Kubota B20 Capabilities

[Porshaah]

Gentlemen

I'm thinking of buying a used B20. Not having much experience as what to buy, I'm concentrationg on Kubota's having heard they have a good reputation and to avoid complicating my decision. I've heard good things about the B20 but I'm not sure if it will be capable of what I have in mind doing with it. First off and the main reason I'd like one is to dig around the basement about 4 to 5 feet to install weeping tiles. There after it will just be used for landscaping a 2 acre yard (i.e transplanting trees, digging ditches, leveling ground for grass) and possibly adding a snow blower at some point. I realize that it will probably be a bit slow digging around the basement and I'm willing to sacrifice some time for a light tractor which won't make much of an impression on the front lawn if I decide to drive over it - but will it be painfully slow? The 20 hp spec worries me too if I'm going to put a snowblower on it.

All responses appreciated
Bill

 

[LBrown59]

Gentlemen

I'm thinking of buying a used B20. Not having much experience as what to buy, I'm concentrationg on Kubota's having heard they have a good reputation and to avoid complicating my decision. I've heard good things about the B20 but I'm not sure if it will be capable of what I have in mind doing with it. First off and the main reason I'd like one is to dig around the basement about 4 to 5 feet to install weeping tiles. There after it will just be used for landscaping a 2 acre yard (i.e transplanting trees, digging ditches, leveling ground for grass) and possibly adding a snow blower at some point. I realize that it will probably be a bit slow digging around the basement and I'm willing to sacrifice some time for a light tractor which won't make much of an impression on the front lawn if I decide to drive over it - but will it be painfully slow? The 20 hp spec worries me too if I'm going to put a snowblower on it.

All responses appreciated
Bill

I have a BX1500 with 15 hp that will handle a snowblower so 20 hp shouldn't have a problem with one.

 

[bruceatlam]

I bought a B20 in April of this year. I bought it with a little over 1,000 hours on the meter and have added about 20 hours since. I'll offer what I know and I'll offer some opinions and then add a queastion or two --- not trying to hi-jack your thread; the answers to the additional questions will help you too, I think.

I've not found the 20 hp to be a problem at all. The B20 was designed as a commercial unit with a larger hydraulic system. It was designed to be used by commercial plumbers and landscapers. I've dug up a small garden with the loader and pulled a couple of small (6") stumps with mine. The engine just sits there and hums along with no indication that it's loaded up at all. My problem is traction. I've got R4's on mine -- I've loaded them up with plain water and I'm still short on traction. My next step will be some kind of weight to hang off the 3 point --- probably a box blade. That should help a little more with the traction issue. I don't have a backhoe so can't comment on how it performs but I wouldn't expect any issue.

The loader is not a quick attach loader --- major work to remove it so just be aware of that.

Next for me will be a box blade and a flail mower. I think it'll pull a 60" blade and about the same for the flail mower and even a rotary tiller. That is a conclusion that I would like some added perspective on from the forum.

Any B20 owners out there that can speak more intelligently??

 

[LBrown59]

I bought a B20 in April of this year. I bought it with a little over 1,000 hours on the meter and have added about 20 hours since. I'll offer what I know and I'll offer some opinions and then add a queastion or two --- not trying to hi-jack your thread; the answers to the additional questions will help you too, I think.

I've not found the 20 hp to be a problem at all. The B20 was designed as a commercial unit with a larger hydraulic system. It was designed to be used by commercial plumbers and landscapers. I've dug up a small garden with the loader and pulled a couple of small (6") stumps with mine. The engine just sits there and hums along with no indication that it's loaded up at all. My problem is traction. I've got R4's on mine -- I've loaded them up with plain water and I'm still short on traction. My next step will be some kind of weight to hang off the 3 point --- probably a box blade. That should help a little more with the traction issue. I don't have a backhoe so can't comment on how it performs but I wouldn't expect any issue.

The loader is not a quick attach loader --- major work to remove it so just be aware of that.

Next for me will be a box blade and a flail mower. I think it'll pull a 60" blade and about the same for the flail mower and even a rotary tiller. That is a conclusion that I would like some added perspective on from the forum.

Any B20 owners out there that can speak more intelligently??

My 22 hp BX23 with empty AG tires has plenty of traction.

 

[Porshaah]

Thank you gentlemen

For your replies but I'm still not getting the answer I'm looking for and that being digging out along the basement wall to a 4 or 5 foot depth. There's about 150 linear feet I'll need to dig out along the wall and I'm just wondering if this is asking too much of this machine (i.e. or me the person doing it) considering the digging depth of the backhoe is only about 8 feet - will I find myself having to continuously move, in order to progress along the length of the wall and will this constant moving/repositioning take so much time to the point of frustration. I've never witnessed a tractor this small performing this type of work although I've seen full size tractors and small excavators doing it and I'm wondering there must be a reason for this or it just maybe I don't get out enough! I guess I need to hear first hand from someone who has done this kind of job and their personal experiences.

Thanks in advance
Bill

 

[dodge man]

I don't have any personal experience with your kind of machine, but I will offer an opinion anyway. I think it will do what you want, it's just a matter of time. If you enjoy that kind of work and running the machine, it will be fun. If you hate that kind of work, it will seem to take for ever, and you would be better of renting something bigger or hire someone to do it.

 

[brandoro]

I have a B7610HST and dug all the way around my house down to the footing to install weeping tile and insulation. If you look closely at my avatar you will see a bit of the excavation in progress. My BH digs 6.5 ft deep and it does need to be moved often when digging 6 ft deep but, it did the job and would fit between the trees and the house where a larger machine would not. I have used the BH for lots of other jobs since then, a great tool.
I also have a 52" snowblower for the 3pt, originally on the B6200 (15HP) I had before. No problem for the 15HP tractor to operate. With the 24HP tractor I expect that I will eventually break the snowblower and be forced to upgrade.

 

[Garyfisher]

Thank you gentlemen

For your replies but I'm still not getting the answer I'm looking for and that being digging out along the basement wall to a 4 or 5 foot depth. There's about 150 linear feet I'll need to dig out along the wall and I'm just wondering if this is asking too much of this machine (i.e. or me the person doing it) considering the digging depth of the backhoe is only about 8 feet - will I find myself having to continuously move, in order to progress along the length of the wall and will this constant moving/repositioning take so much time to the point of frustration. I've never witnessed a tractor this small performing this type of work although I've seen full size tractors and small excavators doing it and I'm wondering there must be a reason for this or it just maybe I don't get out enough! I guess I need to hear first hand from someone who has done this kind of job and their personal experiences.

Thanks in advance
Bill

What kind of Porsche do you have?

Anyways, I have dug over 1500' of drainage with a B20. While the backhoe bucket is tiny and it will take a while to dig 5' down, this really shouldnt be a problem for you. It will just take some time. What is the ground like you are digging through?

 

[Porshaah]

dodge man
I think I'd like it - to a point though having the mantality of Forest Gump and the patience of Jobe (i.e. what ever that means).

brandoro
Your B7610HST is comparable to the B20 and it's reasurring to know it can / has been done.

Garyfisher
Brings up a good point and I believe my soil is the next best thing to sandy soil as far as ease of digging. It's basically loamy soil with rocks mixed in, provided I don't try to dig anywhere else to depth, which is basically solid flat sedimentary 2 feet below the soil surface. I'm not planning to dig thru this rock shelf. When you say you've dug 1500' of drainage I get this vision of an open area and the tractor is oriented directly inline with the trench as opposed to being up against the side of a building. I believe digging in this position would put more demands on the tractor as well as the operator - am I correct?

I own a 1990 Porsche 911 or to be more specific - model 964.

Thank you for your responses - keep them coming
Bill

 

[brandoro]

Digging up against the side of a building is a lot less fun than digging a straight trench out in the open. When you start getting tired call it a day, trust me on this. A tooth on the backhoe is a lot harder than the siding on my house, even with a very gentle tap. Nothing some filler and a can of paint couldn't fix. It's all good, the house needed painting anyway.

 

[MarkV]

I have a B21 which is the newer model of the B20 and you will easily be able to dig along the foundation wall. If you are new to backhoes I would not make it my first project though. There is a learning curve and you do not want to damage the foundation wall.

The B20’s were fine tractors with stronger hydraulics than similar horsepower tractors to provide greater loader lift and backhoe capabilities. The trade off is that the PTO horsepower is a bit weak. It should be fine for a snow blower and will run a 4’ rotary mower or tiller.

One tip, many of the Kubota commercial TLB’s have never had the backhoes removed. Often when you find a used one the 3pt lift arms and related pieces have been misplaced over the years. It can be hard to find replacement parts and they are expensive from Kubota.

MarkV

 

[LBrown59]

is a lot less fun than digging a straight trench out in the open. .

How do you Dig up against the side of a building.?
the stapelizers and Fel bucket don't let the tractor get close enough to the building.What am I missing?

 

[brandoro]

I just stayed far enough from the house so there was room for the near side stabilizer to be placed and dug to the side. Like I said before, not nearly as much fun as digging a straight trench out in the open. Takes a little getting used to but after the first day it almost seemed natural.

 

[Orchard Ex]

I owned a B20 before buying a new L39. You should have no problem digging around the house. BTW, to dig up next to a house back into the dig at an angle, you can't swing the spoil as far to the side but you get the boom much closer to the wall. I never found removing and reattaching the backhoe to be a major undertaking. It's not as easy as the newer designs but it wasn't that bad. The trick was to keep wiggling the backhoe around until the T-handle bolts were as tight as possible. I wish I could have afforded to keep the B20 and the L39. It was a workhorse and would fit almost anywhere.

 

[Porshaah]

Orchard Ex

The L39 is twice the tractor of the B20 in terms of HP and you mentioned the size of the B20 being an advantage but if space is not a concern (i.e. I've got wide open space along the building) is the price difference (i.e. I havn't priced used L39's but I would imagine they're significantly more than the $10K I plan on paying for a used B20) justified for a tractor like the L39?

Another thing on my wish list I forgot to mention is a chipper able to handle 4" or larger hardwood branches - is a chipper available for the B20 that can handle this?

Thank you all for your responses
This is a great site!

Bill

 

[LBrown59]

I just stayed far enough from the house so there was room for the near side stabilizer to be placed and dug to the side. Like I said before, not nearly as much fun as digging a straight trench out in the open. Takes a little getting used to but after the first day it almost seemed natural.

to dig up next to a house back into the dig at an angle, you can't swing the spoil as far to the side but you get the boom much closer to the wall.

I'v done some ditching like this.
It's slow awakard and not as neat that way.

 

[brandoro]

Orchard Ex

Another thing on my wish list I forgot to mention is a chipper able to handle 4" or larger hardwood branches - is a chipper available for the B20 that can handle this?

The chipper I have is rated up to 4". Usually I cut anything bigger than about 2.5" for firewood but I did feed it a 4" X 30' birch one day. Had the tractor on its knees but it put it through. 4" poplar is not a problem for it. Anything bigger than 4" and hardwood would be too much for my tractor.

 

[Porshaah]

Gentlemen thank you for all your responses

I understand that the B20/21 are industrial machines and the only thing I can determine to be different when compared to say a B2400 or B7100 for example, is the sheet metal / frame are thicker and the hydraulic port output is higher. What I can' understand is why they command such a premium price if the PTO HP and rear lift are comparable? The weight of the B20/21 is more and I see that as being a disadvantage when it comes to not leaving an impression on the front lawn! How does having a higher output hydraulic pump affect the FEL/BH operation?

Thanx in advance
Bill

 

[bruceatlam]

Gentlemen thank you for all your responses

I understand that the B20/21 are industrial machines and the only thing I can determine to be different when compared to say a B2400 or B7100 for example, is the sheet metal / frame are thicker and the hydraulic port output is higher. What I can' understand is why they command such a premium price if the PTO HP and rear lift are comparable? The weight of the B20/21 is more and I see that as being a disadvantage when it comes to not leaving an impression on the front lawn! How does having a higher output hydraulic pump affect the FEL/BH operation?

Thanx in advance
Bill

The higher output hydraulic systems allow for shorter cycle time i.e. you can work faster. I wouldn't buy a B20 to mow the lawn. The B20/21 are designed as commercial equipment and are listed that way on Kubota's website. They show up under "Construction Equipment" -- not Tractors. If your primary interest is mowing the lawn, buy a dufferent tractor. The 20/21 are designed for commercial landscapers, plumbers and the like that need to work these tractors hard day in and day out.

 

[Orchard Ex]

Orchard Ex

The L39 is twice the tractor of the B20

Exactly...

is the price difference <snip>justified for a tractor like the L39?

Well, I traded a B20 in great shape for an L39 so I thought it was justified. But, I'm in business and the extra capacity of the L39 made it worth it. Like I said I would have liked to have kept the B20 also. ( Same thing happened with a lot of cool cars I've had in the past...)

I'v done some ditching like this.
It's slow awakard and not as neat that way.

Ah, but it gets the job done and is much, much faster than the "pine handle backhoe".