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Product information
Oranges revolutionise business
T
he oranges at Mr William Copeman’s
Cradock farm, Rooiberg, which he
says have ‘revolutionised’ his busi-
ness, are not the fruit we know (he
does not have orange trees); they are his
fleet of Kubota tractors.
‘I changed from a well-known brand to
Kubota about four years ago, because of
price and the wet plate clutch feature and
I have never looked back. The general ef-
ficiency of these tractors and the backup
service that I get from the Cradock Kubota
dealer, Fatty’s Mechanical Repairs, has
made a real difference to my operation,’
says Copeman.
Kubota features
There are many features that make Kubota
great, none more so than the unique wet
plate clutch feature Kubota transmissions
incorporate a four-speed conventional all-
synchromesh gear set with a two-speed
range option and an optional creeper-
gear set.
The driver selects the ground speed using
a normal gear lever, but Kubota engineers
have added a system of wet plate clutches
to engage the output shafts to the wheels
and PTO systems. This eliminates the nor-
mal dry plate clutch and allows for the trac-
tor to function much more effectively.
Ground-breaking features
‘This is ground-breaking engineering, which
is not found in other tractor trademarks,’
says Mr Deon Engelke, Kubota brand man-
ager at Smith Power Equipment distributors
of Kubota in Southern Africa.
M130X bestselling
Kubota tractor
Based on global reports and the fact that
the M130X is one of Kubota’s best sellers
worldwide, with increased horsepower,
enhanced management control and excep-
tional versatility, the Kubota M130X can
comfortably take on the toughest of jobs.
This 96,9 kW workhorse has a four cylinder
V6108 Common Rail system, direct injection
engine with turbocharger and intercool-
er. It has 16 forward and 16 reverse gears
with a hydraulic multi-plate wet disc clutch
(discussed above).
Over and above this, the M130X boasts
some unusual and important features in-
cluding rounded over-sized fenders made
from ultra-durable FRP fibreglass, which
provide increased protection frommud, dirt,
dust and other flying debris while giving the
tractor a more streamlined appearance.
‘I am most impressed with Kubota’s atten-
tion to detail. One feels that their equipment
is designed by people who really know and
understand what a producer needs,’ con-
cluded Copeman.
FOCUS
Implements and equipment
Special
ROBERT KEIR,
Smith Power Equipment