First Post

[MikeInMaine]

First Post.
Shopping for my 1st Tractor. Considering Kubota B2620 or, at roughly the same price, the B3300SU. Need lots of advice! The B3300SU has no mid-PTO, but other than mid-mount mower, I don't know what else I'd be missing if I went in that direction.

Will be starting with a self-feed chipper, landscape rake, box blade I can borrow, and probably a backhoe. The B2620 can run a 4" chipper, but the B3300SU can run the 6" chipper because it puts out 25 hp at the PTO. The two chippers cost the same!

Possibly a rear snowblower in the future.

Thanks for any & all advice.
Mike

 

[MarkV]

Hi Mike, welcome to the forum. I don't know the models you are looking at so here are some passing thoughts to consider. Unless you are chipping soft wood I'll bet a 6" chipper will be strained even with 25 PTO hp. If you ever think you might want a front snowblower a mid-pto would be important. Also I think the B3300SU has a quart inching control for the 3pt hitch. I prefer a position control but do a search here and see what works in your situation.

In general the extra PTO hp is helpful with any PTO implement if the rest of the tractors features meet your needs.

MarkV

 

[MikeInMaine]

Thanks MarkV for your input. Both tractors I'm considering have the quarter inching valve control for the 3pt hitch. Having never owned a tractor, I don't know when that matters or how much it matters. I'll be chipping mostly alders from around my 1-acre pond, mostly 4" and smaller. The local Kubota dealer sells the Salsco chippers, and I know someone with the 6" self-feed. I think that would be more than adequate to take care of my needs; I'm wondering though if I can get away with the 4" chipper.

I don't know why I'm reluctant to simply get the bigger tractor, since there's no price penalty. I'm not sure if there is a trade-off, or if it's a no-brainer. That's why I've come here, I guess. To hear from people who have already made the right or wrong choices.

Thanks, MikeInMaine

 

[irvingj]

Wow, another Mainiac!

Do a search on snowblowers-- there are two camps, those with front-mount (requires mid-PTO, but drives forward) and those with rear-mount (substantially less money but drives "backward"). Each has its advantages; depends on your sitiuation and finances....

A lot of us here have smaller tractors and do well with them-- but your needs may require more weight and HP.

Really try to nail down what you plan to do with the machine; that will help narrow your search. Welcome to TBN!

 

[MikeInMaine]

I think a rear-mount snowblower would be okay for my situation -- 500' of straight and level driveway. I also like the idea of keeping the FEL mounted in the winter.

Here's what's hard for me to decide. I am sure you are right -- I, too, think I would do very well with the B2620, and if the bigger, B3300SU were more expensive then I wouldn't even consider it because, at my level of complete inexperience, the extra power seems like a luxury, not a need. But the B3300SU is a mere $300 more. And I do wonder if the difference in the PTO performance -- 19 HP versus 25 HP is reason enough to choose the B3300SU.

 

[MarkV]

Mike just as an example, the rule of thumb with a rotary mower (Bushhog) is 5 PTO hp per foot of mower. If one were to follow that general rule the 2620 would use a 4' mower and the 3300 a 5' mower. It may not be the same numbers but the same principle will apply to a snowblower and a chipper. It never hurts to have a little extra power. Machines last longer if they are not pushed to there limit all the time.

MarkV

 

[MikeInMaine]

Thanks, MarkV, for the tip. I didn't know that rule of thumb, but of course had a sense of the principle.

I'm hoping to get free tomorrow afternoon and visit the dealer again. I'll see if I can test run some of their machines.