B7500 or B2410 for me?

[RhallVA]

Here is my need:

I have 6 acres to mow. Some is front yard, some is pasture.
Part of is it a bit hilly. I want to mow it all regularly with a Mid-Mower. 90% of what the tractor will be used for is mowing.

I have a gravel drive to maintain and smooth occaisionally.

I want to use a front loader to move mulch and a manure pile.

We are looking at the B7500HSD 4WD with 60" Mid Mower and Front Loader. Is this enough tractor to do my job or should I be looking at the B24210 instead?
(The B2410 is about $2000 more)

BTW- What is Position Conrtrol and why might I need it?
(I see the B7500 does not have it!)

Also- Is the lighter duty Front Loader (LA272) suitable or should I be looking at the LA302 or LA352?

Thanks very much!
Roy in VA

 

[Jeff396]

When in doubt, get the bigger one. Anybody feel free to correct me but what you get with the 2410 over the 7500 is more hp, position control on the 3pt and the ability to carry a larger fel. The frame size of both is the same.

Position control allows you to adjust the 3pt to one of many heights with an incremented lever. On my B7500 I have to do this by eye. I am told it is not very important but I still wonder. I have yet to buy any 3pt attachments so I don't have any first hand knowledge on that.

I got the La302 fel. I worked with two dealers and neither of them even suggested the la272. I imagine the cost between the two is not significant. The real question is do you need the added capacity of the la352. Only you can answer that question.

Jeff

2001 B7500HSD, La302 fel, 60"mmm, grass catcher

 

[Bird]

Lift capacity on the loaders:
LA272= 595 lbs.
LA302= 660 lbs.
LA352= 770 lbs.

Mulch and manure piles are usually light weight material. How much lift capacity do you need? Either tractor will do what you say you intend to do. Of course, after you get the tractor, you'll probably find additional chores you want to do with it.

Buy the cheaper one and you have the extra money to buy other implements.
On the other hand, lots of folks trade UP and few trade DOWN in size. You can never have too much power and conveniences. Position control is sure nice; I've had tractors both with and without.

Yeah, yeah, I know; no help. Ya just gotta make those tough decisions./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Try to drive one of each and buy the one you LIKE best.

 

[ronjhall]

Roy
Two the experts on tractor size have given their opinion and only given you more things to think about. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Here are some more items to add to your list of thoughts. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

With 6 acres of grass to cut I would want the largest MMM I could get. Both the 7500 and 2410 are limited to a 60" mower. I have a 72" MMM on my 2910. This allows me to cut 2 acres of lawn in 1 hour. My time can be very limited during the lawn-cutting season. My previous mower was a 48" MMM on a B7100HST. It took about 3 hours to cut the same lawn.

MMM's are not very well suited to cutting pasture unless it is short. Any height greater than 1 times the height that you are cutting will not give a good cut. You may have to invest in a Rotary Cutter to do the pastures.

<font color=blue> What is Position Control and why might I need it?</font color=blue>

Position control allows you to set a stop for the control arm of the 3ph. Then lower the implement to the same position each time the lever is moved back to the stop after raising 3ph.

 

[boblegg]

Just got my 1999 B2710 last Friday. I was considering the B7500 and B2410 but went with used B2710 for $14900 with only 52 hours from original selling kubota dealer. Having two days experience on a tractor, I would say the position control on the 3pt was very useful when trying to plow with rear blade. I have only 4 acre lot but will overuse initially while doing yard work on my new home. Looks like I'll have more experience over the weekend plowing another 8" of snow. My bota has the 402 loader and thought that would work better for hauling field stones for landscaping projects and making terraces on my slope.Good luck.Bob

 

[GlueGuy]

Your biggest chore looks like the mowing. I would go for whatever takes the biggest mower you could find, or else mow less of your acreage.

I don't have the same mowing requirements as you. I have no "lawn", but use a 4' brush cutter on the couple of acres that I do have. That said, I only have to mow 3 times per year. By the middle of June, the dryness has pretty much stopped any appearance of "growth".

My large task is maintaining a 4,300' gravel driveway. I do this with a 4' boxblade (mostly), and the LA302 FEL for clearing up the dregs.

My B7500 (<font color=orange>Lucy!</font color=orange>) handles these two tasks very well. That said, there are times when I would like a 5' or a 6' boxblade. Can't complain too much though, as a bigger tractor would mean that some of the mowing I do with the brush cutter would have to be done with a hand mower; and that would be a tragedy.

 

[crown]

I have 6 acres also, I mow 3 acres and brush cut 3, help maintain our sub-division dirt and gravel road. The 7500 does all well I have a rear finish mower the power is more than enough for the brush hog. Position control has been a non-issue for me maybe you don't miss what you don't have. That said a little extra horses never hurt. Either tractor will do the job decide if the power or extra cash for attachments is best for you. Have fun tractor shopping is a good time.
Be sure to update us on your decision.
Crown

 

[TresCrows]

Well, I will throw a wrench in your monkey works. I have both a 2410 and a BX. You said you will be doing mowing 90% of the time and it seems from what you say your field area is in decent shape so I will tell you what you do not wish to hear---the BX will mow circles around the 2410. The 2410 and 7500 have a ground contact MMM with bitsy little wheels on it that clunk along on the ground and the BX has a suspended deck that uses the tractors wheels to hold the deck up and only has anti scalp rollers. The BX has a better cut, the BX will mow faster, the BX will tear up your lawn less, the BX will mow a pasture or field, the BX has the same 54 and 60 inch MMM deck size the 2410/7500 can use, the BX will be virtually scalp free, the BX is more manuverable and will turn a closer circle and can mow in closer than the 2410, the BX deck mowing height is controlled from the seat via a height control knob.
I have not had the 2410 but a few months and of course it is not grass cutting season but I took it back in my field and mowed the stubble--the deck clunked along and I could not go as fast as I do with the BX because of fear of damaging the MMM. I think the 2410 will do great on my smooth lawn area and will do great with a rear mount mower or a rotary cutter in my field area--- but---but-----just using the MMM that came with the tractors---the BX is the winner hands down. The BX can do the other stuff too and 6 acres ain't spit for a BX cuz that is what I got also.
The 2410 is roughly the same size as the 7500 but I do not think they have the same frame, There appear to be several differences looking at the side by side including bigger tire size and a close out panel behind the seat and a flush cowl up front at the fuel tank and the side frames appears different/bigger as does other odds and ends, the 2410 has a larger loader also and more PTO horsepower and while Position control is not the be all, end all of tractordom it is a handy thing to have.
On a post hole digger it could control depth for example and it certainly does help with my boxblade and rear blade. I do not know what tractor you should get but just wanted to add to your confusion.
J

 

[Jeff396]

Yeah, I shouldn't have used the word frame....what I meant was they had the same chassis size in that the wheel base was the same so a difference in handling was not an issue.

From my experience, the one thing that I am going to look into that I did not get is the hydro top and tilt. One of the big reasons I got this tractor is for grading for water run off. I sure would like to manipulate the blade without having to get off the tractor. I'm finding it quite difficult to make swails with the fel alone.

Jeff

 

[GlueGuy]

Jeff,

Don't worry about that PC. I think it is a bit over-hyped. 80% of the time when I'm using the boxblade, I leave the 3PH in "full-float" position (all the way down on the B7500). I use the T&T to modulate the top link and control whether I am "cutting" or "laying".

 

[snowman]

When I bought my B7500HSD, I asked about the different loaders, and the dealer told me that the LA302 was the only choice for this model, so that's what I got.

 

[Jeff396]

No I don't worry about it. Now if it had been an option of the 7500 for a few hundred bucks...what the heck. I definately wasn't gonna spend 2k for that one option as the hp and larger fel were un-necessary for my purposes. I'm still trying to talk wifey into a rear blade or box blade with top n tilt. I'm trying to cut swails down a hill that is too steep to approach from either side and am having a tough time getting it to look gradual with the fel. Just can't bare the thought of getting out the shovel what with my 17k shovel just sittin' there idle./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[GlueGuy]

Jeff,

I think that is the one thing that I did to my B7500 that makes all the difference in the world. I don't know what I'd do with T&T (well I do know what I'd do, I just wouldn't like it /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif).

...and I've done a bit of that: cutting a path into a hillside. The ability to tilt the blade is just such a powerful tool.

 

[TresCrows]

Yes, I think you can put the 302 on the 7500! Oh another thing the 2410 has---cooooool fender flares.
It is also appreciably wider, mostly I guess due to the larger tires and it has a larger 3-point capacity. The 2410 also has metal guide levers and a seat with a higher back and the rear area has a closeout panel behind the seat for a neater look and a small tool kit under the seat. It also has a cruise control lever--for what that is worth. The fuel tank is larger also and there is a touch more ground cleaence and a 100 or so pounds more weight. Did I mention PC?--he-he-he /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif .
J

 

[TresCrows]

I was thinking about this today when I was stuffed under the panel of a Citation jet and took a moment to day dream. I thought perhaps Kubmechanic could answer whether the 302 is suitable for the 7500. Yes, I am told it fits but is it "to" strong? If the loaders are matched to the tractor and designed so as not to over stress the machine then perhaps is this why the 302 is not recommended for the 7500? It might exceed the limits of the 7500?, this is just a question--may be way off base--is not a call to arms for 7500 owners. If the 302 is a suitable match for heavy work on the 7500 future 7500 purchasers may wish to take advantage but if it might overstress the tractor or bend it's frame or other damage!! also, will it void Kubotas warranty to use the 302? You see, being upside down under a panel causes blood to flow to the brain and thus these brilliant flashes /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif . Curious minds wish to know.
J

 

[RhallVA]

Thanks to all for the input! It is much appreciated (since I am clueless!)

I have decided to go with the following:
B2410 HST 4WD
60" Mid-Mount Mower
LA352 FEL
Woods RB72 Rear Blade

The dealer I have chosen is putting the implements on and bringing it out to my place in a few days for a testdrive in my field before I make my final decision. If it feels right I will probably have him leave it. (Then I'll have a LOT of questions for you folks to keep me from ruining it as I learn!)
Thanks again!
Roy

 

[snowman]

The 302 is suitable for the 7500; it's what I have. It doesn't void the Kubota warrant.

Fits and works fine; put alot of hours on it last summer

 

[MikePA]

A question for the box blade experts, with a gravel drive to maintain, would a rear blade or a rear boxblade be better?

 

[GlueGuy]

Mike,

I'm no expert, but if I had to pick one (and I did), I'd go for the boxblade. However, there are times when the blad by itself is pretty darn nice.

I've used a friends B7100 with a rear blade, and cleaning out ditches is a treat with the rear blade. However, it lacks weight, so the boxblade works better for general grooming.

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>2410 has---cooooool fender flares</font color=blue>

Well, we just couldn't live without those, now could we? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Oh, and as for the B7500, the only loader I was offered was the LA302 (which is what I have). However, I know somebody on TBN got their B7500 with the LA352.

The B7500 also has the toolbox under the seat, as well as the cruise control.

And mine has T&T, so I don't need no steenking PC. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif