M125X On The Way!

[have_blue]

A friend is coming next week to get some dirt for a big church project, and help me dig my pond in the process. He is bringing his brand new M125X and a 25,000 pound tandem dualie dump trailer. Guess what? I don't know how to drive a stick shift truck, so my partner will have to drive it while I operate the new 'Bota! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

When his 'Bota was delivered to the dealer, he took me to see it. It's fully loaded and then some... gizmos beyond my wildest dreams. I think I will like the 8 foot loader and the air conditioning best. It has some sort of "trick" steering that speeds up the front wheels when turning hard, making it turn extra tight. I guess that feature is available on other Kubotas, but it's the first time I've heard of it.

Just sitting in the cockpit made me turn orange with envy. The "stick" reminds me of an F-16 "fly-by-wire" stick. I am itching to spend some major time in the air ride seat , and moving a thousand yards or so of dirt. Going from an open 35hp CUT to a 125hp GUT (Gigantic Utility Tractor) will be a real treat for me.

Hope to get a few pictures... if I have time! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tjkadar]

Change 'few' to 'many' pictures please. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Stef]

I think you'll have orange dreams for a while /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[have_blue]

Well, the big 'Bota finally showed up Friday afternoon.

My buddy was delayed getting here because there was a dealer holdup installing the FEL bucket grapple. Then, the grapple didn't work right, and he had to return it.

He added a used BH, and the BH virtually fell apart because the pump pressure was too high. Fixed busted hoses and broken pins. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

We went and picked up an 18"x 8' concrete culvert and had to transport it 3 miles on the highway. Riding behind the big machine at 20 MPH was unnerving, because it bounced perilously over the slightest bump. We are going to check the tires, because I'm betting they are low. They are nearly as tall as me, BTW.

We dug out my ditch and hoisted the culvert in with a nylon sling. Covering it up was a pain, because the tractor and the FEL were so huge and ponderous. I think a more experienced driver (like me, for example) could have done it quicker.

The 8' FEL is the main tool we will be using, but I am shocked at the bucket design. First, the grapple is distracting. It's huge when opened, and big even when closed. I'll get used to that. The bucket is nearly triangular in cross section, so the capacity isn't nearly what it could be. Perhaps this is intentional to prevent overloading it. That old BH has got to go. It's loose as a goose, and flops all over the place. I'll see if I can talk my buddy into swapping it for the 8' rear blade. I estimate the blade will be useful for making dirt ridges to scoop up and load on to his 25,000 pound dump trailer.

Pictures and operating impressions coming Monday night, after I get some seat time!