M5660SU Advice

AJared

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Sep 18, 2018
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I am looking to replace my 1971 John Deere and have been considering the 2018 Kubota M5660SU. I mainly use a 7 ft bush hog and also disc some fields. Any reviews or thoughts on this model Kubota? Thanks!
 

SDT

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I am looking to replace my 1971 John Deere and have been considering the 2018 Kubota M5660SU. I mainly use a 7 ft bush hog and also disc some fields. Any reviews or thoughts on this model Kubota? Thanks!
A 7' rotary cutter is too much for an M5660SU unless both mower and conditions are light and/or you plan to add front weights and mow slowly.

SDT
 

edritchey

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For what you're describing you should be OK with the M5660SU our owners manual list a 84" 1200 lb Rotary cutter as the max size and weight for the tractor. If you go that route you should be fine. Good luck in your tractor hunt. :)
 

mickeyd

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Welcome to the OTT forum A Jared.

As Ed said, you should be fine with that cutter.
 

rcs7

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Apr 2, 2018
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First post here. I have the 4 wheel drive version and I'm happy with it so far. I have about 25hrs on it at the moment. I also have a 7ft shredder and it has no issues with pulling or running it.

Only thing I'm watching for is the first regen. I haven't been running wide open, mostly more than half throttle and trying to vary it. I wish the 50hrs would come a little sooner, but not enough time to be on it. :(

All that said, the engine seems to run like a watch, very smooth unlike my mahindra.

Russell
 

SDT

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Excellent feedback! Thank you all. It is good to here from some folks that have one and like it!
Be advised that one must first determine what one plans to cut and how quickly one plans to cut it before matching a tractor to a mower or vise versa.

Since you're in TN, I expect you will be cutting grass. TN is not TX and heavy grass cuts much harder than weeds and brush, tall or otherwise.

I'm in SE IN and I've been cutting heavy grass for going on 50 years with various tractor mower combinations. As previously stated, I would not consider a 5660 with a 7' rotary cutter unless both mower and conditions are light and/or I planned to mow slowly and probably add front weights.

I use a Woods BB840X, 7' rotary cutter with my M9960. With chains, the mower weighs nearly 1,600 Lbs. Much of this weight is well behind the lift arms. My M9960 ROPS with the 240 LB. cast iron front weight mount (but without the suitcase weights) is more than heavy enough to properly handle this mower on level ground but I would need the suitcase weights if I used it on some of my steep ground where I use other tractor mower combinations.

I usually mow as fast as my mowers will mow well and terrain permits. Unlike most, I keep my rotary cutter blades sharp like a lawn mower (cuts better and uses less HP and fuel). I usually mow with EPTO engaged on the 9960. The 9960 is a 90 PTO HP tractor and the 7' cutter is all that it wants when in EPTO mowing annuals on level ground. Yes, it would produce considerably more HP (higher engine speed) and torque at the PTO with EPTO disengaged but I could still choke it out in heavy grass.

More relevant, I use a Woods BB720X, 6' rotary cutter with my Grand L 6060. This cutter weighs a bit over 1,300 Lbs. with front chains only. I use this tractor mower combination on steep ground and have 4 front weights mounted on the grill guard. It needs the full set of 7 but mounting 7 would require me to remove the grill guard and install the front weight bracket. I do not wish to do this because I would need to R & R it each spring/fall when I R & R the mower/FEL.

The GL6060 uses the same 148.5 CI turbocharged engine as the M5660 SU but it is rated at 53 PTO HP in the 6060 rather than 50 PTO HP in the 5660. From experience, the BB720X is all that the L6060 wants much of the time and more than it wants some of the time. With stall guard on, it is common for the computer to completely stop forward motion to allow the engine to maintain RPM.

I would not consider anything smaller than an M7060 with a 7' cutter unless both conditions and mower are light.

Ask yourself what you plan to mow, how fast you want to travel when mowing and how heavy is your 7' cutter.

SDT
 
Last edited:

rcs7

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M5660SHUD
Apr 2, 2018
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Taylor, Texas
SDT has some very good points and should be considered.

I have a land pride RCR1884 7' cutter. From what I read in the manuals for both, it falls within the operating parameters of the 5660suhd. The property I cut is not flat or smooth, so I will never get to run it flat out.

Most of the heavy brush is now gone and it's mostly a mix of prairie grass, coastal bermuda and weeds.

Russell
 

AJared

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The dealer quoted me a price $4,500 more for the M6060HD than the M5660SU. Is it worth the $$ to go up to that model? Thanks!
 

SDT

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The dealer quoted me a price $4,500 more for the M6060HD than the M5660SU. Is it worth the $$ to go up to that model? Thanks!
I'm not closely familiar with the 5660SU or the M6060 but do know that the M6060 uses the same 203 CI engine as does the M7060, however it has been turned down to 56 PTO HP. That's more than 10% more than the 148.5 CI engine used in the 5660 and I would expect torque rise to be better due to the increased displacement.

The M6060 also has a 4" longer wheelbase and weighs over 600 Lbs. more. It will more easily handle your 7' mower.

You should also know that SU stands for Special Utility, which translates into stripper. Consequently, some of the cost difference is due to features that the M6060 has but the M5660SU does not have. Ask your dealer for details and pick up printed brochures for both.

SDT
 

edritchey

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The dealer quoted me a price $4,500 more for the M6060HD than the M5660SU. Is it worth the $$ to go up to that model? Thanks!
It's your money and a bigger tractor will always pull better but you can get the mower and a crapload of fuel for the difference and still get the job done. ;)
 

edritchey

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You won't know that 7 footer back there LOL :D Send some pics when you get your new toys
 

SDT

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I have decided to spend the extra $$ and get the M6060 or M7060. In the process of getting some quotes now.
I expect that you will be glad that you did in the future.

SDT
 

RCW

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Seems like another member went through the exact same comparison a few weeks ago, and ended up with a M7060.

If memory serves, he found the M6060 was a good step to make, and then found the jump to M7060 was just a few more $$.
 

AJared

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Medon, TN
It seems to make sense to get the extra HP and creature comforts for a few thousand $$. If you plan to keep it for 40 years, that is cheap per year.
 

SDT

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It seems to make sense to get the extra HP and creature comforts for a few thousand $$. If you plan to keep it for 40 years, that is cheap per year.

When optioning out your M6060/7060, you should consider the optional metric AG tires. The standard AG tires use very narrow "pizza cutter" front tires that look rather silly.

The metric front tires are nearly twice as wide and look normal.

The down side is the optional metric front tires are mounted on one-piece, non-adjustable rims and cost more.

SDT
 

robertb

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M7060HD12
Sep 13, 2018
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I just purchased a Kubota M7060HD12 ROPS. I ordered it with an extra set of hydraulic valves, front end loader, cast wheel weights with the wider tires and liquid ballast. The total out the door was $39K. I hoping this will be enough tractor for me to use a 84" rotary cutter in some fairly thick brush/sapplings. I looked at going with a smaller tractor but when looking at prices, it only made sense for me to go bigger.