utility tractors

[tooltimejim]

what do you think of Kubota tractors? IM LOOKING AT ONE IN THE 50HP RANGE /DIESEL/ 4WD/ will use it for mowing and general bucket work. input please. thanks, Jim

 

[phillipd]

I guess there's one or two ways to look at it.Those of us that have them all love them,and those who refuse to own anything but domestic who constantly put them down.We've had Kubota's around on our farm for what will be 10 years this spring.Had an M8200 for 3 years on lease,let it go back and took out another one for 5 years.When it was up,we leased another from another dealer because of major payment differences.After a month or two of having both around at the same time,we traded our 4610 ford in to purchace the M8200 we previously leased for 5 years.This summer we let the last M8200 we were leasing for a year and a half go back in to lease an M125X to lighten the load on our old Massey and give us a cab loader too.I can't say enough good about them.Anyone who doesn't like them either doesn't have one,or expected it to work like a tractor much heavier than they are.They will work and work,but they are meant to compete with similar tractors in their same weight catagory,and in my opinion are a better replacement than their other colored counterparts,both price,fuel consumption,reliability.pd.

 

[Ian Jones, Nanaimo, Can]

To anyone that bashes the japanese import tractors just ask them if they have ever tried to break a Ginsu knife.

 

[Misterfixit]

They're really good overall, especially considering what little time they've been around outside the compact market, but I have two complaints with them, which are probably only applicable to certain working environments, similar to what we do with the highway mowing. I'm just relaying what we have discovered, so you'll have to be the judge of that...

Firstly, the hydro shuttle M series laminate clutch packs can't take abuse. That said, they probably shouldn't have to I suppose but in the heat of the summer when our guys are constantly going forward/reverse and back again over and over and over 6 - 8 hours a day for days on end, it has proven to be more than the shuttle clutches can stand. Year before last we had two M105s and an M9540s hydro shuttle models all in the shop at one time because of this. Warranty covered it but you know how it is when you're grounded....

That said, we have an older M9540 with about 1200 hours on that has the synchro-shuttle tranny, and it has given no problems at all. That prompted my boss to order two new ones this year before the start of the grass season, and trade a couple of the others. True to form, the new ones hung in there just fine, no breakdowns. I think they've got about 700 hours a piece on them now. Found out you can't order anything bigger than a 9540 with synchro shuttle, though.

Other than that, we have also had a problem with the hydraulic remotes. Again we are putting them under a terrible strain because the operators are raising and lowering the wings on the mowers constantly.... no telling how many thousands of time a year. What I have seen on probably a dozen of them is that one of the internal cup seals or O rings will fail (not sure exactly which one because I've never done exploratory surgery, since they all go back under warranty), causing them to squirt fluid out the end plate when the valve is operated. Kubota doesn't service the valve, they replace the whole bloomin' thing even though it's just a bad seal. I've seen the invoices and I think they're close to $800 a piece, so be glad if your warranty covers it, just in case one of them goes bad on you.

One of the tractors had a different type valve on it that has NEVER given problems. I think the difference is with detents or without. If we can ever figure out how to spec the tractors that way this problem might just go away.

Other than that yes they are very good, especially when you look at it from a price/performance aspect. They're really working hard to penetrate the market with pricing incentives. Gonna be interesting to see where they are in 5 or 10 years.

 

[RodinNS]

I think you'll get along fine with it.
From what I've seen of them they're plenty good tractors for what they are, which is a light utility tractor.
For 90% of the work I do with tractors Kubota doesn't build anything I'd even consider. It's simply a weight issue. I'm running old Ford's that are ballasted down to over 12000# and punished...
Kubota is a good quality tractor at a good price. If the specs fit what you need, you probably won't do much better with any other. Just watch the specs.
It's also been my experience with 50 hp loader tractors that you can do a lot of damage to the tractor; particularly the front axle. Be careful what you lift and how hard you make it dig and spin...

Rod

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

One thing I'll add, maybe its not the same in the US, but they have sold utility tractors here since the 80's.

Like they all the posters said, buy based on the weight you need not the hp. They are a high hp / low weight unit like a Deere 5000 series.

 

[farmer boy]

I haven't been on this site for months but I'll add my 2 cents. I am a big fan of Kubota as some on here may know but I do not like the newer models as much. I have only driven 6 different models of kubotas. M6030 M8030 M5700 M6800 M5700 and M7040. Of all those models the 6030 and 8030, although the oldest are nicest to drive and the 3 middle models listed the worst but still not bad. The 6030 and 8030 are lower rpm engines and they'll lug more than the others. Whether of not this is because of the lower rpm engines I'm not sure but it likely has something to do with it. The 30 series has a bit of a problem running clean when cold and blows a bit of blue and white smoke but if you get it working hard enough it will put out a bit of black smoke. The guy that owns the 8030 can be hard on tractors and this one has not let him down. They are very tough tractors that will take just about anything you can throw at them. The 00 series has shuttle and dry clutch problems. The optional hydraulic shuttle solves that problem in most cases. They will not take abuse like the earlier series and have their weak spots. The 5700 is a light tractor and the front end will not take much abuse. It is a light 6 bolt hub that will give you problems if you do heavy loader work with it. The hub was recalled as far as I know but it was still replaced with a 6 bolt hub and the rim can still give you problems. The 6800 and 8200 don't have this problem unless you get stupid and throw a 10 foot manure bucket on it. The 7040 has the 8 bolt hub and has no problems .It is a very smooth riding tractor but it has a little zippy engine that lacks torque and with radial tires it slips and slides all over the place in the snow. I recommend all the series, just be aware of the the problems listed. They are all problems that I have seen myself.

 

[pat sublett]

I love Kubota but they lost me because of their brake pedal arrangement. I wonder if anyone understands why they put the brakes and the hydro pedal on the same side, which renders the brakes useless for steering, which I have to have for back-dragging. I understand it from a manufacturing standpoint. They stick a hydro transmission in a standard tractor and use a clutch with it. It doesn’t meet my needs though. Deere just does away with the foot clutch and puts the brakes on the left side which works great.