What size Kubota for round bales?

[DieselnHooters]

Thanks guys for the help.
According to the Kubota website the MX series is offered with HST from 49hp up to 61hp. All three weigh about the same at 3700 lbs more or less. The difference in HP comes from the turbo on the 2 more powerful models.

My L3600 has the glide shift trans with shuttle shift so I'm already familiar with that option.

The shuttle on your L3600 is mechanical and still requires clutching unlike the hydraulic shuttle on a M series. If you want to avoid clutching altogether you need to move on up to the powershift option only available on much larger model$.

BTW I think GL and MX models are borderline at best at handling large round bales.

 

[Grandad4]

The shuttle on your L3600 is mechanical and still requires clutching unlike the hydraulic shuttle on a M series. If you want to avoid clutching altogether you need to move on up to the powershift option only available on much larger model$.

BTW I think GL and MX models are borderline at best at handling large round bales.

The L3600 came with a fully synchronized manual gearbox, or the Glideshift Transmission (GST), which is the Kubota version of a hydraulic shuttle, allowing clutchless forward/reverse and gear changes. Don't know which is on the OP's L3600.

You're right about the GL and MX models with large rounds. A dense packed 6x6 will weigh about 1,500-1,700 and is a bit much. I could move them around pretty well with my GL, but stacking was out of the question even with plenty of ballast. I also think it's as much an issue of physical size as hydraulic lifting power. By definition, any of the "compact" tractor models out there, regardless of brand, has a shorter wheelbase and narrower width compared with a utility tractor. That makes them inherently less stable than a tractor with a larger footprint, and you really notice it when getting heavy loads up high with the FEL. Even if you have the hydraulics to lift something 1,500-2,000 lbs six feet up, it's dicey moving around with it even if you're on a level, paved surface. I'd be looking at the M series for such work.

If it's smaller rounds, say 5x5's, the larger GL's and the MX's should be fine.

 

[4570Man]

How hard would it be to weigh a bale? It you’re really only lifting 1000 pounds any of the bigger L machines would work.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The largest MX tractor available is the MX5800 and is only available with HST trans. With it's 57.5 HP, (50.2 PTO) and filled R4 tires, I routinely move 1500+# loads using forks. Stacking loads that heavy more than 6' off the ground however is a bit touchy. I'm comfortable enough doing it occasionally but doing it on a regular basis is another story. Unless you operate on level stable ground with good ballast, for handling weights exceeding 1500# above 6', I would seriously consider moving up into the M series.

 

[flusher]

I would get a new tractor with specs similar to your Ford (since you know that old tractor can do the job). For example, my 2008 Mahindra 5525 with the ML250 FEL would work -- 55 hp engine, 45 hp pto, about 6500 lb with FEL and loaded rear tires, partially synchronized tranny, FEL has 2950 lb lift at the pins to 10.5 ft height. Cost new with triple rear hydraulic remotes ~$18K.

Good luck.

 

[EddieWalker]

You didn't say what your budget was. Are you wanting to buy brand new or just find something to replace the Ford that does the job a lot better without spending $40,000?

Have you had any issues with mud with your current 2 wheel drive tractor and would 4 wheel drive be with the extra expense?

Have you ever driven or been around a hydrostat tractor while it's working? They are loud. They burn a lot of fuel. You keep the throttle on full all the time regardless of how fast you are going, it's always on full throttle.

If you go to a dealer, be sure to try different transmission types.

Consider how much HP down the road you will need if you want to get a bigger mower. 60 PTO HP will run a 12 ft batwing. Just because you don't have a 12 foot batwing now, doesn't mean you wont want one in the future if you have the HP to be able to cut twice as much land in the same amount of time.

 

[houser52]

The L3600 came with a fully synchronized manual gearbox, or the Glideshift Transmission (GST), which is the Kubota version of a hydraulic shuttle, allowing clutchless forward/reverse and gear changes. Don't know which is on the OP's L3600.

You're right about the GL and MX models with large rounds. A dense packed 6x6 will weigh about 1,500-1,700 and is a bit much. I could move them around pretty well with my GL, but stacking was out of the question even with plenty of ballast. I also think it's as much an issue of physical size as hydraulic lifting power. By definition, any of the "compact" tractor models out there, regardless of brand, has a shorter wheelbase and narrower width compared with a utility tractor. That makes them inherently less stable than a tractor with a larger footprint, and you really notice it when getting heavy loads up high with the FEL. Even if you have the hydraulics to lift something 1,500-2,000 lbs six feet up, it's dicey moving around with it even if you're on a level, paved surface. I'd be looking at the M series for such work.

If it's smaller rounds, say 5x5's, the larger GL's and the MX's should be fine.

Mine is fully synchronized and I don't have to clutch to change gears or go from forward to reverse and vise versa.

Our bales are the 5x5's. Not sure of the weight and no way to weight them without going through a lot of time and trouble since the only scales would be at Southern States.

The M series is pretty much a no go. If I have to go to that big of a tractor I'll just stick with the Ford.

 

[sandman2234]

My M7040SU would handle the job and is easy to go forward to backward, with the flip of a lever. I understand the "stopping a Ford" to shift gears. I got in a hurry one day pulling out into traffic on a busy day and broke a shift fork (already worn) on a Ford 7710. Cost of that repair wasn't cheap, and not a job for the faint at heart.
David from jax

 

[houser52]

You didn't say what your budget was. Are you wanting to buy brand new or just find something to replace the Ford that does the job a lot better without spending $40,000?

Have you had any issues with mud with your current 2 wheel drive tractor and would 4 wheel drive be with the extra expense?

Have you ever driven or been around a hydrostat tractor while it's working? They are loud. They burn a lot of fuel. You keep the throttle on full all the time regardless of how fast you are going, it's always on full throttle.

If you go to a dealer, be sure to try different transmission types.

Consider how much HP down the road you will need if you want to get a bigger mower. 60 PTO HP will run a 12 ft batwing. Just because you don't have a 12 foot batwing now, doesn't mean you wont want one in the future if you have the HP to be able to cut twice as much land in the same amount of time.

Budget? Well, as of right now I have a Ford 4630, Ford 2000, 8N Ford and a Kubota L3600 4x4. My plan was to keep the L3600 and trade in the others on a MX. That would give me a smaller tractor for smaller jobs and a bigger 4x4 tractor for my 6' Bush Hog, hay and other things too big for the L3600. After trade in, I'd like to keep my out of pocket expense to around $20,000 or less.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just noticed that we are in the same neck of the woods...
An MX seems to be the right fit for you...
If you want a cab then the L 6060 would be another good choice...
They spec very similar to the MX with added comfort features...