Attn: B21 owners, do you feel your B21 is a powerful little workhorse or a slightly underpowered dog with all that weight to move around? I want to hear some reviews about your experience using the machine particularly front loader work and breaking ground with the loader also driving up hills, does the heavy machine get along fine with only 21hp? Does the tractor feel stable with loader work and loading a truck?
I put just over 100 hours on a B20 this past spring. It was a loaner tractor that I had while mine was getting worked on. I was used to a much larger in size L-3750 and I also had to get used to driving a hydro trans much different than the glideshift that I have. But once I did I was more than impressed with the work I could get done with this little beast. The only short fall I could think of with that tractor was the reach of the hoe. Had plenty of power over all just would have been nice to have an extenda hoe for it and it would be the perfect little hoe. I only broke it once and I was running the heck out of her the whole time I had it. The B-20 has the older style of t-handle hoe mounts which have been changed now on the newer hoe mounts. But over time water would sit in the mount and rust the bolt then snap and that is exactly what I did. But I drilled out and tapped the holes and was up and running again. I tried to buy it from the dealer but we couldn't come together on price. He thought it was gold plated and I couldn't find the gold on it.
My two cents
Gordon
My Kubota dealer says he hardly sells any B21's up here in Colorado (5000 - 9000 ft elevation) because they're not powerful enough. You may be fine at sea level, though.
I think the B21 is optimized for the hoe and loader operation. The PTO horsepower, like Andy said is lower than most others (B21-13.5hp, B7400-12.hp, B7500-16hp, B2410-18hp,B2710-20hp, B2910-22hp. The B21 Hydraulics is higher than most others and not significantly smaller than the B2710 and B2910. 8.5 GPM for the B21 Vs 9.5 for the B2710 and B2910. As far as "all that weight to move around", thats the attribute that allows you to move all the other weight around. You won't be able to go up a 30% grade in third gear but you have a couple of other choices. I have found the B21 horse power well matched to the front loader/backhoe operation. If I had a lot of heavy duty brush hog work the extra PTO horsepower would have driven me to the B2710.
The biggest disadvantage to the B21 is the price.
(gotta be secure of your masculinity with a moniker like that!)
Interesting post, it is hard to sometimes grasp the concept but a tractor is one of the few vehicles where weight actually can help. My Ford is only marginally "faster" without the hoe on the back but the "push" is completely different. If the B21 had more power it would probably just spin the tires under load. If you're using it for a tow vehicle for a wagon load of something on dry hard ground, yes it would probably pull better with more HP or without the loader and backhoe, but for what it's built for it works. I used one for a day before I decided on an L35, the B21 had plenty of power, it just didn't have the mass I need to absorb my bumps so my back doesn't have to! I would have loved to keep it with different property!
