b7300 - need for p. steering

[avanti]

I'm looking at a 5 year old b 7300, 60 in belly mower, with a fle. Anyone have one, if so, without powersteering how tough is it. Should I go with a unit with power steering? I will be mowing 7 acres with minimal fle use for now.

Tom

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi Tom,

I have a four year old B7300 that I bought new (and finally paid for). It is a great little tractor and fills my needs very well. I have 10 acres, about 6 of which I mow, and it is fine for that. Not having power steering hasn't been too much of a problem (although one can get quite a workout when using the FEL much), but here's something to consider....


My first attachment was my bush hog, for mowing (my property isn't suitable for a finish mower, for the most part). Since then I've collected attachments as I need and can afford them. Two things to think about:


- The B7300 pretty much maxes out at 48" implements (except the belly mower), like blades, scrapers, etc. Yes, you probably could drag a 60" blade behind it - but it wouldn't be very nice to the poor thing.

- It will handle a backhoe. I know, 'cause I have one, and it works great. However, with it on the tractor is basically a backhoe hydraulic motor and transport. Yeah, you can use the FEL, but not that effectively - not enough weight on the front.

My advice - if you have the chance to buy a good used B7300 at a fair price, go for it. Good, solid tractor. But if I had to do it all over again, I would have dropped an extra $2K or so to get the next size up.

Hope that helps....Chris

 

[avanti]

any feel for what this tractor may be worth, dealer is asking 8500.00

 

[HR_Mutt]

avanti
Our B7100 is not equipped w/ power steering and it never bothered me, that is.....until I got a larger tractor with it/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
regards
Mutt

 

[skent]

Power Steering dosen't get to be a problem unless you are doing heavy FEL work. Moving wood chips or mulch is a piece of cake, but stones and dirt, I've really been able to give my arms a work out, but is 10 times better than the 51 year old Case I was using. I have a 60" box blade for driveway work, I gotta go slow and take small bites. Have a 72" back blade - that size is good for light snows only (was bought for a bigger tractor), I'm thinking of cutting 6" off each end and seeing how it does. 60" mid mount mower works well in all but the heaviest grass.

How many hours on the one your looking at? Love the B7300 - great fuel economy

Steve

 

[avanti]

steve,

it has 800 hours.

 

[skent]

I bought mine last year (had less than 200 hrs). Had 60" midmount mower, FEL(fel had never been used), tire chains and dealer threw in Maint. Manual. Tractor had been kept in garage, was showroom fresh. With sales tax I paid just under 11K. I have NEVER regretted buying the Bota!.

If the one you are looking at looks clean and power steering is not a big deal, it sounds like a good deal.

Steve

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Last fall I bought a B7200 (18hp). It doesn't have power steering and I have used the fel to move 6 yards of 3" rock and also to smooth out ruts and creaves' left by a bull dozer after a pond was put in. I have never wished for power steering, but then again maybe if I had it I wouldn't go with out. But this is for sure, your tractor will handle fine without it.

Van