Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now?

/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #43  
What the heck is a 'Steel Premium' anyway?
Most/many suppliers are adding a surcharge to their products to cover the extreme volatility of the materials right now. It's easier for them to do this as a temporary adder too adjust the pricing without affecting their product price. I bought some custom made copper air coils and the pricing was quoted as good for 24 hours, then after that, surcharge / adjustment would be added or subtracted depending on exchange rates and copper spot pricing.
 
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/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #44  
I finally have the money to buy my tractor but, it has gone up $8K and does NOT INCLUDE an 11% steel premium from Kubota. I apparently can't order until Feb/March of next year and the earliest delivery date would be Jan 2023! The price today if I could order would be $72K plus 11% for the steel premium.
I forgot to add, I sure don't know what options you got on yours but mine was under $67k with 24 speed tranny, loader, and 3rd function, then minus $5k for cash deal and was a tad less than 62K out the door. This was only a week or two before you quoted yours. Mine will not have self leveling bucket and will only have steel wheels though. I talked to him just a few minutes ago and he said their still taking orders on all tractors and are getting shipments in here and there. He has gotten in several M5's since he ordered mine but they were the more common 8 and 12 speeds. He told me in advance the 24 speed was considered a special build and would take longer.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #45  
Good luck to all potential buyers. Strange times.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #46  
6 months waiting and still no eta or build date....
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #47  
You've got me worried. I signed the papers on a M5-111 a few weeks back. Then there was no problem. Emailed my dealer this morning. Got a response from him that the order went through okay, but he will check with his contact to make sure. May need to investigate alternatives.
I see that yours came in by your signature. I ordered my M5-111 Cab tractor on 9-9-21 and still waiting. They blown past 2 delivery dates Jan 22, and Jun 22. Very little information being provided. Now, I did order mine with the 24 speed so that may be an issue. I see 8 speeds coming in around here pretty regular.

How long did yours end up taking?
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #48  
To the OP, first, stay away from SSQA in that Hp/weight range. It will not hold up. Some dealers don't even provide that option over 70 Hp. Look into Global Carrier.
You are on the right path. JD 5 series and Kubota M4 are a tad too small.
I am fortunate enough that my wife forced me to buy a 6430 Premium. I like it but at the same time I keep on having the feeling that I'm overpowered. That led me to look into the M4 last year. But no matter what kind of weights I tried to add, it seemed alway to be on the tip of it's toes.
I'm not baling myself but hauling about 80 bales for myself and a bit more than that for a friend. Reaching up with a 5x6 bale to the top of the hay trailer should theoretically be possible. The same applies if you stack them in a 3-2-1 configuration.
20210715_163324.jpg
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #49  
I see that yours came in by your signature. I ordered my M5-111 Cab tractor on 9-9-21 and still waiting. They blown past 2 delivery dates Jan 22, and Jun 22. Very little information being provided. Now, I did order mine with the 24 speed so that may be an issue. I see 8 speeds coming in around here pretty regular.

How long did yours end up taking?

Ordered in September, at dealer in early December, sat in it and paid for it December 28. Didn’t arrive at my place until sometime in March due to my not wanting it delivered on salty roads. Have 80 hours on it now and it meets expectations. I miss the hydro of the L6060 I traded and the CVT of my M7.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #50  
Mine was rescheduled for June 22. then in July they rescheduled for 2-2023. I raised cain and the dealership finally found one that was 8 days old and I got it early July. Yippie, I think I like it so far but fit and finish isn't near as good as my M7040 was. Cheap thin plastic, rivet nuts that fall out, and just cheap feeling. The good thing is, lots of power and very quiet.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #52  
I have a rivet nut tool. I meant the little plastic pop in rivets holding the interior together. My cab interior on the M7040 held up fine so hopefully it does on the M5. My SxS and 4 wheeler is all held together with plastic rivet nuts and they've actually held up pretty good so that doesn't really concern me that much. I'm more concerned about the roof. It's much thinner and more flexible than the one on my M7040 and seems like it would be damaged easier. I can push it in with 1 finger! Time will tell.

It's WAY quieter in the cab than the M7040 so that is always a good thing. It also seem it was way less dusty inside the cab like they did a better job sealing it. The front loader has some QC issues where the brackets and holes are lined up right so it's a bear to remove and install. I think most of this will wear in and if not, I can fix it myself.

I cut and baled hay with it this last weekend and it got along with the JD567 MegaWide much better than the 7040. The 7040 had it's hands full with that baler!
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #53  
I have a rivet nut tool. I meant the little plastic pop in rivets holding the interior together.
You can buy them by the bag full on Amazon or Flea-Bay FYI. I have them as well on the inside of the cab on the M9's. Had issues with loose Riv-Nuts in the roof of mine and had to remove them and replace them with new ones with metal washer backers. Guess the assemblers lack the strength to set them tight or something. I also added insulation to the roof underside which I remove every spring and clean the ac and heater cores mine are under the roof, yours are under the seat pan.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #54  
Buy yourself a Riv Nut setting tool and tighten them up. I agree, Kubota don't set them tight enough. Easy to fix however.
There's nothing like buying a new "premium" brand tractor, paying the premium price, and then having to buy the tools to finish putting it together! lol SR
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #55  
There's nothing like buying a new "premium" brand tractor, paying the premium price, and then having to buy the tools to finish putting it together! lol SR
Just like buying a new vehicle and then adding aftermarket stuff. No difference. I use Riv Nuts for many different things besides on the tractors. HF sells a dandy Riv Nut setter (Doyle) and it comes with a limited assortment of them but thay are available on Amazon in quantity.

In today's market, all new tractors are 'premium' priced and that premium is climbing every day.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #56  
Just like buying a new vehicle and then adding aftermarket stuff. No difference. I use Riv Nuts for many different things besides on the tractors. HF sells a dandy Riv Nut setter (Doyle) and it comes with a limited assortment of them but thay are available on Amazon in quantity.

In today's market, all new tractors are 'premium' priced and that premium is climbing every day.
I sure don't consider buying something NEW, then having to go in and tighten the fasteners in the interior because it wasn't done properly, the same as adding aftermarket stuff.

As for premium price, deere and kubota are priced higher here. To me, I would think of that like, I should be getting "better/higher quality" for that higher price!

SR
 
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/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #57  
Well, I totally hijacked the OP's thread. Apologies...

It's a premium price but I sure wouldn't call it a premium tractor or a economy version either. It's somewhere in between , like maybe between a JD series 5E and a 5M.

There's a lot of good stuff going on, and also some stuff that makes you shake your head and wonder. It's missing simple stuff, like where to mount all the monitors? Baler Monitor, Moisture Monitor, Spray Monitor, Camera Monitor (because the hood is so wide and tall). It's advertised as more of a AG/ Hay tractor but they don't offer mounts or any places for several monitors.

Yes, I've been creative and got them mounted, but seriously, the only power plug is located behind the seat, but where do you mount most of your monitors and other gizmos, typically more towards the front or front, right quadrant. On an M5 you pretty much have the rail by the front window, or right side door rail so a fuse box or place to connect acc. equipment under the dash or on the side of the dash would have been great. There aren't any spare fuses or wiring for acc. equipment so you have to splice into existing stuff.

I noticed the newer cab roof design on all the Ultra Grande Cab II are much thinner, flexible, and just seem more fragile. It's not just the M5 because I looked at a M4-71D and it looked like the same exact cab roof and you can take your finger and push it in, especially the black underskirt. It looks like they've been this way for a little while now. The newer cab layout is way nicer than the older one. It's quieter, less dusty, and has more space and places to set stuff, multiple drink holders, and fairly comfortable.

The engine is plenty powerful, for me at least. The electronic preset speeds are great. I have one preset for 540E and one for 540 so I just push a button and it stays there. Perfect.

I can say for sure, the quality control on the loader on this one is pretty bad. Most people are aware Kubota has had QC problems with loaders, back hoe attachments and stuff over the last couple of years just like any other mfg. The two legs/stands that drop down to support the loader when you remove it, aren't any where near straight and don't line up with the pins used to stow them when in use. It takes a cheater bar to pry them in position. Pretty bad, but the real bad part is, on a Kubota loader, they are normally super simple and fast to hook up. Typically, you pull up close, hook up the hoses, drive till the loader is over the frame mounts then let it down on the hooks then extend the loader until it sits firmly back in the brackets and the pin holes line up nicely. Not on this one, they welded the stops on really sloppy so the pin holes won't line up. You need two people to sit there and lift and lower until the pin holes line up. That's not normal and totally sucks since there aren't two people here. On the right side, you can reach the joy stick and move the loader around while pushing in the pin. Much more difficult on the left side.

I'm pretty sure I can take care of it myself. I don't see the dealership being able to do much with it to fix it that I can't do. I see myself with a welder or grinder to "adjust" the stops to be in correct spot. I never had an issue with the M7040, it all just lined up.

Just little nit picking things so far, but this seems to be expected with the stuff that happened over the last couple of years. Fix it, deal with it, move on and enjoy.
 
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/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now?
  • Thread Starter
#58  
OP here! I have pretty much given up on a heavier Kubota. Prices and delivery around here are not reasonable today. For less money, I can get a CaseIH or MasseyFerguson and they are generally better 'balanced' for loader work in addition to normal field work.

Massey dealerships around me are few and far between today so, while I really like the MF-4707, I am concerned with the lack of local dealer support. There used to be a dealer about ~45minutes away but, they closed at the start of COVID ~2 years ago. With the AGCO parentage, I am somewhat leery of the emissions problems my neighbor had on his similar New Holland during hay season. The New Holland dealer I spoke with and have done business with for a few years confirmed that some New Hollands were very problematic while a similar tractors at other locations were trouble free for unknown reasons since they were so similar in configuration and use.

This has me looking at CaseIH today. Pricing seems to be a little better. Availability is a lot better as well. There are two pretty strong dealers within about an hours drive so that is a huge plus to me. The ASCO dealership in Tyler, Tx looks promising as well.

While I really wanted to like a Kubota M5 and had the money to buy one, Kubota totally botched things IMHO. I tried to buy nose weights for my B2601 and they wanted $720 extra just for shipping some little suitcase weights! Sorry Kubota, I know supply chain problems are real for every manufacturer but, things at your business are not reasonable for an independent farmer/rancher like myself compared to your competition.

With the monopoly on John Deere tractors here in East Texas with United Ag and Turf, plus the proprietary software and high cost just isn't an option for me today.
 
/ Can't get a Kubota M5-111 so, what now? #59  
Well what tractor company is going to allow us (as owners of their brand), access to their diagnostic/programming software? None of them. You can be sure that they all will claim it proprietary.

Since you mentioned John Deere, you may or may not know that last year, a class action lawsuit has been filed against them, to give owners of JD equipment the "Right to Repair". If JD loses that suit, they may be the first company to make this available.

Meanwhile, the only other real option is to buy older equipment that doesn't need proprietary software for trouble-shooting.
 

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