B5100e, enough machine?

[looch]

I have a 1981 B5100E (turf tires) with the following Kubota attachments:

single-stage snow blower
roto-tiller
rear blade
lawn aerator
mold board plow
42" mid mount mower

I have 3.5 acres, 1 mowable. The other 2.5 acres is an overgrown field.
I want to start maintaining the field but I don't think this tractor will be able to handle it. I don't know if there is brush cutter small enough or if it will accept a sickle-bar.
I was thinking about upgrading, either to a BX or a small L series. I'd like to keep the roto-tiller and plow. Problem is that I don't really know what this machine and other implements are worth. It's got 200 hours on it and it's in excellent condition (don't laugh, but I've even waxed it on occasion).
So, do i keep it and spring for some AG tires or go new? I appreciate any thoughts.

 

[FarmerBob]

Re: B5100e

You gotta be kid'n me... a 20-year old tractor with only 200-hours?!?! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

I don't know anything about a B5100 so I'm unfamiliar with the HP rating etc. I maintained 5-acres, about 3 in yard and the remaining in brush and timber, for about 5-years with a B7100. I had a 5ft brush-hog, a 4ft Kubota tiller, 5ft finishing mower, 5ft rear blade, and FEL. The 7100 was a 4WD 3-cylinder 16HP tractor and I never had any problems, even though I ran turf-tires. If the 5100 is similar in size and HP, I'd say you ought to be able to handle about anything you'd want to do. I recently upgraded to a new L2600DT simply because I wanted a larger tractor that would handle some 6ft implements on my new 10-acre place.

Good luck...
FarmerBob

 

[scruffy]

Re: B5100e

Do you need to sell the B5100E to buy the new tractor? That would seem to be the crucial factor here. If not, I would probably look into a larger tractor and keep your current one also, it could always be sold at a later date if it is deemed to be superflouis at that time. There are several options you need to pin down, see a need for a FEL? IMHO, you buy the tractor, that is a must, as well as a box blade.
Good luck and have fun with your wrangling with this!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: B5100e

B5100E is 10HP Z500-1 4X2 390 Kgs 1810X1040X1110
You could try to get a pair of rear lug tires as the turf tires are not going to give you enough grip along with a 30-36" slasher. The unit will probably do the job.
The question you need to ask is whether you have the time and how often you intend cutting this block? If you like escaping from the wife for hours at a time and enjoy using your machine stay with what you have otherwise if you have the money go for a larger quicker machine.

 

[WVBill]

pbenven:

I've got a 1978 B6100DT it's a 14HP 4WD. Like you, I've got 3.5 acres. Before we built our house, it was all an "overgrown field". The builder bush hogged it before we moved in and since then I've mowed it with my 20HP Craftsman GT with 46" deck. It takes me about 4.5 hours to do the whole 3.5 acres.

I got the tractor about a year after we moved in. It has a FEL, box blade, rake and rototiller but no mower. I've debated whether to get a mower for it and think that I probably will not. My B6100 will probably only handle a 4' mower which is only two inches more than my GT. At the same traveling speed my B6100 is significantly more uncomfortable to ride than my GT and the GT is much more maneuverable than the B6100. Therefore I've concluded that mowing with my B6100 will not decrease my mowing time so I'll keep the GT for those duties.

You might consider the same. If your B5100 is doing everything you need except the mowing keep it. Have the overgrown 2.5 acres bush hogged close one time and then get a riding mower to mow your whole 3.5 acres.

On the other hand, if you don't want to spend 4.5 hours mowing, trade the B5100 up to a Kubota that will handle a 6' mower.

 

[looch]

WVBill,

Thanks for your advice. Problem is that the field isn't in "finish mower" condition. I first have to clear some smaller saplings with a chain saw (what fun, they usually beat you once or twice when the chain saw touches them), rough mow it, then I would like to turn some of the ground over to try and level things out a little. There's a Kubota rep coming over today to check out my needs and to give me a price for my 5100. I won't sign any deals, however, until I find out what I should expect to get for it.

 

[looch]

I'm moving this post to the "Buying a Kubota" section. Thanks for your input.

 

[allmobile]

If your tractor was 4wd I would say it would do it. It might have been a little small but would certainly have done the work. I would try to find a 4wd.

Brian