Potential M59 Buyer Advice

iggy913

New member
Sep 28, 2023
9
1
1
Moyock, NC
Good afternoon all from northeast NC. I'm in the market for a tractor, I've got a few acres of open land with a home and detached garage. Our property is bordered on all sides by ditches of varying size and our driveway is rocks, well the last 30 yards of it is rocks, both of which require maintenance several times a year.

In addition, I have other projects that would really benefit from the use of a moderately sized TLB. After doing some reading/research it really seems like Kubota is the only option if I want a tractor that can lift, dig, and pull implements.

Having done concrete work in my younger days I am used to operating larger backhoes like the JD 310/410 series. I find in more recent years when I've hopped on a farm tractor with a small backhoe boom, I'm left wanting a little more. The boom is either too short or I grab too big of a scoop of material, and it wants to move the machine around on me. Of course, I could adjust my approach and methods and remedy both those issues, but I'm in a situation where a machine's physical size is not an issue for me. I'd rather it be bigger than I need than the other way around.

With all that being said I was naturally attracted to the M62 series machines. I'm somewhat nervous about the DEF systems, and their price point is pretty high. I'm looking now at the M59 series of machines due to them being emissions free and less costly to purchase.

My question here is are there any really known areas of failure on these machines? I'm a competent mechanic, having done everything up to engine rebuilds, so maintenance and repairs don't really worry me. I just wanted to know are there areas of the M59 to look out for when I'm looking at used tractors? Also, how many hours is too many? At what point should I be expecting something like hydraulic pump failures or other big items that would cause me to have to split the tractor to access? Thank you all in advance for any help you can provide.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
Good afternoon all from northeast NC. I'm in the market for a tractor, I've got a few acres of open land with a home and detached garage. Our property is bordered on all sides by ditches of varying size and our driveway is rocks, well the last 30 yards of it is rocks, both of which require maintenance several times a year.

In addition, I have other projects that would really benefit from the use of a moderately sized TLB. After doing some reading/research it really seems like Kubota is the only option if I want a tractor that can lift, dig, and pull implements.

Having done concrete work in my younger days I am used to operating larger backhoes like the JD 310/410 series. I find in more recent years when I've hopped on a farm tractor with a small backhoe boom, I'm left wanting a little more. The boom is either too short or I grab too big of a scoop of material, and it wants to move the machine around on me. Of course, I could adjust my approach and methods and remedy both those issues, but I'm in a situation where a machine's physical size is not an issue for me. I'd rather it be bigger than I need than the other way around.

With all that being said I was naturally attracted to the M62 series machines. I'm somewhat nervous about the DEF systems, and their price point is pretty high. I'm looking now at the M59 series of machines due to them being emissions free and less costly to purchase.

My question here is are there any really known areas of failure on these machines? I'm a competent mechanic, having done everything up to engine rebuilds, so maintenance and repairs don't really worry me. I just wanted to know are there areas of the M59 to look out for when I'm looking at used tractors? Also, how many hours is too many? At what point should I be expecting something like hydraulic pump failures or other big items that would cause me to have to split the tractor to access? Thank you all in advance for any help you can provide.
I am certain that you will get many opinions on this......but here is mine!

4 years ago I bought a then 13 year old L48 TLB. with only 251 hours.
Machine was like new (original owner), but was stored outside.
I repainted fenders/wheels/buckets, and touched up other paint areas.
Replaced seat, removed ROPS (it is not good in the woods)

Bought it 6 months prior to Covid for $32K.

Fast forward to today!
I have a friend who decided that he wanted an M62, ( for his new mega house build) but he knows nothing about Kubotas or BHs.

As is so often the case, he was initially focused on a too small, but new, B26 TLB.
Then he decided that my L48 TLB would be just right,...... but even at 83, I am not willing to sell.
He then focused on a 100 hour used L47, but it has only a 10' dig (my L48 is 11 dig',........ which is never enough).

I shopped the internet for him for over a month, and finally came up with a 2021 M62 TLB with 295 original owner (not a rental) hours.
It was a 10+ hour drive away from him, but only 2-1/2 hours from me.
I don't like the idea of DPF either, but that is all that our EPA will allow us to buy, unless you go really old (like I did for myself).

I bought the 295 hour M62 for him, ........with $63,500 of HIS money (he can definitely afford it)
BTW: A new M62 is now over $90K

Did I mention that this was great fun?
I did it for my friend.
There was nothing in it for me!

He has paid the seller, and is awaiting shipment/delivery, sometime in the next two weeks, by a private trucker (another $1200)

The M62 is a magnificent looking machine, and.........it has a 14' dig!

The last M59 was built in 2015 ( and apparently not a lot of them were built ) so perhaps the long term parts support issue should also be given some consideration for that model.
 
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Smokeydog

Well-known member

Equipment
M59, B26 grapples, backhoes, tillers, graders, diesel atv
Jun 2, 2020
681
638
93
knoxville, Tennessee
Love our M59. 90% used in 3pt mode. Powerful backhoe when you need it. Many modifications to fit our use.

Emissions BS and out the front exhaust are two issues I have with the M62. I can putter around low rpm where emission tractors have to run faster. They share 95% of the parts with the M59.

M59 BH buckets are hard to find and come 3 different ways, pin on, qa, and excavator qa. Modified mine to Kubota excavator qa to easily find attachments.
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Thumb is a must.

Bought 2014 model in 2017 now worth almost twice what I paid.
 
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PaulL

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601
Jul 17, 2017
2,452
1,376
113
NZ
That chainsaw attachment looks pretty awesome. Is it hydraulically powered, and extendable? How high up can it go?
 

mikester

Well-known member

Equipment
M59 TLB
Oct 21, 2017
3,603
2,085
113
Canada
www.divergentstuff.ca
M59 is a long run model and has a reputation for being basic and well built. I'd suggest finding a 2015 model or thereabouts as any design tweaks and improvements are cumulative. Last of the mechanical motors...

Get one with a hydraulic thumb and front and rear remotes.

The BH will feel weak and slow compared to a full sized TLB. The FEL has a lot of grunt for a small machine and will surprise you. If you need a compact machine they are great. If you need a TLB you can't beat a 4WD machine with extendahoe.
 
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