kubota decision--7040 vs 8540

[CumminsLuke]

Hi guys,

I have had a 7040 for about a year (360 hrs)...cab... FEL, shuttle. I do hay (NH 7' conditioner and a Vermeer L505 baler) I absolutely love it. The reason for the 7' conditioner is that I am in a fairly busy area and 9' is a pain to take down the roads. It would handle a 6X5' baler... just found a good 5X5. It made hay work a pleasure and then it also makes feeding a pleasure this winter. It is very comfortable and I have no complaints at all....except for the tool box... and I put one of those on the right step because I will never use it to get in.I would also like to have front fenders some day if they get to making them. I did see a feature on a Branson that I was considering before I bought the 7040 and it was a remote hydraulic control on the back that made it really handy for hooking up 3 point stuff. I think it also had a sun roof...which might have been nice, but I doubt I would have used it much. I just got my "welcome to Medicare" letter and with this 7040, I feel like I知 good for haying for another 20 years...hope so.

Mopiflyer

How does your 7040 handle that Vermeer 505L? I am looking at a Case-IH 8450 4'x6' and I "think" I can pull it. It is the same machine as a 550 Hesston.

 

[slowzuki]

I baled about 400 bales with a the same case in the 4x4 version last summer with my L5030HSTC. Was baling up a down some fairly good hills, no problem with power or weight. The M series should walk all over that 4x6'er.

How does your 7040 handle that Vermeer 505L? I am looking at a Case-IH 8450 4'x6' and I "think" I can pull it. It is the same machine as a 550 Hesston.

 

[CumminsLuke]

I hope you are right. But the weight of an 8450(4'x6') baler is over twice that of the 8430(4'x4'). It is a huge machine. I guess I'll find out. Here is a picture of an 8450..........................

http://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=5140681&guid=A259535DD96740279EC9616FEDD39677

 

[slowzuki]

I'm not sure what an 8450 weighs, but an 8430 feels less than my JD 336 even with a bale in it, and on the flat I could pull a 6000 lb rack behind that baler. I'm not sure you could get a 1400 lb bale like they say unless you did silage with it. I'd say 900-1000 lb would be more normal with timothy hay.

I guess looking at the specs the m7040 is a lot lighter than an m8540, but still it should be ok. Is it hilly where you are? That 7' M-C must drive you nuts, I find the 9' to be slow. I'd love to have a discbine.

I hope you are right. But the weight of an 8450(4'x6') baler is over twice that of the 8430(4'x4'). It is a huge machine. I guess I'll find out. Here is a picture of an 8450..........................

http://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=5140681&guid=A259535DD96740279EC9616FEDD39677

 

[CumminsLuke]

I'm not sure what an 8450 weighs, but an 8430 feels less than my JD 336 even with a bale in it, and on the flat I could pull a 6000 lb rack behind that baler. I'm not sure you could get a 1400 lb bale like they say unless you did silage with it. I'd say 900-1000 lb would be more normal with timothy hay.

I guess looking at the specs the m7040 is a lot lighter than an m8540, but still it should be ok. Is it hilly where you are? That 7' M-C must drive you nuts, I find the 9' to be slow. I'd love to have a discbine.

An 8450 weighs twice what an 8430 weighs. There is a huge difference in the two machines. I think she'll make pretty close to a 1200-1400lb bale because the machine makes one heck of a tight bale all the way to 6' in diameter. I have a few hills on my farm but my fields are flat. A NH 479 is a 9'3" cut machine. It is not too bad, she's an oldie but still runs like new.

 

[big bubba]

if this thread is still about 7040 vs 8540, the weight difference of the 8540 is about 600 lbs more than the lesser one, the length is about 13" more, and the turning radius is about 2' more. If I had to do it again, I'd go with the 8540 over my 7040 merely for the hyd. brakes, the added pto & engine hp, and transmission lock brakes....otherwise, the specs are not really that much different. But to turn it in now, I'd take too great a hit to justify the advantages. For my needs, the 7040 should do just fine...wish it weren't quite so light on it's feet for FELS work. Am told the turbo in the 8540 and added ft end weight really makes a difference for that kind of work. bb

 

[m7040]

For the M7040 it will be advantages to add weight if you use the FEL to max capacity. First get filled tires and next get the cast iron hub and then add up to three CI rings per wheel. Makes it very stable and if you feel more is needed add a ballast box as well

 

[big bubba]

mr m7040 Good idea. Have fluid filled rears, and usually an impliment on the rear....stability w/bucket (62") filled is no problem, it's that the front end is a bit light for excavation. But I'll live and like the machine for utility work on the 127 acre mt. farm. I'm looking at only a few % of the time when I wish I had gone larger. thanks for input. bb