M6040HD-1 Price Check and Reviews

[TheMadOne]

I found a local deal on a 2009 M6040HD-1 ROPS with a bit over 4K hours on it. I was looking for something with more grunt than the L3301 for pulling logs and just another tractor in general to pull the cart after the L3301 has loaded it. Dealer has it listed at around 12k, I'm hoping they'll work with me on financing. It's still at the previous owner's farm, waiting for pickup. While I wait to lay eyes on it I was hoping to hear from an owner/previous owner about how they like theirs.

 

[nybirdman]

That's a lot of hours for a 2009;obvisously has been worked steady.I only have a 1,000 hours on a 2008.
Does that price include a FEL?

 

[TheMadOne]

Not mentioned in the ad, so I doubt it. I'm guessing hay making was the primary use. Until I see some pictures I'm kinda torn. That's a very high hour count, but for a dealer sold machine around here that's a pretty solid price, FEL or no.

 

[TheMadOne]

So does nobody own one of these? If it's that unpopular maybe I'm better off passing...

 

[oosik]

Hey - I just woke from my after-lunch nap. I have a 2009 M6040HD-1. Its been a great tractor for me. I've got 80 pine forested acres and a mile long gravel driveway. So I use it for snow plowing in the winter and with the grapple I move large rock, chunks of pine trees and brush in the summer.

I have a Wallenstein BX60s that chips the 750-900 small pines I thin each spring, the Land Pride GS2584 (LPGS) is used on my concrete hard driveway in the summer and since I got the grapple - Land Pride SGC1560 - I've not changed back to the bucket on the FEL.

With the grapple on the FEL, Rim Guard in the rear tires and my Rhino 950 8' rear blade attached - the unit tips the grain scales at 10,100 pounds.

I run R-1's on it - so any trip across my lawns, in the spring is going to leave a trail. Be happy to answer any questions you might have.

There is one area you must be aware of - if you now match you implements to the size and abilities of the M6040 - you will find they are considerably heavier and likewise considerably more costly. Using light duty implements on a utility tractor is false economy. You are not using the benefits of the larger tractor and what you paid for and you do run the risk of damaging lighter duty implements.

 

[TheMadOne]

My main use would be hooking a chain to it for pulling logs, and hitching a cart to it. I honestly don't need much in the way of implements. Nothing to bush cut, don't plan on a chipper(I make brush piles from the small branches I cut off of the trees I harvest and the stuff I clear with the ratchet rake, gives the birds a place to nest) I might want a rear blade for snow. I'm aware of the extra expense that would entail, but a 8ft heavy blade would, at least by my thinking, make much quicker work of the snow vs. a light 6ft behind the L3301.

My only real reason for focusing on this particular tractor is that it fits the criteria I have in my head for getting another tractor-reasonably low buck, bigger than the L by a good amount, 4x4(can't imagine I'd ever be satisfied by a 2 wheel drive tractor after seeing how much you gain from 4x4), shuttle shift(hydraulic at that), class two hitch(my dad had a Allis 180 when I was a kid, while the tractor is long gone there's still a three bottom plow and some other odds and ends floating around), and fairly new-which hopefully means financing would be possible. The hours I'm really not sure about, but most people suggest that a well maintained tractor has 10k hours in the engine before rebuild, and I doubt I'd ever use the 5-6K left in it. Hoses and fittings are no big deal for me, so that leaves tires and electrical as my main concerns.

 

[oosik]

I don't know about your hours/year but my 2009 has a little less than 500. At my use rate - I would have to live a second life to get full use of the tractor. The highest use hours is my chipping activities, I would estimate around 30 - 40 hours per year. The tractor runs around 2100 rpm to get 540 rpm PTO speed and it uses around 1.5 gallons of fuel/hour at that setting. I think, based upon my experience, you are looking at a stout utility tractor that will last you a long time.

I also think you are looking at this the correct way - its not so much the 4K hours as it is how the tractor was maintained.

 

[moriboy]

The M 40 series tractors are nice machines. I rarely see any negative reviews on them. Mine only has 500 hours on it, but so far it hasn't missed a beat. If you need a tractor that is going to be used for ground engaging tasks, the M will be much better than the small L.

 

[TheMadOne]

Finally saw some pictures, and this thing is rough! Looks like three new rim hoops and a lot of surface rust on the centers and remaining old hoop. Fenders are rotted through. I'm guessing fluid filled tires, but I can't believe the level of rust on the thing.

I'll swing by and look at it in person, but it's definitely lost the shine it had when I didn't know how bad the rust was.

 

[oosik]

Interesting. I wonder what sort of environment would cause the paint on the underside of the fenders to come off and rust clear thru the fender.

If you can get past the rust - don't forget to ask to see their maintenance schedule on the unit.