Kubota M8540 Narrow 50 hour review

[Robert_in_NY]

Well I finally reached the 50 hour mark and will give a short review of my initial thoughts on this machine. It is an M8540 Narrow with cab, FWA and 10 speed tranny.

First off some of you know my extreme dislike for the original factory vinyl seat that came with this cab tractor. I couldn't use the tractor for more then an hour without hurting. Thankfully Kubota and Grammer worked together to offer an air suspension replacement seat option and while it is not the greatest seat in the world it is considerably better then the stock seat.

The tractor has plenty of power. The cab heat and air work great. There are a few little features that are handy. It is light which is both good and bad. I don't mind it being light in the vineyard and I bought it with as much cast weight as possible so that I can weight it properly when needed.

So now for the parts I don't care much for. The cab is extremely noisy. The lift levers clang around non stop and you have that metal on metal clanging noise constantly ringing inside the cab. The tool box is also mounted to the cab frame outside and it vibrates noise into the cab as well.

There was no mirror mounted inside the cab (external mirrors are an option but not one you want in an orchard or vineyard). I had to order an aftermarket mirror and build a mounting plate to be able to attach it to the cab. Kubota didn't design the interior of these cabs to allow mounting of aftermarket items very easily.

There also wasn't a cup holder in there. For someone who spends 8-12 hours in a tractor every day a cup holder is very handy and actually a requirement to help keep from dehydrating. I bought a very simple bottle holder that would mount on a bike frame and mounted it to the 1" bar to the right of the dash. It works well for holding a bottle water/gatorade and is easy to reach and still out of the way since there is no step or easy access on that side of the cab anyway.

The roof plastic is very thin and flimsy. I am actually scared of using this tractor near my orchard for fear a limb may puncture it. I definitely won't use it near woods or brush lines for that same reason. I feel Kubota should build a thicker cab roof shell for these machines that can take some abuse. I was scared just cleaning the spray residue off the top of the roof. The soft bristled brush would make the thin plastic deflect very easily. I can't imagine how a layer of snow would be handled by it. Hopefully there is proper support under it for that situation.

Some items I don't like but is part of the nature of a narrow tractor. Such as the front wheels. There is no clearance at all inside the rims and as a result any mud gets packed in there tight and you can't clean it out easily.

One item I found during the 50 hour service that I extremely dislike is the hydraulic filter location. There are two filters hydrualic filters located next to each other instead of one like most every other tractor has and each hydraulic filter cost the same as the big one every other tractor I own does so it costs me twice as much for filters. These filters are located on the side of the transmission right behind the right rear tire (as you sit in the tractor). The easiest way and the way I will change them from now on will be to remove the rear wheel. The area these are located is very tight and you can't get in there to clean the dirt away. The filters fit so tightly next to other items on the tractor that you can't get most of the dirt away even if you did pull the wheel. When you do get the filters off you have a large opening into the housing so any dirt that falls off in the removal process has a great chance of falling into the housing. The placement of these filters in this location is just stupid in every aspect. Its hard to access, hard to clean and twice the expense. I do not understand why they did what they did but it is what it is and I will do my best to keep the dirt and debris away from this area (which is directly behind the wheel so it will be a challenge).

The tractor is a nice tractor as a whole. I will continue to make a few modifications to improve some items (trying to come up with a simple way to quiet the cab without making it look trashy). I wish Kubota would have made it easier to mount items inside the cab. I have installed my sprayer control on the right door bar which isn't ideal but was the easiest place I could access. The two power outlets they have in the cab are nice. One is a simple 12 volt outlet and the other is ideal for running sprayer controls and other controllers.

A couple other items I have noticed and have not taken the time to figure out yet are that this tractor is extremely rough riding (it has radials). I am going to try lowering the tire pressure to the lowest recommended setting and hope it helps. Also, the foot throttle is almost useless as if you try to use it to give just a little fuel it makes the tractor jerk and you can't feather the pedal as the tractor is jerking violently. Every other tractor I have ever used has not had this issue. I don't understand why this one does it but I have been way too busy to try and figure it out.

When I bought this tractor I had considered a John Deere narrow as well but because of the reputation Kubota had on here I decided to buy one with out ever seeing one in person. If I had demoed this tractor before buying I can definitely say I never would have bought it over a John Deere. I am disappointed with it but that is because I expected better from Kubota. I am going to try and get it fined tuned for my operation and hopefully it will grow on me as time goes by.

The only other narrow tractors available in this area that would work for me are Case-IH/New Hollands (their cabs are not very good for my back, the Kubota has a nice fairly flat cab floor so I can stretch when needed) and Landini (that dealer isn't one I feel comfortable with) and John Deere. I have not seen any other M40 narrows from Kubota in this area. I know a dealer an hour south of me has sold a few of them but I have not seen any in the vineyards. I do know of three other farmers who have standard M series Kubotas that they narrowed up as tight as possible to use in their vineyards. I really hope Kubota keeps trying to improve this model. It has the potential to be a strong player in this market and could easily compete with John Deere if Kubota would put forth the extra effort. As it stands now though I would not recommend this tractor to someone comparing it to a John Deere. A CNH narrow, yes but not a Deere

I will try to remember to update this thread as the opportunity arrises of both good and bad.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

This is the day she arrived

 

[RollingsFarms]

Seems like Kubota would have taken a few more ideas from Deere with this being their first ever orchard model. Deere has also been pushing their tractors with "ease of maintenance" and "cabs for all day comfort" so I was surprised to heard the pain in the butt the Kubota was to change that filter and also leaving out needed amenities(air ride seat, cup holder, etc). All in all it seems like a good tractor for a first attempt at the orchard market but you'll see how serious they are the next go round if they make needed improvements or not. I think Kubota wants to get into the ah market as a player on some level but I'm just not seeing where they are anywhere close to the big boys in the ag world yet.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Seems like Kubota would have taken a few more ideas from Deere with this being their first ever orchard model. Deere has also been pushing their tractors with "ease of maintenance" and "cabs for all day comfort" so I was surprised to heard the pain in the butt the Kubota was to change that filter and also leaving out needed amenities(air ride seat, cup holder, etc). All in all it seems like a good tractor for a first attempt at the orchard market but you'll see how serious they are the next go round if they make needed improvements or not. I think Kubota wants to get into the ah market as a player on some level but I'm just not seeing where they are anywhere close to the big boys in the ag world yet.

This isn't their first narrow. The 8540 narrow replaced the M8200 narrow. It was one of the reasons I was comfortable buying sight unseen.

 

[slowzuki]

This one seems different than the 8200 narrow, this one looks like an L cab shoehorned onto an M tractor, the old ones had a narrow M cab I think.

I spent some time rock picking and plowing in a Landini 8560F orchard tractor last week, I've got to say its got to be worse than the Kubota. The cab is like an old SIM's cab, you have to wear hearing protection. There is only room for size 10 feet, no boots. The accelerator is under the brake pedals since there is no room. All the controls are under or behind the seat, very akward to reach. The clutch pedal takes about 80-100 lbs to press, I had to dump it to neutral while waiting for the guy loading the bucket as my leg would start shaking.

On the other hand, the had a New Holland TN90F (?) narrow cab model with supersteer, not quite a flat floor but not bad, very comfy seat, power reverser etc. Lots of room for the spray monitors etc up in the front right. Controls are tight but not under the seat. Unfortunately the owner only lets this tractor be used for spraying. Its 6 or 7 years old with only 600 hours.

 

[art]

You might look for a flat plastic sleeve that will go round the hydraulic levers when the knob has been removed. A heavy tape would also cut the lever noise.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You might look for a flat plastic sleeve that will go round the hydraulic levers when the knob has been removed. A heavy tape would also cut the lever noise.

Thats what I'm looking at. I also have that rubber goop in a can that I considered dipping the levers in.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

This one seems different than the 8200 narrow, this one looks like an L cab shoehorned onto an M tractor, the old ones had a narrow M cab I think.

I spent some time rock picking and plowing in a Landini 8560F orchard tractor last week, I've got to say its got to be worse than the Kubota. The cab is like an old SIM's cab, you have to wear hearing protection. There is only room for size 10 feet, no boots. The accelerator is under the brake pedals since there is no room. All the controls are under or behind the seat, very akward to reach. The clutch pedal takes about 80-100 lbs to press, I had to dump it to neutral while waiting for the guy loading the bucket as my leg would start shaking.

On the other hand, the had a New Holland TN90F (?) narrow cab model with supersteer, not quite a flat floor but not bad, very comfy seat, power reverser etc. Lots of room for the spray monitors etc up in the front right. Controls are tight but not under the seat. Unfortunately the owner only lets this tractor be used for spraying. Its 6 or 7 years old with only 600 hours.

This is the grand L cab frame. I have never looked over the landini too close because of the dealer. Just not stable enough for my liking.

The cnh vineyard tractors are nice machines. The new ones seem to have reliability issues but what turned me away is with my back issues it is very hard to climb in and out of them and the transmission hump makes it very hard to move my legs to a comfortable position as I work. It just isn't a suitable cab for my back unfortunately.

 

[RollingsFarms]

This isn't their first narrow. The 8540 narrow replaced the M8200 narrow. It was one of the reasons I was comfortable buying sight unseen.

Now that I didn't know. Learn something new everyday!

 

[slowzuki]

The new Rex's are nothing like the old Landinis, but still not a flat floor I believe.

Its tough to squeeze a utility size tractor into a compact tractor footprint and not compromise something. I've not looked at the JD's but they used to be Same's or Lambo's rebadged right?

I have never looked over the landini too close because of the dealer. Just not stable enough for my liking.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The new Rex's are nothing like the old Landinis, but still not a flat floor I believe.

Its tough to squeeze a utility size tractor into a compact tractor footprint and not compromise something. I've not looked at the JD's but they used to be Same's or Lambo's rebadged right?

Almost every vineyard tractor is made in Italy. I use to remember who made deeres but can't recall now. The deere and kubota cabs both have almost flat decks and plenty of room. They sit higher as a result but i have ran deeres through double curtain trellis without and issue.

I know and expect certain compromises with vineyard tractors. Been around an awful lot of them. Deutz fahr actually had a decent unit but the fly by night dealer quit carrying them and went to being a lawn mower and small engine shop. MF dealer here prefers to push landini over MF. The case-ih dealer use to sell SAME till the merger with NH gave them a vineyard tractor. I would love to see fendt or claas bring their units here for added competition and additional options but I don't expect it to happen. I guess Claas is available in Canada but not across the border.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Almost every vineyard tractor is made in Italy. I use to remember who made deeres but can't recall now. The deere and kubota cabs both have almost flat decks and plenty of room. They sit higher as a result but i have ran deeres through double curtain trellis without and issue.

I know and expect certain compromises with vineyard tractors. Been around an awful lot of them. Deutz fahr actually had a decent unit but the fly by night dealer quit carrying them and went to being a lawn mower and small engine shop. MF dealer here prefers to push landini over MF. The case-ih dealer use to sell SAME till the merger with NH gave them a vineyard tractor. I would love to see fendt or claas bring their units here for added competition and additional options but I don't expect it to happen. I guess Claas is available in Canada but not across the border.

Claas makes a heckuva combine too. Used to be, if not still is, the fastest on the market.

 

[slowzuki]

There's a few Claas dealers in Canada but I think you for the most part get parts through the agco network of dealers. Our MF dealer pushes Landini too, and I've been impressed with their larger models. Another dealer sells red Landini's (McCormicks) but they are one of the flybynights.

The SDF units (Same, Deutz-Far, Lambo, Hurlman I think too?) seem to all be made at one plant in Italy like you say. Its a weird segment of the market.

My friend has an apple orchard, not vineyard, so his plantings are on 14 ft centers and you can get any fairly narrow tractor down the rows if you take the mirrors off. He's thinking about trying a CUT so he can have hydro and a flat floor. He's not sure it will run the large flail mower though. The Perfeck mowers that pop in and out around the trunks are trailed and don't put much weight on the tractor. The sprayer is heavy and its on a hill so it would stay on the TN.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

There's a few Claas dealers in Canada but I think you for the most part get parts through the agco network of dealers. Our MF dealer pushes Landini too, and I've been impressed with their larger models. Another dealer sells red Landini's (McCormicks) but they are one of the flybynights.

The SDF units (Same, Deutz-Far, Lambo, Hurlman I think too?) seem to all be made at one plant in Italy like you say. Its a weird segment of the market.

My friend has an apple orchard, not vineyard, so his plantings are on 14 ft centers and you can get any fairly narrow tractor down the rows if you take the mirrors off. He's thinking about trying a CUT so he can have hydro and a flat floor. He's not sure it will run the large flail mower though. The Perfeck mowers that pop in and out around the trunks are trailed and don't put much weight on the tractor. The sprayer is heavy and its on a hill so it would stay on the TN.

The sprayers are the toughest job for most vineyard tractors. I'm looking at a 400 gallon Turbomist right now. Just trying to figure out what I'm doing first with this tractor. I have a Deere salesman coming out Monday to look at it and give me a trade allowance on it and if its a decent number I will have a new Deere narrow out for a demo and possibly send the Kubota away. Its got 60 hours now and the more I use it the more frustrating it is. Its incredibly rough riding which I don't understand. It has an isolated cab and radial tires. It should be smoother but its actually the roughest riding tractor I have and that includes the Farmall and Ford 1920 that both have similar wheel bases but with Bias tires. I was using it today and between having to hold on for dear life (you can't run very fast and stay in the seat) and having a pounding headache from how noisy the tractor is I just decided to give the Deere dealer a call. So I may end up with a Hardi or Jatco sprayer instead of the turbomist if it helps with the trade deal (assuming the Deere handles as well as the older units I have experience with).

 

[TripleR]

I remember reading other posters commenting on how rough riding their radials are.

Our M8540 rides very smooth, but it is the regular size with bias tires.

Good luck finding something that works well for you.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I remember reading other posters commenting on how rough riding their radials are.

Our M8540 rides very smooth, but it is the regular size with bias tires.

Good luck finding something that works well for you.

Thanks, the radials were actually suppose to smooth out the ride. Any tractor I have used with them before was actually a pleasure to use. The fact everything seems to be wrong with this machine for me is leading me to believe it is just not meant to be. I sit in there while using it and constantly try to think of ways I can "fix" this new tractor so its enjoyable to use. Thats when I decided to call the Deere dealer. You shouldn't be thinking about ways to fix a new tractor like what I have been doing. A coupld modifications to better suit your uses is one thing but I am way beyond that sadly.

I really am limited in my options though for vineyard tractors. So there is a very good chance I will end up keeping the Kubota if I can't find something better and at a price point I can justify.

 

[TripleR]

Thanks, the radials were actually suppose to smooth out the ride. Any tractor I have used with them before was actually a pleasure to use. The fact everything seems to be wrong with this machine for me is leading me to believe it is just not meant to be. I sit in there while using it and constantly try to think of ways I can "fix" this new tractor so its enjoyable to use. Thats when I decided to call the Deere dealer. You shouldn't be thinking about ways to fix a new tractor like what I have been doing. A coupld modifications to better suit your uses is one thing but I am way beyond that sadly.

I really am limited in my options though for vineyard tractors. So there is a very good chance I will end up keeping the Kubota if I can't find something better and at a price point I can justify.

I've never had radials on a tractor, so all I have to go by is what I have read and heard. Our Case CX80 went toes up when we needed it most and with all the previous problems and anticipated time for repairs we had to replace it immediately.

I had wanted radials, cast centers, creep function, air ride seat, defroster and rear windshield wiper, but had to take what was on the lots as we couldn't wait six weeks for delivery and really wanted to use our local dealer.

We haven't made any changes and are happy with it.

We don't make any money with our tractors and no longer spend 10+ hours per day on one; but I remember what that's like.

I agree, especially on a work machine, you should not have to "tolerate" anything or make significant modifications.

Of course the tractors I used for farming were open station with no canopy; surrounded by mosquitoes as big as humming birds and the "breeze" always seemed to be just fast enough to keep the dust and debris traveling as the same speed as the tractor.:laughing:

Hope it works out for you.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I've never had radials on a tractor, so all I have to go by is what I have read and heard. Our Case CX80 went toes up when we needed it most and with all the previous problems and anticipated time for repairs we had to replace it immediately.

I had wanted radials, cast centers, creep function, air ride seat, defroster and rear windshield wiper, but had to take what was on the lots as we couldn't wait six weeks for delivery and really wanted to use our local dealer.

We haven't made any changes and are happy with it.

We don't make any money with our tractors and no longer spend 10+ hours per day on one; but I remember what that's like.

I agree, especially on a work machine, you should not have to "tolerate" anything or make significant modifications.

Of course the tractors I used for farming were open station with no canopy; surrounded by mosquitoes as big as humming birds and the "breeze" always seemed to be just fast enough to keep the dust and debris traveling as the same speed as the tractor.:laughing:

Hope it works out for you.

I have found the diesel fumes keep the bugs away for the most part. All my other tractors are open stations and the last couple passes with the discbine usually involves me swatting hundreds of bugs off my face and sunglasses as they lose the last of the tall grasses they take refuge in. I am looking to add another 80-100hp cab tractor for use with tillage and haying in the next year or two but it will be a standard tractor so my options will be almost limitless. It is a lot more fun watching the bugs hit the cab windows and not bother me at all :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

I feel your pain, I used a combination of open station and cab tractors until a couple of years ago. I finally took my last open station, a well loved Massey Ferguson 375 out to another farm where my brothers live. Father Time is kicking my behind and I can't handle the heat and breathing all that. I was sick for about three months with bronchitis this year.

As someone famous once said, "Getting old ain't for sissies"; beginning to suspect I might be a sissy.:laughing:

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I feel your pain, I used a combination of open station and cab tractors until a couple of years ago. I finally took my last open station, a well loved Massey Ferguson 375 out to another farm where my brothers live. Father Time is kicking my behind and I can't handle the heat and breathing all that. I was sick for about three months with bronchitis this year.

As someone famous once said, "Getting old ain't for sissies"; beginning to suspect I might be a sissy.:laughing:

I still enjoy using open stations for certain tasks but for long hot days or long cold days a cab tractor is well worth the investment. I bought the open station Farmall this year for mounting a post pounder on. Couldn't really justify putting it on a cab tractor since I need to hop on and off of it every post and need to be able to work the controls from the ground. If I would have put it on a cab tractor it would have became a 2 man operation which wasn't ideal since I do most everything by myself. But I have a feeling that is the last open station tractor I will be buying unless something happens to it and I need to mount the post pounder on a different unit.

I know how you feel, since my back injury I have issues with cold weather. Once my body gets cold I have trouble warming back up. All I can figure is its the metal they put in me that is affecting how I react to temperature. So I get tired of dressing for the cold (long johns, jeans, heavy coveralls, multiple shirts, heavy coat, gloves, full face mask...) I much prefer wearing a light coat to the tractor then running the rest of the day in a t shirt. My friend use to pick on me when I helped with his harvest. On the double curtains he used an older open station harvester while I ran the John Deere narrow cab vineyard tractor pulling the gondola. I'm always warm and comfy while he was up there in the usual cold, rainy weather. :laughing: He thought I was taunting him