Kurt,
I have a
B21 which is a newer version of the
B20 with a few changes. My tractor is a 99 model and has about 1200 hrs without any trouble so far. These machines were built with the contractor, rental and utility industries in mind and were built very strong. The
B20 was produced between 1990 and 1996, if I remember right. They are a great little TLB and as you have found out they hold their price very well.
What are your plans for the tractor? I ask because there are areas that the
B20 and 21 differ from other Kubota models of similar size. The
B21, not sure if the
B20 was the same, only has 13.5 PTO horse power which limits you to smaller PTO implements. If bush hogging and finish mowing are high on your list there may be other models better suited for those tasks. Mid mount mowers can not be used with the
B20. The front loader is not removable, in a practical way, if that is something you want. These tractors were made primarily for backhoe work and do that very well.
If the tractor actually has 1200 hours and is a 92 that is less than a 100 hours per year and not what I consider hard use. Many Kubota’s have many more hours than that and are still working well. One of the members here had something close to 8000 hrs before getting a new tractor. Most of the homeowner users here seem to put between 100 and 250 hours per year on their machines. Naturally the question with the tractor you are looking at is how many hours it really has. I would like to know from the dealer who he took it in trade from. If a private owner for homeowner use then 1200 hrs is believable. If a rental yard or contractor then I would question there guess on the number of hours. Nether can let a piece of equipment that expensive sit idle and I would guess many more hours. If it was traded local you might be able to contact the pervious owner for more information and history.
Things I would look at would include the valve bodies, both backhoe and loader for signs of leaks, same with all cylinders. Raise the loader and backhoe, leave them, engine off, and see how fast they leak down by themselves. (For safety don’t let anyone on the tractor while doing this) Some is normal, all the way in a short time isn’t. Check the fluids, both oil and hydraulic by sight, smell and feel to see if they look fresh. Hydraulic fluid will get milky looking if water has gotten it, check the oil for any burnt smell and keep in mind, oil in a diesel is very dark even with only a few hours on it. Check and see that all the 3pt hitch parts are coming with the tractor. They are expensive to replace. Make sure the PTO will engage and disengage properly. You need to use the clutch to engage the PTO. Check that 4wd will engage and disengage. It helps to raise the front of the tractor with the loader to disengage or move backwards while trying to disengage. Most backhoes will have some slope in the pins and bushings. How much is to much I am not sure. They are replaceable on that tractor.
Kurt, the price and hours, at 1200, don’t seem out of line to me if they are what has been stated. Personally I would like to know a little more history on the tractor before making a decision. Good Luck!
MarkV
