First Post - Thanks to All who contribute!

[Rusty]

Thanks to all who contribute to these forums! I am now the proud owner of a Kubota B7500-HSD CUT, LA302 FEL, and RCK 60-24B MMM. Everything was delivered this past Friday. My selection was made possible by all the questions, answers, and comments that all of you have provided over the last several months. TBN is a great place to learn!

My hope is to replace a Toro/Wheelhorse 520-H garden tractor with 48" MMM, which is used primarily to mow 2 acres of lawn, and a Ford 8N with FEL, RMM, and rear blade, which is used to mow 8 acres of horse pasture and meadow and to remove snow.

Until recently, my visits to TBN were for curiousity and possible future action, however, my 520-H decided to give me a reason to replace it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif(more on that in later post).

Again, thanks for all the help!!! Rusty

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Welcome aboard, Rusty! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

With your new Kubota in place now, you canretire your old 8N and get busy with the restoration process I'm sure she richly deserves. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Congratulations on your new tractor and welcome to TBN!

 

[Rick Jay]

Rusty,

Welcome to TBN and congratulations on your new tractor.

When you get a chance, I'd really like to hear the story on your Toro/Wheelhorse 520. I believe that was one of the tractors I first looked at when I decided to get a larger tractor a little over 3 years ago.


Good Luck with your new tractor!

~Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Congratulations and welcome to the 7500 owner's club!
It’s a great machine and will work hard for you!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
My hope is to replace a Toro/Wheelhorse 520-H garden tractor with 48" MMM, which is used primarily to mow 2 acres of lawn, )</font>

I replaced one of those in March with a BX2200 and have not regretted it for a single second so far!

 

[frank_f15]

welcome to the forum! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif glad to have u aboard. seems like u got your fathers day gift a week early. how do u like being retired? i am soon to join u, looking forward to it. good luck and keep us informed of your love affair with the tractor /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Rusty]

Rick - Thanks for asking about my 520-H. I'll give you the short version, as the story is not yet done. I bought a 1992 520-H new in 1993, along with a 48" MMM, snowblower, tiller, and cart. I have used it since then to mow my two acres of lawn, plow and/or blow snow, till, and occasionally "brush hog" my eight acres of horse pasture and hayfield. Last year I also began mowing my youngest son's two plus acre lawn and my mother-in-law's 1/3 acre lawn. Kept the tractor and MMM quite busy - in and out of the horse trailer, and mowing three lawns per week. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Last winter, the engine began starting hard, running very rough at about 1/2 speed, and spitting gas through the carb into the air cleaner. I exhausted all the easy fixes, and finally took it to the dealer. They found a loose stem guide on the intake valve for the rear cylinder, probably from the engine overheating. The engine did overheat once a couple of years ago. I turned it off, cleaned the shrouds and cooling fins, let it cool, and started it back up - everything seemed OK. Now I know that the overtemp sensor is on the front cylinder only.

The dealer wanted $1,000 to machine the stem hole, sleave it, install new valve, check and decarbon all valves, and reassemble (with no warranty). The dealer wanted $1,655 parts only, for a short block, and $1,869 parts only, for a complete engine. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I decided to buy a new engine from someone else, reassemble it with my son, and give the 520-H to him (one less horse trailer trip per week). Right now, I am looking at a complete engine from the Small Engine Warehouse for $1,275 plus $55 shipping, and it has a two year warranty! My next post will probably be to see what experience TBN members have had with the Small Engine Warehouse. BTW, the 520-H is a great machine within its limits (especially no rear PTO, no three point hitch). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rusty]

Frank - Retirement is great! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I get to see more of my grandkids /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and I picked up five new jobs at church /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif! And now I have to find time to get to know my B7500! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Rusty