Questions about an M7040, especially ground speeds. Wife wants a new tractor ;-)

[Grateful11]

We went over to the dealer where we got the L3940 to check on something and she noticed a shiny new M5140 and a M7040 with a cab sitting there and said I wonder how much one of those are? Well that was enough for me to ask questions. They had an M5140 with Hydraulic Shuttle and the air seat but the M7040 had neither. Now the questions.
1. What are the ground speeds in each gear? The brochure only lists the M8540 and up speeds.
2. Is the air seat a good one or mediocre?
3. Is there any news of replacement models coming out soon in the M5140 to M7040 range. I saw online that the M8540 and M9540 is being replaced with the M8560 and M9960.
4. Has anyone bought one in the M5140 to M7040 range and wish you had ordered it with something different.

Here's what she's thinking now, 4WD, Cab, Air Seat, Hydraulic Shuttle, at least 2 sets rear Hydraulic Remotes, 4-6 front weights, the dealer has their own stereo options and possibly a loader. If she sells the IH 574 then she'll need a loader, she has too have a backup to feed the cows, the L3940 has a loader.

Now a couple more questions. We drove both tractors, the hydraulic shuttle is nice, much like the power reverse on her CaseIH 5140. I was a bit surprised that you couldn't shift from high range to low range without stopping. It says the main gears are fully synchronized, I didn't try but I'm assuming you can clutch and shift without stopping through the 4 speeds on the shifter. I wish it had more than 4 speeds in each range. This will be used primarily for some light field work, pulling her JD Grain drill, raking hay, bush hogging, hay handling if she gets a loader and maybe using it with the JD 448 round baler some. She has 2 tractors over 100hp so this seems like it might be a good replacement for the IH 574.

 

[big bubba]

all are top of line machines....but not worth the 2nd mortgage. are you sure you want to drop the (small) fortune?....i'm not one to talk, been there, done that....wonder how much of that $ stays here, how much goes over yonder in the purchase?
in all honesty you can beat any of what you're looking at. some of those recent upgrades are emissions related, and you are paying for "green" rather than big upgrades. but best of luck! sorry can't help more specifically. my 08 M8540 is the best machine i've owned (including my ex's) hyd shuttle is a must, & if dropping all that cash look into the HD tranny.

 

[Grateful11]

In the past 3 years she's made some fairly major equipment purchases ,none financed and no farm subsidies, if she can't pay it for she doesn't buy it.

Enlighten me on what you mean by, "if dropping all that cash look into the HD tranny".

OT: I didn't think or hope this would go into it but as far as money going seas that's just too bad, I've looked at Deere and virtually nothing on them are made here only assembled in GA. Even the Deere 6000 series is built in Mexico. A Deere in that range like a 5075M is nearly $15-20K more and the E series is made in India and you if I'm paying big money for green paint it sure as heck ain't coming from India. At least nearly everything I can locate a label on Kubota's is marked Japan.

 

[big bubba]

great! sounds like you are financially sound. back when i bought, the 85/9540 had a 6 sp. (vs 4 conventional) tranny (w/h&L range of course). the 6 speed was not only heavier duty, but also had higher lift cap on rear 3 pt lift (7600 lbs i think) now, i think that series tractor also has other tranny options. a quick visit to the site specs should answer you questions. Personally, the jump from the 7040 to 8540 (had both) is big & won't bore you with details. but go with hyd shuttle in whatever model you go with! (heavier duty wet clutch pack & ease of operation).

 

[Grateful11]

Thing is any heavy 3 pt implements she has there's the CaseIH 5140 that weighs in around 12K lbs. the way it's weighted and over 100hp. Most of her larger stuff is pull type anyway. I haven't really looked at the physical size difference between the 7040 and 8540 but will look into them.

 

[big bubba]

i didn't mean to steer you necessarily in that direction...you may do very well w/7040 in your application. 70series does have limited slip diff in ft., lower models do not. having had the 7040 for about 150 hrs, it's an exceptional tractor. & it's big brother, of course.

 

[TripleR]

I can't say anything about the M7040; went with an 8540 as we don't have any bigger tractors and already have some smaller 70 and under. How you are thinking of configuring yours is pretty much the way we wanted ours, but couldn't wait the six weeks so got the regular seat which is pretty comfortable. We wanted the cast centers, but after using it for over two years I am not sure it would have been worth the money for our uses, no heavy pulling.

The Hydraulic Shuttle Shift is very smooth and love the limited slip front differential. Our Case CX80 use to wind up stuck sliding into the pond while the Kubota keeps the front going straight by steering a bit up hill.

Ours shifts on the go, but not between ranges, but our Case didn't either so there's no difference.

Probably not much help, but I think the 7040 is a good tractor.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

great! sounds like you are financially sound. back when i bought, the 85/9540 had a 6 sp. (vs 4 conventional) tranny (w/h&L range of course). the 6 speed was not only heavier duty, but also had higher lift cap on rear 3 pt lift (7600 lbs i think) now, i think that series tractor also has other tranny options. a quick visit to the site specs should answer you questions. Personally, the jump from the 7040 to 8540 (had both) is big & won't bore you with details. but go with hyd shuttle in whatever model you go with! (heavier duty wet clutch pack & ease of operation).

FYI. the 6 spd is not heavier duty, nor does it increase the 3pt capacity. Its a simple factory option for more gears.

 

[big bubba]

yes but the "heavy duty" option includes the higher capacity rear hyd. (pump, etc) obviously, the tranny does not increase hyd by itself. the option itself is called Heavy duty, at least as the way i understood the option

 

[CCOUGHRAN1]

We went over to the dealer where we got the L3940 to check on something and she noticed a shiny new M5140 and a M7040 with a cab sitting there and said I wonder how much one of those are? Well that was enough for me to ask questions. They had an M5140 with Hydraulic Shuttle and the air seat but the M7040 had neither. Now the questions.
1. What are the ground speeds in each gear? The brochure only lists the M8540 and up speeds.
2. Is the air seat a good one or mediocre?
3. Is there any news of replacement models coming out soon in the M5140 to M7040 range. I saw online that the M8540 and M9540 is being replaced with the M8560 and M9960.
4. Has anyone bought one in the M5140 to M7040 range and wish you had ordered it with something different.

Here's what she's thinking now, 4WD, Cab, Air Seat, Hydraulic Shuttle, at least 2 sets rear Hydraulic Remotes, 4-6 front weights, the dealer has their own stereo options and possibly a loader. If she sells the IH 574 then she'll need a loader, she has too have a backup to feed the cows, the L3940 has a loader.

Now a couple more questions. We drove both tractors, the hydraulic shuttle is nice, much like the power reverse on her CaseIH 5140. I was a bit surprised that you couldn't shift from high range to low range without stopping. It says the main gears are fully synchronized, I didn't try but I'm assuming you can clutch and shift without stopping through the 4 speeds on the shifter. I wish it had more than 4 speeds in each range. This will be used primarily for some light field work, pulling her JD Grain drill, raking hay, bush hogging, hay handling if she gets a loader and maybe using it with the JD 448 round baler some. She has 2 tractors over 100hp so this seems like it might be a good replacement for the IH 574.

I too have a 2010 L3940, and just last week I went to the dealer with the intent on purchasing a M5140cab. I opted for the M7040, and have only put about 10 hours on it so far.
I'd have to look at the visor again to get exact speeds in each gear, but I do know it tops out around 19.4mph. Which surprised me, because a M5040 that I frequently use will run on up to 24mph...

I can't speak for the larger models, other than to say that my dealer mentioned a huge price increase in the near future. I think she said in the neighborhood of 10k per machine.