M5-111

[5030]

Mine are all Pre 4-s, too. I have no new tractor bug.
Theres 200 acres of hay near me and when the guy who does it now retires, Im next to get the keys to the place.
Probably go with a clean Boxcar Magnum 4WD and a Krone 4x4

I have a new tractor bug, more has to do with keeping the operation in the negative side of the tax ledger than anything else, it is, after all, a business, not a hobby. Most posters on here probably won't understand that.

I like the M6's but the Post 4 motor is the big turn off for me. Cost isn't an object what I want, optioned the way I want it is in the excess of 115 grand but it's only funny money anyway. Like I said, the big stumbling block for me is what is under the hood and the somewhat dismal track record post 4 engines have.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have (5) pre-T4 diesel tractor engines. Sleep better at night that way, too.
The (1) I have that isn't is under warranty, and staying that way for a long time.

 

[5030]

If Kubota and others (JD comes to mind) standardized their access connections like the automakers did with OBD, I'd be way more conducive to buying one because then my high end Autel scanner would connect and I could download the actual faults and address them. As it is, the only way to access any faults is at the dealer with their specialized diagnostic equipment and pay them shop rate to do something that I can do. Besides with the bigger tractors a trip to the dealer also costs transportation or a 'house call'. Either way it costs something and in reality it should not.

In my opinion it's total BS.

 

[EddieWalker]

If Kubota and others (JD comes to mind) standardized their access connections like the automakers did with OBD, I'd be way more conducive to buying one because then my high end Autel scanner would connect and I could download the actual faults and address them. As it is, the only way to access any faults is at the dealer with their specialized diagnostic equipment and pay them shop rate to do something that I can do. Besides with the bigger tractors a trip to the dealer also costs transportation or a 'house call'. Either way it costs something and in reality it should not.

In my opinion it's total BS.

Do you know when they started doing this? Is it tied to Tier4 smog? Just trying to figure out what years to look at if I buy a used tractor so I can avoid this.

 

[5030]

Not really. I presume once they went to common rail with emissions controls. Both my large frame M9's are totally devoid of any emissions hardware. Mechanical injection and a road draft tube from the top of the valve cover to below the frame.

far as I can tell, all the emissions compliant units will have an ECM in control and accessing it is the issue because the diagnostic ports to the ECM are proprietary in design for a reason and that reason is, they don't want the owners to be able to address an issue when they can charge for that service.

 

[Hay Dude]

Do you know when they started doing this? Is it tied to Tier4 smog? Just trying to figure out what years to look at if I buy a used tractor so I can avoid this.

About 2013 was when I detected it with Kubota.
My 2012 M126-X is fairly simple. Sometime in 2013 has all the tier 4 stuff on it and is more complicated.

 

[5030]

One thing for certain and that is, if you are planning on purchasing a pre 4 tractor with any sort of power, you'd better do it soon as they are getting harder to find and owners have realized that pre 4 units are worth more, especially one that hasn't been flogged.

I believe that anything under 23 pto is still no emissions junk equipped but I read somewhere that is also changing.

With Hay Dude and myself 23 pto is in the toy tractor realm. Even my lawnmower has that much power...lol

 

[5030]

Sometime in 2013 has all the tier 4 stuff on it and is more complicated.

It's the complexity that contributes to the unrealiability, especially when it comes to the emissions hardware and the software.

really don't matter what brand it is because they all share aftermarket suppliers and technology. No one is gonna come up with some 'new and improved' and stone reliable system. Not in the cards.

I guess that is what 'fry's my eggs' so to speak. Basically you purchase a new compliant unit and you become the unwilling first article tester.

I realize under Federal Law, the first 5 years are warranted no matter what but, one if it's in the shop you don't have it to work with and 2, what about after 5 years, who eats it then? and finally 3, what will it be worth in 5 years or 10 or whatever?

Certainly won't be Kubota or Deere or Mahindra or Kioti or any of them, it will be YOU.

 

[Hay Dude]

The prices of pre-4 tractors has increased dramatically.
3 years ago, I bought a loaded, low hour (2,200hr) 2010 Kubota M-135X with loader and 8’ bucket for $41,000.
Right now, I regularly see similar year & condition Kubota M-135x tractors with higher hours and less options for $45,000.

 

[Hay Dude]

At the same dealership, I was looking at a NH8960 Farm tractor with about 6500 hours, no loader...$29,000.
Same tractor in similar condition at a dealer 50 miles away in rural PA is $48,000.