B26 Questions and Price Check

[tdfontaine]

Ok guys, went and looked at a few different manufacturers just to compare what's out there. LS, Kioti and TYM were not that great. The Massey dealer (Rons Equipment in Ft Collins) has a 1734e model with loader and hoe (Woods BH-75 with sub-frame mount) specs similar to the Kubota. Plus, it's turbo charged which seems like something I would want at my altitude. Based on my calculations, I lose about 25% HP rating (3% HP derating for each 1000 above sea level). So, the Massey loader is very similar to Kubota and Woods hoe has about 400 lbs less force....overall comparable. It's a new model and about 2K less than the used B26. This definitely makes the decision much more difficult than I thought.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Massey because it's new with 5 year warranty, better financing terms and has the turbo.

I realize this is in the Kubota forum but what would you do?

Both Kubota and Massey dealers seem like they are great to work with so that is not a deciding factor.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Not disagreeing on the Massey bigger bigger but even a my dad's M5400 won't take the abuse the B26 will. As a comparable I went to install a water line for a guy that had a Kubota L3710 with a woods backhoe and he couldn't believe how much faster the B26 would dig.
The tlb line with Kubota are built for rental yard abuse see if dealer will let you try one out.

 

[tdfontaine]

Thanks powerstroke. Good idea about trying one out. I know they do leases so maybe they would let me 'lease' it for a day or two.

 

[powerstroke444e]

If you were closer I have plenty of projects you could try it on lol.

 

[Snobdds]

I just bought a gc1710 from Rob's equipment, Jordan was the sales man, and he let me test everything out before purchase. I was in the same boat, but decided new was the way to go for my first tractor. I almost went with the larger tractor, but I'm using it at my cabin in the summer with a long slow mountain climb that tests the cooling of any truck, so I went with the lighter model. I'm in Wyoming at 7200 feet and the power is fine, even without a turbo, although it would be nice to have.

 

[Carl_NH]

Ok guys, went and looked at a few different manufacturers just to compare what's out there. LS, Kioti and TYM were not that great. The Massey dealer (Rons Equipment in Ft Collins) has a 1734e model with loader and hoe (Woods BH-75 with sub-frame mount) specs similar to the Kubota. Plus, it's turbo charged which seems like something I would want at my altitude. Based on my calculations, I lose about 25% HP rating (3% HP derating for each 1000 above sea level). So, the Massey loader is very similar to Kubota and Woods hoe has about 400 lbs less force....overall comparable. It's a new model and about 2K less than the used B26. This definitely makes the decision much more difficult than I thought.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Massey because it's new with 5 year warranty, better financing terms and has the turbo.

I realize this is in the Kubota forum but what would you do?

Both Kubota and Massey dealers seem like they are great to work with so that is not a deciding factor.

Tough Decision - The loaders are similar, the Massey/Woods BH75 specs say it has 3300 digging force and the Kubota 4200. Both are close in hyd flow 10.5 vs 11.1 for Kubota.

The differences are in the details - Kubota is a TLB optimized/matched for the BH, whereas the Massey is adapted with a subframe BH and not as robust. Separate seat for the massey vs swivel for the Kubota - easier to use, then a mech thumb on the massey and hyd on the Kubota, then a ROPs vs full canopy on the Kubota. Massey has the edge in HP though so if you intend to do more loader and PTO work favors Massey, if limited PTO work and more BH favors Kubota.

I cant speak for the Woods BH install/removal I know the Kubota is pretty easy. If you can test drive both of them that would be best, but considering the Kubota is on consignment that may preclude you renting it - but you can test in the dealers lot.

At the end of the day its what feels best from a operational perspective, then the emotional comfort of a 5 year warranty, although I have spent less than $100 in repair cost on my B21 in its lifetime.

 

[Gary Fowler]

For the hours listed on the B26, it is really better than new if the 50 hour service has been done. Not much in the way of wear and tear can be done to a professional grade machine like the B26 in under a 100 hours. It is going to be much tougher than any tractor conversion to a back hoe. Check the weights and you will readily see the additional strength of the TLB vs just adding a subframe to a tractor. 26 HP may not seem like much but I have moved huge loads with mine, the loader will actually lift the rear wheels off the ground, it is that strong. Between pushing and lifting, I have rolled a 20 foot section of oak tree that is over 3 feet in diameter, up and over other logs to put it on top of a burn pile. Try that with a 35HP tractor with backhoe added.
I have over 400 hours on my B26 and they have been rough hours and only thing I broke was the filter housing while pushing brush high up on to a brush pile and hung the housing up on a limb. No other issues other than filters for scheduled maintenance. It is one tough little tractor.
Oh and don't settle for a mechanical thumb, the hydraulic thumb on the B26 is a man saver so as to not have to get off and adjust frequently. I could not imagine not having one after getting it on the B26.
The full cover top with 4 post FOPS is also a potential life saver from falling debris. It even covers you when operating the backhoe.
The 5 year warranty might give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it is really worthless when you consider that most owners never use the warranty on a new tractor just like Carl NH and I with no problems in 6 years and hundreds of hours. The one thing that I broke on mine would not have been covered under warranty anyway.
Look under the B26 for the under body armor and then look at the MF, you likely wont see anything on the MF other than a lot of exposed items just waiting to hang on something in the woods and rip them off.

 

[tdfontaine]

Snobdds - I was also dealing with Jordan. He's a great kid and was good at explaining everything. Glad to hear you are liking your machine and aren't having any noticeable impacts due to altitude de-rating. If I buy a Massey, it will likely be through Jordan at Ron's.

 

[tdfontaine]

Carl and Gary - I mis-read the Woods brochure yesterday but luckily caught my mistake last night. The upgraded Woods backhoe is an additional 3K. For my projects, the hoe is pretty important. At this point, I'm leaning heavily towards the B26.

Question for you guys - do you ever use the B26 3 point? I'm curious how strong it is...can't remember how beefy the stock Kubota 3 point arms are. I would like to use a box blade the 3 point to try cutting in the driveway, spreading gravel and for re-grading maintenance after the driveway is in.

 

[Tompet]

For the hours listed on the B26, it is really better than new if the 50 hour service has been done. Not much in the way of wear and tear can be done to a professional grade machine like the B26 in under a 100 hours. It is going to be much tougher than any tractor conversion to a back hoe. Check the weights and you will readily see the additional strength of the TLB vs just adding a subframe to a tractor. 26 HP may not seem like much but I have moved huge loads with mine, the loader will actually lift the rear wheels off the ground, it is that strong. Between pushing and lifting, I have rolled a 20 foot section of oak tree that is over 3 feet in diameter, up and over other logs to put it on top of a burn pile. Try that with a 35HP tractor with backhoe added.
I have over 400 hours on my B26 and they have been rough hours and only thing I broke was the filter housing while pushing brush high up on to a brush pile and hung the housing up on a limb. No other issues other than filters for scheduled maintenance. It is one tough little tractor.
Oh and don't settle for a mechanical thumb, the hydraulic thumb on the B26 is a man saver so as to not have to get off and adjust frequently. I could not imagine not having one after getting it on the B26.
The full cover top with 4 post FOPS is also a potential life saver from falling debris. It even covers you when operating the backhoe.
The 5 year warranty might give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it is really worthless when you consider that most owners never use the warranty on a new tractor just like Carl NH and I with no problems in 6 years and hundreds of hours. The one thing that I broke on mine would not have been covered under warranty anyway.
Look under the B26 for the under body armor and then look at the MF, you likely wont see anything on the MF other than a lot of exposed items just waiting to hang on something in the woods and rip them off.

This is a great point by point to address your concerns. I like Massey tractors, but for what you described, reread this post from G.F. The B26 will handle a 5' box blade just fine, though I would suggest a 5' grader/land plane instead along with a set of pallet forks. My opinion, you would be good to go. It sounds like someone else addressed altitude concerns which would be the only possible concern at this point. How long do you expect the B26 to sit without an offer?