B21 Backhoe question

[SixMilesSouth]

I'm looking at a B21 for sale and the routing of the hydraulic lines on the boom don't look like the ones I've seen on other machines. Actually, the boom itself looks different. Did they change this over the years?

 

[mguitas]

Might be the older ones. I see the swing is a chain not duel cylinder on backhoe.

 

[SixMilesSouth]

I believe it's a 2005. Serial number starts with a 5

 

[SixMilesSouth]

And shouldn't it have the BT751 sticker on it? Does this look like an aftermarket hoe?

 

[lhansman]

I had a 2003 B21 and that hoe on this machine does not look correct to me. I do not know how they grafted this hoe on to a B21 but even the control levers do not look right. Do you have any closeup pictures?

The hose routing on the stick is definitely not correct either. Kubota would not leave the hoses loose like that. I believe they use steel tubing of the cylinder to do a u-turn up to the boom/stick joint and then the hoses should be routed internally.

I looked but unfortunately I do not have any relevant pictures of my B21.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Its possible someone bought an aftermarket backhoe and put on it but painted it and put Kubota decals on to make it look more factory. I don't know anything about these particular machines to be able to help you more but I wouldn't be surprised if I am right.

 

[MX5000]

I had a 2005 Kubota B21 for about 5 years and mine looks really different.

 

[Grandad4]

Looks like a Kubota 4520 backhoe. They were offered in the early 1980's for tractor models like the B8200. Definitely not the correct one for a B21, so it's a patch-up. You'd have to see how it actually operates, but, owing to its age and odd-ball application, it takes away from the value of the B21.

They were offered in both 3 point and subframe configurations. Which one is on that tractor? If a subframe type, does the subframe look factory-made or is it home-brew or modified?

I'd be wary... mismatched BH, dangling hoses, fresh paint job, wrong decals, who knows what you don't see?

 

[SixMilesSouth]

Wow, that's not the answer I was hoping for... So what's this mean. I think I need to pass, right? The machine has under 700 hours, for around $13k. Where do you put the value of this? Should I assume the backhoe is worthless?

I'm calling the seller in the morning to see what he says. Even if I could get the machine without the hoe at a good discount, finding a BT751 would probably be tough, right?

 

[Grandad4]

Actually, the $13k price kind of reflects that the unit is a mongrel. A 2,000+ hour B21 with the correct backhoe can go for $16-20k. A 700 hour one would go for more, most likely. They do offer the B2x series as a tractor-loader only, so the lack of a factory BH isn't especially odd, but you might suspect someone decided to add the hoe to such a unit and didn't want to ante up the $8k or so for the correct one from the factory. Instead, they found something on fleabay or wherever and made it fit.

The 4520 is actually an OK backhoe and one in good condition should do a lot of work. It all gets to what condition it's in and how well it was installed on the tractor. Kind of like buying a car that someone dropped a different make of engine into. Could it work? Sure. Would it be a sound installation? Depends on how it was done. Is it worth the same as a fully stock setup with the right motor in it? Not really. Final thought on the 4520... best I know it had a 2 stick control layout. That photo looks like there are 4 separate sticks. Is that right or am I seeing things?

If the tractor and loader are truly at 700 well-maintained hours, you might figure it alone could be worth most of the $13k. Suggest you track down a complete, working B21 with backhoe and test run both machines for comparison before making any offers on this one.

Please recognize I don't have a B21, so this is just general advice. There are quite a number of B2x owners around who may have better, more specific comments.

 

[Ken45101]

I agree, it doesn't look right.

I don't know current prices, but that seems high to me. I bought my B21 TLB in 2003 with 95 hours on it for $21K.

Ken

 

[SixMilesSouth]

Guys, thanks for the info. I looked at the specs on that hoe, 2800lbs breakout vs 3100 for the BT751, and bucket force of 1450 vs 1750. Not huge differences, but it's got a foot less depth and I'm concerned about the responsiveness given that it's at least 20 years old. The main reason I'm going with a TLB is for lots of backhoe work I want to do around here. Thanks again,

Got to call the guy and make a decision. It's a long drive to see it

 

[MX5000]

If your planning on doing a lot of backhoe work, I wouldn't buy it. I used my backhoe for some business work and around my property and would not settle for less performance than the stock backhoe. You don't want buyers remorse. You may have trouble selling it with the mongrel backhoe if you're disappointed with its performance. Just my 2 cents.

 

[SixMilesSouth]

Your advice is worth more than 2 cents, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.

So, anyone have a good B21 for sale?

 

[KubotaSam]

I guess it really does not matter because the OP is not going to purchase it. However that looks like a Woods backhoe. Which is a very good hoe. It is one of the older ones without the curved boom. Probably a Bh7500 or BH750. Of course one has to look at how it is mounted to the tractor. It could be home made or could be a factory Woods subframe.

 

[SixMilesSouth]

I guess it really does not matter because the OP is not going to purchase it. However that looks like a Woods backhoe. Which is a very good hoe. It is one of the older ones without the curved boom. Probably a Bh7500 or BH750. Of course one has to look at how it is mounted to the tractor. It could be home made or could be a factory Woods subframe.

Sam, I'm a newbie at this and wouldn't know how old this attachment would be. I realize age shouldn't be a factor, but I was thinking I was getting a low hour machine. When I spoke with the seller I said I would pass for the time being. I don't want to rush into anything.

But from the looks of it, with 4 levers instead of two, wouldn't this be more difficult to operate? And would the swing be slower without the dual cylinders?

Again, I'm really new at this and am learning as I go, mostly with the help of you guys on TBN. Thanks

 

[don white]

I had a B20 and was looking to trade up to a B21. My hope was to get more digging power at the hoe. I don't think that hoe is from Kubota. That said the reason I didn't go with the B21 is everyone told me the B21 digs no better that the B20.
Because I liked the size of the B line I ended up forking out for a B26. Part of the deal was I did some digging with it before I bought it. It does have a lot more power.

So I guess what I am saying is check out the machine. See if the Hoe has a good frame mount and see if it digs.

 

[Grandad4]

I guess it really does not matter because the OP is not going to purchase it. However that looks like a Woods backhoe. Which is a very good hoe. It is one of the older ones without the curved boom. Probably a Bh7500 or BH750. Of course one has to look at how it is mounted to the tractor. It could be home made or could be a factory Woods subframe.

Yup, could be. Looks like the Kubota 4520 and the Woods 750 were very similar in appearance and features. Sort of fits with the many stories about who actually made those early Kubota backhoes before Kub started building their own. Either way, it was a good BH, but definitely an oddball on a B21.

 

[murphy1244]

[.

But from the looks of it, with 4 levers instead of two, wouldn't this be more difficult to operate? And would the swing be slower without the dual cylinders?

Again, I'm really new at this and am learning as I go, mostly with the help of you guys on TBN. Thanks[/QUOTE]

The other two levers are to control the outriggers.

 

[dfkrug]

Probably a Bh7500 or BH750. Of course one has to look at how it is mounted to the tractor.

Looks like and old Woods 750 to me. Predecessor to the 7500. Since
Woods never made a subframe for the B21, I hope it has a
Kubota "mainframe" on it, or a decent custom subframe.