Re: What are the \"weak spots\" on your tractor?
John:
I didn't have time to post last evening, that's why I just stated the "You worried me"
These arer my comments about the "old" tractor, not the new one. They will follow.
We will take 'em in order.....
Grill guard:
My only complaint about the grill guard was the color and the fact that I hit a stump and caved it in so I had to take it off, cut it apart and re-weld it and I added a chunk of "C" channel on the bottom. I re-painted it ROPS Grey. The chunk of "C" channel precluded thye addition of suitcase weights but I have never needed them anyway.
Tail lights:
I never ran into anything but I did manage to break the center of the left one when the bulb went out and I flipped the center of the lens with my fingernail hoping it would come back on. That is a CHEAP tail light. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Not cheap to buy, CHEAPLY maqde. A little airplane glue (the good smelly kind) fixed that problem.
Top Link attachment point:
John, it's a 5030 not an M9. It's barely a CAT II and not all the time. I never had any issue with the mount even toting 1200 pound rounds on the back. If you want a more robust TLM, get the draft/position mix option. That will give you a beefy mount and another lever to play with. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Soft underbelly: That sounds awful personal too me. You should see all the do dad's hanging from the M9. Of course I have way more ground clearance than you do. Actually, the ground clearance on the 5030 was a concern with me though only from a windrow standpoint. I never drove over anything that would require armor plate on the bottom.....you crush cars or what??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Valve stems:
You better have them or your tires must be permanently inflated or foamed. Actually, my 5030 had valve stem protectors on the front and rear when I took delivery. So does my M9...what gives??
Bucket level indicator:
This is a sore point with me. You should have had an earlier model of Kubota. My first few Kubbby's had the rod like yours (and mine), then someone at Kubota got the bright idea to do away with the rod and put a angled chunk of metal welded on the top of the bucket with a green and white vynil strip so you could level the bucket with that.....totally useless. My 3710 had the angled metal and about a week later had a rod and tube arrangement courtesy of my shop. Appreciate your rod and tube, the alternative is ghastly. You wont bend it if you pay attention to what you are doing and where you are driving and.....don't forget to cut off the excess....dah!!!!
Quick attach pins:
I never had any trouble with mine at all. A little grease once in a while helps alot. The M9 has an ATI QD unit. It is better than the Kubota OEM unit though. Not only in engagement but in visible strength. Then again my loader is 2 times as powerful as your 853. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Loader hoses rubbing hood:
Had that too. I used a tarp strap around the hoses, over the upright and hooked it in the hole on the back. Poorly though out design. The M9 has a cage on the LA1215 to route the hoses.
Toolbox: If you'd got a cab 5030, you'd have gotten an INSIDE toolbox. Standard on the M series, open station and cab units are nice, weather tight rops grey toolboxes with locking latches.......but then that is more money.
Feel like Dean Martin........you got "roasted" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Now the edit.....
The fuel filler on the 5030 was poor. The headlights were poor (too low) though I had cab lights to moderate that.
To all you guys complaining about the tie rod ends and the shields, well, I experienced the old style steering with drag link and tie rods. The hydro steering is light years ahead and I never had a boot problem or a shield problem. The M9 has the same setup, just bigger components.
On the subject of the M9, I can't find any fault except no 4wd light, no preheat light, no highbeam light, headlights too low (again, I do have cab lights and the cab lights are about 3 times as bright as the 5030's were. I miss the intelepanel though I understand the new generation M's have it. I too, disliked the FWA level on the 5030 (farmers call 4wheel drive front wheel assist), city boys call it 4 wheel drive /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. I guess being an ag tractor and being a farmer, Kubota figures you don't need "Idiot" lights, just an Id**t at the steering wheel. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Comments welcome......John
