B7500 Questions

[gusg]

Got my B7500 with a 302 FEL, R4 tires and 60"MMM two days ago. So far with 4 hours on it, I love it except for some minor things that maybe someone can help me with. I did a half an hour of FEL work and nearly three hours of mowing so far. The cut on the weeds that act like a lawn was superb even though it was about a foot high in most places. Took the FEL off pretty quickly but gouged the concrete garage floor because I didn't have the bucket rolled back enough and the stands dug into the concrete a little when I tried to move the tractor away. I'll get it right the second time.

The questions I have are:

1. Is a small amount of paint all of the color coding you get with the FEL hydraulic hoses? Seems like it would wear off over time. Has anyone done anything different?

2. The 60" MMM rattles on my bumpy ground. I think it is mostly the shield. Is there a way to keep it from rattling that someone has tried? By the way, I have to remember to make sure the blades have stopped turning after putting in the clutch before I try and disengage the PTO. Makes a terrible sound. Getting the hang of it.

3. Do most of you remove the MMM when you use the FEL? Do you pin the MMM so it won't go down with the 3PH? I haven't taken off the mower yet. I heard it is fun unless you raise the front end with the loader and slide it out.

4. The dealer delivered the tractor with the rear wheels in the narrowest position. It looks like it will be real close to the R4 rear tire hitting the rollor on the rear of the deck if I move the tires outboard. Anyone have their tractor set up with the tires out at their maximum with the 60" MMM?

5. I got a lot of black residue on the bottom of the grill guard and the front release handle for the MMM? Is that because it is new and it will get better over time?

6. The seat belt becomes very tight when I am thrown around on my rough ground. Is this common?

7. Has anyone found an aftermarket seat that includes a suspension system with it that can be fitted on a B7500?

8. It is very difficult to get the PTO engagement handle for the MMM and the range selector to high sometimes. I have to move the tractor slightly before they will engage. I think this is a common problem as I recall reading in TBN.

I think I have asked more than my share of novice questions. Hopefully some of you have had the same experiences and can help me work them out. Overall I love my B7500. I am glad that I went with it. Thanks with all of your help during my tractor shopping.

 

[Gomez]

<font color=blue>2. The 60" MMM rattles on my bumpy ground. I think it is mostly the shield. Is there a way to keep it from rattling that someone has tried? By the way, I have to remember to make sure the blades have stopped turning after putting in the clutch before I try and disengage the PTO. Makes a terrible sound. Getting the hang of it.</font color=blue>

My MMM rattles some too. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

I'm not sure I understand the second statement. Once you press the clutch, you should be able to disengage the PTO without waiting. Also, the only time I've heard a sound is when trying to engage the PTO lever.

<font color=blue>5. I got a lot of black residue on the bottom of the grill guard and the front release handle for the MMM? Is that because it is new and it will get better over time?</font color=blue>

You mean where the exhaust comes out? I'm not sure how the B7500 is layed out, but I know I get some residue on the inside of the front left wheel.

<font color=blue>
8. It is very difficult to get the PTO engagement handle for the MMM and the range selector to high sometimes. I have to move the tractor slightly before they will engage. I think this is a common problem as I recall reading in TBN.</font color=blue>


I occasionally have difficulty in engaging the PTO lever. Usually reclutching (is that a word?) takes care of it. When selecting the range, I've found it easiest to feather the hydro pedal and feel the lever drop in.

 

[Jeff396]

Hey there, I've got the same rig as you.

1. Answer to question one is to get some different colored plastic zip ties and put them on around each male and female fitting.

2. The R4's at their full out position will indeed hit the rear left antiscalp wheel when the mmm is raised all the way. If you raise the mmm and pin it and then lower the mower the rear of the mmm will droop just enough to clear. If you forget and lift it all the way it will make a horrible racket. Here's a tip....put the rear left antilscalp wheel circle clip towards the outside of the mmm. If you don't and raise the mmm all the way it will get all beat up by the tire. I still getta get me a replacement for mine./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I do think the benefit of the tires at the full out position is well worth the inconvenience if you have any uneven ground.

3. Here's an answer to your next as yet unasked question.....yes, it is possible to get the pins in to keep the deck in the full up position. Mine required adjusting the links under the rear of the tractor to get the mmm up high enough for the holes to line up. They weren't even close when it was delivered. You then just need to rock each side of the deck a bit while installing them. Many here complain that it's really hard to do but I have had no trouble what so ever.

4. I will usually take my mmm off if I am going into the woods to use the fel. There's not a whole lot of ground clearance there if you start driving up over small piles of dirt. If it's just something quick around the yard, I leave it on. I do not find it to be the easiest thing to remove and install but I am getting better at it with each attempt. I don't know what people do who don't have a fel to lift the front end.

Jeff

 

[genelp]

<font color=blue>I don't know what people do who don't have a fel to lift the front end.</font color=blue>
I drive my tractor up on some blocks of wood. An FEL sure would be nice though!

Gene

 

[chim]

Welcome aboard. The B7500HST I got this Spring has 79 hours on the clock now. Time flies. Anyhow:

I went the Ty-Rap route for FEL hose ID. Home Depot had a bag of colored wire ties for a couple of bucks. I left "tails" a little over an inch long on the ones installed on the control, cut the ones on the hoses short.

Mine has a RFM, can't help.

I take the FEL off to mow, and usually put the RFM or heavy scraper blade on when using the FEL. Have 15 gallons of antifreeze/water in each rear tire, but still need counterweight for serious FEL stuff.

It's been a source of discussion, but the manual recommends 38" center to center for the rear R4's. The wheels on my rear tires are really deep-dished, and I could spread them a lot farther. It would make the tractor a bit more stable on sidehills to spread them more, but it would increase stress on the rear axle and bearings. My worry on sidehills is breaking loose and going into a slide. Whether you have the wheels spread wide or not, I get a bad picture in my mind when it gets to the bottom. On bad hills, I run up and down rather than sideways.

Diesel exhaust blackens things.

Gotta admit to not wearing seatbelt - ROPS was removed to get under trees.

I also "reclutch" and feather the HST.................chim

 

[snowman]

Most of your questions were already answered; my own $.02:

1. FEL hoses - I put string on each hose - one string on one, two strings on the second, etc. The paint that Kubota has on does wear off. Worst case is that you hook them up wrong and the FEL just won't work; done that.

2. MMM rattling - same with mine. I wear a headset over my ears to drown out the noise.

3. I do remove the MMM when running the FEL, primarily for clearance purposes. Also, you get dirt all over the mower otherwise.

4. I think my rear wheels are in the narrow position too, as it appears that I have one more pin hole in the axle that I could move them out too. I have not had a problem with the MMM or any 3pt implements hitting them, nor have I had a problem when I had chains on the tires in the winter, so I have left them in the same position.

5. I get black residue over everything too, including the back of the FEL bucket. I never bothered to try and clean it off.

6. Seat belt - gets very tight. I need to release it every now and then. I use the seatbelt when mowing mainly because I bounce all over the place and slide off the seat; the seat belt holds me in place. Need to empty the old bladder every few hours.

7. Aftermarket seat - I think about this alot when mowing and bouncing and wincing. I haven't looked to hard, but you can buy seats in most farm supply stores. Other options I've though about would be to just buy some thick foam and somehow strap it to the seat, or even lower the tire pressure a bit.

8. Difficulty with the PTO and range selector; that's normal. I have to move the hydro pedal a bit sometimes to move the levers.

You'll like the tractor. Is very versatile and strong workhorse. I always feel guilty using it because I never fell like I'm working. Before I mow, I weedwack around the house and move junk out of the way; while doing that, I'm working up a sweat and thinking that I can't wait to get on the tractor and cool down!

 

[snowman]

gusg;

One other tip - keep the radiator screens clear. They clog up quite easily from weed dust, fuzz, etc when mowing. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge; mine normally stays just above the "C".

There's a removable screen right in front of the radiator; lift up the hood and pull out that screen and brush it clean with your hands (gloves on; it's hot).

Also clean off the black screens around the front nose of the tractor at the same time; I just brush those off with my hands too.

I learned this after mowing one time and seeing my temp rise close to "H". Just as I was wondering "why is running so hot", I smelled coolant and saw it spewing out the relief hose. Just shut it off, let it cool down a bit, filled the radiator back up, and it's been fine since.

 

[jhburke]

Keeping the screens are a necessity. When I mowed earlier this year. I had a lot of problems with dandelion fuzz. One time I had to clean screens and radiator 6 times. Very is way to fry engine if not carefull.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hey Gus, glad you like your new tractor. Any hints for someone about to take delivery of a new B7500. I mean anything I should look for at delivery time or be careful with when I first start using. I noticed on another thread that you bought a First Choice box blade. How does the B7500 do with your new implement?

 

[Jeff396]

If you got the fel, keep the bucket low unless you have a pair of Depends on. Pay special attention to the temp guage as suggested above as mine has almost hit the red zone more than a few times. You gotta clean the inner screen as well as the grill to cool her back down. Everything else I think is okay to learn as you go....at least it has been with mine./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff