M59 Discussion Thread

[Charlesaf3]

OK. In the hopes that they would be helpful I did take some pictures of the seat mount mod. It's pretty simple. THe 2x2 wood sections will probably get replaced with something nicer when I see if the height is right. The project was a bit rushed because my wife was impatient quit toying with the tractor so we could go out and DO SOMETHING WITH IT. - And so we did.... Laid some fieldstone steps up to the front porch using the backhoe and thumb. Back to the seat picture, the bolts should be 8-1.25 x 70 mm from the hardware store....Lowe's I think. The 3/4" rubber donuts are found between the cab and frame on most US pickups built in the last 50 years. The thin rubber washers are cut from any 1/8" rubber sheet - although I did see that Lowe's had those too.

View attachment 109915 View attachment 109916

Some suppliers aren't familiar with the special nylock nuts. They are about twice the thickness of a normal nut and look like an acorn nut. Trapped in the additional space is a threaded piece of nylon that is slightly undersize for that thread and so locks it. It doesn't require a locking washer.
rScotty

Interesting, what difference have you found it to make?

I've never found nylock nuts difficult to get hold of - are they rare out there? Never had occasion to try to buy one in Colorado.

Actually, I did have to switch from 24 thread to 16 thread to get a nylock nut (we just call them lock nuts out here). Couldn't find a 24 thread lock nut.

I used a 3/8 x 2" bolt to replace the lynch pin, btw. Still on, despite some hard digging last night.

 

[Charlesaf3]

"Hooks on the bucket are key.......4 hooks on the 24, in a pattern rec'd on TBN. ... I've already found a great deal of use for the hooks."

Oh, I didn't think of putting hooks on the BH bucket. Where? I use them on the front bucket a lot. That's where the first one's are going.

By re-mounting the thumb control I mean that I will move it up on the control column and work it with a lever. Kubota's ideas on foot controls seem to be made for someone else's feet. Plus their foot pedal just doesn't work very well. Is there enough flow through that thumb circuit to run a hydraulic PHD?

enjoy! rScotty

Oh, front bucket definitely - messicks puts that on as part of the deal. I have 3 on each bucket. On the bh buckets I have 4 on the 24 and 1 on the 12. Very useful for adjusting stones and craning. There should be 2 on the 12 though. Learned about the bh hooks on TBN, of course, but can't remember who to give credit too.

Hooks on bh buckets are twinned, facing opposite, so a chain can grab either way, if that makes sense. I'll take a picture if you want one.

I haven't had a problem with the foot pedal, aside from the fact I find it reversed of where it should intuitively be. What issues are you having?

Yes, theoretically that circuit gets full flow, and my hydraulic PHD only needs a minimum of 5. We should be getting around 16 at full power. The mount doesn't look too hard to make, but I'm still waiting for mcmillen to come out with it, or kubota to come out with QC ear blanks.

Very informative on the hydraulics. At least the part I understood! I really have to pick up a copy of "hydraulics for dummies" if that exists.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Maybe Messick's would build a vertical stack for us? I'd bet you could sell one to almost every M59 owner out there. It is hard to figure out why Kubota made such a nice machine and then aimed the exhaust so that the operator has to perpetually be driving through a cloud of diesel fumes. This exhaust problem could benefit from some immediate factory attention. Most of the other things we discuss are really just matters of individual preference, but the exhaust pipe needs to be fixed.
rScotty

This is so true And I picked up asthma when I turned 35. The only thing I need an inhaler for is operating the tractor - the FOPS traps the diesel in there nicely.

I need to call Neil today in any case, I'll ask him. I'd gladly buy that, its the only thing that makes me want a cab.

 

[rScotty]

Hooks on bh buckets are twinned, facing opposite, so a chain can grab either way, if that makes sense. I'll take a picture if you want one.

I haven't had a problem with the foot pedal, aside from the fact I find it reversed of where it should intuitively be. What issues are you having?

Very informative on the hydraulics. At least the part I understood! I really have to pick up a copy of "hydraulics for dummies" if that exists.

I've never used a BH hook, where are they on the bucket?
The thumb pedal works, but is awkward. Not instinctive. Not only is it reversed, but I have to bend over and carefully eyeball things so my 4E shoe fits into that sort of skinny pedal space. With boots there would be no chance.

Loaded up the PU with big moss rocks today. Big enough that three to maybe four are a max load for a 1972 full size half ton 4x4 Chevy with overload springs. That thumb is a marvelous thing and will clamp and lift a huge rock. We did find it a lot easier to pick rock off the ground than to get it out of the flat back of the PU. Obviously some practice is needed there. Learned NOT to push the rocks up to the front of the PU bed. Easy to do ; hard to undo. Would sure be handy to have a sort of 45 degree angled glove to fit over the thumb for difficult grabs. Easy to visualize - one pin would hold it. Now I just need to draw it up and have it built.

Hey, I was ignorant on hydraulics until I read a great hydraulic article for us dummies. - actually it is an seven articles published as a series in "Implement and Tractor" magazine many years ago called "Let's get into Hydraulics". That article has become the standard and has been reprinted many times in many books. It's still coming around....most recently I saw it in reprinted by Clymer publications.

rScotty

BTW, no buldozer here - but my buddy and I DO have big old dump truck that lives with whoever borrowed it last. 1952 side dump GMC that hauls around 5 tons and cost $300. Runs like a watch; gets about 16 mpg.....unless the gas tank is leaking....again....

 

[Doug Sinjem]

How is the M59 for loading dirt? The bucket looks pretty large for the tractor. I would like to here any input on lift capacity and ease of filling the front bucket during loading operations.

Doug

 

[rScotty]

How is the M59 for loading dirt? The bucket looks pretty large for the tractor.
Doug

Doug, I thought the same thing. I was used to a certain proportion between loaders, tractors, and buckets and the 7 footer on the M59 just seemed too big. I still plan to order a 4n1 bucket but by tractor delivery time hadn't decided which brand to get and ended up including the stock bucket in the deal. It sure is a rugged built bucket and this one came with the reinforced bottom lip.

Well, I've got a lot of dirt to move and this tractor with the stock 84" bucket is amazing. I still haven't ordered the 4n1. Frankly the M59 doesn't have any problem filling the bucket. It fills with less effort than my smaller 33 hp compact tractor. With that one, 4wd was really helpful - sometimes necessary - to fill the bucket when scooping into a mound of dirt. With the M59 the 4wd is more optional than necessary. And when we are traveling down our long dirt drive with the bucket heaped full of wet dirt the tractor doesn't seem to notice the weight. Bottom line is much to my surprise it seems to handle it fine. It still doesn't look any smaller though.

Back dragging with the lip of the bucket is something I do a lot to smooth dirt while landscaping. With this big heavy bucket it's a whole new experience. Rocks tend to get smashed down instead of bouncing the tractor around. Nice.

Another nice thing about back dragging is that I finally get to move away from the exhaust fumes. The position of the exhaust - which blows onto the operator while driving forward is the only negative I've found with this excellent machine.
rScotty - M59 TLB

 

[Charlesaf3]

I've never used a BH hook, where are they on the bucket?
The thumb pedal works, but is awkward. Not instinctive. Not only is it reversed, but I have to bend over and carefully eyeball things so my 4E shoe fits into that sort of skinny pedal space. With boots there would be no chance.

Loaded up the PU with big moss rocks today. Big enough that three to maybe four are a max load for a 1972 full size half ton 4x4 Chevy with overload springs. That thumb is a marvelous thing and will clamp and lift a huge rock. We did find it a lot easier to pick rock off the ground than to get it out of the flat back of the PU. Obviously some practice is needed there. Learned NOT to push the rocks up to the front of the PU bed. Easy to do ; hard to undo. Would sure be handy to have a sort of 45 degree angled glove to fit over the thumb for difficult grabs. Easy to visualize - one pin would hold it. Now I just need to draw it up and have it built.

Hey, I was ignorant on hydraulics until I read a great hydraulic article for us dummies. - actually it is an seven articles published as a series in "Implement and Tractor" magazine many years ago called "Let's get into Hydraulics". That article has become the standard and has been reprinted many times in many books. It's still coming around....most recently I saw it in reprinted by Clymer publications.

rScotty

BTW, no buldozer here - but my buddy and I DO have big old dump truck that lives with whoever borrowed it last. 1952 side dump GMC that hauls around 5 tons and cost $300. Runs like a watch; gets about 16 mpg.....unless the gas tank is leaking....again....

I completely agree with the post above that the M59 has no problem with the size of the bucket - handles it effortlessly. Pretty impressive considering that it seems as big as a construction TLB.

I also agree the exhaust is a big flaw. Still love the machine though.

rscotty - I'll take some pics of the BH hooks, easier than explaining. They make dealing with things like your rocks in front much easier - put a chain around rock, attach to hooks, pull it towards you. I find rock adjustment with the chain very easy.

I reversed the pedal for the thumb - turned out to be a simple job, I'll take pics of how.. I've a similar size foot, so I understand the issue with the pedal - I'm planning on making a mahogany pedal that rides on top, probably friction fit onto the existing pedal base, to get my foot up over the rim.

 

[rScotty]

I'll be curious to see the variations that everyone comes up with for bucket hooks and modifying the controls. I'm guessing that there's as many variations as there are people doing them.

Has anyone experimented with the "backhoe crawl mode" on their M59"? If so, does yours crawl both fwd & back at about the same speed?
rScotty

 

[Charlesaf3]

I'll get the pics up as soon as I can take some.

I've been experimenting with backhoe crawl - inspired by your post. Seems to be same speed forward and back. I have found it useful for repositioning, and for moving rocks I've picked up with the thumb..

 

[rScotty]

I'll get the pics up as soon as I can take some.

I've been experimenting with backhoe crawl - inspired by your post. Seems to be same speed forward and back. I have found it useful for repositioning, and for moving rocks I've picked up with the thumb..

Mine probably could use a centering adjustment then.. I'm guessing the adjustment is in the control lever. Tractor moves forward at a speed which is faster than I would call a crawl...and backwards little at all. Hoping to get a shop manual soon.

I use mine the same way for moving rocks around. It's real handy when selecting landscaping rocks by moving them off to the side from a pile of potential candidates.
rScotty