New 2601

[Paystar]

All I know is I'm always doing dirt work so I only put my mower on to mow then it comes right off. So I'm driving over it once a week in the summer and I never take the loader off. It's three years now and nothing bent or cracked. I do it on the gravel driveway.

Did they start making the new decks cheaper and thinner?

 

[robertm]

I'm seriously considering buying a B2650 with a 6' drive over deck.

Is premature deck cracking common on all brands of drive over decks, just unique to Kubotas, or just B2601/2301?

Anyone know who Kubota sources their decks from?

This is not a common problem. In fact, I think most is speculation on what COULD happen, but likely has not. The decks are unbelievably tough, heavy, and strong. I'd never entertain driving over with the deck, but otherwise, I'd not bat an eye.

 

[94BULLITT]

I've never heard of anyone tearing up a deck by driving over it. These decks are made out of 8 gauge steel, at least on the BX. The deck is probably made from thicker steel than floor of the trailer that the dealer used to deliver your tractor.

 

[94BULLITT]

I never used chains on th 7510. I plowed downhill on the drive and never had a problem on the flat.

I made it by 4 years with 4WD tractors with out chains til last year and I needed them. If you have been getting by with your previous tractor you should be fine.

 

[burk1953]

Thanks I will be trying the drive over feature. The mower drive shaft came off very easy the first time. That seemed to be a pain on the old one. Thanks for all the input

 

[SDT]

Upgraded from a B7510 to a B2601 w/ LA434 loader, RCK 69-32 MMM, B2765 Dozer Blade. I also replaced my old tiller with a RTR1258. So far the salesman was great, a little mix up for the quick attach for the blade.

Wishes. They would have given me a better tutorial on the new equipment. A lot of frustration taking off the mower and mounting the blade. I don't like the location of the hydraulic remotes, I can see many busted knuckles. View attachment 492892View attachment 492893

Nice tractor. I looked at one today as a possible replacement for my 1994 B1750HST.

I likely would have bought one or the similar B3201 if it had been offered with Bi-Speed Turn and a terrain following deck as per my B1750.

Kubota has dropped the Bi-Speed Turn option and just about everyone has dropped the terrain following deck.

Still looking.

SDT

 

[robertm]

Not sure why you prefer the ground contact mower over suspended. The suspended provide a cleaner and more manicured cut, and their less likely to sustain cracks and damage from bouncing around uneven terrain. Ground contact types usually start to crack at welds and stress points because of their short "wheelbase" and bounce, while suspended use the large diameter tractor tires and longer wheelbase as its suspension and wheelbase.

 

[Milo]

.....Kubota has dropped the Bi-Speed Turn option and just about everyone has dropped the terrain following deck.

Still looking.

B2650 and 3350 utilize both 60" and 72" ground contact decks and I'm like you in that i prefer them and is what's on my B7500.

 

[SDT]

Not sure why you prefer the ground contact mower over suspended. The suspended provide a cleaner and more manicured cut, and their less likely to sustain cracks and damage from bouncing around uneven terrain. Ground contact types usually start to crack at welds and stress points because of their short "wheelbase" and bounce, while suspended use the large diameter tractor tires and longer wheelbase as its suspension and wheelbase.

I can do anything and more with my terrain following deck and position control than one can do with a suspended deck. It's very easy to adjust cutting height up or down on the go as one travels over uneven ground, e.g., driving across a small ditch or ravine. Simply lower the position control to allow the deck too lower down into the low spot to maintain proper cutting height. Conversely, raise the position control when crossing a hump, stump, etc., and subsequently lower it back to the stop to return the deck to the previous (wheels on ground) position. I usually position the position control stop somewhat below the wheels on the ground position to allow the deck to lower into minor low spots. If forced to mow very soft areas, I raise the position control to take the weight off of the gage wheels to avoid tracking, in effect operating in suspended mode.

Regarding stress cracks: I bought my B1750HST new in 1994 and have used it every year since to mow a relatively large, steep and quite uneven area. No cracks, breaks or failures of any kind to the structure, etc., in the nearly 23 years that I have had it.

Morever, the newer suspended decks used on the newer model Kubota (andn others) tractors have much less grass clearance requiring slower ground speed in heavy grass to clear properly.

The single downside that I find for my terrain following deck vis a vis the newer suspended deck is less ground clearance when fully raised, making the unit more likely to high center on uneven ground. This, of course, is a result of the increased grass clearance of the older design deck.

My experience is that most folks who prefer suspended decks do so only because they do not appreciate the advantages of the terrain following deck.

SDT

 

[robertm]

I had ground contact mowers on my B7500 and B7510. I wished for suspended decks then because the pie plates left from the deck on the "lawn" looked terrible. Lone behold, by B2620 had the suspended, but the front tires cut circles around obstacles. On a smooth terrain, I'd not care, but I guess since primary use of my BX is mowing, you couldn't sell me a suspended deck anymore.
I hope you can find a GC deck in your new tractor search. It would seem some ingenuity could foster modifying a suspended or even reusing your deck on a new rig. I think the large tractors have GC decks, but 72" widths may not be your preference. Let us know what you find.

BTW, would the simple turn of the height adjuster to zero for the suspended deck allow you to do your ditch type mowing, and returning it to the preselected height afterward not do the same thing you do with position control? It's a simple knob turn. Also, the new B's use the rear lower lift arm to raise and lower the deck anyway. You might want to check out the actual mechanics at a dealer. The suspended might work for you in this changing world. Not pushing, just trying to help.

 

[burk1953]

I only had the chance to mow once since I got so I don't have much of an opinion on the mower. Being a larger mower the B7510 wasn't the greatest mower. It did good not great. I did have a little heartburn trying to set the height. But by spring i should be able to read the manual.

 

[oldballs]

I had a BX2660 and now a B2620, both of which have suspended decks. In my experience the mow quality was fine, ... changing mowing height is easy with the floor knob...locking the deck height up out of the way is easy with the knob. Probably the hardest part to removing/connecting the MMM is seating the PTO shaft. Driving over or sliding under the deck is the easy part for me ( I never use the drive over method).

Now we all come in various ages (old and older :laughing:, with different physical ability (slow and slower:laughing some with fat tummy, short arms, bad knees, poor eyesight etc. ....this probably effects said deck issues more than any. :2cents:

 

[robertm]

I agree, the shaft was the worst part of hooking up the deck, although keeping the splines greased seemed to help.
When I bought my BX2670 last spring, the only one readily available had the auto-connect deck, which I did not want. Well, all my fears of owning that deck went out the window the first use. It's easier than it appears on YouTube, the ramps I take off after installation with one simple clevis pin, and the driveshaft finds its home every time. For winter, I took the complete drive over carriage off the tractor in about two minutes. I wouldn't HAVE to buy the QD deck again, but I'm not not getting any younger, and one day, I'll thank the heavens I don't have to drag a 300 pound deck out from under the tractor.

 

[burk1953]

Age was one of the main reasons for the upgrade. Me not the tractor. Current surgery, the ability to get up and down like I used to. I'm 63 with the body of an 80 year old. Between sons and son-in-law we can get it done and we have all the attachments we need, not all we want.

 

[ovrszd]

Not sure why you prefer the ground contact mower over suspended. The suspended provide a cleaner and more manicured cut, and their less likely to sustain cracks and damage from bouncing around uneven terrain. Ground contact types usually start to crack at welds and stress points because of their short "wheelbase" and bounce, while suspended use the large diameter tractor tires and longer wheelbase as its suspension and wheelbase.

My results were the opposite in regards to cut quality. Best mowing deck I've ever owned was the ground contact 60" MMM on my old Kubota B2910. Had a JD455 with 54" MMM suspended at the same time. Kubota cut was much better. Never experienced any cracks.

 

[SDT]

My results were the opposite in regards to cut quality. Best mowing deck I've ever owned was the ground contact 60" MMM on my old Kubota B2910. Had a JD455 with 54" MMM suspended at the same time. Kubota cut was much better. Never experienced any cracks.

Bingo, Richard.

BTDT.

SDT