Kubota M8540 Narrow 50 hour review

[Robert_in_NY]

What kind of row width are you working in and what would you consider the max tractor width for that spacing? Also, are you using it on any sort of slope (%?) and if so how is the stability?

Are you asking me or great lakes?

I'm running 9' row centers. The max outside width would be 64". Any more than that and I'm rubbing the canopy too hard. I'm on mostly flat ground but along ditch banks and such I've never felt uncomfortable. These tractors sit very low to the ground.

 

[greatlakes]

Which tires did you get and how low did you drop the pressure? I'm at the lowest pressure kubota recommended and still can't get rid of the bucking and bouncing. I have the 380's and notice this issue the most with the Bush Hog 295 rotary cutter attached. It is a very heavy cutter and I had this problem with a full stack of weights on the front, no weight and then 4 weights. I haven't tried more then 4 weights since reducing tire pressure though. I thought of adding a couple more to see if it makes a difference but the guys just started trimming the vineyards so there isn't much to cut yet.

Is yours a cab model as well? If so do you have a lot of rattling inside as well? The 3pt levers are bad but I believe I'm also getting a lot of rattle from the tool box they have bolted to the cab frame. I thought about remounting the tool box with some isolators to help and also to coat the 3pt levers with a rubber coating to reduce metal to metal contact.

And thank you for posting, I'm really hoping to get this tractor adjusted to the way it should have came from the factory.

I have the 4X4 cab model, 5 speed tranny with creeper, and no weights. My front tires are 280/70R18 goodyear optitrak radial, recommended tire pressure is 35psi. I have mine at 14 psi and I am going to lower them to 12psi. My rear tires are 14.9 24 Firestone 23 Sat II bias ply. Recommended tire pressure is 20 psi, mine are at 10psi. I wanted to get a radial for the rear but the only option was a 480/65R24 @ $2500 for each tire. No thanks. I have noticed on our other orchard tractors, after about 300-400 hours, the tires soften up and ride smoother. I do have some rattle in the cab. Not so much the toolbox but the 3 point levers do rattle. I find if I have the stops all the way at the bottom, and have the levers just down from the top a little it helps. I am going to put a bit of rubber or that rubber dip to eliminate the noise. I looked at a JD 5093EN. The cab feels cramped for head space ( I am 6'1") and the gearshift controls seem a bit flimsy. Not to mention the price difference. Kubota $44600 JD $56000. Hope this helps

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks, mine came with bias on the front and radials on the rear. I think I paid $42,500 for mine with out the creeper gear. I was quoted around $44k for a similar john deere from zahm and Matsen.

 

[vector16]

I have 1 new 8540N ordered and am trading either the 5520N or 5525N. Don't me wrong the Deeres are a nice little tractor. Cabs are ok. When you talk about cup holders, the one in the deeres was garbage, wouldn't hold anything for more then a minute, unless they've changed them in these new deeres. Have to agree on the price difference between the Kubotas and the Deeres. Another thing for us was conveinence, we have a Kubota Dealership her in town and the closest Deere was half an hour away and atleast $60 trucking to get out their one way. The one thing I was hoping the 8540 had was 28inch tires but not the case, only in Europe I guess.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have 1 new 8540N ordered and am trading either the 5520N or 5525N. Don't me wrong the Deeres are a nice little tractor. Cabs are ok. When you talk about cup holders, the one in the deeres was garbage, wouldn't hold anything for more then a minute, unless they've changed them in these new deeres. Have to agree on the price difference between the Kubotas and the Deeres. Another thing for us was conveinence, we have a Kubota Dealership her in town and the closest Deere was half an hour away and atleast $60 trucking to get out their one way. The one thing I was hoping the 8540 had was 28inch tires but not the case, only in Europe I guess.

Did you have a chance to demo one?

 

[vector16]

No not really, they don't really let us do that. It was time for a change from Deere and a bunch of guys up here have the Kubota narrows and like them alot.

 

[kallnojoy]

Are you asking me or great lakes?

I'm running 9' row centers. The max outside width would be 64". Any more than that and I'm rubbing the canopy too hard. I'm on mostly flat ground but along ditch banks and such I've never felt uncomfortable. These tractors sit very low to the ground.

Thanks - we are in the early planning stage for a small vineyard, part of which now is determining equipment and block/row layouts.

 

[PANNU98]

How is the tractor now? I just recently bought a kubota m8540 narrow w/ cab for high bush blueberries. I've only gotten to do a couple of sprays but so far so good.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

How is the tractor now? I just recently bought a kubota m8540 narrow w/ cab for high bush blueberries. I've only gotten to do a couple of sprays but so far so good.

It is ok. It is still bouncy but I've started getting use to it and don't use the tractor for anything other than spraying and cold weather chopping in the vineyards. It has around 130 hours currently.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

no biggie, just curious more than anything... can you send me the part number of your tires? looks something like AMR### or AMXR###. We've started selling more of the narrow M's and I've seen huge differences between the tire options.