JD4115 vs B7800 vs B2910

[Rex7749]

I am in the process of buying a new tractor. My blood has run green for over 20 years but now I'm starting to look at the Kubota line. I priced a new 4115JD from my local dealer at $14,500 + tax and then went to a Kubota dealer. He gave me a price of $11,900 for a B7800 and $13,200 for a B2910 plus tax. All three models seem very much alike in that all have hydro transmissions, 4 wheel drive, power steering, set up to handle a FEL and are about the same size and weight. Both of the Kubotas have more HP than the JD but the PTO hp is close. My question is what makes the the 2910 worth $1300 more than the 7800 and the 4115 $1300 higher then the 2910. I'll use the tractor mainly for mowing pastures with a rotary cutter and doing some FEL work. Both the 2910 and 4115 seem to be overkill, however I bought down on my last tractor and have regretted it ever since. I keep reading the specs on all three and I am having trouble seeing the big difference. Am I missing something out there that I should be aware of?
The JD dealer is very close by ( 1.3 mi. vs 25 mi. to the cloest Kubota dealer) and I have to give him the edge, however, I hate to pay a lot extra if I'm not getting much difference in the tractor.
Also I want to buy a FEL with the tractor and possible a new rotary cutter. My current rotary cutter is a 5' and I wonder if the 4115 can handle it. I need a medium duty cutter and don't want to under size the tractor. Same thing with the FEL. The 4115 calls for a 410 loader but reading the specs it seem rather weak. Would love some feedback on anyone who has one. I will be moving a lot of gravel and rock, along with some light grading work. The kubota loader LA 402 seems to be a lot stronger but I like the easy off and on feature with the JD.
Would love to have feedback from those who own either. I just don't want to make an expensive mistake. I love John Deere green but I love the green in my billfold more.

 

[ronjhall]

Rex7749
Welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A better comparison for the B2910 and B7800 would be a <font color="green">JD</font> 4210.

I copied the following statement from
Carver Equipments site.

The B 2710 and B 2910 and the B 7800 are very very similar.
They are almost "the same tractor" with just a few differences.

Shoppers who would like a little extra horsepower for tough loader chores were more traction and "push power" to load buckets is need may wish to select the B 7500. Shoppers desiring to use 5' rotary cutters and 7' rear mounted finishing mowers will have to consider the B7500 and B2910 as well.

Shoppers who would like a little extra horsepower plus a few very nice OPERATOR FRIENDLY COMFORT features may move up to the B 2910.
Those features are:

Tilt and telescope steering wheel

Softgrip steering wheel

Adjustable seat suspension

Extendible lower links on the three point hitch

ratchet type right link adjusting on the three point hitch


Performance (torque) differences between the three models.
I think the primary times that an operator will realize a noticeable difference in performance of the 27 hp B2710 and 30 hp B2910/B7800 tractors are:

Contractors and folks doing LOADER operations handling heavy loads, multipurpose buckets, excavating (digging) dirt may select the B2910 for a little reserve HP reasons.

If your loader task is basically for med. and light duty homeowner work, the B 2710 will serve you well.

Mowing. The extra 2 horsepower will always help you push the mower/cutter a little faster and a little easier. It may help you go to a larger size cutter. Our experience is that the B 2710 handles the 72” mid mount deck and a 72” rear mounted finishing mower really well.

Under 30 hp --- We have always recommended a 48” brush cutter (bush hog) for most tall weeds and brush applications.

Several customers are using the B 2710 with 5’ cutters in “light duty and arid environments where the undergrowth is not too thick or wet.

The extra horsepower with the B7800/B2910 will help the users considering a 60” rotary cutter and 84" finishing mowers.

Special needs for implements requiring certain PTO powered Generators, Pumps, Hay tools, etc.

Here is a site that list useful <font color="orange"> Kubota </font> information. Click Here

Near the bottom of the page is a good site to get pricing on a B series<font color="orange"> KUBOTA. </font> Click Here

I own a B2910. It has been a great tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RalphVa]

I believe the higher price on the 4115 is because it is made in Japan AND has direct injection.

Kubota doesn't make any direct injection engines in small tractors, when I last asked.

Ralph

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The biggest difference between the 7800 and 2910 is the 3 point flexibility. If you don't need that, save yourself the $1300. The rest if fluff. The Kubota's also have a heavier hydrolic system, enough to run a backhoe without an extra pump.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Neil, I kinda like the "extra fluff" on the B2910. If you spend a long stretch in the seat, then having your rear end on a cushy seat and being able to tilt the steering wheel give an added bit of comfort that can make the difference between a sore back or not at the end of the day. Personally, I think a comfortable tractor is probably a safer tractor. Now if you are comfortable in the B7800 then that is great, but I found the B2910 pretty tough to beat from the standpoint of comfort for a long afternoon of work.

The extendable lower links are a nice functional difference as well and make implement hook up easier.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Agreed.

 

[DAP]

Sorry Bob ... here's where we part somewhat. I've sat in a B7800 seat. It's a fine seat. It has no armrests, not as springy as the B2910 but a fine seat nonetheless. I've sat in the other also. Acutally spent time in both.

Next .. tilt wheel ... it's nice too but it does not have an automatic actuator - ya know - where I say ... "wheel move" and it moves up and out of the way automatically. You still have to grab a stick and move it manually, twice usually.

Next .. the cruise control lever is much better on the B2910. I was in cruise the other day til I had to slow down to turn. I was mowing. Lotta turns ... you get the idea.

Next. 3 point hitch ... ratching and telescoping arms on the B2910. NOW THATS an advantage seriously. So ... confronted with this ... I do the smart thing and get the B7800, spring 400 clams for the parts to convert the 3pt hitch to a B2910's and have 1000 clams left over to put down on a ventrac for my mowing chores.

The 'fluff' are niceties, but they are not priced as such. We are talking about tractors, not SUVs or sports cars. Spend 7 hours in a B7800 seat vs. a B2910 seat and one thing will become apparent: you've just spent 7 hours on a tractor seat.

Othan than these, the 2 machines are identical - save for a configuration option (mid-PTO) - and of course their price.

I think the B2910 is a soak job to some extent. 'Premier tractor' - it's already a great machine and those options (they're not actually options are they) are over priced.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Doug, I didn't find anything to disagree with what you wrote about the B7800 versus the B2910. There are many "features" that may not be worth the price to an individual user, some of those same features might be worth it to the next user. My B2910 is used by several people so the tilt wheel was a nice feature and probably had more value to me than it does for you, but that is based on my circumstances versus yours.

I suppose it they add to to the same reasons why I chose a NH TC24D over a more powerful, but more basic NH TC30 when I was shopping for a second tractor (and I went to the Kubota & Deere stores but the new Kubota B2610 hadn't been released yet and the Deere dealer is less than friendly and I didn't like the obstructed view in front of the tractor that the 4x10 tractors offer, while NH currently has the best view and the best loader arms available). I wanted some of the "fluff" to make my tractoring fit me a little better so tractor #2 ended up being the New Holland and I think it is better than any of the Kubota or Deere offerings in its size right now; the fact that is was $1100 less than Kubota was just icing on the cake.

And when I went shopping 6 weeks ago for a new mowing tractor for around the house and my hills, I did essentially the same evaluation, regardless of price, what is the BEST unit available that did everything I wanted and felt good too.

Over the lifespan of a tractor, which can easily add up to DECADES of time, the up front $1200+ cost difference may seem extreme but really they translate to a couple pennies a day over that much time. Me, I'll spend the extra $$$, but only when I find that the extra $$$ buys me something that I will value. But I think others may not want those features. I value comfort, but more than that, I value performance. I don't like to stress a machine because that leads to early failure and higher maintenence. If performance is equal, then I will buy the most comfort I can find that suits me. If it is a choice of performance or comfort, then I let performance be the deciding factor because getting the job done is ultimately the purpose for the tool (tractor).

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Kubota's also have a heavier hydrolic system, enough to run a backhoe without an extra pump. )</font>

Uh, heavier than what? The 4115 backhoe doesn't use an extra pump. Where would you get that idea?

Cliff

 

[carthage]

Hi Some input from a B-2710 owner. Have put 600 hours on it, mostly hard bucket work, stumping, and brush hogging. I agree the premium extras on the B-2910 would have swayed me to that. But if you are conserned about needing the 2 extra horsepower, I would not let that be a determining factor in deciding between those two models. The 2710 has never lacked for power in anything I have used it for. The limitation is traction, way before lack of power. I do box bladeing, snow removal,tilling,mowing, discing, plowing, etc. Everything except backhoeing. These are tough little tractors!