What size Kubota for round bales?

[houser52]

I'm currently using a 25+ year old Ford 4630, 55-60 hp, 2 wheel drive, gear transmission to move 5x5 round bales of hay. Someone else bales our hay so I'm not using it to run a mower or baler.

The tractor is used for transporting the bales from the field to the barn and stacked 2 high. It's also used for feeding the hay when needed and pasture bush hogging during the growing season. The Ford has done well since it was new but with it being a gear driven tractor you about have to completely stop to shift gears without scraping. It's also very slow when doing front loader work with lots of gear scraping.

I've been thinking about upgrading to a Kubota with HST that's big enough to safely handle the bales. I've read about the MX series and would like some opinions on that size tractor for the uses that I have described.

Thanks for any help.

 

[newbury]

I'm currently using a 25+ year old Ford 4630, 55-60 hp, 2 wheel drive, gear transmission to move 5x5 round bales of hay. Someone else bales our hay so I'm not using it to run a mower or baler.

The tractor is used for transporting the bales from the field to the barn and stacked 2 high. It's also used for feeding the hay when needed and pasture bush hogging during the growing season. The Ford has done well since it was new but with it being a gear driven tractor you about have to completely stop to shift gears without scraping. It's also very slow when doing front loader work with lots of gear scraping.

I've been thinking about upgrading to a Kubota with HST that's big enough to safely handle the bales. I've read about the MX series and would like some opinions on that size tractor for the uses that I have described.

Thanks for any help.

How heavy a bale?


I think if you are only worried about lifting 1,000 lbs all would do.

Stacking 2 high may be a stretch, are they on a spear or forks?

 

[houser52]

We've never weighed a bale but they're all dry fescue. The Ford has no trouble handling them with or without any ballast on the back but the Ford weighs 5000# +. I keep a 6' Bush Hog on the rear in the winter for ballast when feeding.

 

[Fallon]

My L3200 (L3301 or L3901 now) would lift "1,200lbs" big square bales, but it was sketchy as **** even with loaded tires & lots of ballast on the back. They wouldn't be safe or appropriate if you are planning on any big bales ar all.

My new L4060 with the medium loader barely lifts 1,900lbs (plus pallet forks) but is very stable doing it with loaded tires & moderate ballast. The slightly more HP Grands (same frame though) have a bigger front axle & can mount the bigger loader. They would likely be appropriate if your bales are going to be under 1,500lbs (or a bit more for the big loader ones).

I'm not familiar with the L4701, but it's likely to be borderline for handling big bales.

I'm pretty sure only the Ls have HST (HST+ on the grand Ls). I believe the MX & Ms are geared machines only. So they wouldn't be in the running if you were really looking for HST. I'm a huge HST fan personally, but some of the fear shuttle shift machines operate pretty well too.

 

[Wagtail]

From my experience (and advice from others) 40hp is the minimum for handling round bales of that size with appropriate counter-weight.

And, yes, that is for stacking 2 high (if you're rig is at the 40hp 'end' of the spectrum).

'Low and slow'

 

[Rustyiron]

I've been thinking about upgrading to a Kubota with HST that's big enough to safely handle the bales. I've read about the MX series and would like some opinions on that size tractor for the uses that I have described.

Thanks for any help.

Drive a M7040 size with the hydraulic shuttle. No clutching going from fwd/rev (and rev/fwd) ,more broadly known as a "left hand reverser" across all brands. I think you'll love it without the HP sacrifice you get with hyd drive, and allowing a larger frame tractor. The HST's stop a around 50 hp and imo that's a little shy for the job.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just my opinion...
Get an M series...
Either a M7040 pr M7060...
Heavier, longer wheel base, higher capacities...
If you want hydrostat the MX is your only option in Kubota...
Around here for haying all you see is Deere and New Holland or Ford...

 

[Oldoak]

Just my opinion...
Get an M series...
Either a M7040 pr M7060...
Heavier, longer wheel base, higher capacities...
If you want hydrostat the MX is your only option in Kubota... ...

:thumbsup:

 

[smstonypoint]

Around here for haying all you see is Deere and New Holland or Ford...

I'm in Iredell County and I see Kubotas making inroads on my side of the river.

Steve

 

[houser52]

Thanks guys for the help.
According to the Kubota website the MX series is offered with HST from 49hp up to 61hp. All three weigh about the same at 3700 lbs more or less. The difference in HP comes from the turbo on the 2 more powerful models.

My L3600 has the glide shift trans with shuttle shift so I'm already familiar with that option.

 

[DieselnHooters]

Thanks guys for the help.
According to the Kubota website the MX series is offered with HST from 49hp up to 61hp. All three weigh about the same at 3700 lbs more or less. The difference in HP comes from the turbo on the 2 more powerful models.

My L3600 has the glide shift trans with shuttle shift so I'm already familiar with that option.

The shuttle on your L3600 is mechanical and still requires clutching unlike the hydraulic shuttle on a M series. If you want to avoid clutching altogether you need to move on up to the powershift option only available on much larger model$.

BTW I think GL and MX models are borderline at best at handling large round bales.

 

[Grandad4]

The shuttle on your L3600 is mechanical and still requires clutching unlike the hydraulic shuttle on a M series. If you want to avoid clutching altogether you need to move on up to the powershift option only available on much larger model$.

BTW I think GL and MX models are borderline at best at handling large round bales.

The L3600 came with a fully synchronized manual gearbox, or the Glideshift Transmission (GST), which is the Kubota version of a hydraulic shuttle, allowing clutchless forward/reverse and gear changes. Don't know which is on the OP's L3600.

You're right about the GL and MX models with large rounds. A dense packed 6x6 will weigh about 1,500-1,700 and is a bit much. I could move them around pretty well with my GL, but stacking was out of the question even with plenty of ballast. I also think it's as much an issue of physical size as hydraulic lifting power. By definition, any of the "compact" tractor models out there, regardless of brand, has a shorter wheelbase and narrower width compared with a utility tractor. That makes them inherently less stable than a tractor with a larger footprint, and you really notice it when getting heavy loads up high with the FEL. Even if you have the hydraulics to lift something 1,500-2,000 lbs six feet up, it's dicey moving around with it even if you're on a level, paved surface. I'd be looking at the M series for such work.

If it's smaller rounds, say 5x5's, the larger GL's and the MX's should be fine.

 

[4570Man]

How hard would it be to weigh a bale? It you’re really only lifting 1000 pounds any of the bigger L machines would work.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The largest MX tractor available is the MX5800 and is only available with HST trans. With it's 57.5 HP, (50.2 PTO) and filled R4 tires, I routinely move 1500+# loads using forks. Stacking loads that heavy more than 6' off the ground however is a bit touchy. I'm comfortable enough doing it occasionally but doing it on a regular basis is another story. Unless you operate on level stable ground with good ballast, for handling weights exceeding 1500# above 6', I would seriously consider moving up into the M series.

 

[flusher]

I would get a new tractor with specs similar to your Ford (since you know that old tractor can do the job). For example, my 2008 Mahindra 5525 with the ML250 FEL would work -- 55 hp engine, 45 hp pto, about 6500 lb with FEL and loaded rear tires, partially synchronized tranny, FEL has 2950 lb lift at the pins to 10.5 ft height. Cost new with triple rear hydraulic remotes ~$18K.

Good luck.

 

[EddieWalker]

You didn't say what your budget was. Are you wanting to buy brand new or just find something to replace the Ford that does the job a lot better without spending $40,000?

Have you had any issues with mud with your current 2 wheel drive tractor and would 4 wheel drive be with the extra expense?

Have you ever driven or been around a hydrostat tractor while it's working? They are loud. They burn a lot of fuel. You keep the throttle on full all the time regardless of how fast you are going, it's always on full throttle.

If you go to a dealer, be sure to try different transmission types.

Consider how much HP down the road you will need if you want to get a bigger mower. 60 PTO HP will run a 12 ft batwing. Just because you don't have a 12 foot batwing now, doesn't mean you wont want one in the future if you have the HP to be able to cut twice as much land in the same amount of time.

 

[houser52]

The L3600 came with a fully synchronized manual gearbox, or the Glideshift Transmission (GST), which is the Kubota version of a hydraulic shuttle, allowing clutchless forward/reverse and gear changes. Don't know which is on the OP's L3600.

You're right about the GL and MX models with large rounds. A dense packed 6x6 will weigh about 1,500-1,700 and is a bit much. I could move them around pretty well with my GL, but stacking was out of the question even with plenty of ballast. I also think it's as much an issue of physical size as hydraulic lifting power. By definition, any of the "compact" tractor models out there, regardless of brand, has a shorter wheelbase and narrower width compared with a utility tractor. That makes them inherently less stable than a tractor with a larger footprint, and you really notice it when getting heavy loads up high with the FEL. Even if you have the hydraulics to lift something 1,500-2,000 lbs six feet up, it's dicey moving around with it even if you're on a level, paved surface. I'd be looking at the M series for such work.

If it's smaller rounds, say 5x5's, the larger GL's and the MX's should be fine.

Mine is fully synchronized and I don't have to clutch to change gears or go from forward to reverse and vise versa.

Our bales are the 5x5's. Not sure of the weight and no way to weight them without going through a lot of time and trouble since the only scales would be at Southern States.

The M series is pretty much a no go. If I have to go to that big of a tractor I'll just stick with the Ford.

 

[sandman2234]

My M7040SU would handle the job and is easy to go forward to backward, with the flip of a lever. I understand the "stopping a Ford" to shift gears. I got in a hurry one day pulling out into traffic on a busy day and broke a shift fork (already worn) on a Ford 7710. Cost of that repair wasn't cheap, and not a job for the faint at heart.
David from jax

 

[houser52]

You didn't say what your budget was. Are you wanting to buy brand new or just find something to replace the Ford that does the job a lot better without spending $40,000?

Have you had any issues with mud with your current 2 wheel drive tractor and would 4 wheel drive be with the extra expense?

Have you ever driven or been around a hydrostat tractor while it's working? They are loud. They burn a lot of fuel. You keep the throttle on full all the time regardless of how fast you are going, it's always on full throttle.

If you go to a dealer, be sure to try different transmission types.

Consider how much HP down the road you will need if you want to get a bigger mower. 60 PTO HP will run a 12 ft batwing. Just because you don't have a 12 foot batwing now, doesn't mean you wont want one in the future if you have the HP to be able to cut twice as much land in the same amount of time.

Budget? Well, as of right now I have a Ford 4630, Ford 2000, 8N Ford and a Kubota L3600 4x4. My plan was to keep the L3600 and trade in the others on a MX. That would give me a smaller tractor for smaller jobs and a bigger 4x4 tractor for my 6' Bush Hog, hay and other things too big for the L3600. After trade in, I'd like to keep my out of pocket expense to around $20,000 or less.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just noticed that we are in the same neck of the woods...
An MX seems to be the right fit for you...
If you want a cab then the L 6060 would be another good choice...
They spec very similar to the MX with added comfort features...