I have a neighbor who bought an M9540 about 6 years ago at farm auction. Had around 3300 hours on it. He has used it for cutting with a disc mower and baling. He had some work done on the front end after 3 or 4 years. Not sure what was done or cost. That's all I know. He really enjoyed using it.
L Series or M Series?
- Thread starter KYCase69
- Start date
Here's a brochure for that tractor. https://media.kubota.io/uploads/Kubota_Tractor-M6040_M7040_M8540_M9540_M9540DualSpeed.pdf
Would a L3800 run a 6 foot bushhog and 6 foot tiller easily? I’d use the tractor more for those things than loader work. I’d only need loader occasionally moving some rock, or helping move downed trees and limbs.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
The old rule of thumb is 5 pto hp per foot of cutter width, so that would indicate that you need 30 pto hp for a 6 foot cutter. But it also depends on what you’re cutting: for tall grass and light shrubs, yes. For tree saplings it might struggle. I run a 6’ cutter on my tractor that has 59 pto hp.
"I was just concerned the L series might not be as dependable long term. I guess my mind tells me it's a lower grade than the M, so it won't last as long."
I'll be darned. Seriously?
I'll be darned. Seriously?
Unless you have very heavy mowing, steep hills or a really heavy 6ft cutter, the L3800 should be Ok.
I suggest that you stop by a dealer and try out a tractor with shuttle shift. HST has a lot of advantages, but also some disadvantages. I've said this many times, but I would part with the MX6000 (HST) long before the M6060 (gear drive with hydraulic shuttle).
In my world, the biggest advantage of HST over gear drive is that engine RPM and ground speed, or more specifically, PTO rpm and ground speed are not directly related which is not the case for gear drive tractors. This is a very convenient feature, and many of the bigger tractors such as the M7 offer this via a CVT. But as with many things, it takes more thought and practice to operate a gear drive tractor well, but neither is required for HST.
I've been watching a YouTube channel for the past five years or so that features a small cattle farm in upstate NY. He has five or six IH tractors, most don't have 4WD and none are HST. He uses them all in just about every way imaginable whether it's moving hay bales, loader work with a bucket, cutting hay, tedding, raking, baling, pulling a disc, pulling trailers, and so on. I think he'd laugh at the notion that 4WD and HST are essential features, but he's not on a very hilly property, and the biggest hill that he has only sees a tractor in decent conditions.
For me, 4WD is essential, but HST is not.
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I’ll add to the post above. Shuttle shift transmission (dry clutch) is completely different than a hydraulic shuttle shift transmission(wet clutch).
Thats what Kubota calls them. Other manufacturers may have different names.
I had a L3800HST and ran a 5’ bush hog. Light grass, a lightweight 6’ might work. There were many times the 5’ was all that tractor wanted, even in low range slow speed.
Thats what Kubota calls them. Other manufacturers may have different names.
I had a L3800HST and ran a 5’ bush hog. Light grass, a lightweight 6’ might work. There were many times the 5’ was all that tractor wanted, even in low range slow speed.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
I used a rotary cutter on a GST tractor for over 20 years, but a HST is much better for rotary cutting. The fact that ground speed and throttle RPMs aren’t associated really makes rotary cutting with a HST the ultimate option for rough cutting.
I'd separate a few things:
1. How much power do you need to run a 6 foot cutter. The answer is around 30hp, but it depends on how thick what you're cutting is, and how fast you're going. You can run a bigger cutter if you just go slower when things get thick. It'll cut the same acreage per hour either way way.
2. How much power do you need to lug the 6 foot cutter around. That depends on whether you're on the flat (in which case, not much) or trying to cut up hills, in which case you need that 30hp plus enough to drag it up the hill. Could be a lot.
3. How big a machine to you need to not have it tip over when you try to lift the cutter and/or have the cutter push it around when you turn or going up/down hills. The answer depends on how heavy the cutter is, and what sort of terrain you're on.
Putting all that together, I'd say light-ish 6 foot cutter on reasonably flat terrain and not super thick growth, all good. Any of those not true, perhaps 5 foot, or just go slower when you're on the bits that are steep and/or thick.
1. How much power do you need to run a 6 foot cutter. The answer is around 30hp, but it depends on how thick what you're cutting is, and how fast you're going. You can run a bigger cutter if you just go slower when things get thick. It'll cut the same acreage per hour either way way.
2. How much power do you need to lug the 6 foot cutter around. That depends on whether you're on the flat (in which case, not much) or trying to cut up hills, in which case you need that 30hp plus enough to drag it up the hill. Could be a lot.
3. How big a machine to you need to not have it tip over when you try to lift the cutter and/or have the cutter push it around when you turn or going up/down hills. The answer depends on how heavy the cutter is, and what sort of terrain you're on.
Putting all that together, I'd say light-ish 6 foot cutter on reasonably flat terrain and not super thick growth, all good. Any of those not true, perhaps 5 foot, or just go slower when you're on the bits that are steep and/or thick.
Good point. I meant hydraulic shuttle in my response to the OP above. It's been years since I drove a tractor with a dry clutch, and the last one was an old Ford about 10 years ago and I don't remember if it had a shuttle.
All I can say is that the engine, gear drive transmission, hydraulic shuttle and constant RPM management feature make the M6060 a really good tractor, and on my hilly property it'll pull the 4,000lb RC3712 around with ease. The MX is great with the flail or 7ft rotary cutter, but it's not ideally suited to the big folding cutter even if an HST would make for an easier time on the tight turns.
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