M7040 to M9540

[keving]

Just wondering if anybody has made the jump from an M7040 to M9540. If so, for what reason - other than MORE POWER!:thumbsup:

When you made the jump, what was the biggest difference? The cab is the same, there's obviously an additional 25 turbo-charged horses, bigger tires, and a bigger loader and 3PH. What I'd like to know is what is the "wow this is way better" items.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[Verticaltrx]

I don't have a lot of experience with the M7040, but one of our neighbors has one and I've used it some. My father has a M9540 which I use a fair bit for round baling and running a 15' batwing bush hog.

The things I have noticed:

I like the 12 speed transmission on the 9540 much better than the 8 speed on the 7040. Better spaced gears and the transmission lock for parking is a lot better than the brake pedal lock on the 7040 IMO.

3pt hitch on the 9540 is MUCH stronger. 7500lbs vs 3300lbs

Of course the loader on the 9540 lifts more/higher.

The 7040 seemed to ride smoother, it had standard bias ply tires, the radials on the 9540 'rattle' the tractor a lot when you have the tires going down a crowned road or something (I think this is due to the very square shoulder lugs). If you get a 9540 get it with bias ply tires if possible.

Our neighbor got the 7040 over the 8540/9540 because he uses it to feed cattle in the winter and thought it wouldn't be good to start the tractor up and run it for a short time and then shut it off (due to the turbo on the larger tractors) I'm not sure how much of an issue this really is, my father uses his the same way and just lets it warm up a minute or so if it's really cold.

Those are about the only difference I can think of from the limited amount of time I used a 7040. The 9540 just seems like a bigger tractor and has more mass to it. I wouldn't feel comfortable pulling our batwing bush hog behind a 7040. With that said, the 7040 also seemed handier for utility type tasks.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Just wondering if anybody has made the jump from an M7040 to M9540. If so, for what reason - other than MORE POWER!:thumbsup:

When you made the jump, what was the biggest difference? The cab is the same, there's obviously an additional 25 turbo-charged horses, bigger tires, and a bigger loader and 3PH. What I'd like to know is what is the "wow this is way better" items.

Thanks in advance for your input!

I decided to get a M8540 instead of the M7040 because the platform is bigger. All around bigger and beefier.

The M5040/M6040/M7040 are the same size platform. The M8540/M9540 are the same platform... but bigger than the M5040/M6040/M7040.

Since I decided to go with the M8540/M9540 size tractor, I had to decide between those two. I chose that size tractor because of physical size and capabilities rather than actually needing 85 or 95 HP. I got the ROPS version, and there is almost no difference between the M8540 and M9540 in the ROPS version. So I chose the M8540.

If you are going with CAB, I would get the M9540. There are a few neat features that you get on the M9540 that you don't get on the M8540 (CAB version) aside from the obvious extra 10 HP. One is automatic 4wd engagement when braking. Another is a "dual speed" which doubles your F12/R12 gears to be F24/R24. I don't remember the others, but I can look at my brochure in the morning and check.

But to answer your basic question, going from a M7040 to an M8540/M9540 gets you a bigger tractor, bigger tire/wheel options, bigger loader with more capacity, bigger 3ph, transmission parking lock (big deal I think), hydraulic brakes, 6-speed main gearbox option with Hydraulic Shuttle giving you F12/R12 (F24/R24 on M9540 because of the "dual speed")... I think there are more, but I can't remember them all. For not much more money, you get a lot.

 

[gwdixon]

I looked at both frames and went with the M7040. It was a huge step up from the L3650 so was an "eye-bugger" at the time. But I don't farm for a living so it was actually more tractor than needed. Very impressive.

My major qualifiers were the size of the M85/95 wouldn't fit in the barn and the rather steep increase in price. They are no doubt fine tractors but you'd better have a serious use for them.

 

[TripleR]

I have not driven an M7040, but before buying my M8540, I looked at and considered buying one. I went with the M8540 for the reasons mentioned by rjkobbeman and because I was replacing an 80 HP machine. I looked at an M9540, but after discussing it with the salesman decided there was no good reason to go with it. Money was not an issue on the initial cost, but the salesman said the fuel consumption was higher on the M8540 and I didn't need the added power. I have never regretted my decision; not knocking the M7040 or M9540.

 

[big bubba]

another diff not mentioned is the safety of 85/95 over the lesser models. the transmission lock ebrake is much more positive than the ratchet style. i basically work alone on my remote mt. farm and am up & down the tractor all the time. in addition extracting big boulders seems much easier (85) than the 7040 i previously owned. think the larger tires (esp on 95 model) would make a world of difference for ground engagement, etc. never looked back @ the 70 model since. do the bigger.

 

[art]

The front end has limited slip on the 85 and 9540 tractors.

 

[rjkobbeman]

The front end has limited slip on the 85 and 9540 tractors.

I M7040 has limited slip up front too.

 

[gwdixon]

I M7040 has limited slip up front too.

It does.

 

[TripleR]

It doesn't appear the OP is paying any attention anyway.

 

[keving]

If the OP is me, I'm listening!!! I'm also interested in the ride on radials vs. the bias ply tires on my M7040. I mow about 10 acres and I'm guessing the radials and the bigger tires will make a pretty big difference in the ride.

Thanks for all the replies :thumbsup:

 

[Verticaltrx]

If the OP is me, I'm listening!!! I'm also interested in the ride on radials vs. the bias ply tires on my M7040. I mow about 10 acres and I'm guessing the radials and the bigger tires will make a pretty big difference in the ride.

Thanks for all the replies :thumbsup:

As I stated before, I really don't like the radials on the 9540. They ride rough as a cob on any sort of crowned road. It really shakes the whole tractor as each lug hits. This is something I haven't experienced on any other 4wd tractor ranging in size from my little B3200 up to an 8070 Allis-Chalmers. On the highway the radials do ride nice though, no bounce or lope like some of our other tractors have. With that being said, it's a great tractor and I wouldn't let the tire choice affect your decision much.

 

[TripleR]

If the OP is me, I'm listening!!! I'm also interested in the ride on radials vs. the bias ply tires on my M7040. I mow about 10 acres and I'm guessing the radials and the bigger tires will make a pretty big difference in the ride.

Thanks for all the replies :thumbsup:

I would recommend the larger tires, but did not get the radials and from what Verticaltrx says, I am glad I didn't.

We mowed an estimated thirty acres on an 88 acre property this year and the ride was quite good.

 

[keving]

Traded the 7040 for the 9540 today. Take delivery next week after the third function remote is installed. I'm looking forward to the upgrades! Thanks for all your input.

 

[TripleR]

Traded the 7040 for the 9540 today. Take delivery next week after the third function remote is installed. I'm looking forward to the upgrades! Thanks for all your input.

So how did you equip it?

Don't forget the pictures.

 

[keving]

9540 HDC 4WD Cab 12/12
Loader w/84" bucket
3rd Function Remote
2 Rear Remotes
Radial tires (came on the tractor)

This is basically the same setup as my 7040. I'm looking forward to "breaking it in" and getting ready for some snow this winter.

 

[doall]

super nice tractor Keving. My uncle has that same tractor, It is a BEAST.

 

[TripleR]

I believe you will really like it, we are very happy with ours though I would like to have had the heavy wheels and HD bucket. We put hooks on ours and before we got the time to reinforce the bucket bent the center hook.

We put WWF in the tires, winters here aren't very bad.

 

[red4now]

9540 HDC 4WD Cab 12/12
Loader w/84" bucket
3rd Function Remote
2 Rear Remotes
Radial tires (came on the tractor)

This is basically the same setup as my 7040. I'm looking forward to "breaking it in" and getting ready for some snow this winter.

Cast iron rims and tires fluid filled?

 

[Dargo]

9540 HDC 4WD Cab 12/12
Loader w/84" bucket
3rd Function Remote
2 Rear Remotes
Radial tires (came on the tractor)

This is basically the same setup as my 7040. I'm looking forward to "breaking it in" and getting ready for some snow this winter.

Sweet!! :thumbsup: At first in the little pic I thought you didn't get the cab. I was gonna ask exactly how tough you are if you're going to clear much snow. LOL Again, fantastic tractor! I'm sure you'll love it and it will serve you well for decades.

Now you can be like silly me. I really couldn't decide between being "heavy" and running loaded R1 tires and having a pulling beast or running "light" and running non-filled R4 tires for mowing stalks and loader work on pavement. So.....I bought both. I run the wide and tough R4 tires during the summer and sit the bucket off when I mow and then switch to the loaded R1 tires in the winter. Yeah, I'll tell you now, that isn't exactly a cheap way to go, but it works well for me so that's all that counts; right?

Oh yeah, I forgot, I also added the front fenders to keep the front tires from flinging mud and snow on my windshield. I don't want to talk about them though. I promptly tore them off when doing some land clearing.