Looking for insight into 7610hydro.

btolle · Jan 27, 2005

While I can't speak to that exact model I have found Kubota's numbers to be conservative when it come to lift capacities and such.

It appears that you feel it is a toss-up between the 2 machines. If that is the case then you might want to talk to a couple of owners of the 2 brands and ask them how they feel about the dealers. As stated by so many on this forum the dealer is as important, if not more so, than the brand of tractor.

Any brand can have problems, it is how those problems are handled by the dealer that counts. As far as the manufacturer goes I expect my dealer to insulate me from any problems with the manufacturer, that is what I pay him for. If the factory can't or won't do somthing that is his problem, not mine. I bought the tractor from him, not the factory.

Bill Tolle

gregp · Jan 28, 2005

A big factor for me in looking at the Kubota was the dealer being 5 miles away. The New Holland dealer is 175 miles away. If a repair or warranty work could be done in a day all is good. If parts needed ordered or another type of delay happened i will be looking at two round trips to Anchorage and several days of down time.
I think both machines are great as well as the dealers selling them. I just think i should consider the possibility of 350 mile round trips to the NH dealer. I hate to admit it but the Kubota dealer brought this to my attention, I have been so into the NH TC24DA that i became blind to the obvious.

MarkV · Jan 28, 2005

If you’re going to be running a full time business with the tractor I would say that the ability to get the tractor repaired, if needed, promptly would be a huge factor. Sounds like the distant dealer would shut you down for at least three days with travel time.

I was wondering what the recommended PTO horsepower requirements for the Harley rake are? Also, will a 5’ unit be enough to cover the rear tires on the tractors you are looking at? It would be nice to extend past the tires enough to work close to buildings and minimize the hand work when putting in lawns.

Good luck with the new business.

MarkV

gregp · Jan 28, 2005

Mark, down time if a concern for sure. Not so much as running things full time because i'm not but i work on an offshore oil platform and work a week on week off schedule. For me to not have a tractor for 3-4 days shoots most of the week down. When i am at work i am not home so evenings and weekends don't happen either.
I hope to keep myself busy at least 3-5 days of my week off, as you can see down time is not good. A summer season in Alaska is from May through August. We start to get frost in September.

Suess · Jan 29, 2005

I work for a municipality. We have a B7610 hydro. I really like the tractor. So far I've used it on a 72" land pride finish mower, 8' pull type grader, 5' brush cutter, old dear born sickle bar, 50" snow blower and a few other things. Works well even though most of the stuff is a bit large for the tractor and we knew that when the tractor was purchased. We had the requirement that the tractor fit through 50" spaces. Lift capacity of the 3pt is very good in my opinion. I for get the exact weight of our 72" mower but if I remember right it was around the weight you listed for the rake it lifts it like nothing was there. However it settles down in about 10 min. You will need front ballast of some sort if you operate with out the loader. We have 5 55# wights on front and it's stable. I did add a set of dual rear wheels for stability on the slopes when mowing. It has great traction for its size and weight on R4's. We grade roads and alleys with a old 8' pull type, it handles it in most conditions in 4 wd with out much slip. I did not expect that this tractor would pull the grader like it does I was totally amazed. Steering is very nice. The cruse control or lock is ok. I use it all the time when mowing or grading. It's basically a saw tooth locking device that locks your hydro petal. The saw tooth design results in steps in the speeds like gears instead of the infinitely variable hydro. For us where I'm running the engine at full load all the time with the mower I find that one step in the lock is too fast and the next too slow. The dealer told me when we bought it that the compact diesels did not have alot of power at low rpms and that it was best to run full throttle all the time. I found this to be not true at all. The 7610 has great power at lower rpms and can really lug. I have had some trouble trying to maintain pto speed on the snow blower. It seems that the engine developes peak power around 200 rpm below pto speed and likes to run there. I would say it puts out rated pto power but no more. It has no trouble what so ever putting power to the wheels. It will spin the wheels in 4 wd in either range but I usially pull the grader in low to be easier on the hydro and we don't grade very fast any way. The hyd flow capasity is very good. I have no idea on resale there are very few compacts around here. I would prefer the brakes to be on the other side but its not been a big deal. Also the quarter inching valve is ok but no subsitute for a position controll. Good luck

WayneW · Jan 29, 2005

I'll second Suess on the 3 pt lift capacity.

I'm not sure a few hundred pounds should influance your decision. Even with a front balast of either the loader or snowblower on my 7610 I think you lose front end stability FAR before you will exceed the 3pt lift capacity. This would probably be true with the New Holland also, since the tractor is of comparible weight to the 7610.

I lift pallets full with wood on my 3pt with a carry all. My guess would be that the pallet (when full) is at or over the 1,058 lbs capacity. (24" past lift pt) I have to back down a small hill to put the wood in a shed, and even with the snowblower or FEL on, I can get the front tires off the ground by jumping on the end of the pallet. Yet, as another stated, I believe all tractor companys rate their lift capacities very conservatively. I'm certain that my 3 pt would lift me (200 lbs) and probably another standing on the pallet of wood without much difficulty. (it doesn't even hesitate to lift the wood as is)

Same with the loader. I have filled rear tires and you lose rear stability with a HEAVY load. I find that I need the filled tires AND my box blade. (about 300 lbs) when I'm moving large rocks, and going down a hill.

Then again, maybe at flat land, all would be ok.

-good luck

_RaT_ · Jan 29, 2005

While some folks may find cruise control handy, I never use mine and on the L3830 it could not be easier or convenient to use, I just never find an application for it. The Harley Power Rake I have is not an application for cruise control.

gregp · Jan 30, 2005

I have decided that it would be wise to go with a local dealer in the unlikely event i needed repair support. Of course this means Kubota. We have a John Deere dealer in the area but since thay feel they would be doing ME the favor by buying from them they are out of the picture.
I have decided to go hydrostatic for sure.

khd · Jan 31, 2005

I really like my 7610. I didn't really look at other brands except for a brief view at the 21hp Deere but I didn't like either dealer whom one was also a NH dealer. The 7610 was chosen based on my needs. I am a business executive in a 24/7/365 business which consumes a great deal of time and energy, I have two acres and alot of dirveway, the 7610 helps me take care of my property in much less time and exceeds in it's ability to do so. I am also an incessent tinkerer for which the 7610 helps me take on various "heavy" projects on the property. In this capacity the 7610 does the job but I have to remind myself that it is not a dedicated peice of commercial equipment. I am not disappointed in this what so ever I just have to plan for a little more time and patience compared to the realtive ease in which it completes its' evryday tasks.

Be realistic and I am sure you will be happy with the machine.

Regards,
Kevin