Comparing M5040, MX5100 and L5240

[4hotshoes]

I've looked at (and driven) these three tractors that are in stock at a local dealer. All are about 45 PTO HP and any of them would do what I need (bushhogging, moving dirt/stone/snow, moving/stacking round bales with an FEL, moving materials with pallet forks). I'm also putting in 3000 ft of fencing and about to build a barn, and I have some woods that I might clear later on. I hadn't really planned to get up to the 50 HP range, but decided I'd rather have a little more than I need in case I dream up a new use later on. All are 4WD, and I have a pretty steep driveway and rolling land. The L5240 is the most expensive because it is HST (the new HST Plus) and has the LA854 loader. Price quote is $26,162. This was my first time driving and HST, and it was a pleasure to drive, but I worry about all the bells and whistles.....hydro dual speed, load sensing, auto throttle, etc. Seems like a lot to go wrong some day.

The MX5100 with LA844 loader is a little bigger than the L5240, but they look pretty similar sitting side-by-side. This has a "syncro shuttle" transmission. Price on this is $23,272. I have nothing against spending less!

The M5040 is a larger tractor, and the LA 1153 loader lifts more and lifts it up to 20" higher than the other loaders. The extra height seems useful for building projects. This tractor has the hydraulic shuttle which lets you go from forward to reverse without clutching. It seems like this would give some of the advantages of the HST for loader work without all the bells and whistles. A rear remote is standard on this model and an add-on with the others. Price is $25,783.

Engine reliability and longevity is important to me since I had my present Kubota B8200 for over 20 years, and the tractors use two different engines. Both are designed to meet the new emission standards, so I'm not sure that how much of a track record they have. The L5240 has the 4-cyl E-TVCS engine that is turbo charged. The MX5100 seems to have a very similar engine. The M5040 has the 4 cyl E-CDIS engine, which is natural aspiration.

I am leaning toward the M5040, but I'd like to hear the thinking and experience of anyone who has used these machines. Is one engine better than another? Do the prices seem reasonable, or should I price-shop more? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[pitt_md]

Well if I were buying another one now I would get the M5040. I have the MX5000 and it is a great tractor. I just spent close to $900 to get a rear remote installed. Given all of the above the M5040 offers more lift with the FEL and a little more weight AND the hydraulic shuttle. Its a no brainer to me.

 

[Wombat125]

I was in your same boat looking at orange and green. I ultimately ended up ordering a green tractor because of dealer proximity, but was having the same sizing questions.

I was debating between the feature rich 3000 and 4000 series, and the simpler 5000 series. I ended up going with the 5000 since I don't have any clearance or tight navigation issues that would warrant a smaller tractor and HST. Plus, I got a lot more iron for the same or sometimes less money than the 4000 series.

For me it came down to choosing simple design over feature rich, and larger over smaller for the same price. So in a roundabout way, I am concurring with your inclination toward the M5040.

 

[Bob_Young]

If paying the extra $ doesn't bother you, get the M5040. Besides the extra weight & size of the tractor itself, the stronger 3PH, and the greater FEL capabilities, it's engine is about 35 cu. in. larger than that used in the MX and the L. It won't have to work nearly as hard to make it's 50HP and will have extra torque.

If I have one beef about my MX5000, it's that it has to turn 2700 RPM to reach 540 at the PTO. That's spinning pretty good for a diesel. I suspect the MX5100 is the same. The M5040 turns 540 at the PTO with a more reasonable (and quieter) 2300 engine RPM, as I recall. It's gotta be better for engine longevity as well.

I looked at the M5040 pretty hard before buying my MX. If I'd been offered the price you were quoted, I'd have gone that way myself. As it was, the M5040 quote was about 2K higher than yours, while the basic MX5000 quote was about 2K less than your MX quote (leftover model that had been on the lot awhile). Like you, either tractor would work OK.

But you can't go wrong here. They're all good tractors.
Bob

 

[Conn]

i love my new M5040. I don't really have anything to compare it to, since we haven't bought a brand new tractor since 1998, and I haven't been on any tractors other than our.

i could nit-pick about the M5040.

seems like the floor on the right side could be supported more. when i stand up on the platform with the engine running, the engine revs up becuase the throttle linkage moves.

the cable that operates the rear remote valve seems to be alittle sticky.

i really wish they'd put some sort of rear work light on them standard equipment.

the pinning system for lateral stability in the lift arms is a little goofy. i have trouble keepig up with the clips.

they could quite down the transmission a bit. i've acutally thought about taking mine back to the dealer to "make sure" the transmission was ok. it seems overly noisy to me.

all that being said, you always hear the bad things about something, and never the good....so here goes the good!

-UBER comfortable and adjustable seat, although it needs mroe spring travel.

-Nice egronomic design. Much better than the JD 5003 series.

-I LOVE MY BEERHOLDER

-The gauges light up nicely and the headlights are super bright.

-The engine starts easily. Much easier than all the 5003 series tractors I checked out.

-The turning radius is crazy tight.

 

[Wombat125]

-Nice egronomic design. Much better than the JD 5003 series.

-The engine starts easily. Much easier than all the 5003 series tractors I checked out.

Hey! Why ya gotta be picking on our 5003's in an all Kubota thread?!!?


Just kidding... All good fun.

 

[Negligence]

While I can't give you any reasonable comparisons to the 5040 (the price difference wasn't worth the jump to me), I recently bought an MX5100 and the price you listed seems high, especially since your in the US.

With 844 loader, bale spear, rear work light, taller tires and remote for the back, I paid just less than $23K total. I would expect something similar in the states to sell for $18-19k. Have you shopped around?

By the way I love the MX5100, great machine. But I do agree with Bob, you do have to rev high to reach 540 PTO. Minor annoyance since I usually only use the PTO during summers, and with hearing protection you won't notice the excess noise.

 

[rbargeron]

This thread is very interesting - mostly because I have asked and answered all of the same questions and weighed all the same features and benefits as I have traded up in power and weight to my present tractor. After all this I offer the following for your consideration:

What if there was a Kubota tractor model that includes many of the features listed above as the best ones - like 59 horsepower (50 pto), 4wd, clutchless hydraulic shuttle, LA-1150A loader with hd bucket, remote hydraulics, 5-cylinder direct-injection, Cat I & II 3-point hitch, 13 gpm hydraulic pump and weighing about 5900 lb with FEL. To top it off it even has a two-speed pto (540 and 750 rpm). Engine often can loaf at 1700 rpm.

By now you may have guessed this tractor is an L5450HDT, a high-end model made in the '90s . This particular one has R4 rubber, wheel weights, canopy, work lights, block heater and 1170 hours on the clock. It's also going to be for sale soon, priced at $17k - a lot less than a new one with comparable stats. Only reason to sell is I have acquired another one just like it with a Laurin cab. pm if interested - and sorry for the shameless pitch.

 

[Happyman]

I'm not quite at the horse power level as you other boys, but I gotta say my L3940 HST is a dream to operate. The bells and whistles all add greatly to the operating experience. I drove A LOT of JD and Kubota before landing on this one. I do an awful lot of work around my farm with various attachments and this booger just keeps on pushing. Another consideration for me was my wife and teenage kids. The HST makes this tractor SOOOO easy to drive that I can easily convince my 14 year old son to cut the pastures. Even my 80 year old mother likes to drive it because "it drives just like my car".
My two cents.....