First tractor- B21

[kpmengr]

Hi Guys,
Been dreaming of owning a tractor for years, researching for 6 months or so. Found that my budget did not match my desires but found a sad looking B21 in Craigslist and decided to take a chance. She doesn't look like much but starts and runs great and everything works.

Just thought I would say hi and thank the site owner for providing this useful forum. I have a list of things to address- and am sure will be asking lots of questions in the future.

First step is to change all fluids since previous owner had no records. Engine oil & filter already done. Next is fuel filter. I assume the procedure is-
1. turn off petcock
2. unscrew siteglass
3. replace filter

Is that it or do I need to bleed the fuel line? Any tricks to bleed the line? Thanks.

 

[MarkV]

Welcome to the forum. You pick a great tractor for your first one. I have had my B21 for 11 years and never had a problem besides normal wear parts. You have the right idea on the fuel filter and you should not have to bleed the lines after changing.

MarkV

 

[KubotaSam]

Looks do not mean much on a tractor. When I bought mine it had not been kept indoors and the paint is very faded. If yours was left outside make sure you check for water in the transmission, front end and steering box. Drain the fluid and replace with new.

 

[vic4news]

Congratulations on your new tractor.

I used a B21 for three weeks a few years ago and really liked it.

Vic

 

[kpmengr]

Thanks for the help.

The steering box is at the bottom of the shaft leading from the wheel?

When you say 'check for water' do you mean just drain the works and refill or is there a dipstick?

P.S.- I started to dig my first stump out yesterday but had to quit when it got dark. Had a big grin the whole time! This is work...? :thumbsup:

My lights are all DOA as well as my horn. Two more items added to the fix-it llist. Need to figure out where the fusebox is located...

 

[Kyle241]

Congrats! My first was a used B20 which is your predecessor and I had it for 15 years! They are little tanks and can do a lot more than their size indicates. Yeah lights were one of the things that didn't work on mine either but they were rather useless anyways except for hazards if you're on the road. If you want real lights, you will need to hookup some to your ROPS to see best.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Not all of them come with the horn. The button may be there, but not the horn.

I bought one with 1,300 hrs on it and went through the entire thing. It is a very nice tractor and well worth the money. I carve out pads and roads with mine, moving some pretty large rock in the process.

When I bought it, it looked like this:

After giving it a complete cleaning and workover:

 

[RobertN]

My old B8200 had same lights. May as well have held a lighter out in front of you... For as great of a tractor as it was(still is; friends with guy who bought it from me), the lights were just pitiful.

Of course, they only had a tiny dynamo; it really did not have power for much lighting...

Congrats! My first was a used B20 which is your predecessor and I had it for 15 years! They are little tanks and can do a lot more than their size indicates. Yeah lights were one of the things that didn't work on mine either but they were rather useless anyways except for hazards if you're on the road. If you want real lights, you will need to hookup some to your ROPS to see best.

 

[troutsqueezer]

They have a 45 amp alternator, enough for some work lights.

The headlights are embedded behind a very thick steel grill for protection which cuts down the light beams.

 

[RobertN]

That was optional wasn't it? I think the standard dynamo only had 7 or 10 amps.

They have a 45 amp alternator, enough for some work lights.

The headlights are embedded behind a very thick steel grill for protection which cuts down the light beams.

 

[RobertN]

BTW, books are still available. the owneres manual is less than $20. The service manuals though, are $$$$$

 

[MarkV]

How many hours are on the meter. That often tells what may come up or is do.

MarkV

 

[bullbreaker]

kpmengr did your B21 come w/BH ?
I have seen them sold either way.


Boone

 

[kpmengr]

My B21 came with a BH. Actually, I thought they all did- that is why I was looking for a B21.

The tractor has 1300 hours. The only maintenance history the owner had was he said he replaced the alternator and battery 6 mos ago. Both items look new so I believe him. Other than that, no records no nothin'! PO is an electrical contractor and said he only used it in summer when he set portable trailers. He also gave me the receipt from when he bought it from a rental yard in 2007. '07 Receipt does not show machine hours when sold. I emailed Kubota with my SN and they wrote back (same day!) the tractor was initially sold 04/14/04. So 1300 hours and 7.5 years old.

I will take a few pics and post when I get home.

 

[troutsqueezer]

That was optional wasn't it? I think the standard dynamo only had 7 or 10 amps.

Standard, pretty sure. It makes sense, everything else about the tractor is heavy duty so why skimp on the alternator? There is a dedicated work light fuse in the fuse box and four places to mount them on the ROPs so the expectation is that people would be using them. You do see many B21's using four work lights.

 

[RobertN]

Maybe it was standard on B21/21, optional on the X200 series...(B9200/8200/7200)

Standard, pretty sure. It makes sense, everything else about the tractor is heavy duty so why skimp on the alternator? There is a dedicated work light fuse in the fuse box and four places to mount them on the ROPs so the expectation is that people would be using them. You do see many B21's using four work lights.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Mine is a 2002. I would keep a sharp eye on two things, the hydraulic hoses and the water pump.

The hoses seem to start leaking at around the same time. Over the last six months I've replaced six of them. There are a total of 12 for the FEL. Two of them starting leaking within 30 minutes of each other. They are easy to replace, but not cheap. I used Pirtek hoses for replacements which will probably outlast the tractor at this point. I paid around $500 for all six.

The water pump started leaking a couple hours after I brought the tractor home. I noticed a wet substance on top of a couple of rocks I was moving and so shut the tractor down until I found the source of the leak. It wasn't too hard to replace and gave me the opportunity to clean the rest of the engine while I was in there.

 

[kpmengr]

My hoses all look original except for the one that comes out of the BH arm (staring right at it when sitting in the seat). That one looks new. BTW- that hose has so much slack that it is always cocked to the side and rubbing against the arm. Should I wrap it with something to protect the hose?

 

[Verticaltrx]

My B21 came with a BH. Actually, I thought they all did- that is why I was looking for a B21.

Probably 80% of them were ordered with the backhoe, the rest were just tractor/loaders. They were primarily bought by landscapers, paving companies, mulch and stone yards, or anyone else who wanted a B-series tractor with a little more robust loader than the standard B's. Same story on the L35, etc. They could all be had as either a Tractor/Loader or TLB.

 

[Ken45101]

I've had a B21 TLB for a number of years. Good little unit.

I believe the manual says to make sure you have a counterweight on it (for loader operations) if you don't have the backhoe.

Ken