Going orange..maybe..

[Fiziksgeek]

Stopped by the Kubota dealer today because I've been thinking about moving up from my Massey Ferguson GC2400. They happen to have a BX2370, B2620 and B3350 parked in a line, which was nice for comparing sizes. They had a B2650 in the shop which was just set up. Based on the specs, I likes the B2650, but boy is it big. I;m 6' tall, and if I think about the height of the hood, a BX comes to about my waist, the B2620 comes to about my belly button, and the B2650/3350 comes to nearly my chest. Looks like about a 36" diameter tire of them, so much bigger than I am used to... They just got a B2601 in at their other location, so I might try and take a look this weekend. Seems like most of the features on the B2650 are also available in the B2601.

Anyone disagree that I would look like an idiot driving a B2650 around my 1.5 acres mowing the lawn? For any other purpose, bigger is better, but mowing a residential lawn, not so much.


From near to far:BX2370, B2620, B3350

 

[Mcaveman]

Better to go to big than to small, who cares what people think!

 

[TSO]

Any reason you're looking Orange instead of staying Red?

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Weight is the main reason. I love my GC2400, but the next size up, the 1726E (formerly 1526) is nearly 2500 lbs, before you add the mower deck. There is nothing in between. Lot's of potential reasons to go bigger, but I still want to mow. Ive seen a lot of people mention that the B series Kubotas a very light, and good ballast is needed for loader work. Well, the lack of weight in this case will help prevent me from rutting the lawn.

Any reason you're looking Orange instead of staying Red?

 

[s219]

The B2650 isn't that big really, though it seems large for mowing 1.5 acres to me. The 2601 should be a nice size -- same as the 2620. What else do you use the tractor for besides mowing? I'd say the BX is probably the best mower.

 

[TSO]

Weight is the main reason. I love my GC2400, but the next size up, the 1726E (formerly 1526) is nearly 2500 lbs, before you add the mower deck. There is nothing in between. Lot's of potential reasons to go bigger, but I still want to mow. Ive seen a lot of people mention that the B series Kubotas a very light, and good ballast is needed for loader work. Well, the lack of weight in this case will help prevent me from rutting the lawn.

Ah ok... And why are you needing to move up from yours? I don't think I saw what the upgrade was needed for. Also, The new replacements for yours have a bit stronger loader now, FYI.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I do some relatively light loader work, moving copious amounts of mulch, compost, some gravel and top soil for various projects. I use my loader to assist with firewood duties I burn ~3-4 cords/year. I have a Wallenstein BXM32 chipper/shredder. Im thinking of getting rid of my walk being blower and using the tractor for winter duties as well, the loader mounted hydraulic angle plow looks nice....

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Ah ok... And why are you needing to move up from yours? I don't think I saw what the upgrade was needed for. Also, The new replacements for yours have a bit stronger loader now, FYI.

Just made a post about a few of the things I do, forgot to mention that I'd really like more ground clearance. I have granite cobble curing all around my place, and I don't currently have enough clearance...keep banging the mower deck on it. Best a guide wheel already, but sooner or later I am going to bend/break something more serious.

I am aware of, and jealous of the new loader on the little Massey's, but I don't think it would be worth trading in just for that.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Stopped by the Kubota dealer today because I've been thinking about moving up ...

Going orange. Moving up. I naturally thought you meant Kioti

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Going orange. Moving up. I naturally thought you meant Kioti

LOL, the only Coyote that is in my yard is spelled a bit differently!

 

[jeff9366]

the B2650/3350 comes to nearly my chest. Looks like about a 36" diameter tire of them, so much bigger than I am used to...

I put 400 hours on a B3300SU, which I believe was the predecessor to the B3350, in a Kubota tractor-loader package.

The B3300SU was a little less stable than I felt comfortable with for the long term. Light frame, zippy engine, narrow stance and tall tires made it a little tippy.

I sold it and bought a heavier L3560 tractor-loader. L3560 is very stable. Mine has R4/Industrial Tires. I drive on dry turf in 2-WD mode regularly and do not mark turf. L3560 tractor-loader weighs 5,400 pounds.

PHOTO: There is a Rollover Box Blade on the B3300SU 3-Pt. as counterbalance to the FEL load.

 

[Jbuice123]

I really like the size of my b2620! It goes anywhere and has the power to do about any task I ask it too

 

[grm61]

Going orange. Moving up. I naturally thought you meant Kioti

I was thinking the same thing:stirthepot: :laughing:

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I put 400 hours on a B3300SU, which I believe was the predecessor to the B3350, in a Kubota tractor-loader package.

The B3300SU was a little less stable than I felt comfortable with for the long term. Light frame, zippy engine, narrow stance and tall tires made it a little tippy.

I sold it and bought a heavier L3560 tractor-loader. L3560 is very stable. Mine has R4/Industrial Tires. I drive on dry turf in 2-WD mode regularly and do not mark turf. L3560 tractor-loader weighs 5,400 pounds.

I would never drive your tractor in my yard, well, at least not on a weekly basis! I have two concerns, first is rutting after repeated passes. I try to mix up my mowing pattern every week at least bit, and I certainly cannot go out for a couple days after some good rain. I also have a septic system, I don't go over the tank, but I do go over the leach field. Not something I would want to do with a machine that big!

Stability is a concern, but my yard slopes relatively gently, nothing that would put any of these tractors at risk I think. BUT the center of gravity on both the B01 and B50 series is much higher when compared to the SCUT class. My GC2400 has slightly lower ground clearance than the kubota BX series at only 6.7 inches, the B01 has 12" and the B50 has a bit over 14. They sit really tall. I do not have filled tired, and I do not intend to have filled tires. On Kubota's website, they offer a wheels spacer kit (not sure how big), but it also says its incompatible with the MMMs....

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You'd be happy with a B2620 or the new B2601. Its not a much longer wheel base than a subcompact but in operation feels much more husky.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

You'd be happy with a B2620 or the new B2601. Its not a much longer wheel base than a subcompact but in operation feels much more husky.

I guess I am worried that a B2601 wouldn't be enough of a difference to justify the cost of changing machines...If I look at the loader capacities, the B01 series is ~50% more, and B50 is not quite 100% more. Massey's new subcompact loader, the DL95 gets within ~100 lbs of the capacity of the B2601. I know the overall package is bigger/stronger, but I am worried I'll still be disappointed, because it's not tha tbig of a difference. However, going too large would also be a problem...

 

[varmint]

I don't know much at all about the machines you are considering, but I do know this: our L3130 with loaded R-4s was no good on turf- compacted the soil, left tire lug depressions, etc., unless it was totally dry- in which case, the grass wouldn't need cutting because it was dying. Our L3400, weighing in at more than 2000 lbs less, (and with turf tires) is much gentler. Get a SSQA loader bucket, and a set of rear remotes, and you will be set to plow snow. If I had a cab, I would be almost happy to see snow. Oh- I added a set of wheel spacers on the rears, and you can feel the stability difference. Even looks more "correct" with them. In my case, I wanted clearance for chains.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I don't know much at all about the machines you are considering, but I do know this: our L3130 with loaded R-4s was no good on turf- compacted the soil, left tire lug depressions, etc., unless it was totally dry- in which case, the grass wouldn't need cutting because it was dying. Our L3400, weighing in at more than 2000 lbs less, (and with turf tires) is much gentler. Get a SSQA loader bucket, and a set of rear remotes, and you will be set to plow snow. If I had a cab, I would be almost happy to see snow. Oh- I added a set of wheel spacers on the rears, and you can feel the stability difference. Even looks more "correct" with them. In my case, I wanted clearance for chains.

Right, no matter what, I plan to have unloaded turf tires like I do now. Wheels spaces seem to be dependent upon the MMM. On the Kubota website, the factory spacers are incompatible with both the 60" and 72" MMM. I plan to get the 60" no matter which tractor. I wonder if it because its a set of 4 spacers, and they don't want you spacing out the front because the MMM are driver over....and well, if your front tires aren't in the right place, you could damage the deck..or is it because if the rear wheels were spaced out, they would interfere with the deck in some way....maybe both?

 

[s219]

I guess I am worried that a B2601 wouldn't be enough of a difference to justify the cost of changing machines...If I look at the loader capacities, the B01 series is ~50% more, and B50 is not quite 100% more. Massey's new subcompact loader, the DL95 gets within ~100 lbs of the capacity of the B2601. I know the overall package is bigger/stronger, but I am worried I'll still be disappointed, because it's not tha tbig of a difference. However, going too large would also be a problem...

Just be careful about loader capacity on a subcompact. There are several subcompacts that have high loader capacity, but I honestly don't see enough beef or wheelbase in them to allow for proper ballast to make the loader capacity "usable" in a practical manner. You may need to hang something pretty big and heavy off the back end to reach that loader capacity safely on such a small tractor. That is not practical in many scenarios.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Just be careful about loader capacity on a subcompact. There are several subcompacts that have high loader capacity, but I honestly don't see enough beef or wheelbase in them to allow for proper ballast to make the loader capacity "usable" in a practical manner. You may need to hang something pretty big and heavy off the back end to reach that loader capacity safely on such a small tractor. That is not practical in many scenarios.

I agree, in fact the new Massey loader has ~30% more capacity than mine, but they didn't increase the load capacity of the front axle. My comment was more that I just didn't want to spend the money to upgrade, and then find out I didn't get a big of enough upgrade. My wife is open to this whole thing, but I think I only get to do one upgrade!