Wow, now that's a tractor!

[MHarryE]

I second the motion for a mini-excavator instead of a backhoe attachment. Only bad thing is that after seeing what I do with my mini-ex, several have wanted to rent mine. I checked into insurance and it was out of sight unless I made a serious business of it so instead we have 2 freezers full of beef and pork bartered for me doing several neighbor's digging.

 

[canoetrpr]

Good to see you posted back to report on this.

Tomorrow I trade in my trusty 5 year old L3400 and a few implements (snowblower, bush hog, forks, hay spear) for a brand spanking new M7040 cab with the hydraulic shuttle. I'm hopeful I will be able to post some shiny pictures of my rig when it is delivered.

My setup will be rather over kill for my current property (27 acres - only 8-10 pasture - rest is not kept up). I do run a small hobby herd of Galloway cattle though and feed them large rounds in the winter. I LOVE the HST on the GL but the price difference for me was actually between a wash on a L4740 to the M7040 and the L5740 was more expensive than the M. That made it a bit easier. I expect I will get used to the shuttle in time and the tractor will be around for whenever I acquire that 100 acres I would like to some day.

Will report back as well.

 

[hrcarver]

Sure would like to try one of them out! Lemme borrow it?

 

[streamin]

Canoetrpr, I would like to know how you feel about the hst compared to the shuttle? I will be looking to upgrade in the spring and have that dilema...

 

[kuboman]

Good to see you posted back to report on this.

Tomorrow I trade in my trusty 5 year old L3400 and a few implements (snowblower, bush hog, forks, hay spear) for a brand spanking new M7040 cab with the hydraulic shuttle. I'm hopeful I will be able to post some shiny pictures of my rig when it is delivered.

My setup will be rather over kill for my current property (27 acres - only 8-10 pasture - rest is not kept up). I do run a small hobby herd of Galloway cattle though and feed them large rounds in the winter. I LOVE the HST on the GL but the price difference for me was actually between a wash on a L4740 to the M7040 and the L5740 was more expensive than the M. That made it a bit easier. I expect I will get used to the shuttle in time and the tractor will be around for whenever I acquire that 100 acres I would like to some day.

Will report back as well.

I love the HST but I think you will learn to like the shuttle in no time and wonder why you ever thought it might be a problem. Sometimes a gear tranny is just plain better suited to a job and the shuttles gives you the benefit of easy forward and reverse for loader work.:thumbsup:

 

[canoetrpr]

Canoetrpr, I would like to know how you feel about the hst compared to the shuttle? I will be looking to upgrade in the spring and have that dilema...

I'll have to let you know in a little while as I move up the education curve. There was a marked improvement operating the loader on the second day today. Never stalled the tractor and I was able to fill the bucket reasonably well.

I really can't imagine that the gear tractor - even with the hydraulic clutch will be as efficient for loader work or to get the tractor precisely in position for something - like hooking on an implement - over the HST. I expect however that with the learning curve, things will get much easier. I'm already getting quite comfortable with it.

 

[TripleR]

I'll have to let you know in a little while as I move up the education curve. There was a marked improvement operating the loader on the second day today. Never stalled the tractor and I was able to fill the bucket reasonably well.

I really can't imagine that the gear tractor - even with the hydraulic clutch will be as efficient for loader work or to get the tractor precisely in position for something - like hooking on an implement - over the HST. I expect however that with the learning curve, things will get much easier. I'm already getting quite comfortable with it.

Pretty much our experience. My youngest son, age 32 and I are the primary operators and we have both been driving both types for quite some time. We really like the 8540, but for precise loader work, we grab the L5030. It isn't that it can't be done with the 8540, it is just easier with the HST. The family that farms our land does the same and uses a JD 4610 eHydro and they operate tractors about every day.