Lar1911, he didn't say anything about round bales, but he does have horses and goats .
This is true, but with winter just around the corner I wanted them to have plenty to eat This was meant more as "for instance", but I did find when I was tractor shopping a while back that this was a breaking point with a lot of compacts. If forseeable plans include lots of 1600# + lifts are in the future a heavier tractor might be the direction to go. The 3240 or 4400 might be closer to what you have, and if it's worked fine in the past. Although I've had plenty of seat time on both 8 and 9n's growing up they were built a little before my operating days so I'm not sure about the actual power rating or weight of the Jubilee. The 5040 might have fewer luxuries to cause problems down the road, but sounds like it will cost more initially.
I did have one more question. The 3240 has a GST gearbox, the 5040 a synchro shift box, and the L4400 a straight gearbox. I presume this means that for FEL work on the L4400 it will be essential to come to a complete halt between forward and reverse, so as to not damage the transmission. Am I interpreting this right?
I may be going out on a limb a little here, but I imagine somebody will correct me if I am incorrect somewhere. From what I recall from my fairly recent search of tractors in this range was, the 5040 has a full sycronized 4 speed main transmission with a 2 speed high and low range or basicly an 8fwd./ 8rev. trans. I believe you do need to clutch between shifts but they can be made while in motion, It also seems that shifts between high and low can be made on the go, but needs to be stopped between forward and reverse, This tractor is also available with an optional 4 speed creep range under 1 mile an hour. I'm not sure about the shifting in that range, but I assume it's stop and go. This might account for some of the price difference in the $7,000. that was mentioned.
I never looked at a L4400 that had a FST but I believe it is simular to the trans. on the 5040 except for the creep range. From what I understand it needs to be clutched to shift but is on the go.
The GST I don't believe needs to be clutched so shifting is on the go with 12fwd. and 8rev. I'm not positive on the forward/ reverse and needing to stop to shift. I understand that an optional creep range of up to 24/16 can be added. With the additional gearing and slick shifting this transmission is suppossed to have should offer better control with chores like loading, towing and field applications over the standard transmission.
In my opinion, for what that's worth any of these will need to come to rest momentarily at some point durring a normal directional change, even if it is only a milisecond like when loading light material into a truck and going from forward to reverse even on the HST. It's the ability to accelerate, slow,stop and change direction of travel then accelerate to increase power and speed up thru a range in one single foot motion with no clutching or shifting that really makes this transmission nice in a very limited space.
One model you didn't mention but may want to take a look at is the MX5100 tractor. It's a little smaller then the M5040 and without the features found on the M5040 but is a great tractor.
I went this route myself, I needed a heavier tractor then the L4400 and without the bells and whistles of some models. But either the 4800 or 5040 would have been my next choice in Kubota.
From my experience with goats I never could keep them contained long enough to get much other physical work done anyway. Our horses are almost as bad and always into something when you have other things going on.
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