priced out a L47 and M63

[mike69440]

You already have a good L45. You could just add to it.
Why replace it with something roughly the same?

First thing on my list would be some rear remotes. I think you already have SSQA and front remotes.
You can sell me that front 4n1 bucket if it will fit SSQA.
Get yourself a good full size round back bucket with replaceable edge.

Then change the BH bucket attachment coupler to the K7543 type quick connector ($1000). You do that because the K7543 is the same quick coupler used on Kubota CE series Excavators and once you are coupling with that you have all kinds of options you can run on the hoe, including the tilt and rotating buckets.

You can use your old BH buckets with the K7543 coupler by welding on Kubota's conversion ears.

Be nice to add an air seat plus "comfort ride" to store energy in the loader arms.
Have you thought about a fold out windshield?

There you have it; a much more capable - & interesting - L45 for way less dollars.
rScotty

I have my L39 reinforced and weighted to about #8200 Lbs. I have upsized the Hydraulic Cylinders 5mm in diameter To 60mm Lift, and 65mm Curl cylinders, giving the machine the same loader capacity as an older L48.
Tractor could use another 15 HP, but is is much stronger than a typical Grand L.
An excavator is the way to go, and you should keep and upgrade the L45.

 

[M59]

Interesting. I have the quick coupler BH bucket but I believe it is different than the Kubota excavator buckets. Love the air ride seat idea, never understood why they put such a cheesy seat on something someone spends hours on. My ZD326 mower has a lazy boy feeling seat compared to the folding chair feel of the L45.

Workallthetime,

My M59, bought used, arrived with 24" pin on bucket and after searching around for alternate width buckets and researching the M59 TLB quick coupler, I decided to go aftermarket and have custom coupler created to provide access to the Kubota mini excavator quick attach buckets ( KX121 KX040 KX71 KX91 U35 KX033, U17, KX018, U35, U55, KX080 ) and other tools hung off the Kubota excavators. The above mini x's use the K7870 quick coupler which is not compatible with Kubota TLB's ( L45, M59 etc ) pin spacing so USA Attachments made a quick coupler with M59 pin spacing and couples to the mini x buckets. easy peasy.

Finding used Kubota QA hoe buckets is like finding hens teeth whereas the used market for mini x buckets is huge and much less expensive.

Here are some pics

 

[M59]

You already have a good L45. You could just add to it.
Why replace it with something roughly the same?

First thing on my list would be some rear remotes. I think you already have SSQA and front remotes.
You can sell me that front 4n1 bucket if it will fit SSQA.
Get yourself a good full size round back bucket with replaceable edge.

Then change the BH bucket attachment coupler to the K7543 type quick connector ($1000). You do that because the K7543 is the same quick coupler used on Kubota CE series Excavators and once you are coupling with that you have all kinds of options you can run on the hoe, including the tilt and rotating buckets.

You can use your old BH buckets with the K7543 coupler by welding on Kubota's conversion ears.

Be nice to add an air seat plus "comfort ride" to store energy in the loader arms.
Have you thought about a fold out windshield?

There you have it; a much more capable - & interesting - L45 for way less dollars.
rScotty

I'm agreeing with rScotty, You have a low hours, very versatile L45. The larger TLB's are extremely good for homeowner/ small contractors since they can use so many attachments. About the only thing they lack is ability to run 15 gpm hydraulic attachments off the FEL. I'm currently working a solution to that so I can run a SSQA trencher and various other higher flow hydraulic tools off the FEL.

The TLB is a great all -around tool that does many tasks well but it is not a bulldozer, or an excavator, or a telehandler.

Have fun adding implements to the L45 to make it more capable.

 

[Smokeydog]

Workallthetime,

My M59, bought used, arrived with 24" pin on bucket and after searching around for alternate width buckets and researching the M59 TLB quick coupler, I decided to go aftermarket and have custom coupler created to provide access to the Kubota mini excavator quick attach buckets ( KX121 KX040 KX71 KX91 U35 KX033, U17, KX018, U35, U55, KX080 ) and other tools hung off the Kubota excavators. The above mini x's use the K7870 quick coupler which is not compatible with Kubota TLB's ( L45, M59 etc ) pin spacing so USA Attachments made a quick coupler with M59 pin spacing and couples to the mini x buckets. easy peasy.

Finding used Kubota QA hoe buckets is like finding hens teeth whereas the used market for mini x buckets is huge and much less expensive.

Here are some pics

Who made your M59 quick coupler? Cost?

Your right about the M59 buckets are hard to find, especially pin on.

Messicks told me the Kubota excavator QA was not compatible with my thumb. New thumb too expensive $3K in addition to new coupler. There was only one thumb option for the M59. M62 has two thumb options depending on what QA coupler.

Hopefully you found a good solution.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

I had a m62 without a thumb and bought a kx040 With a thumb. I’m pretty sure the m62 qa was the same as the kx040 and fit.

 

[Garyfisher]

I'm agreeing with rScotty, You have a low hours, very versatile L45. The larger TLB's are extremely good for homeowner/ small contractors since they can use so many attachments. About the only thing they lack is ability to run 15 gpm hydraulic attachments off the FEL. I'm currently working a solution to that so I can run a SSQA trencher and various other higher flow hydraulic tools off the FEL.

The TLB is a great all -around tool that does many tasks well but it is not a bulldozer, or an excavator, or a telehandler.

Have fun adding implements to the L45 to make it more capable.

How close are you to your hydraulic solution? I am on the verge of a mini x with a mulching head but would love it if I could run a skid steer mulcher off my L47.

 

[M59]

How close are you to your hydraulic solution? I am on the verge of a mini x with a mulching head but would love it if I could run a skid steer mulcher off my L47.

GaryFisher,

Project is going slowly so not close due to higher priority projects keep ( honey do's ) moving in front of this. The M59's hydraulic pump, dedicated to hydraulic needs other than the HST, is rated for 16 GPM at 3K psi so system is capable but more work needs done to determine exactly what needs modified to enable the desired hydraulic attachments up front.

 

[4570Man]

How close are you to your hydraulic solution? I am on the verge of a mini x with a mulching head but would love it if I could run a skid steer mulcher off my L47.

I’ve never had a mulcher for my mini x but watching videos of them I wasn’t that excited with the hydraulic recovery time. They look like more of a clean up with precision tool vs a mow down the whole overgrown field tool. I decided a mower for my skid steer would be a better solution.

 

[Jchonline]

I had a m62 without a thumb and bought a kx040 With a thumb. I’m pretty sure the m62 qa was the same as the kx040 and fit.

It is I can confirm.

UPDATE: I should say the M62 with thumb QA is the same as the KX040 QA in the US .

 

[Jchonline]

Why are we responding to posts from Nov 2021?

 

[M59]

Why are we responding to posts from Nov 2021?

Because we have "nothing" better to do. Okay, enough with the snarky comment.

If SmokeyDog wants to contribute, he looked into the quick couplers for M59 and M62. Outcome was M59 QC was specific to only the M59 quick attach buckets and NOT capable of mating to the KX series buckets. The M62 quick coupler came in two forms and were compatible with KX buckets. One QC was specific to the M62 with thumb and another QC was specific to machines without the thumb. Either M62 QC was approx. $3,000.

All of the above is why I went aftermarket with a cross over quick coupler that mates to M59 and the KX / U series Kubota mini excavators ( post 22 ) for considerably less than Kubota's offerings.

 

[newbury]

Nothing better to do.

 

[rScotty]

Because we have "nothing" better to do. Okay, enough with the snarky comment.

If SmokeyDog wants to contribute, he looked into the quick couplers for M59 and M62. Outcome was M59 QC was specific to only the M59 quick attach buckets and NOT capable of mating to the KX series buckets. The M62 quick coupler came in two forms and were compatible with KX buckets. One QC was specific to the M62 with thumb and another QC was specific to machines without the thumb. Either M62 QC was approx. $3,000.

All of the above is why I went aftermarket with a cross over quick coupler that mates to M59 and the KX / U series Kubota mini excavators ( post 22 ) for considerably less than Kubota's offerings.

That's right on the M59. Back then Kubota only offered two M59 BH couplers - one pin on type and one QA type. I'm wondering if the company SmokeyDog used for his adapter could design a coupler adapter that would fit onto our M59 QA coupler and allow the use of KX/U mini-ex attachments and/or buckets.

rScotty

 

[M59]

That's right on the M59. Back then Kubota only offered two M59 BH couplers - one pin on type and one QA type. I'm wondering if the company SmokeyDog used for his adapter could design a coupler adapter that would fit onto our M59 QA coupler and allow the use of KX/U mini-ex attachments and/or buckets.

rScotty

rScotty,

USA Attachments is the company that makes a quick coupler that pins onto a M59 and couples to the KX/ U series Kubota mini excavator bucket line and any Kubota or aftermarket attachment fitting the KX/U quick coupler. See post 22 for the installation of the USA Attachments quick coupler. This coupler is compatible with the M59 thumb with a few very very minor alterations of the thumb, the quick coupler, and each KX bucket. SmokeyDog and I have discussed the alterations and he indicated he has moved forward with a coupler and buckets purchase.

I have been using the M59/KX quick coupler for a number of projects and am very pleased with the ease of bucket changes which take under one minute. Most of the time is spent walking from backhoe operator station to the bucket to remove the locking pin and then again to replace pin when new bucket in place.

I will post the purchase details related to purchasing the PGC100 quick coupler, that USA Attachments requires to build it compatible with M59, and needed alterations and appropriate spacer/ shaft collar details if there is interest.

 

[Smokeydog]

Mr M59 ingenuity has figured out how to economically, with a little modification, adapt the pin-on Kubota bucket with thumb to the more universal excavator quick coupler style. This increases the versatility and availability of attachments is quite remarkable.

Deserving its’ own thread topic in Kubota owning operating section. M59 owners as well as similar Kubota model backhoes could benefit. This solves many issues I was having. Upgrading to quick attachments and finding compatible buckets/attachments.

I have ordered the same USA Attachments coupler Mr M59 has detailed. Coupler with two buckets have about a 5 week delivery.

The USA Attachments coupler and TWO excavator buckets cost less than just the Kubota coupler and thumb upgrade from Messicks.

Awesome job M59!

 

[mikester]

FYI the Canadian M59 uses a different BH QA unicorn. You can buy new ears from K to weld onto different buckets to convert them to QA for about $180.

Have you seen the skidsteer like mini-x?

MECALAC | 10MCR, New Crawler Skid-Excavator, compact and innovative!

MECALAC | New 10MCR Crawler Skid-Excavator: choose a high-performance mechanical and hydraulic excavator. Compact, versatile crawler excavator: fast chassis...

www.mecalac.com

It's a mini-x with the travel speed of a CTL. Check out videos online, I saw one demo a unit with a grapple and towing it's own trailer, sorry I can't find the link yet.

 

[rScotty]

Because we have "nothing" better to do. Okay, enough with the snarky comment.

If SmokeyDog wants to contribute, he looked into the quick couplers for M59 and M62. Outcome was M59 QC was specific to only the M59 quick attach buckets and NOT capable of mating to the KX series buckets. The M62 quick coupler came in two forms and were compatible with KX buckets. One QC was specific to the M62 with thumb and another QC was specific to machines without the thumb. Either M62 QC was approx. $3,000.

All of the above is why I went aftermarket with a cross over quick coupler that mates to M59 and the KX / U series Kubota mini excavators ( post 22 ) for considerably less than Kubota's offerings.

That's not quite how I remember it. Maybe SmokeyDog should chime in.

My notes say that the M62 has a choice of two different BackHoe QAs and each has its own thumb. Thumbs are not interchangeable.
One M62 QA fits the Kubota M62 buckets (& possibly the M59QA buckets).
The other M62 QA fits KX buckets.

 

[rScotty]

Mr M59 ingenuity has figured out how to economically, with a little modification, adapt the pin-on Kubota bucket with thumb to the more universal excavator quick coupler style. This increases the versatility and availability of attachments is quite remarkable.

Deserving its’ own thread topic in Kubota owning operating section. M59 owners as well as similar Kubota model backhoes could benefit. This solves many issues I was having. Upgrading to quick attachments and finding compatible buckets/attachments.

I have ordered the same USA Attachments coupler Mr M59 has detailed. Coupler with two buckets have about a 5 week delivery.

The USA Attachments coupler and TWO excavator buckets cost less than just the Kubota coupler and thumb upgrade from Messicks.

Awesome job M59!

What are you going to do with your old M59 pin-on buckets? Weld on new KX type ears?

 

[M59]

What are you going to do with your old M59 pin-on buckets? Weld on new KX type ears?

rScotty,

The 24" pin on bucket is in limbo since USA Attachments also delivered a replacement KX 24" quick attach excavating bucket. I have a set of weld on ears to convert it to KX compatible quick coupler. I expect I will cut the pin on bucket up and make something unique, when a unique situation comes along. I never expect to return to pin on buckets since move to the really useful and convenient KX/U quick coupler modification.

 

[M59]

Mr M59 ingenuity has figured out how to economically, with a little modification, adapt the pin-on Kubota bucket with thumb to the more universal excavator quick coupler style. This increases the versatility and availability of attachments is quite remarkable.

Deserving its’ own thread topic in Kubota owning operating section. M59 owners as well as similar Kubota model backhoes could benefit. This solves many issues I was having. Upgrading to quick attachments and finding compatible buckets/attachments.

I have ordered the same USA Attachments coupler Mr M59 has detailed. Coupler with two buckets have about a 5 week delivery.

The USA Attachments coupler and TWO excavator buckets cost less than just the Kubota coupler and thumb upgrade from Messicks.

Awesome job M59!

Smokeydog,

Thank you for clarification to rScotty's response and attribution of M59 to KX quick coupler modification.

I will create a new thread specific to upgrading the M59 and L45/ L47 TLB to use the KX/ U series quick attach buckets and implements. New thread won't be for a few weeks. Too many honey do's in near term.