L5030HST & Michelin Radials

[mnhgolf]

The forums on this web site have helped me considerably in determining which new tractor I am going to purchase. I appreciate each of you for the invaluable information you share. I, like many others will be purchasing a new L5030HST. The only options I plan to purchase are front end weights and I will have the tires loaded with antifreeze or calcium chloride. I will use the tractor for finish mowing my 5 acre yard with a heavy duty 6 foot mower and box grading the steep 1/4 mile gravel road (20% to 30% grade in some places) to my house with a 5 foot box grader. If it weren't for the steep road, I could get by with something much smaller than the 5030. I will try to purchase the tractor with out wheels and tires so that I can install Michelin XM-108 R1W tires with the appropriate wheels. It appears this tire is the best radial tire option for traction, ride, soil compaction, longevity and less visible yard damage than a typical R1 agricultural tire. My questions are:

Advantages of antifreeze vs calcium chloride filled tires?

Which Michelin XM-108 tire sizes and corresponding wheel sizes (smallest to largest - front and rear) will fit this tractor and maintain the transfer case mechanical ratio of 1.564 with a +5% to 0% lead (This specification was posted by another member)? I realize this is probably a question for Kubota and/or Michelin, but I thought I would ask in case someone else had already been down this path.

http://www.michelinag.com/agx/en-US/products/product_detail_pages/XM108.jsp

Thanks again for your wealth of information!

Mike


I think I have found the answer to my Michelin tire question, but not the tire loading question:

Front Tires: Michelin XM27: 11LR16 TL 122AB with 8x16 or 10x16 wheels
Rear Tires: Michelin XM108: 540/65R24 TL with 14x24, 15x24 or 16x24 wheels

 

[Dargo]

Looks like a pretty cool tire; sort of like splitting the difference between R1's and R4's. I really wavered back and forth about which tire to get, the R1's or R4's. Since I do quite a bit of rough cut mowing with a rotary mower I ended up going with the R4's because it seems that everyone agrees that the R4's have a tougher carcass against punctures. So far I've been pleasantly surprised at the traction I actually get with the R4's. I've always had R1's before and was expecting to lose quite a bit with the R4's, but I didn't.

I don't know what weight bracket and weights they sell now for the L5030's, but when I bought mine I didn't like their weight bracket setup. Especially since I constantly take my FEL on and off I didn't like the fact that the weight bracket I was shown would have had to have been removed each time to put my FEL back on. I ended up making my own front weight bracket and using some JD weights I already had. Here is the front weight bracket and weights I adapted to use on the 5030. I think it cost me about $12 and took me a couple of hours to complete. Good luck!

 

[texasjohn]

Dargo... lordy, what shiney stuff you have!!! Nice job

I agree totally about watching how weights attach.... I had to come up with a special bracket also so I could have weights attached and use FEL as well... requires extreme planning and measuring....

 

[Hootie]

Dargo... lordy, what shiney stuff you have!!!

Wow that looks showroom quality. As to the 5030HSTC, I realize it has been mighty hot of late, but I don't think my AC is working as well as it could. I made a custom blower tube so I could clean (blow out) the AC condenser and do it regularly. I also keep the filter in the cab clean and understand the controls for fresh vs. recir. air. I have also insulated the cab roof with the foil insulation. Friday it was 97 degrees and high humidity, that AC ran on highest setting for over an hour (motor RPM's @ 2000) and I never turned it down. My dealer says it is not low on freon.

 

[MarkV]

I am wondering if you are going to be happy with a 5' box blade on the 5030. It would seem that a 6' box blade would come much closer to covering the width of the tractor which is an advantage.

MarkV

 

[Hootie]

Good point on the 6' BB, I operate a 7' hog on my 5030.

 

[texasjohn]

Hootie, am wondering if you have a thermometer in the cab... I got one of these little outside/inside ones and installed it... no foil in cab as yet, plan to do.... A/C does seem weak lately.... haven't taken it to get coolant checked however. It was 88 the other morning outside and 109 inside when I climbed into the tractor... opened windows and let AC run full tilt.

If you have thermometer... what temp inside/outside are you able to achieve, keeping the doors closed (something I never can do because my tasks call for jumping in and out frequently) for an hour...