In 2017 Kubota replaced its M8560 and M9660 tractors with the M5091 and M5111, which are designed and built in Japan. Focus for this month’s test is the bigger of the two, the 84kW/114hp M5111.
A bigger cab can make the difference between a deal and no deal. Compared with its M60 predecessor,
the M5001’s accommodation measures 180mm wider, providing enough room for a buddy seat or the farm dog or a bigger lunch bag, and we reckon this extra space in itself has translated into improved ‘M’ sales
in the UK for Kubota.
The snazzy bonnet is also new and, thanks to Mother regulations, will only open with a screwdriver. But once ‘in’ you’ll find the same Japanese 3.8-litre, four-cylinder block as before; the key difference is that it’s been upgraded to Stage IV using a combination of EGR (exhaust gas recirculation), DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst) and SCR (selective catalytic reduction). So, tucked beside the rather small 105-litre fuel tank, is a 12-litre AdBlue tank.
According to the brochure stats this engine should be good for 84kW/114hp in the M5111 when racing away at 2,600rpm. To get a true idea of how our tractor test steed was performing we shipped it off to the DLG
for some dyno time. Here the Kubota pushed 71.2kW/95.5hp back to the shaft as the engine revved at rated speed. Maximum output was 75.6kW/101.4hp as the engine hummed at 2,300rpm. OK figures. The same applies to a torque rise of 36% as engine speed dropped by 38% and the start-off torque of 124% —
not bad in view of the small 4.4kW/6.0hp of extra power. That should be enough to get some work done.
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