B6100??

[tmthunder]

Hello everyone! I have been looking around this forum and figured I would join to get some help. I am looking at buying my first tractor. I have a chance to pick up a B6100 4x4 with 1050 hours, AG tires, 48" front mount snow blower with what looks to be hydraulic chute controls, full cab, front and rear pto's and cat 1 3 point hitch. I have only seen photos of the machine but it looks to be in good shape and the attachments look to all be OEM. Owner states no issues with the machine or fluid leaks. My main mission for this tractor would be for clearing snow from my driveway and moving firewood around. I have about 350' of driveway to clear snow from. Living in Northern Maine we deal with both the heavy wet snow and the nice easy to move light stuff. I would like to get a front end loader for it to use as well. Will I be able to find a loader to fit this tractor? How easy are parts to come by when it comes time to fix something? What are the things I should pay attention to when I go to look at the tractor? What would be a fair price to pay? Thank you for your time and help in advance!

 

[BigD23]

Welcome to TBN...I had a B5100 and that puppy was bullet proof...Wish I'd have kept it...The 6100 is the same with a bigger (not much) hp engine...Sounds like quite a few items are going in on the "package"...Suggestion, contact Koyker and ask if they have a loader that will bolt up to it...Good luck and keep us posted.

Don

 

[Thomas]

First off welcome to TBN tmthunder.
6100 and there cousin 7100 are indeed working little mule,the only down side no power steering.

Test drive I consider,than listen to your gut feelings.

 

[wjoerob]

I have a very similar 6100, but with no front attachments. So can't comment on the snowblower or mounting it. I love the way the little tractor works, and have several other attachments. But keep in mind that there are only 13 hp, so there are some things it won't do. I'm wondering about moving that firewood. It'll run forever, but there are some jobs it just won't handle, you'd need a bigger tractor.

 

[grossgary]

i have a B7100, very similar. i didnt' know anything about any tractors before last summer, so i'm less than a year into this gig. i read a lot here and got a lot from this group of folks. i'll try and share what seem to be the important points that helped me make a decision and seem very relevant now after owning mine.

depending on your usages you want to make sure two things in particular. a manual/gear tractor will be cumbersome and annoying in certain situations. i almost didnt' listen, but i'm glad i did and ended up with an HST. i have too many obstacles, ponds, grades, streams, and such to bother with a gear driven tractor. i would have hosed myself if i didn't listen.

and power steering. make sure you don't need that. i do fine without mine and so far my wife seems to mow fine with it as well, though she does the simpler portions. i might consider adding power steering if i ever have the time.

as for finding a loader. i haven't been able to find a loader or backhoe for mine, it's quite annoying. it would be nice ot have.

 

[jas67]

Welcome.

First, I want to second what GrossGary said about HST (hydrostatic transmission). I had to learn the hard way. I purchased a gear-drive 1980 B7100 with FEL (front end loader) for $4650 last spring. Gear drive can be frustrating for lots of FEL work, as you need to keep the revs up to run the loader at a decent speed, but with gear drive, the engine speed is proportional to the forward speed, based on what gear your in. This makes it very cumbersome to push into a pile of dirt/stone/mulch and scoup up material at the same time.

I put about 20 hours on it before selling it for what I paid for it and buying the following for $6500:

1998 B7100HST w/ 455 hrs.
Woods DuAl 145 Front End Loader
Kubota 60" Mid-mount mower
Meteor 50" Snow Blower

It came with R1 tires and wheels. I wanted turfs. It cost me about $350 for a pair of new rears that were pulled from a new tractor being converted to R4's, and a total of about $180 to convert the fronts over.

So, take tires into consideration, as my total cost was about $7100, still very good for what I got.

I'm not mowing with mine, so the collection system doesn't really matter to me, but if that is something you'll use, then it does.

If the price includes a front end loader, then it is decent, if not, I would wait for one that has a front end loader. The front end loader is the most useful piece of equipment on these small tractors. You'll be amazed how much you use it. I'm adding a pin-on pallet fork (goes on in place of the bucket -- much better than bucket forks) to make it even more useful.

I've put about 60 hours on this second tractor, and am MUCH happier with it.

Also, if you want a FEL, buy a tractor with one. You might have a tough time finding one for the B6100, as they haven't been made for a long time, so the only FEL you'll find for sale will be one from a tractor that has outlived its usefulness (or has died), and is being parted-out. If you do find an FEL, you'll likely pay as much for it as you did the tractor itself (or even more).

I would also recommend the B7100 or the B6100, as it is a bit heavier, and more suited for FEL work. Both are great simple and rugged machines that will do much more than their small size would lead you to believe.

Good luck with your purchase,
Jay

 

[JoelD]

I purchased a B6000e, then found the loader on craig's list across country and had it shipped, also got the rear mount tiller. I then mounted a scratch built backhoe to the tractor.

Mine was 2 wheel drive with no power steering and gear drive.

I loved that little machine, 2 cyl. diesel, very well built.

One thing about Kubotas you can always find others.

I think the most important factor in buying a tractor is to make sure it is the proper size for what it is you want to do with it.

My machine was just a little too small, and I ended up going with a bigger machine.

First make sure the size is correct, then determine what features you need.

Good luck,
Joel

 

[tmthunder]

Thanks for the input everyone. I got some more info this would be a 1983 purchased tractor 1 owner, all manuals maintenance records, and shop manual. The chute controls are manual not hydraulic. Without looking at it in person but from pictures it looks like it would be great for blowing snow. Anyone have one of these 48" snow blowers that can comment on how they perform? Also where could I find wheel weights? I see some pictures on here of these tractors with front and rear wheel weights. Thanks!

 

[jas67]

Load the rear tires with RimGuard or WWF (Windshield Washer Fluid). Then add more weights if needed.

Also, if you are adding an FEL, hang a counterweight on the 3-point. All you need is a drawbar, some angle iron (to make an upsidedown "T" with the drawbar, so you have an attachment point for the top link), and a friend with a welder. Then mold about 300lbs of concrete around it using a plywood box, or a large can.

Being further back, the counterweight will be more effective at countering a heavy load in the front bucket than wheel weights. I have both the counterweight, and the WWF in the tires -- works great.

Also, do yourself a favor, and put a piece of steel out the back of the counterweight for a trailer ball. I didn't, and I need to remove my counterweight to put my 3-point trailer hitch on -- what a pain. It's too late to add one, as I've already put the concrete around it.

Regards,
Jay

 

[Sherweld]

Welcome to the forum.

My $.02 considering all the good advice given above.

It seems the main point for you now is snow removal, this tractor comes "ready to go" with a snow blower. In the part of the USA where I live anyway it seems to me that a front end loader would be a whole lot easier to find than a compatible front mount snow blower for that tractor. Whereas I think almost every major FEL builder makes a loader that will fit a B6100.

If the price suits you, I can only add that I've owned two1978 B7100 Kubotas, the first one I sold with 4000+ trouble free hours, the present one over 2000 hrs. and they are still one tough little machine.

Good luck
Sherweld