New MX5100

[sixdogs]

My initail observations of this tractor is that it puts way more power to the ground than my L4300. While both are similar, the engine is approx 15 cu in larger in the MX5100 and it weighs 3750 lbs compared with the L4300 at 2950lbs. As well, the MX5100 has nearly 300 lbs of weight on the front and with the heavier front axle more weight is transferred forward for traction. I like my L4300, and it is a great tractor but the MX5100 has more to offer. The MX really is a perfect small-mid tractor for larger home or smaller farm use. Lots of power, good on fuel and it keeps the tight turning radius and smaller size of the "L's". It's kind of an "L" on steroids. I could still see buying the newer L4600 but the extra oomph of the MX5100 is nice and the beefier front axle would make a better loader tractor.
The forward speeds were also tweaked a little as well and so far I like the MX better since there are more useful speeds in the low and mid-range with some partially syncronized. Plus it has a cupholder.

 

[Peacock]

I love my mx. It is very well suited to gear drive. I rarely need more than 1500 rpm to do any work.

 

[sixdogs]

Finished installing draft control in the MX5100 this morning and never thought to take photos...duh. Also, it has one set of remotes on the back and I ordered a second set that will be in Monday or Tuesday so I'll see if I can do better on the photos for that. I have never done that before so not sure what to expect.

***Added--info below is from a reply I left in a different post on the merits of draft control that might be of interest.



Draft control on a light tractor with a piece of ground contacting equipment is a real plus. I use it with a landscape rake mostly on dirt but sometimes on sandy gravel with very small stones. To me, that's it's only real use on a smaller tractor and most people can get by fine without it.

As we know, if the tractor nose dips down, the implement in back will lift up and dump a line of dirt or gravel. Same thing if you hit a bump and the nose rises to cause the implement to dig in. Draft control, and some experience, allows the user to change way the implement behaves by causing the rear link to adjust the pressure on the implement to compensate for those dips and bumps.
I use it with an 8 ft landscape rake and can make a field or larger lawn as flat as a pancake with multiple passes and increasingly lighter feathering of the draft control. Some "washboard" ridges are hard to get out but you can do a surprisingly good job if you can go cross-direction. It works best if ground has had some rain on it and is a little hard or compacted.

Note, too that grass or debris or stones can complicate the issue. I will often till or work the ground, pack it super good (3000 lb Brillion) and let it harden up with a rain. Then the surface is somewhat flat with holes and bumps everywhere. The landscape rake will then fill the holes and scrape the humps by using draft control and some years of learning. I'll try to find some photos.

**By the way, if anyone wants to add draft control to the smaller L or MX Kubotas, start a thread and let me know. I have done it twice and there is a severe learning curve that could be made easier if they would have included more photos and updated the translation. I'm not done adjusting it yet and I have no idea what they are talking about on that page. The install took me over three hours and two were trying to understand the instructions--and I had done this before. [/I]

 

[sixdogs]

Here's more of an update after using it for a few days and I can compare it to my L4300DT which is close enough to an L4400DT or maybe even an L4600DT. All gear drive.

The MX5100DT definately weighs more and pulls stronger with a goodly amount more felt HP than my L4300. Where the L4300 would struggle pulling a 3000lb 8 ft Brillion cultimulcher with the tines dug in a little bit, the MX5100 does it with ease in 4WD. I could probably do it in 2WD but it would slip in very soft soil. The F-R lever on the left makes changing directions easy and part of the transmission is snchro. I'm not sure which but I have not ground a gear--even a little, so I guess it works. It does indeed use more fuel when in a tillage application but I don't have a handle on that yet, especially because I was able to pull more of an implement. The fuel tank is bigger so I don't have to stop.

It turns a tight radius like the L4300 and is the same width so I can fit in tight spaces. It looks physically larger because the tires are a little bigger but I don't seem to notice it while in use. It is less noisy and seems to accelerate with a smooter and "tighter" or more powerful rate of acceleration. Maybe it's the turbo, I don't know. When in use you can feel the torque curve more strongly than the L4300 and where that tractor would bog down a little the MX5100 seems to get that extra oomph at the right time. I notice it's rated engine speed is a few hundred RPM more than the L4300 so maybe that's it? The hood is a modern one piece lift type with a piston rod on it and that's a nice touch.
I happen to have weights and a front weight bracket on and even if I didn't have weights would get the bracket to use as a bumper. The nose tends to stick out a little and even a small bump could do a lot of damage.

There is no question i would buy this tractor again and it is better than expected. I still like my L4300 and the L4400 and L4600 are very nice tractors but the extra HP, weight and larger tires put it a performance notch above the others. It fills a niche in that it is physically smaller than a farm tractor and can fit around the yard and home just fine, yet it has a little more HP for applications that require it.

 

[Code54]

"It fills a niche in that it is physically smaller than a farm tractor and can fit around the yard and home just fine, yet it has a little more HP for applications that require it."
That is exactly right, great way to word it - we love ours!

 

[sixdogs]

Put more hours on today pulling an 8 ft Brillion cultimulcher over some fairly rough ground on a slope. My L4300 would have bogged down big-time but the MX5100 pulled it with no issues. Even on a severe slope it exceeded what I thought it would do, even with the cultivators dug in deeper than I normally do. The engine does rev higher than I'm used to, which takes some adjustment on my part, but this tractor is really a sweetheart. Kubota has this stuff figured out and I am especially glad I bought this tractor.

On the downside, I think I have a warranty issue. The first remote lever takes way too much pressure to operate and is sticky besides. The dealer ordered a new one that will be in Friday or Monday and I'll take it in next week.

 

[crazyangel]

On the downside, I think I have a warranty issue. The first remote lever takes way too much pressure to operate and is sticky besides. The dealer ordered a new one that will be in Friday or Monday and I'll take it in next week.

I noticed the remotes on my L5740 are a bit sticky too. Mine stick because the handles rub on the cowling that covers the valves. I am not sure if I can adjust the cowling or if a gentle bend in the handle needs to be done to free them. I haven't had the chance to spend anytime working on them yet but you might want to take a look to see if you're having a similar issue.

 

[foreman Etexas]

It looks good with the front weights,Congrats...

 

[PapaPerk]

Nice machine! I really like the MX5100!

 

[sixdogs]

I noticed the remotes on my L5740 are a bit sticky too. Mine stick because the handles rub on the cowling that covers the valves. I am not sure if I can adjust the cowling or if a gentle bend in the handle needs to be done to free them. I haven't had the chance to spend anytime working on them yet but you might want to take a look to see if you're having a similar issue.

On mine, if I push the lever either way it will stick in that dirction. The lever is not being restricted on either side of the cowling but takes a great deal of pressure to move in either direction and then it sticks. Does that sound like yours?