Mowing B7100 Finishing Mower

[Anonymous Poster]

I have just bought a 1995 B7100. I would like to buy a 5 foot rear finishing mower but I am not sure the B7100 could handle it. I will be cutting about 5 acres of lawn. Will a 5 foot mower strain the B7100? Any experience with this? Is weight a problem? Any suggestions on Brands or Models? Prices?

 

[Kelvin]

Tiptop,
Your B7100 operator's manual should provide Kubota's answers. If you don't have one, your should order one.

The B7100HSD came with an optional 54" or 60" mid-mower. Therefore, PTO horsepower-wise, it shouldn't have a problem with a 60" rear mower. There could be a weight problem, though. I'm sure that Bird will give you a good answer since he had that same tractor in the past.

Since you are new to the B7100, be sure and become very familiar with the B7100's thermosiphon cooling system (no water pump; no thermostat). It was used from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s and is a good system but it is different that normal cooling systems. Let me know if you need more information.

Kelvin

 

[mwechtal]

I have a manual shift B7100 that's roughly 20 years old. I use a LandPride 60" rear mount mower. My dealer said that he has a lot of customers that use that combination. It is bigger than the manual calls for though. It has plenty of PTO power, but it's a toss up if the mower, or the front of the tractor will come up when you raise the 3-point! The solution is to add weight to the front of course. If you have a loader it probably wouldn't be a problem. When mowing, and turning down-slope, I find that the rear wheels tend to slide toward the inside of the turn unless I have some weight on them also.

Basically, if you have a fairly small lawn thats nearly level you probably can get away without weight. The more slope you have, the more you need weight. I also wouldn't want to have to travel a long distance with the mower raised.

The reason that I got the 60" mower was that the belly mower that they used for the manual shift model was designed by Rube Goldberg on a bad day. It takes me about an hour to get it on or off. I had a choice between 48", which would not cover my tracks, and I would end up driving over some places twice, or a 60". Something in between would probably have been better.

Mike

 

[Thomas]

I have a Kubota rear mount mower model B3548 for my B7100HST and it does a swell job..but..the rear wheel base is wider than what the mower cuts..so I need to make some extra passes.The mower deck weights about 275lbs,and front counter ballast should be consider when mowing..Kubota listed min of 55lbs,and if you have a fel that should be good enough.When mowing I found out keep your fel bucket low to the ground,back up steep slopes and mowe down,if you have turf tires you may want to consider rear chains for traction,4wd on slopes,if you have a chain for the 3pt hitch do raise the mower deck high than chain your 3pt hitch when you are traveling,keep all turning parts grease and clean of cut grass etc..

 

[Kelvin]

mwechtal,
<font color=blue>I had a choice between 48", which would not cover my tracks, and I would end up driving over some places twice, or a 60". Something in between would probably have been better.</font color=blue>

On the gear drive B7100s (with front electric PTO) did they ever have any mid-mowers wider than 48"? Your mention of a 60" mid-mower for the gear drive B7100 is the first that I have heard of. I thought that they went with the larger mid-mowers when they started using the mid-PTO shaft to drive the mid-mowers.

I agree that it is a bad design, takes a long time to take it off, and a lot longer time to put it back on.

Kelvin

 

[bpence]

I have a 1995 B7100 and am presently running a 5 ft. mid-mount mower (Kubota brand) without any difficulties. The owner's manual recommends a 4 ft. rear finish mower, but that's probably more for the weight than anything else. The tractor can handle the 5 ft. finish rig, and like the others have said you'll need to add some front weights when you add 250 - 350 lbs. onto the 3 point.

 

[mwechtal]

Actually, I was refering to the rear-mount choices that I had. Kelvin,
I should have been more clear.

The mid-mount that I have is about 52" or 54".

The 60" rear-mount that I have, is a rear discharge, and it handles heavy grass, and even wet heavy grass quite well.

Mike

 

[Kelvin]

Mike,
The mid-mower on my older gear drive B7100 is a 48" (model B-48A, I believe). I think that that was the widest that they made for the B7100 with the front PTO.

Kelvin

 

[mwechtal]

Kelvin,
Shoot, I would have bet money that the deck was wider than 48", but you're right. I just measured it, and as near as I can measure without turning it over it's 48" tip to tip.

Mike