Meaning of "A/AC type"

[JohnDB]

Hi I've recently bought a M4500DT and joined the forum. Can anyone please tell me what the "A/AC type" means that you see on the covers of some of the M4500/M5500/M7500 manuals? Other manuals don't include it, and on the WSM I got it implies that a non-A/AC type is different. Thank you.
PS - I've had a look though this forum and everywhere on the internet, but can't find anything.

 

[Vacula]

I didn't see A/AC but I did find this which covers most of Kubota's offerings: (PS.....this came off the "internet so you know it's accurate).

BX Series

V = Loader Valve
T = Turf Tires
R = R4 Industrial Tires
LB-T = Loader Backhoe w/Turf Tires
LB-R = Loader Backhoe w/R4 Tires

B Series

E = Two Wheel Drive DT = Dual Traction 4wd
HSE = Hydrostatic Transmission, 2wd
HSD or HSD-1 = Hydrostatic Transmission, 4wd
HSDB = Same as Hydrostatic 4wd, but includes Bi-Speed turn
HSD-T = Hydrostatic Transmission, 4wd, Tow Tractor (Airlines)
TL = Tractor, Loader
TLB = Tractor, Loader, Backhoe

L Series

DTC = Dual Traction, 4wd, Two stage clutch, Live continuous Running PTO (L235/L275) DTC = Dual Traction, 4wd, Integral Factory Cab (L3600/L4200) DTN
DTS = Dual Traction, 4wd, Power Steering
DTSC = Dual Traction, 4wd, Power Steering, Two stage clutch, Live continuous Running PTO (L235/L275)
DTN = Dual Traction 4wd, Narrow Specialty Tractor DT-W = Dual Traction 4wd, (W) Wet Clutch = EVER CLUTCH
F = Two Wheel Drive
FS = 2wd, Power Steering
FC = 2wd, Live-continuous running PTO
FSC = 2wd, Live-continuous running PTO, Power Steering
FST = Fully Synchronized (Main) Transmission
GST = Glide Shift Transmission
GSTCA = Glide Shift Transmission, 4wd, Factory Cab, "A is for Air Ventilation Kit (L3600/L4200)
GSTC = Glide Shift Transmission with Integrated Factory Cab
HC = High Clearance (L245HC only)
HF = Hydraulic Shuttle, 2wd
HDT-W = Hydraulic Shuttle, Dual Traction 4wd, (W) Wet Clutch = EVER CLUTCH HDT = Hydraulic Shuttle, Dual traction
HSTC = Hydrostatic "Feather Step Transmission with Integrated Factory Cab MF = Mechanical Shuttle, 2wd
MDT = Mechanical Shuttle, Dual Traction
SS = Shuttle Shift
T = Tow Tractor
W = Wide tread for Row Crop applications. (i.e., Tobacco)
TL = Tractor, Loader
TLB = Tractor, Loader, Backhoe
DT = Dual Traction 4wd
DTC = Dual Traction 4wd, Cab Model
DTCCS = Dual Traction 4wd, Cab with Creep Speed

M Series

DT-1 = Dual Traction 4wd, ROPS model with IC/Shuttle Transmission (M7580/M9580)
DTL = Dual Traction 4wd, Low Profile (for orchards)
DTM = Dual Traction 4wd, MUDDER (for specialty, row crop and vegetable)
DTN = Dual Traction 4wd, Narrow (for vineyard/orchard tractor)
DTN-B = Dual Traction 4wd, Narrow wheel tread with Bi-Speed Turn
F = Two Wheel Drive
F-1 = (-1) = Larger two pump hydraulic system
FC = Two Wheel Drive Cab Model
F-CS = Two wheel drive with Creep Speed (Ag. tires or as Turf Special)
HC = High Clearance (2wd M7950 only)
HD = Hydraulic Shuttle, 4wd
HDC = Hydraulic Shuttle, 4wd, Cab
HDCCS = Hydraulic Shuttle, 4wd, Cab, Creep Speed
L = Low Profile
ML = Mechanical shuttle, Low profile
MDT = Mechanical shuttle, Dual traction 4wd
MDTL = Mechanical shuttle, Dual traction 4wd, Low profile
MF = Mechanical shuttle, Two wheel drive
OC = Orchard model
S = Synchro-Shuttle, 2wd
SD = Synchro-shuttle, 4wd
SCS = Synchro-Shuttle, 2wd, Creep Speed
SDN-B = Synchro-Shuttle, 4wd, Narrow with Bi-Speed Turn
SDNBC = Synchro-Shuttle, 4wd, Narrow with Bi-Speed turn, Cab model
SDNBF = Synchro-Shuttle, 4wd Narrow with Bi-Speed turn, Foldable mid-mounted ROPS
SU = Special Utility, 2wd
SU-R = Special Utility 2wd, Rigid ROPS
SU-F = Special Utility 2wd, Foldable ROPS SU-TF = Special Utility 2wd, Turf Special
SUD-R = Special Utility, 4wd, Rigid ROPS
SUD-F = Special Utility, 4wd, Foldable ROPS
SUMDT = Special Utility, Mechanical Shuttle, 4wd
SUDT = Special Utility, 4wd
W = Wide Row
H = 2WD, ROPS (Note: All H-Models are Std. Swing Shift 16F X 16R speeds)
HC = 2WD, CAB
HD = Swing Shift, 4WD, ROPS
HDC = Swing Shift, 4WD, CAB
DS = Dual speed, ROPS (Note: All Dual Speed models are 32F X 32R speeds)
DSC = Dual speed, CAB
SDSCC = Dual speed, CAB, cold weather w/high amp alternator and creep speed and second remote valve
SDSC = Swing Shift Dual Speed, CAB DSDF = Dual Speed, 4WD, ROPS
SDSL = Dual Speed, 4WD, Low Profile

M-Series Notes:

Suffix "1 models are the second generation "Wide Cab tractors. Cab is 5.7 inches wider than first models.
Suffix "2 models are factory equipped with 540 / 1000 RPM PTO kits. M95S and M105S:
The "S represents the model/tractor class in general is no specific meaning, however it can be applied to "Swing Shift as the base transmission on all "S models.
M50-Series 1983 - 1984 Cab was orange in color, air conditioning was optional.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Re: Meaning of "A-CL type"

It's actually A-CL variant.
I'm not really sure what the difference is, I do know it's minor, But it does not effect your M4500DT, it only effects the M7500.
They didn't make the M4500 in a A-CL variant.

 

[JohnDB]

Thanks Vacula and Wolfman for those explanations. If it isn't in Vacula's list of Kubota codes, maybe as Wolfman says it's not significant. I'll check the manual for where I saw the comment about A/AC, that could tie in with what you say.

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to the OTT forum John. We are glad that you came here to get questions answered.

There are very friendly and very helpful people on here. Enjoy

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Found out what the -A designation is for, it was for the AU (Australian)and NZ (New Zealand) market.

It looks like the difference is the final drive ratio.

 

[JohnDB]

I reckon you are onto something! I've got a couple of different parts manuals - the latest PDF one identifies different parts for M4500s destined for.
The parts manual refers to country codes:
A = USA
CA = Canada
FR = France
GR = Greece
PO = Portugal
AU = Australia.

But the parts listing also uses the following codes and doesn't explain them:
OC
SAMPLE (??? maybe Kubota made some sample tractors for demo purposes)
SA
NZ

Yes gearing is one of the major differences - NZ spec has no creep gear, 8 forward/2 reverse trans, rest of world has creep gear, 16 fwd/4 rev. PTO gearing is also different.

(Oddly, although the parts book says NZ spec is without creep gear, mine in NZ has creep, so maybe it was imported indirectly (gray market) years ago.)

(Also a lot of differences in gearing between different countries, tying up with different tyre sizes.)

Going back to my WSM, it refers to "AC type" in sections to do with transmission - specifically about creep gears and PTO so I'm picking that the "C" is something to do with presence or absence of creep gear - but it doesn't match the "CS" for creep speed that Vacula's list shows.

So thanks for everyone's help so far. Has anyone got any other suggestions?

 

[JohnDB]

Think I've nailed it: the "AC" type has creep gears and ground speed PTO. So the number of gears is 16 forward x 4 reverse. The straight "A" type doesn't have creep or ground-speed PTO so has 8 forward x 2 reverse gears.

 

[Oktm]

Not to necro, but I just thought I would add in case this turns up in searches.
From my research for my M7500DT-A-L:
A = Either USA or Auxiliary fuel tank (Mine had the plumbing for the tank, but the tank had been removed. I ended up removing the plumbing as it was leaking)
C = Possibly means cab? My tractor has the creeper gearing, but does not have this designation(I have High/Low, 1-4, and a creeper lever)
L = Low profile (Exhaust goes down and out the back rather than up through the hood/bonnet and maybe some fender differences. This is usually for tractors used in orchards and other situations where they need good clearance)
Here is a picture of my model/serial plate: