B2320, B2620, and B2920

[mcrame01]

Thanks Chuck. Was that price w/o FEL or with? It seems you have more experience with CUTS. Can you tell me what you thought of the tractor? Just looking for anything I can get in case I hadn't thought of something or hadn't noticed some drawbacks/features.

 

[ChuckinNH]

The prices I quoted were with fel as I mentioned. I have not seen one of these tractors yet.

 

[mcrame01]

Sorry, I meant to say MMM.

 

[qed-cat225]

The full line brochure show parallel linkage and suspended MMM decks, everyone seems to think the suspended gives a better cut, anyone know how they price out?

 

[ChuckinNH]

The prices I quoted don't include a mmm, or loading the tires, or bucket hooks, etc. I believe that the initial pricing that I heard for the mowers was around $1800 for the 54", and $2200 for the 60", but don't quote me on that. I like the drive over feature of the decks, but kind of wish they had included some way of picking it up with the 3pt hitch for moving around, and servicing.

It is inevitable that these tractors will be compared with the B30 series. For finish mowing with a mmm, I think users will find the B20 series to feel more nimble, but perhaps for rotary cutting the extra weight, length, and width of the B30 series will feel more comfortable with anything over a 48 inch rotary cutter. Bigger cutters get large, and heavy quickly, and might push the lighter tractor around in rough going. For relatively smooth areas, and pasture grasses, I think the B2920 would be fine with a light duty 5' cutter, and be more nimble around finished lawn than a B3030 for example. Actually using one of these tractors might quickly change my mind about that, but those are my initial impressions.

I just noticed yesterday that these B series tractors are actually lighter, and have bigger tires than Kubota's commercial ZTR's, and found that interesting. Even with loaded tires, these tractors should tread more lightly on your lawn.

For use in the woods, or for ground engaging duties, I really don't see any advantage of the new series over the old B7xxx tractors. I expect that the new backhoe will be available for the older tractors when they get caught up with the demand..... why wouldn't they? The higher loader lift height is nice, and will be welcome to many.

Of course how much one ends up paying for these models will be pretty important. The prices I heard yesterday suggested that the existing B7xxx tractors could be bought for $7-900 less than the new ones.

Enough rambling for now..

 

[qed-cat225]

why do they list both a parallel linkage and suspended MMM? there must be some advantage to the parallel linkage one???

 

[ChuckinNH]

The parallel linkage mowers that Kubota lists for the B7800, and B2630/B3030 are ground contact mowers. In other words, you adjust the wheels on the mower itself to establish the cut height. The parallel linkage refers to the manner that they are raised, and lowered, which is parallel to the axis of the tractor. Usually, in that type of mower, the front mount is connected to the front axle in a way that allows the deck to float a bit with the changing ground contour...... but that is true with suspended decks as well. If there is an advantage, it is that the deck "might" follow the ground contours better, though that depends on where the wheels come in contact with the dips, and hollows of your yard. I think there are a couple of disadvantages with these mowers. If the ground is very soft, they will sink in because they are quite heavy. Since you are "pulling" them over the ground, the weight can work against you on traction, and stability on slopes. My Simplicity has a full width rear roller that drags along the ground, and that is an extreme case of fighting against the traction you have available. If the wheels on the mower deck aren't large enough, and free to quickly pivot, they can get caught on roots, and other obstacles too, and that can be a bit of a pain, or even yank the mower out of alignment. Ground contact mowers can do a really nice job on land that is quite rough (see attached photo) but a suspended deck that is set up right can too.

Suspended decks, on the other hand, have their weight supported by the tractor, so their weight is an aid to traction, and stability on slopes, etc. The depth of cut is generally set from the operator's area, so they are more easily changed on the fly. I mow different areas of my 3+ acre lawn at different heights depending on how wet it is, how rough the ground is in that area, etc., so I find that important, you might not. They take less beating from the ground too, and rarely get hung up when mowing, or leave unwanted tracks in your mowing job. The downside is that they are perhaps a little more likely to scalp in high places, and need to be set up a bit more carefully for level, and anti scalp wheel height, etc.

 

[bandit67]

Suspended decks also will give a more even looking cut on rougher terrain because they don't follow the minor ups & downs - the longer tractor wheelbase spreads out the ups & downs much better than the shorter deck can.

If the soil beneath the lawn you're mowing is nice and smooth, then it doesn't matter which deck type. But if it's not perfectly smooth under the grass, the suspended deck can more easily make it appear as if it is nice and smooth. For example, a small dip or hole in the underlying soil may leave that grass at 4" tall with the surrounding grass being cut at 3", but the top appears to be a nice even, level cut.

My last suspended mower deck on my subcompact had 4 wheels at the corners, plus a front center mounted 'anti-scalp' roller. That deck would occasionally scalp, but no more so than a parallel linkage floating deck would have, probably even less. The new 20 series mowers are the same design, so overall, I'd suspect they'd give a slightly better cut on a not-so-perfectly graded lawn.

 

[kcook]

Let's try this:

Thanks for posting the info

KC

 

[MDM]

Here is what I was quoted today, both with FEL, Loaded R4s and 60" MMM.

B2320- $14,800

B2620- $15,800

Dealer has all 3 new Bs in stock, no MMM in stock yet though.

He also quoted me a new B7510, 302 loader and 60" MMM for $13,900.

All were over the phone quotes, so I might be able to get $300-$400 off in person.