Just over a week away from a B7800, now a snag...

[Glowplug]

I have seen tractors that appear very state of the art and very heavy, but on close examination the castings were very coarse, ill fitting and simple. They look like the castings from a Ford 8n.

LOOK OUT!! Don't let Soundguy hear you say that! You may stir up some Ford fan hostility!

Raddad-You have all good points. I don't think anyone in their right mind would choose one tractor over another based on a slight insignificant difference in specs. The things you say to look at are the most important.

Merry Christmas!

 

[WayneW]

Kubota B2630 and B3030 Series, Tractor Specifications

B2630
Lift capacity @ lift point 2139 lbs.
Lift capacity @ 24" behind LP 1300 lbs

difference of 839 lbs - not sure what this means but there is a big variance between the two

Duc

Those specs are NOT correct according the the Kubota website.

B2630
Lift cap @ lift point: 2140 lbs
Lift cap @ 24" behind LP) 1676. (not 1300 lbs. That would be the B7800)


The main thing the 2630 gives up to the Deere is in engine size. Same HP, just about 13 Cubic Inches less.

One could interpret that as the Bota has to work harder than the Deere to develop the same HP.

Another could say that the Kubota engine is just more efficient than the Deere, hence less C.I. is needed.


If you aren't planning on using the 3pt lift, the extra cap won't matter...

 

[psdx]

The main thing the 2630 gives up to the Deere is in engine size. Same HP, just about 13 Cubic Inches less.

One could interpret that as the Bota has to work harder than the Deere to develop the same HP.

Another could say that the Kubota engine is just more efficient than the Deere, hence less C.I. is needed.

Not to take the thread too far off of topic, but I think I can answer this...

While horsepower is useful information, by the nature of these engines' use torque is probably more important. The JD 2520 utilizes direct injection which may contribute to it's unusual torque curve (high degree of torque rise, and torque peak at a very low rpm). And as stated above the JD 2520's engine displacement is larger than the B2630 which should generate more torque (there's no replacement for displacement). The JD2520's peak torque of 64 lb-ft occurs at 1200 rpm, while the B2630's peak torque of 50 lb-ft occurs at 1800 rpm. I don't think these two tractors should be cross-shopped on engine capabilities (features, yes, but engines - no). The B2630's torque and displacement are actually much closer to those of the JD 2320 (and both use indirect injection). The B2630's displacement & peak torque are 1123cc and 50 lb-ft @ 1,800rpm, while the JD 2320's displacement & peak torque are 1115cc and 48 lb-ft @ 2,000rpm.

I guess the point here is that the B2630 engine should be more properly compared the the JD 2320 - they are about as close as you can get. From a feature standpoint, the JD 2320/2520 and B2630 are very close. The B2630 has a nicer 3-point hitch and a 3-speed transmission, but both have position control and independent PTOs.

However, the original poster was comparing the JD 2520 to the B7800. If these are the choices, the B7800's engine wins (3.5 more hp and torque peak is 68 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm). The LA402 loader also lifts more, has a greater breakout force, and lifts higher than the JD 200CX. But if features are more important then the JD 2520 wins (position control and independent PTO). IMO, the B7800's additional gear does not make up for the loss of position control on the 3-point hitch. If the B7800 and JD 2520 are the choices, both JD and Kubota offer excellent quality and resale value. The original poster just needs to decide which is more important - features or drivetrain/loader capabilities.

 

[Timber]

However, the original poster was comparing the JD 2520 to the B7800. If these are the choices, the B7800's engine wins (3.5 more hp and torque peak is 68 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm). The LA402 loader also lifts more, has a greater breakout force, and lifts higher than the JD 200CX. But if features are more important then the JD 2520 wins (position control and independent PTO). IMO, the B7800's additional gear does not make up for the loss of position control on the 3-point hitch. If the B7800 and JD 2520 are the choices, both JD and Kubota offer excellent quality and resale value. The original poster just needs to decide which is more important - features or drivetrain/loader capabilities.

I like the way put that, That is a very clear comparison of what actually matters especially to the original poster. There is some information Taiser can actually use

 

[WayneW]

Yes, Very well explained. And some excellent info there for all also. Thanks.

 

[Glowplug]

psdx--That's very good. I have always known that torque is more important than hp in this context but kind of lost notion of that in all the minutia. Steeper torque curve with a higher overall torque and at a lower engine rpm is an excellent plus!!

 

[psdx]

psdx--That's very good. I have always known that torque is more important than hp in this context but kind of lost notion of that in all the minutia. Steeper torque curve with a higher overall torque and at a lower engine rpm is an excellent plus!!

Sometimes it is helpful to look at the actual hp/torque curves to identify the "sweet spot" for your engine. Since this thread covered these four tractors, the performance curves for the B2630, B3030, JD 2320 and JD2520 engines are attached. Note that the net intermittent values are most relevant for comparison. They all have a pretty broad torque curve except the JD 2320.

 

[Taiser]

Awesome info PSDX...

I'm not to worried about the load capacities, as long as the buckets are roughly the same size, both on the BH and the loader. I'll just be hauling sand and topsoil around. Are all the fancy features on the Deere (or kubota) reliable?

Do these independent PTO's and positional control have more parts that can break down? More parts usually = expensive repairs. Anybody know the reliability of these things?

Oh and what about the "yanmar" diesels, I know the Kubota's are pretty much bullet proof but don't know much about these, I did some web research and they seem solid and have been around a long time. Another concern is the 3 vs 4 cylinders. I'd imagine the Kubota would be more smooth running but then I've read some posts where the 7800 is suppose to vibrate more than it should, how smooth and reliable is the Yanmar 3cyl?

 

[psdx]

Position control has been around for a very, very long time - both JD and Kubota are fine tractors. Independent PTOs have been around since at least 1999 (when I bought a Kubota ZD28), and I have never heard anything about problems with them. The clutches are multiple disks, bathed in oil - very reliable and slow to wear. The difference between the 3-cylinder and 4-cylinder engines are almost none except the sound.

The bottom line is that both the B7800 and the JD 2520 are quality machines built to exacting standards. I think it just comes down to a personal preference about your own needs/priorities - drivetrain/loader vs. features. I looked at these tractors closely and decided I wanted both - all the features and all the power. So I bought a B3030. However I am certain that once you own it, you would be very pleased with either the B7800 or the JD 2520. You're getting educated before you buy, which is smart - and generally improves your post-purchase satisfaction level. Let us know what you decide.

 

[IslandTractor]

Oh and what about the "yanmar" diesels

If the term bullet proof means anything in engineering, you'd use it to describe both the Yanmar and Kubota diesels. I don't know for sure but I'd guess there are even more Yanmar diesels in the world than Kubotas. Yanmar essentially owns the small marine diesel market for engines between 20-170hp. There are hundreds of thousands of these engines in service all over the world.

Quality of the engine is simply not a distinguishing feature between JD/Yanmar and Kubota.