 to clean up the dirt from the ditch, it is a little easier to use in tight spots. So I'll be keeping that one.

Anyhoo, one more home owner dude in the M59 club. Any advice you guys have is oh-so-welcome!

 

[doelake]

Welcome to the club, and nice photos.... you're going to love the M59!!! I'v had mine for 4 years now with about 1,900 hours on it.....in my business, it's my lifeblood.....and the only mistress my wife will let me ride

 

[Piston]

Congratulations. We look forward to some pics! Id love to hear if your able to make a skidsteer mower work with the M59.

 

[avc8130]

Why would you prefer the skid steer brush hog? You have a 3pt and pto out back with WAY more speed/power.

ac

 

[Xfaxman]

Why would you prefer the skid steer brush hog? You have a 3pt and pto out back with WAY more speed/power.

ac

Maybe he saw some of my pictures!

So much easier out front when mowing around trees.


Even out in the open, no sore neck! The view from the seat.


More info and pictures here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/275578-5610-cutting-brush.html

 

[avc8130]

I dunno man, I've seen some scary stuff come FLYING out from under my brush hog...especially to the rear. I think I'd prefer to be in front of the "action".

The tractor also seems much more "durable" from the back. Up front I would be scared of all the body work and radiator/coolers taking damage from brush hogging.

ac

 

[Xfaxman]

I dunno man, I've seen some scary stuff come FLYING out from under my brush hog...especially to the rear. I think I'd prefer to be in front of the "action".

The tractor also seems much more "durable" from the back. Up front I would be scared of all the body work and radiator/coolers taking damage from brush hogging.

ac

The stuff thrown out the back is low enough to not be a problem.

I have to be careful not to raise it with the front tilted down. I have used it with the front angled up and came down slowly on thick heavy brush.

Here is a thread on one on a tractor FEL: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/280432-thinking-about-trying.html

 

[avc8130]

The stuff thrown out the back is low enough to not be a problem.

I have to be careful not to raise it with the front tilted down. I have used it with the front angled up and came down slowly on thick heavy brush.

Here is a thread on one on a tractor FEL: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/280432-thinking-about-trying.html

As with anything, proper and experienced operation makes it safer.

Cost alone would be enough to scare me to the 3 point. I paid <$1k for my 6' cutter brand new.

ac

 

[lwm]

Maybe he saw some of my pictures!

So much easier out front when mowing around trees.

Nice pics. I like the mower out front and I like the ability to reach over a bank (or up one) and wack that doggone scotch broom. Ideally I'd plant a money tree, harvest the money, and buy a boom mower but I have no green thumb

I'm borrowing a friends standard flow (15-25 GPM) mower this weekend to see if flies on the Kubota. Might need to replace the hydraulic couplings though - are those skid steer compat? They are not standard 1/2" ag couplers.

 

[Xfaxman]

Nice pics. I like the mower out front and I like the ability to reach over a bank (or up one) and wack that doggone scotch broom. Ideally I'd plant a money tree, harvest the money, and buy a boom mower but I have no green thumb

I'm borrowing a friends standard flow (15-25 GPM) mower this weekend to see if flies on the Kubota. Might need to replace the hydraulic couplings though - are those skid steer compat? They are not standard 1/2" ag couplers.

Thanks, Yep, been there, done that with 3 point brush hogs. More gooder out front!

My money tree is just barely alive, seems like I keep picking all the green leaves off of it.

Most skid steer mowers have cutting edges on both sides of the blades. I use normal rotation for brush and reverse rotation for grass. Check to see if one side is sharper than the other and make it rotate that way, it will cut better with your low flow M59.

Which brings up the question, where are you going to plug in the hoses and does it have continuous flow?

If you already have the hoses, you can get an adapter to go from ag to ss.

These are the standard skid steer flat face couplers that the Toolcat uses.



Please post an update on how it worked.

 

[lwm]

Those adapters look like what I have on the front of the kubota.
I have the optional extra remote on the front to run skid steer stuff (like that grapple we disussed in a different thread).
In order to make it flow I have to hold the button down on the joystick so not exactly optimal.
I just want to try it out to see if it is nuts or not, it's prolly nuts where "nuts" means I have to
run the kubota at 2500 rpm or something.
Can you tell I know jackall about how hydraulics work?
Lots to learn which is fun...

 

[ultrarunner]

Are you hogging poison oak along with the scotch broom?

 

[Xfaxman]

Those adapters look like what I have on the front of the kubota.
I have the optional extra remote on the front to run skid steer stuff (like that grapple we disussed in a different thread).
In order to make it flow I have to hold the button down on the joystick so not exactly optimal.
I just want to try it out to see if it is nuts or not, it's prolly nuts where "nuts" means I have to
run the kubota at 2500 rpm or something.
Can you tell I know jackall about how hydraulics work?
Lots to learn which is fun...

You can wire a toggle switch in parallel with the push button, then just flip the switch and mow!

 

[lwm]

Are you hogging poison oak along with the scotch broom?

Good question - but mostly, like 98%, no. I stay away from the poison oak as much as I can.

 

[Piston]

You can wire a toggle switch in parallel with the push button, then just flip the switch and mow!

Just be careful to double check your valve, some 3rd function valves like that aren't designed to be used for continuous flow. Although I doubt you'll hurt it by just trying it out.

Also, are the hoses full diameter like your other hoses? My 3rd function hoses are quite a bit smaller than others, which reduces the hydraulic flow, so you may or may not have full flow to the mower.

I'm very interested to see how well it works as well. With the heavy duty FEL on the M59 I wouldn't worry much about the additional stresses like I would with a tractor like mine.

 

[Xfaxman]

Just be careful to double check your valve, some 3rd function valves like that aren't designed to be used for continuous flow. Although I doubt you'll hurt it by just trying it out.

Also, are the hoses full diameter like your other hoses? My 3rd function hoses are quite a bit smaller than others, which reduces the hydraulic flow, so you may or may not have full flow to the mower.

I'm very interested to see how well it works as well. With the heavy duty FEL on the M59 I wouldn't worry much about the additional stresses like I would with a tractor like mine.

Yep, didn't think about that. the hoses on mine are much larger than what are on the grapples.


It is raining too hard right now to go out and check the hose size!

 

[Piston]

Yep, didn't think about that. the hoses on mine are much larger than what are on the grapples.
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=338898"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=338899"/>

It is raining too hard right now to go out and check the hose size!

Sorry, I meant for that to be directed at Iwm.

 

[Xfaxman]

Sorry, I meant for that to be directed at Iwm.

Yes I knew that and my reply was for him also.

And future information seekers!

 

[lwm]

OK, back from my first full day on the M59. I had to do some grading with the B21 and I got on it and thought the tires were flat, felt too low

I love the M59, it's a beast.

I like the auto throttle though there are times when I want more juice to move the bucket, is there a trick to that? I've been hitting the foot pedal to back up to get some flow.

A question about shifting L/M/H - mine is really hard to shift. The B21 is similar if you have "weight" on the gears then it's hard to shift but I've learned that I can goose it, let the tractor coast while the clutch is in, and shift. Same thing for shifting from 2WD to 4WD. Does the M59 have a similar trick? That trick didn't really work for the M59. Is shifting just hard? That would be a bummer because where I live shifting is needed, there are stretches where you want to go fast (H) and then you want to do some work so M/L are what you want. I'd like to figure out the shifting. This tractor is used, had 260 hours on it when I got it, any chance the previous guys made it harder to shift?

That front bucket is awesome. I, like others, was not sure I would like it but I love it. Bigger is better. My job today was clearing ditches so it was harder to get down in the ditch with that wide bucket but I'll deal, I love the size.

The weight is pretty neat. I never went into 4WD, didn't need to. The weight just pushed through everything I asked it to do.

Nice tractor.