L3240 and 6' rotary cutter or go bigger?

[PSDStu]

Can the L3240 HST with a 6' rotary cutter handle cutting 15 to 20 acres of Bahia maybe 4-5 times a year?

Those of you who have to cut Bahia know it's like cutting rope even when it's only knee high.

I am trying to decide if the L3240 HST can handle this or would I be better looking at the L3540, or just go up to the M5040?

I think I can get the M5040 2wd version for less then the L3540 version 4wd HST.

I don't really need 4wd for running the rotary cutter but I am concerned about having enough pto hp for a 6ft cutter used on mainly Bahia.

Thoughts?

Stu

 

[davitk]

I have the 3240, that extra 3 horses would be nice for a 6' cutter.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Can the L3240 HST with a 6' rotary cutter handle cutting 15 to 20 acres of Bahia maybe 4-5 times a year?

Those of you who have to cut Bahia know it's like cutting rope even when it's only knee high.

I am trying to decide if the L3240 HST can handle this or would I be better looking at the L3540, or just go up to the M5040?

I think I can get the M5040 2wd version for less then the L3540 version 4wd HST.

I don't really need 4wd for running the rotary cutter but I am concerned about having enough pto hp for a 6ft cutter used on mainly Bahia.

Thoughts?Stu

from what I'm understanding you're main use of this tractor will be cutting this field of bahia a few times a year? any tillage work? fel work? if your answer to those questions is no, or cutting is going to be 90% of what you do with the tractor then if I were you I would get that 2wd M5040 and let the good times roll! that tractor is a hoss and 15-20 acres is gonna be A LOTTA seat time, you have no idea. just for comparison so you'll know what to expect, I have a 56hp MFWD tractor and a medium duty 6' bush hog. this thing will eat through some bahia like youve never seen. the only drawback is I'm using this setup on a 10 acre field, and 8 acre field, and a 5 acre field. I haven't kept up with the time but lets just say in 3 days I was finally finished(spent about 2-3 hours per day). it CAN be done with a 6' cutter, but just make sure you want to invest the time. i do, so that's why I got a 6' instead of a 7 or 8'. my advice in choosing a cutter(incase you don't have one in mind) is to check out blade tip speed. seems to me that's going to be what you're looking for the most since it'll mainly be used on Bahia and not cutting down sapplings, or getting abused like alot of cutters do.

 

[PSDStu]

from what I'm understanding you're main use of this tractor will be cutting this field of bahia a few times a year? any tillage work? fel work? if your answer to those questions is no, or cutting is going to be 90% of what you do with the tractor then if I were you I would get that 2wd M5040 and let the good times roll! that tractor is a hoss and 15-20 acres is gonna be A LOTTA seat time, you have no idea. just for comparison so you'll know what to expect, I have a 56hp MFWD tractor and a medium duty 6' bush hog. this thing will eat through some bahia like youve never seen. the only drawback is I'm using this setup on a 10 acre field, and 8 acre field, and a 5 acre field. I haven't kept up with the time but lets just say in 3 days I was finally finished(spent about 2-3 hours per day). it CAN be done with a 6' cutter, but just make sure you want to invest the time. i do, so that's why I got a 6' instead of a 7 or 8'. my advice in choosing a cutter(incase you don't have one in mind) is to check out blade tip speed. seems to me that's going to be what you're looking for the most since it'll mainly be used on Bahia and not cutting down sapplings, or getting abused like alot of cutters do.

It will be used almost soley for cutting fields of bahia. It's not all one field, but more like what you have described, areas of between 5 - 8 acres, some wide open, and other areas with vaious hardwood and pines. I know I could go biggier then 6ft with the M5040 2wd, but some of the areas with the tree's would probably be easier to us the 6ft cutter in.

I have been cutting this area for the last 2 years using a combination of my B7510 and 4ft cutter and also a MF 135 with a Brown 5ft cutter.

Looking to keep my B7510 with it's loader and other attachments, and getting the larger tractor just to do the fields of bahia with.

With all the rain we have been having you can just about hear the Bahia growing as soon as you cut it!

Stu

 

[traderrik]

Be sure to check out the recommended PTO horsepower for the cutter you want to use. I was looking at the L4240, but the medium duty 6 ft. Bush Hog 286 that I wanted requires 40 PTO hp minimum, so i had to step up to the L4740. (That shredder is a hoss and the tractor handles it with *no* problem, and i've cut thru some really heavy stuff!)

Just my $0.02

 

[Brahmus]

I've been reading and I understand 5 pto hp per foot of cutter for normal cutting is a good gauge. Therefore for your stuff I'd opt for a bit more.

 

[lawn_king]

Im from the school of smaller implement & a few extra horses to it. I use a landpride 1860 on my GL 3540 and she really cuts well! I wouldnt go any bigger on a 3540 jmho.

 

[PSDStu]

I went to my dealer again today and test drove both the M5040 and the L5040.

The M5040 he had in stock has the wider 16.9 tires and if I want the rotary cutter to extend beyond the rear tire width I will need to get the 7ft cutter.

The L5040 is a GST as that is the only tran offered in that model. It can handle the 6ft cutter as it is only 66" wide with R4 tires.

I liked the L5040 but didn't like the GST all that much. It seemed to have a little lag time when upshifting, and also when going between fwd and rev it seemed lag a little.

The M5040 FST just shifted so smoothly without any lag between gears, or while going from Fwd to Rev.

I also like the fact that M5040 engine PTO speed is around 2100 RPM versus 2600 for the L5040.

Prices without any hagling yet are:

M5040 - $17,740
Woods BB84 - $2400

L5040 - $21,500
Woods BB72 - $1795

I think Woods must have had a price increase lately because both Rotary Cutter prices seemed a little high to me.

I suppose I could ask the dealer to install the 14.9 size tires if I want to run a 6ft cutter.........but haven't made my mind about going with a 6 or 7 foot cutter if I get the M5040.......which is were I am leaning!

I really liked the M5040 and thats the tractor I am leaning towards........not sure about the price, if it's reasonable or not.

Stu

 

[Deerlope]

I just bought an M5040 and stock tires right from Kubota are 14.9 X28. The dealers put the 16.9's on them to make them look bigger than the really are. The lag that you feel when shift the L5040 is the proportioning valve in the tranny. It does that to keep from tearing gears apart. If you tryed an M5040 with the hydraulic shuttle it has the same valve in it. It has no clutch as we know one. The clutch pedal only opens or closes a hydraulic valve. I really like my M 5040, big enough for the farm and small enough for the woods.

 

[Bob_Young]

Yeah, you're certainly going to get some seat time PSD. I'm finishing up 17 acres of switchgrass/goldenrod with lots of saplings, choke cherry and other woody stuff mixed in...plus cattails where it's wet. Very heavy. Using the MX5000 teamed with a BB720. The combination works pretty good and the 720 is about the same width as the tractor. Need the FEL on to protect the tractor. So far I've got almost 17 hours tach time on this job. Last time I did it with the Ford 4000 and it came out right at 20 hours. It'll be almost the same this time.

I'd recommend an MX5000 or 5100 except rated PTO speed comes at 2700RPM, which is really howling. I can get by with 2200RPM and 440 at the PTO which isn't bad. But, for what you're cutting, you'll probably need to turn the full 540. If only doing it once every couple of years, you could probably stand it. But 3 or 4 times a year!!? For your sanity's sake, get the slower turning M5040.
FWIW
Bob