Some tractor's options

[nwind]

Since I can't get tractor which I was about to buy (one year old Kubota M9960 w. FEL) because owner in the last moment decide to keep it I would appreciate your opinion with some possible options and they real value for the new one which most likely I'm going to get.

I went to another dealership looking for used one and they offered me more attractive prices for new machines than my previous quote. Either M8560 or M9960 (Price difference is ~ $6000).

Intended tractor usage is to handle big round bales (just unload them on delivery and load them to the feeder), move manure (spread it in the feature?), bush hog, cleaning some trees, snow plow, move some dirt, fencing, clear some grounds (move stones, old tree parts, etc), dig bigger pond, pallet work, and so on.

I'm not yet to cut grass on my fields (~ 85 workable acres in 6 roughly equal fields) and start baling this year (I think) but most likely will do it starting next season and probably will try to plant some crops in one or two fields. For the hay most likely it's going to be small square bales not big rounds.

Here is the list of my questions:

1. Tires. I can get it with radial Michelin tires or ~ $2400 less with Firestone tires. I'm not anticipating put more than a few hundred hours every year on it. Mostly yard work, some field work and snow cleaning.
Are Michelin rubber really worth that extra $$?
I usually have Michelin tires on my cars and don't regret it but not sure about tractor for intended usage and for resale value later.

Shall I get it with industrial tires and save even more or they traction for the any field work and even dropping round bales will be really bad?

2. Cast centres - I'll take it for sure

3. Loaded rear tires?

4. 3rd function for FEL (~ $1700). Nice to have it for the snow blade and other implements but technically it can be connected to one of the rear remotes.

5. Self levelling loader. Most likely I will take it. Should be really handy for pallet work.

6. 82" or 72" bucket. Price difference is negligible.

7. Hooks on FEL bucket. Yes for sure.

8. Loader soft drive (technically a hydraulic damper). Can be good moving on uneven terrain with load.

9. Switch to to ON/OFF soft drive (~$300)?

10. 3rd rear remote?

11. Drawbar clevis. Yes.

12. FEL Grapple? For sure need 3rd function for that. Can be useful for clearing but not sure how much is it. Technically for occasional work can be done with either pallet fork or manure fork I guess.

13. Float function for rear remotes? Don't know how much. For scraper or blade.

14. Hydraulic top link?

15. Wide mount rear wheels?

16. Get it with 12 gears or 24 gears ($2700 extra)?

Anything else is missing what I should get together with tractor and what is easier to get now?

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions!

 

[Roadbuilder6]

I can tell you really like kubota, but have you considered brands like John Deere 5085m/5095m, Case 85/95/105c , Massey Fergueson 4610 etc. Kubota makes a fine tractor but you these are just as good if not better.

 

[nwind]

To be honest I didn't spent that much time looking for different brands details as for Kubota.
I'm sure they are as good (Kubota is better on price as I know) but I need jus something which works and don't give me any headache and I can't complain for my last two years with Kubota L3800HST.
I can't spend another weeks looking for all of the options/prices on every other brand. It's a good season now and there are plenty of things to do

I would appreciate your opinion and suggestions on options/questions

 

[DT86]

I have a 9540 open station, 12 speed.

1) Don't know about the tires, I have Titan
Radials.

2-3) I have cast wheels, loaded tires AND two sets of rear wheel weights. I thought it was a little over kill until I drove the same tractor
without the loaded tires. Huge difference in pucker factor while handling high moisture hay bales.

4) Mine has 3rd function which I use for a root grapple. In my opinion it is leaps and bounds above using a rear remote.

Buy it with the tractor and get it financed with everything else. You'll never notice the difference in cost come payment time.

5) I have the self leveling valve and wouldn't be without.

6) Honestly can't remember which bucket I have. I'm guessing the larger one. Make sure it covers the front wheel tracks.

7) Added my own for less than the dealer
wanted.

8-9) Don't have it, might be nice. Dunno.

10) Wish I'd added it when I bought it. (See second part of #4)

11) Same as #7.

12) Love mine, very handy for clearing old fences, trees, ect.

13) One with, one without for me.

14) Will have one as soon as I can.

15) Mine aren't as wide as they can go and this tractor will stick to the hills.

16) 12 is good for me, 24 would be better, IMHO.

 

[nwind]

Thanks a lot for your input DT86!

 

[nwind]

BTW do you think extra 14.5 HP on 9960 is worse an extra $6000 vs. 8560?
Otherwise both tractors are almost identical (except 24 gears can be only on M9960).

 

[DT86]

$6000 sounds like a lot, and is. I got lucky and bought a very low hour 9540 demo for basically the same money as a 8540.

I've driven both (8540 & 9540) after I bought mine and to me it would be worth the money now knowing the difference in power. If I'd never driven both it's doubtful I would appreciate the extra power though.

On the other hand if you're spending a ton of money, what's another $6k? Lol

 

[nwind]

$6K is a $6K

Where do you see this difference? Which type of the work? Heavy field work?

 

[TripleR]

Here is the list of my questions:

1. Sorry, I've no experience with radials and have been happy with the Titan, I did get the same OEM size on my M8540 as come on the M9540.

"Shall I get it with industrial tires and save even more or they traction for the any field work and even dropping round bales will be really bad?" I wouldn't, we have Industrials on our L5740 and they are fine, but really need the added traction on our M8540.

2. Cast centres - I'll take it for sure. Agreed and along will filled tires you might even consider wheel weights, we don't have them and do OK with ballast on 3PH.

3. Loaded rear tires? Yes

4. 3rd function for FEL (~ $1700). Nice to have it for the snow blade and other implements but technically it can be connected to one of the rear remotes. Yes, I have third function on my L5740, but run the grapple off a rear remote, third function is much easier.

5. Self leveling loader. Most likely I will take it. Should be really handy for pallet work. Great for pallet work, we've had one and didn't need it, so one of those if you need it get it now.

6. 82" or 72" bucket. Price difference is negligible. 82"

7. Hooks on FEL bucket. Yes for sure.

8. Loader soft drive (technically a hydraulic damper). Can be good moving on uneven terrain with load. Beats me, I don't have it, but might be nice, not sure it's worth the money as ours is fine as is.

9. Switch to to ON/OFF soft drive (~$300)? See #8

10. 3rd rear remote? YES!

11. Drawbar clevis. We bought one cheaper aftermarket.

12. FEL Grapple? For sure need 3rd function for that. Can be useful for clearing but not sure how much is it. Technically for occasional work can be done with either pallet fork or manure fork I guess. That is a tough one, we just got a grapple and love it, but we have three farms and about 180 acres in woods and brush, so it saves us a bunch of time over forks which we used for yeas. We wouldn't have bothered on smaller acreage.

13. Float function for rear remotes? Don't know how much. For scraper or blade. Yes

14. Hydraulic top link? YES!

15. Wide mount rear wheels? Like DT86, ours are not at full width, next to it, ovrszd has his at full extension, so one of those "it depends".

16. Get it with 12 gears or 24 gears ($2700 extra)? We've never needed more than 12/12, not worth the money for us, but we don't "farm".

Anything else is missing what I should get together with tractor and what is easier to get now? Air ride seat, we like a rear wiper, some don't.

 

[nwind]

Thank you!

All Canadian cab models by default with defrosters and rear wiper.

I need to add block heater to the list for sure.

 

[wmonroe]

I only have a 50 hp compact so take my answers for what they are worth, but I did try to answer as if I was buying. As far as 85 vs 95, for the uses you have described I would get the 85 and the tires from the 95 and also get the 1000 rpm pto option.

2. Cast centres - I'll take it for sure
Yes!

3. Loaded rear tires?
Yes!

4. 3rd function for FEL (~ $1700). Nice to have it for the snow blade and other implements but technically it can be connected to one of the rear remotes.
I would get the third function if you get the grapple and snow blade.

6. 82" or 72" bucket. Price difference is negligible.
82"

7. Hooks on FEL bucket. Yes for sure.
Yes

10. 3rd rear remote?
Yes! I only did two but should have done three.

13. Float function for rear remotes? Don't know how much. For scraper or blade.
I would get two of the three with the float function.

14. Hydraulic top link?
Yes!

15. Wide mount rear wheels?
For me it would be yes but I don't know your terrain.

16. Get it with 12 gears or 24 gears ($2700 extra)?
If I was buying then I would get the 24.

Anything else is missing what I should get together with tractor and what is easier to get now?

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions!

 

[nwind]

Thanks for your suggestions! 24 gears only available on M9960 so with M8560 best option is 12.

Why would I need 3 rear remotes (trying to understand where I can use them)?
Dealer suggested that 2 is enough for that size of tractor and only very specific equipment needs 3 valves.

 

[wmonroe]

Thanks for your suggestions! 24 gears only available on M9960 so with M8560 best option is 12. Why would I need 3 rear remotes (trying to understand where I can use them)? Dealer suggested that 2 is enough for that size of tractor and only very specific equipment needs 3 valves.

Forgot you mentioned the 24 speed was only available on the 9560.

If you get a top and tilt kit you will use two of your remotes, if you get three then you will still have one to use with implements.

 

[motownbrowne]

Top cylinder, tilt cylinder, and a spare. I guess if you have two you could swap them out for use with other implements that don't use the t&t.

Honestly, I don't have any remotes, which makes me at least two short, and someone who uses all three will hopefully chime in here with great insight.

 

[TripleR]

My Land Pride HR3584 uses all three rear remotes on my L5740. When we bought our M8540 I never thought I would own an HR3584, plan for the future much cheaper.

Kubota Top-n-Tilt Kit with Land Pride HR2572 Box Scraper - YouTube

 

[nwind]

I see where is going

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Thanks for your suggestions! 24 gears only available on M9960 so with M8560 best option is 12.

Why would I need 3 rear remotes (trying to understand where I can use them)?
Dealer suggested that 2 is enough for that size of tractor and only very specific equipment needs 3 valves.[/QUOTE]

This cracks me up. :laughing: A dealer, let alone anyone saying that a tractor of any certain size only needs 2 rear remotes. :confused2: Unless they happen to know exactly what you will be doing with your tractor, how the heck do they know how many rear remotes you need.

I have a 32hp tractor with 7 remotes. 4 rear remotes, 2 mid remotes for the loader and 1 FEL 3rd function remote. I suppose that your dealer would think that the 2 mid remotes is all that would be needed, after all, it is only a 32hp tractor. :no:

 

[MHarryE]

Since I can't get tractor which I was about to buy (one year old Kubota M9960 w. FEL) because owner in the last moment decide to keep it I would appreciate your opinion with some possible options and they real value for the new one which most likely I'm going to get.

I went to another dealership looking for used one and they offered me more attractive prices for new machines than my previous quote. Either M8560 or M9960 (Price difference is ~ $6000).

Intended tractor usage is to handle big round bales (just unload them on delivery and load them to the feeder), move manure (spread it in the feature?), bush hog, cleaning some trees, snow plow, move some dirt, fencing, clear some grounds (move stones, old tree parts, etc), dig bigger pond, pallet work, and so on.

I'm not yet to cut grass on my fields (~ 85 workable acres in 6 roughly equal fields) and start baling this year (I think) but most likely will do it starting next season and probably will try to plant some crops in one or two fields. For the hay most likely it's going to be small square bales not big rounds.

Here is the list of my questions:

1. Tires. I can get it with radial Michelin tires or ~ $2400 less with Firestone tires. I'm not anticipating put more than a few hundred hours every year on it. Mostly yard work, some field work and snow cleaning.
Are Michelin rubber really worth that extra $$?
I usually have Michelin tires on my cars and don't regret it but not sure about tractor for intended usage and for resale value later.

Shall I get it with industrial tires and save even more or they traction for the any field work and even dropping round bales will be really bad.

- are the Firestones radials or bias? The Michelins are only worth it if they are radials. We have a combination of Firestone, Goodyear(European Goodyear which are still Goodyear, not Titan with Goodyear name), And Titan. They are all vastly superior to our previous bias ply tires.

2. Cast centres - I'll take it for sure

- a must for this tractor

3. Loaded rear tires?

- we don't have a dealer within 100 miles that can handle filled tires and we don't want to mess with it anymore. Beet juice, washer fluid or CaCl, they are all a nuisance if you need to do anything with a tire but if the tractor feels uncomfortable with your loader work, it may be your best choice.

4. 3rd function for FEL (~ $1700). Nice to have it for the snow blade and other implements but technically it can be connected to one of the rear remotes.

5. Self levelling loader. Most likely I will take it. Should be really handy for pallet work.

- like my self leveling loader on my M135GX but it tends to over-level. If my pallet forks are level at 5 feet above ground level, they will be pointed up when I lower the loader to the ground.

6. 82" or 72" bucket. Price difference is negligible.

7. Hooks on FEL bucket. Yes for sure.

8. Loader soft drive (technically a hydraulic damper). Can be good moving on uneven terrain with load.

- assume this is KRS or Kubota Ride System. Only problem I have had with mine is the dealer's mechanic left a hose connector loose on installation and I lost a couple gallons of oil and a swath of hay from the oil spray the first time I used it.

9. Switch to to ON/OFF soft drive (~$300)? I didn't know this was available. I have a 90 degree valve by the loader connector. It might be nice to have the switch but I change it so seldom I wouldn't order it and install now.

10. 3rd rear remote? I have 4 rear remotes because the dealer ordered it that way. Lost the use of one remote when an implement hitch broke and pulled the hose out at an angle damaging the valve so it will need to be replaced. Nice to have a spare or two.

11. Drawbar clevis. Yes.

- our Deeres come with a special clevis that is made for the safety chains on our newer implements. Better than the standard clevis from a farm store in that they are more compact. That would be the only reason to get one from the dealer instead of a garage sale.

12. FEL Grapple? For sure need 3rd function for that. Can be useful for clearing but not sure how much is it. Technically for occasional work can be done with either pallet fork or manure fork I guess.

13. Float function for rear remotes? Don't know how much. For scraper or blade.

- you will probably find use for at least one remote with float. I have 2 on the M136GX and none on the L6740, will likely buy one with float to add to the L5740.

14. Hydraulic top link?

- wouldn't be without it on my L5740 but I don't think anyone offers something beefy enough for the larger tractors. Having broke the end of the top link cylinder on the L5740, I would never want that to happen on the larger tractors; however, our larger tractors almost never use the top link.

15. Wide mount rear wheels?

16. Get it with 12 gears or 24 gears ($2700 extra)?

- is the 24 speed a 18% or so shift under load downshift? If so well worth the money. Even if not a person would be surprised how useful the extra speeds can be even if there are a number of gears that are never used. It's getting a lot of different speeds in the working range. In my case one example is chopping hay for my brother-in-law. Depending on windrow size I have 3 choices (typical windrow size here) while my BIL has only 1 that will work on the older International he uses on his identical chopper so although I have 15 fewer horsepower, I always get more loads chopped per day.

Anything else is missing what I should get together with tractor and what is easier to get now?

- you didn't 't mention the loader gang coupler. I have that on my M135GX even though I only remove the loader when chopping hay (otherwise I like the loader instead of installing front end weights). I would never buy it if I were buying again. Mine failed and the replacement is now seeping. I may return to 4 individual couplers again like I used when Kubota took 8 weeks to get a replacement for my original failed multi-coupler.

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Harry, I wish that you would have let me know that your top link end broke. I have changed suppliers a couple of times since you bought your T&T set. New stuff is quite a bit better and bigger. I have some cat 2 ends that are 3 3/8" in dia and my now std cat 2 ends are 3". Even have cat 3 stuff available. You need a top link for your 135? No problem.

 

[MHarryE]

Harry, I wish that you would have let me know that your top link end broke. I have changed suppliers a couple of times since you bought your T&T set. New stuff is quite a bit better and bigger. I have some cat 2 ends that are 3 3/8" in dia and my now std cat 2 ends are 3". Even have cat 3 stuff available. You need a top link for your 135? No problem.

I did tell you, Brian, and you solved my problem. I returned the cylinder and you welded a Cat 2 rod on the barrel. You also rotated it 90 per my request because when located on the side, the upper link nuts hit the side port 90 degree fitting when the 3 point was shifted right to get extra back blade extension and the side tilt was down to tilt the blade for ditching. I drilled out the holes in the brackets on the tractor so I could install a Cat 2 pin instead of sleeving the Cat 1 so with the beefed up mounting and ports on top I've had no problems. Great service and many thanks to you - I have given several recommendations when people have asked where to get their Top 'N Tilt from.

I haven't found a need for a tilt on the 135. Almost all the implements are either pull type or semi-mounted. The only thing I have used as 3 point on it is my bale spear but I only use that for moving bales to the trailer. I always load with the front spear.

My reason for mentioning reluctance for a rear hydraulic upper link is the very heavy load capability on large tractors and the bounce the can be subjected to. I had the unfortunate experience of being an expert witness in a case where a cylinder end broke off letting a machine component drop resulting in horrendous injuries to the operator. He had failed to use the safety stop provided and his case was originally dismissed but the design expert his lawyer hired discovered that a part had not been made to our print spec. If it was built right the failure would not have happened so the case was reinstated and we settled out of court, but we were obliged to get reimbursement from the supplier who made the defective part for us and they would not settle without a court battle. What you see on television - kids stuff. Our lawyers promised me 15 minutes max verifying who built the part. Cross examination - engineering expert so anything goes. A day and a half later I left the courtroom rode hard and put up wet but we won, although if you saw the operator you would say nobody won. There was no money that could compensate him for his injuries.