B7100 FEL

[Doades]

I have a old B7100 with about 2000 hours on it. I got it for a good price and it is in fair condition. I would like to have a FEL added but after looking around the cost to do so would be more than what I paid for the tractor. The tractor does not have power steering or a HST transmission. It would be mainly used as a glorified wheel barrell. I have also heard that you cannot use the hydraulics on the 3-point hitch if the FEL is hooked up. Is this true?
Overall is the FEL be worth the money for this small tractor?

 

[KubotainNH]

I have a b6100 that came with a 1630 FEL. If I'm not mistaken I believe the b7100 has alot of similiar parts. The FEL does not affect my 3point hitch. The way it's setup is the output of the pump on the engine goes to a box that sends the fluid to the FEL. The power beyond plug on the FEL then goes back to the same block which then goes back to the 3point hitch. I believe the port under the seat can be redirected to an implement and that would bypass the 3ph. I can post pictures if that helps.

 

[Bird]

I think it's already been pretty well explained, but . . . I bought a new B7100 in '95 with the B1630C front end loader. No power steering, but mine did have the 2-range HST. Front end loaders are not cheap. I think the dealer figured $8,400 for the tractor and $2,400 for the FEL for a total of $10,800. On a couple of occasions, I tried to raise the 3-point hitch and nothing happened. Each time, I found that, even though the FEL wasn't moving, the joystick was not completely centered. I just had to wiggle the joystick and then the 3-point worked just fine. So, as has already been said, it was obvious that the hydraulic power went first to the FEL, then to the 3-point.

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have a old B7100 with about 2000 hours on it. I got it for a good price and it is in fair condition. I would like to have a FEL added but after looking around the cost to do so would be more than what I paid for the tractor.)</font>

There may be a clue there as why the tractor was so cheap.

I had a B7100HST with FEL and it was a workhorse. I sold it and bought a B7510HSD w/FEL and power steering. I probably would have kept it if I had been able to add power steering but there is no way to do that.

There are a lot of B7100's around and you might find one with a bad engine that has the FEL and buy it cheaper than a new FEL would cost. You could also look at FEL's by other than Kubota and save a few $$$.

Bill Tolle

 

[BandDcabinet]

I have a 1983 B7100 gear drive 4 wheel drive with a FEL that I purchased new. The FEL works completely independent of the 3 pt hitch. I have never had a problem with any interaction. A selector valve located under the front of the seat can be used to select between the 3 pt hitch and an auxiliary hydraulic port. When the Aux port is selected the 3 pt hitch is not operable and the lever that normally works the 3 pt hitch can be used to control the hydraulic device connected to the aux port. I use the aux port to power the cylinder on my hydraulic dump wagon.

The FEL is connected to a hydraulic port block on the side of the engine area.

Perhaps I have just been fortunate but I have never had any interaction between the FEL and 3 pt. I have had the relief in the FEL control open which made the FEL inoperable until the valve reseated.

Not sure if that helps. I do have all manuals if you need any info.

DandB

 

[Doades]

Thanks for all the input.
It eases my mind a great deal to know that the 3-pt wouldn't be inoperable with the FEL attached.
I have been looking around for used FEL's but they are hard to come by.
Anybody have any good ideas for locating them?