M59 Discussion Thread

[rScotty]

Used the M59 to transport a few loads of dirt down a dirt road this weekend. Easy work with the giant bucket and medium speed....but I did find myself wishing that the seat had some damping as well as springing. Does anyone have any knowledge about seat damping? Where to get dampers and how to hook them up?
rScotty

 

[Charlesaf3]

I could see the dampening being useful, there can be a bit of a bounce that gets going

I don't really know the answer, but some sort of dampening piston adapted for it from a car door or toyota pickup gate?

I haven't had a chance to take pics yet, too busy working with it. Amazing how useful the thing is, really a huge jump from my b3030. I'm pushing over huge oak trees with it (after digging around them first). This rips the stump right out of the ground far quicker than digging it would be. And safer than cutting.

 

[rScotty]

Some thoughts after working the M59 a while now:

One, the BH with the thumb is simply incredible. Brute power and delicate control. I do need to reverse the foot pedal. Charles, I think that you did that. Any hints?

Found that the seat is more comfortable and doesn't pitch me around on bumps if the springs are set softer. Doing that plus spacing the seat box up a few inches makes it nicer.

Grrr....What was Kubota thinking when they aimed the exhaust as they did? The designer responsible should have been required to go drive one. I see that this mistake is not confined to the M59....being common not only to other model Kubotas but to most other compact tractors as well. Ah well, it is something they can all improve. Or a fertile opportunity for the after marketers. For starters I think it should go up and out on the offside. It'd be quieter there too. Any takers?

Been playing with the auto-throttle control and it is a real treat. What a great option! There are lots of times when I don't want or need for the engine to rev and muscle up with all the attendant noise and inefficiency when what really wanted was some more ground speed from the HST. Turning off the auto-throttle allows it to do light work economically without all the unnecessary sound and fury. Stealth mode.

Reinforced the chain hook yesterday. On this tractor I was smart enough to do that BEFORE bending the bucket. Then added some tie-off points at the corners of the bucket so as to use rope to stabilize bulky or fragile objects being carried. There's not much it won't lift and load now. Next project is to mount quick 'tach plates to some pallet forks and other specialized buckets that have been lanquishing behind the barn.

Thanks to my wife for insisting that I go ahead and pull the trigger on the M59 purchase. She's proud of it - and the hoe is delicate enough to set landscaping stones and even do some garden cultivating. Quietly too.
We're well pleased.
rScotty

 

[Charlesaf3]

Hey,

It is a great tractor no doubt. With the same exhaust caveat you have.

Funny about the cultivation, I regularly use the hoe to dig holes for flowers, and to "rototill". I do miss float on the hoe though, been meaning to complain about that.

Changing the direction of the thumb control is easy, and well worth doing. I still haven't gotten around to making a mahogany treadle to make it easier for my big feet.

Basically the thing to do is to switch the hoses on the boom - theres a point where its very easy to do with a wrench and 5 minutes. I'll have a look later today and try to be more descriptive.

 

[rScotty]

Just got a Bradco rock bucket for the M59. Haven't used it much yet, but will post some results after I do. Been using the quick attach on the loader arms to switch between the front 3 point adapter pushing a blade, the Kubota dirt bucket, and now the rock bucket. That quick attach system is very nice. With the 3 point adapter we can use regular 3 point attachments by driving in reverse and not have to dismount the backhoe.
rScotty

 

[Charlesaf3]

Hey, I haven't had time to post here lately, but I wanted to explain the easy way to reverse the thumb pedal. On the boom, where it says Kubota, above the K on the right side (or A on the left as its reversed) There is a union with all the thumb hoses going into it. By just unscrewing the tractor side ends of the hoses and switching them the pedal is reversed. Convenient, and no issues with slack in the hoses.

I still haven't taken my backhoe off - little scared of how much effort its going to be, but its going to happen in the next day or so.

 

[rScotty]

How did the great backhoe removal effort go? I haven't taken mine off and didn't really plan to....but just curious.

Report on the Bradco 75" rock bucket: If you have need to sort a lot of dirt and rocks this is your tool. Our soil runs about 60/40 rocks and dirt here. Rocks range in size from fist to suitcase. This bucket does everything a simple tool could do and it is built well besides....and I'm getting faster at swapping buckets using the Quick Attach.

Had to clear out a stand of small trees and brush the other day and at first did the old standby of chaining to a trunk and lifting each one up with the bucket....then got smart and reversed the tractor so I could use the hoe and thumb. What a treat! Just grab them, work 'em free, and up they come. As a bonus the hoe will stack them in a pile which can be wadded together with the help of the thumb and then transported in bulk.
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Just an update to the other M59 owners. Not much snow in our part of the the Rocky Mountains this year....not so far anyway. New M59 parts include front chains and a tine bucket for sorting rocks from dirt. I still haven't reversed the BH thumb and still haven't adapted to it's unnatural motion. But I keep being impressed by the BH power.

The machine starts well at very low temperatures and that's a pleasant change from our other diesels. Only downside so far is minor and is that my dealer still hasn't been able to get in publications like the shop manuals or even parts like the warrenty replacement turbo hose. This is my first Kubota and while I am impressed with the machine, I'm surprised that JD and Yanmar and even Zetor are so much better with customer support. I'd thought that all tractor manufacturers were about the same in that regard. Comments?

And a happy new year to all of my tractor friends and hope your machines purr right along.
scotty

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Only downside so far is minor and is that my dealer still hasn't been able to get in publications like the shop manuals or even parts like the warrenty replacement turbo hose

I'd shake the bushes some on that one. We've had shop manuals available for awhile. The turbo hose is used on tractors that have been in production for awhile, I'd be surprised if that was a real issue.

 

[Chato]

I had the turbo hose warranty switch done out at my place. Didn't take the tech very long and he was nice enough to change my UDT fluid at 46 hours.

I am trying to figure out how to rake rocks out a roping arena. Does anyone know of a front loader attachment to seperate them out from the dirt? Rocks are about 3" to 6" and rock dirt ratio 70/30.
How ell do they work?