I have been a long time JD supporter, but recently I am somewhat annoyed at the feeling from John Deere that you pay the price for the tractor because it is a John Deere. I went to the New York State Fair yesterday just to look at what else is out there and John Deere was not even there. I did find a Kubota Grand L4240 Cab version that even my wife likes. Now my question: Is the air conditioner in this cab unit adequate? Also, when pricing out this unit (actually would like 3540 w/cab) it shows a swivel seat -3 only. I am not sure what the -3 means. Any other advice on this unit would be apprecitaed (likes/dislikes). Thanks.
The -1 or -2 or -3 at the end of a model number is a revision. Anytime Kubota makes a minor revision to a given model (since its original introduction), they add a dash and a number. Dash 1 (-1) would be the first revision for that model. Dash 2 (-2) would be the second revision... and so on.
My tractor is an M8540HD12-1. It is a -1 model that has a minor revision since the original model was introduced.
The changes to the tractor model could be anything. For example, my "-1" revision on my M8540 was emissions related. An EGR valve was added. There may have been other changes, but I don't know if/what they are.
A dash number for a given model usually means very suttle changes, since marjor changes would dictate a new model line.
Revision changes vary from model to model. A -1 revision for my M8540 is not necessarily the same set of changes as a -1 for a Grand L. This is why some models may have more revisions than others.
Revisions could range anywhere from problem fixes to emissions compliance. It's all up to Kubota...
I believe one of the revisions to the M7040 was the addition of a turbo. I think that was emissions related also.
The "Tier xxx" emissions requirements vary and have different required dates of implementation for different HP engines. I'm sure a lot of the revisions have to do with meeting the "Tier" requirements.