The growth in sales of Japan-manufactured Kubota tractors, distributed in South Africa by specialist machinery importer and distributor Smith Power Equipment, has been satisfactory, says Smith Power Equipment technical specialist Mike Heath, adding that customers have been “very happy with the results”.

The growth and increasing demand for all Kubota products, including engines, harvesters, tractors and construction equipment, are largely driven by a combination of the manufacturer’s focus on innovation and new technologies, compounded by its investment in research and development facilities to meet the rapidly changing needs of global agriculture.

Western Cape-based Elgin Orchards apple farm manager Neil Reid says Kubota tractors have helped farmers move apple bins more efficiently and easily.

Reid bought these tractors in November 2013, mostly because of the tractors’ wet-clutch and forward-reverse shuttle technology. He explains that other tractor brands are prone to excessive downtime during the harvesting season, as they do not have this unique technology.

The wet-clutch and forward- reverse shuttle technology include speed and ease of operation, as the driver can change direction without having to use the clutch pedal.

The tractors’ design also incorporates the use of electrically operated solenoids to adapt the hydraulic oil flow to the clutch packs. This eliminates the traditional driver abuse of dry plate clutch systems.

Meanwhile, the tractors’ multi-plate wet-clutch packs provide thousands of hours of working life and significantly decrease cycle times when manoeuvring or using front-end loaders or forklift attachments.

“We use the front-mounted option extensively to move our apple bins. Kubota has made a palpable difference to my operation in terms of efficiency and bottom-line savings,” Reid says.

These tractors can be used in any operation involving narrow overall width. It is mainly used by vineyard and orchard farmers needing tractors with overall width dimensions between 1.2 m and 1.6 m, with engines between 48 kW and 64 kW.

Front Axle

Owing to Kubota’s front axle and transmission, its M7040N and M8540N tractor models are suited to front-mounted operations.

Other unique features include a level-gear drivetrain, sealed oil lubrication for all gears, strong cast-iron casings, bushed pivots with easy adjustments, a bi-speed system for turning (even in four-wheel drive), multi-plate wet-disc drive couplings and a front-axle mounting frame attached to unique Kubota lower cylinder block castings.

The tractors are also robust and feature a well-designed front-weight bracket for attaching a transporter hitch.

Superior Handling
The Kubota multi-plate wet-clutch features include forward- and reverse-shuttle action, which can be engaged without using the clutch pedal.

The drive system uses separate multi-disc wet-clutch packs for forward or reverse motion, which results in superior action and longer clutch life, compared with conventional dry clutches.

The system also features a centre gear lever that selects all gears with synchromesh systems, eight speeds that are identical in forward or reverse motion and a four-wheel-drive system connected and disconnected through a separate multi-disc wet-clutch.

The Kubota factory also makes retrofit kits for installing economy power take-off units and creeper speed ratios, together with fully equipped spray cabins and their own design of removable front-end loaders.