Kubota B2920

[bama7]

I just can't make my mind up as to what I want to do. I am talking with a guy who has a B2920 with FEL, finish mower and a couple of other small attachments. I may be able to get it for $12,000. Are they heavy enough to do lifting and moving of dirt? I think the big problem may be turf tires. I am talking occasional work cleaning and leveling my 2.5 acres. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[CurtisC]

The negatives as I see it are

1. Overall weight. Looking at spec sheets the base tractor is only 1554 plus 459 for the FEL and even if you added a B/H at 705lbs. the whole rig would way in at just over 2700 lbs. Additionally no backhoe means you'll have to fill the tires and carry rear wts. or a heavy rear implement to safely move any serious amount of loader weight.
2. Turf tires aren't going to give you much traction when trying get a bucket load of anything other than loose dirt particularly given tractor's weight.
3. If you do decide to go ahead, you'll find a backhoe is essential for breaking up packed soil and serving as a counter weight for FEL load carrying.

 

[Roadworthy]

You don't indicate how much cleaning and leveling you want to do. The loader will certainly load and move dirt. So would a teaspoon. The question is how much you plan to do at any one time. A big tractor can move a lot more dirt at one time than a little tractor. If you have major leveling to do it may be wise to rent a larger piece of equipment or even pay a contractor to do it. If the amount of work is relatively small and you're patient I'm sure that little tractor would do it.

 

[bama7]

I don't have a a great amount of moving and leveling to do. My concern is spending a bunch of money, to me, for something that may work me more than he tractor. The tractor weight and turf tires are the big concern for me. It does come with some weights to add on the back and I could hang my box blade or bush hog for additional weight I guess.

 

[jeff9366]

Kubota B2920​

2008 - 2015 B2x20 Series Compact Utility tractor

Series:

B2620 ←

B2920

Production
Manufacturer:	Kubota
Type:	Compact Utility tractor
Original price:	$14,753 (2011)

Kubota B2920 Power
Engine:	29 hp 21.6 kW
PTO (claimed):	21 hp 15.7 kW

Kubota B2920 Engine

Kubota 1.3L 3-cyl diesel

Mechanical
Chassis:	4x4 MFWD 4WD
Differential lock:	rear standard
Steering:	hydrostatic power
Brakes:	wet disc
Cab:	Two-post foldable ROPS. Sunshade optional.

Photos

Capacity
Fuel:	6.6 gal 25.0 L
Hydraulic system:	4 gal 15.1 L

Hydraulics
Type:	open center
Capacity:	4 gal 15.1 L
Valves:	1 or 2
Pump flow:	4.7 gpm 17.8 lpm
Total flow:	8.3 gpm 31.4 lpm
Steering flow:	3.6 gpm 13.6 lpm

Tractor hitch
Rear Type:	1
Rear lift (at ends):	1,356 lbs 615 kg
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm):	1,058 lbs 479 kg

Power Take-off (PTO)
Rear PTO:	live
Rear RPM:	540/960
Engine RPM:	540@2773 960@2722
Mid PTO:	optional
Mid RPM:	2500
Engine RPM:	2500@2750

Dimensions & Tires
Wheelbase:	61.5 inches 156 cm
Weight:	1,554 lbs 704 kg
Front tire:	7-12
Rear tire:	11.2-16
Width:	49 inches

Kubota B2920 attachments

54" mid-mount mower deck

60" mid-mount mower deck

front-end loader Kubota LA364 Loader Height (to pin): 78.6 inches 199 cm Clearance, dumped bucket: 60.9 inches 154 cm Dump reach: 22.7 inches 57 cm Dump angle: 40° Rollback angle: 25° Breakout force (at pin): 2,144 lbs 972 kg Breakout force (at 500mm): 1,520 lbs 689 kg Breakout force (bucket): 1,741 lbs 789 kg Lift to full height (at pin): 952 lbs 431 kg Lift to full height (at 500mm): 661 lbs 299 kg Bucket width: 50 inches 127 cm Raise time to height: 3.7 s Bucket dump time: 1.9 s Lowering time: 2.7 s Rollback time: 2.6 s

backhoe

Electrical
Ground:	negative
Charging system:	alternator
Charging amps:	14.5
	40 (optional)
Battery volts:	12

Page information
Last update:	August 16, 2017
Copyright:	Copyright 2021 TractorData LLC
Contact:	Peter@TractorData.com

 

[jeff9366]

I am talking occasional work on my 2.5 acres.

This is a fine homeowner's tractor for one to four / five acres. Tractors in this employ average 60 to 80 engine hours of use per year. The tractor will last indefinitely in your situation with conscientious greasing and fluid changes.

My main reason for a replacement tractor is the FEL. Is the FEL strong enough to lift and move dirt?

The 'real world' FEL lift capacity is 661 pounds.
Few would move more than 80 pounds of dirt in a wheelbarrow, for comparison. So, theoretically, the bucket will move 8-1/4 wheelbarrow loads per trip.

To lift 661 pounds you need counterbalance mounted on the Three Point Hitch. A Box Blade is often used for counterbalance and is one of the primary implements used for smoothing dirt and dragging dirt short distances, about thirty feet max. Counterbalance of 400 pounds should be about right, the weight of a heavy 54" to 60" wide Box Blade.

Turf tires are fine on a tractor of this weight, unless you will be doing considerable mowing of saplings or unless your ground has lots of thorns or sharp edged rocks. If this is your first tractor, turfs will make this light tractor feel an increment of two more stable than other tires. The Kubota B2920 has 4-WD, which is more important for traction than tire type, unless you have a long mud season, when R1 ag tires might prove just a mite better than turf tires. (The bar tread on light tractor R1/ag tires does not protrude far.) Most Florida soil is sand based and not very challenging to Three Point Hitch implements WHEN MOIST.


My concern is spending a bunch of money, to me, for something that may work me more than the tractor.
The tractor has power steering. The implements are light, proportional to the tractor weight and, with experience, easy to mount.

If your height is over 5'10" or you wear a size 10 shoe or larger, be sure to sit on the Kubota. The operating station on Kubota B's are none too commodious.

This tractor is probably free of Tier IV emission controls, which many here consider burdensome. A plus factor.

 

[Roadworthy]

As suggested, a box blade could be added for extra weight on the rear. A ballast box is also an option. (I have both.) For added stability you could investigate liquid filled tires. Liquid can be added to most tires. The current liquid of choice seems to be beet juice as it's less corrosive and more environmentally friendly than most other options.

 

[jeff9366]

I do not know quite where Middleburg, Florida is located. Most around me use plain water in tractor tires when tractor is garage stored. Those storing outside use some anti-freeze with the water. Where I live we seldom experience more than four night freezes per year.

 

[JWR]

I just can't make my mind up as to what I want to do. I am talking with a guy who has a B2920 with FEL, finish mower and a couple of other small attachments. I may be able to get it for $12,000. Are they heavy enough to do lifting and moving of dirt? I think the big problem may be turf tires. I am talking occasional work cleaning and leveling my 2.5 acres. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

How many hours on it ? I think that is a very good buy unless it is awfully high hours/old/worn out. As others said -- liftingand moving dirt is a wide open topic. This 2920 will move several hundred pounds of whatever will fit the bucket easily. It will NOT dig deep holes in hard ground or prepare the foundation for a new home.

 

[JWR]

The negatives as I see it are

1. Overall weight. Looking at spec sheets the base tractor is only 1554 plus 459 for the FEL and even if you added a B/H at 705lbs. the whole rig would way in at just over 2700 lbs. Additionally no backhoe means you'll have to fill the tires and carry rear wts. or a heavy rear implement to safely move any serious amount of loader weight.
2. Turf tires aren't going to give you much traction when trying get a bucket load of anything other than loose dirt particularly given tractor's weight.
3. If you do decide to go ahead, you'll find a backhoe is essential for breaking up packed soil and serving as a counter weight for FEL load carrying.

The only clue the OP gave that would indicate a need for weight and greater traction, etc. is "...leveling..." his 2.5 acres. No idea what that might really mean. If he means using it as a light dozer you are probably right.

Otherwise, with all due respect I disagree with all of your points.

1) The OP has not mentioned anything to indicate he needs a lot of weight or any more weight than the B2920 provides. [depending on what he means by "leveling."]

2) Turf tires and traction ? Based on what ? You must mean when scooping forward trying to gather a bucket load. If he needs more traction there he will need more weight on the rear regardless of tires. With his finish mower on the back he may have all the rear ballast he needs. If he needs more, fill the rear tires. We have no idea what surface he will operate on and thus no reason to think the turf tires will lack adequate traction. Turf tires are generally huge compared to ag tires & thus will hold a lot more fluid for weight. Weight is traction depending on the surface too, of course.

And 3) There is no reason to think that the OP will want/need a backhoe !! There are hundreds of (cheaper. simpler, more practical) ways to get more rear weight ballast than putting on a backhoe (!!) With a B26 you already have a backhoe. Not everyone wants or needs one.

I guess what we need to comment effectively is more info on what he means by "leveling" and what his total expectations are.

 

[bama7]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. By leveling I am referring to small mounds of dirt. I would want to smooth those out and move the excess to low areas. I had the palmettos mulched and want to remove as much of the left over roots as possible. I have a 5 ft box blade and a 5 ft bush hog. Both could use some help, but will work. My main reason for another tractor is the FEL. Middleburg is located in the Jacksonville area.

 

[jeff9366]

John Deere 855 Dimensions​

Wheelbase:64 inches
162 cm
Length:110.3 inches
280 cm
Width:42.6 inches
108 cm *
51.3 inches
130 cm *
Height (hood):52.3 inches
132 cm
Height (ROPS):75.6 inches
192 cm
2WD Weight:1790 lbs
811 kg
4WD Weight:1870 lbs
848 kg
2WD Clearance (drawbar):12.68 inches
32 cm
4WD Clearance (drawbar):9.9 inches
25 cm `

 

[jeff9366]

If your current Deere 855 is 4-WD rather than 2-WD, you may notice a slight decrease in overall tractor capability.

If your current Deere 855 is 2-WD, performance Deere 855 2-WD vs Kubota B2920 4-WD will be equal.

 

[Paystar]

My B2620 has never let me down. I have a pic thread on here somewhere. I have made one mile of bush road on my property with it and have moved 330 metric tons of gravel up my hills with it over the coarse of a couple days.

Pulls my 60 inch box blade easily while maintaining those roads and hills. No ballast in my R4 tires.

I recently bought a new Kubota backhoe for it, but now wish I would have just put that money towards a mini-ex.
The backhoe is absolutely better than none at all, but I lost the suspension under my seat now, it has a horrible locking system for the swivel seat base, but my main reason for not loving it, is because on these small tractors it doesn't have a lot of reach so you spend more time repositioning than digging.

The 2620/2920 is a workhorse though for their size and price point.

 

[jeff9366]

I had the palmettos mulched and want to remove as much of the left over roots as possible.

A Dirt Dog (brand) three-tine All Purpose Plow will do a good job surfacing Palmetto roots behind a light tractor. While the tines are spaced ~18" apart, an APP still rakes to a certain extent. APP will also surface the immature Palmettos lurking 10" below soil surface and wild climbing rose corms.

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[JWR]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. By leveling I am referring to small mounds of dirt. I would want to smooth those out and move the excess to low areas. I had the palmettos mulched and want to remove as much of the left over roots as possible. I have a 5 ft box blade and a 5 ft bush hog. Both could use some help, but will work. My main reason for another tractor is the FEL. Middleburg is located in the Jacksonville area.

Then I think you will be quite pleased with the B2920. I just spent some time last week using an older B2150 to make use of 3 truckloads of fill dirt (probably 8 to 10 tons each) that I had dumped on my property in the mountains. The B2150 is 24hp 4 cyl but is a little heavier (4 or 500lbs) than the 2920. My loader is not a factory loader but rather a Case brand that I had modified to fit. I am using AG tires with the rears filled. It is of course 4WD and I keep a 4ft JD hog on the back which acts as ballast in this circumstance. I was a little surprised that it took me longer than I had guessed to move around and place that much soil with what seems like a pretty robust and responsive little loader/tractor. My B2150 with the loader is a stick shift and NOT synchronized. Is the 2920 an HST ? That might do better. I soon learned I needed more air in the front tires ! Your potential B2920 probably has better hydraulic capacity (and thus loader lift) than my Case and B2150. I have no trouble at all lifting a max full and overflowing bucket of mixed clay soil. I think my bucket is a little wider than the 50" LA364 will be on your 2920. I also moved around and leveled around 9 tons of "crusher run" gravel (rather small area) with the same machine a month ago and that worked great.

I am not familiar with typical soil in your part of Fla. Makes a lot of difference if it is hard and caked or relatively soft and crumbly. You can probably use the box blade scarifier teeth to bust up those "small mounds" if need be and then use the FEL to move the rubble wherever you choose. Do NOT expect to be able to dig deeply into hard packed soil like clay with the width of your 50" bucket which is std on that B2920. You can't . Are you planning to keep/use both the JD 855 and this B2920?

 

[savageactor7]

That's a good price and if it were me I'd buy it asap.

I say that as an owner of a B1750 with loader since 1990. I've used the loader aggressively, hauled tons of trees through the woods and pulled my 72'' woods mower.

You'll never regret that purchase.

My only advice is to avoid a mid mount mower. Stay with 3ph attachments.

 

[Paystar]

Rear implements are still easier.....but the B26/2920 have a drive over mid mount mower deck that is pretty easy to take on and off.

another good reason to buy it, is you can have that 29 h.p. without a DPF or catalyst to worry about.

 

[JWR]

That's a good price and if it were me I'd buy it asap.

I say that as an owner of a B1750 with loader since 1990. I've used the loader aggressively, hauled tons of trees through the woods and pulled my 72'' woods mower.

You'll never regret that purchase.

My only advice is to avoid a mid mount mower. Stay with 3ph attachments.

I agree savage. Good price (but we haven't heard hours yet.) The OP said it has a finish mower rather than a MMM if our terms are being used as is normal.

But about MMM -- I have two on B2150's and love them. No reason to avoid MMM that I can think of. I've had one since 1993 and the other just recently. They cut a smoother lawn than any finish mower I have tried. These are ground-following MMM, not the suspended type. I also use a suspended type on a BX2200 which is good, but not as good as the ground followers.

 

[oldballs]

I agree with the previous posters......Paystar, savage and JWR....yet, my experience with the MMM has been on the positive side over all for maneuverability and cut. If I had larger fields (acres) to cut, I'd probably want a 3 pt mower. I imagine the 3 pt mowers with PTO attachment would be easier to mount and dismount. Having more HP and PTO HP in a B2920 would be plus without the DPF.

Cheers,
Mike