New "B" series catalog..

[Northland]

It's interesting to see the continued defensiveness about the lack of position control here, especially by the Kubota dealers. quote]

Island-I am not being defensive. Rather, I was poking fun at what I perceive to be your long running jihad against Kubota and your feature and specification comparsion obession; particularly Kioti vs Kubota.

You like Kioti's whereas I and most of the people in this Kubota forum like Kubota's.

 

[art]

It's interesting to see the continued defensiveness about the lack of position control here, especially by the Kubota dealers. quote]

Island-I am not being defensive. Rather, I was poking fun at what I perceive to be your long running jihad against Kubota and your feature and specification comparsion obession; particularly Kioti vs Kubota.

You like Kioti's whereas I and most of the people in this Kubota forum like Kubota's.

He's been at it for quite an extended time in the kubota sections. I think he has more posts in the kubota area about his dislike of them then in the Kioti area, ah, probably just wishes he had one!

 

[bandit67]

Well, right now I'm tractorless, so I'm not partial to any one brand through ownership. However, I do find myself being partial to Kubota based on past experience with a number of different brands and the fact that Kubota has the most minutely diverse compact lineup in the industry.

I had a Yanmar 16 years ago that was a great little machine, and if still in this country, would get some serious consideration. But I've also run Kubotas off and on all the way back to the early 80's and they too were impressive little machines.

Kioti has a few great features. But they've got some issues/features that I don't particularly like, in addition to the fact that they are way overpriced and dealerships are few and far between. They've got a perfect size machine in the CK20, but they refuse to put a decent sized motor in it, so you have to go up to the significantly bigger CK25, which is underpowered for its size for my use. Why would I shell out the $$ for the CK30 when for less than $2k more, I could have what I consider to be the far superior Grand L machines if I wanted a heavy dirt worker?

So, Island, I could nit pick the heck out of Kioti's 30hp and below compact lineup too. As a matter of fact, I have, and that's why I've already moved past Kioti and taken those off my short list. We all have specific wants and needs, and there is NO ONE COMPACT that happens to meet all of my desires, but as of 2008, Kubota comes the closest to producing a machine that meets the criteria I am looking for. There is NO other company that has 3 different machines at 29-30 hp for me to consider - that's pretty impressive. And that's why I'm 99% sure I'll be buying a Kubota and getting the ORIGINAL orange machine.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Back to the original question.... Volfandt, I suspect that you find the new B series suspended decks, depth of cut adjustment, and drive over features interesting. Would you consider an upgrade to these models? If not, why?
It seems to me that with the huge acceptance of the BX series, and the huge installed user base of the B7xxx series, that Kubota had a great chance to move a lot of folks into the new platform. My original questions were aimed at seeing how successful folks thought they would be at that, or why they thought Kubota might not succeed in tempting a lot of people to move up.
Of course, by the time we answer these questions, Kubota will announce a different version of the BX.

 

[TBDonnelly]

He's been at it for quite an extended time in the kubota sections. I think he has more posts in the kubota area about his dislike of them then in the Kioti area, ah, probably just wishes he had one!

It's a covert way of keeping the Kubota's dealers in their own forum.

Don

 

[IslandTractor]

It's interesting to see the continued defensiveness about the lack of position control here, especially by the Kubota dealers. quote]

Island-I am not being defensive. Rather, I was poking fun at what I perceive to be your long running jihad against Kubota and your feature and specification comparsion obession; particularly Kioti vs Kubota.

You like Kioti's whereas I and most of the people in this Kubota forum like Kubota's.

Well guys I guess I'd have to ask you to look back at my original posts here regarding the upgraded B series. I was critical but really only of the position control thing. I lauded the 3 speed HST and I am generally very positive about the B's....always have been as I almost bought one (B7510).

My critique has been not so much with the machine but with corporate Kubota's continued failure to adopt an improved 3PT control system that every other manufacturer has included on virtually it's entire line of tractors even before the previous B7510 version was out. I am aware that Art believes the quarter inching is better than position control but he seems to stand alone. Even Neil as a Kubota salesman takes what I think is the more realistic perspective that his customers don't care. That is a valid point and clearly demonstrates why Kubota can continue to sell lots of standard B's despite the quarter inching valve.

Neil's point is relevant to Kubota TBN users though as TBN users are not typical Kubota customers. As Neil has often pointed out most of his B customers never hook anything to their 3PT hitch. If you are using the B with a MMM you don't care what 3PT control system is used. Fair point. If you are planning to use your 3PT then you do have to ask yourself why Kubota uses position control in every other tractor in it's lineup but saddles the standard B with quarter inching.

As to the point that I don't like Kubotas, that is flatly wrong. Not only did I almost buy one (got a better deal on the CK) but I recommend them frequently even to prospective Kioti owners (check out recent posts on the Kioti forum from a buyer deciding between BX24 and CK20 TLB). I have always thought the B's were the best finish mowers and pretty clearly a better choice than the CKs if that was the primary use. I've also recently compared a Kubota GL3940 to a Kioti DK40se and would have bought the Kubota except for a several thousand dollar price difference. I've also often commented that Kubota has a far better dealer network and when that is a dominant consideration then Kubota wins. Sure I like Kioti's too, I vote with my feet and have had two of them. I just like orange tractors period.

Neil and Art frequent the Kioti forum and they are welcome to bring their critical views there. They often stimulate good discussions with their criticism and I for one do not want the Kioti forum limited to Kioti sychophants. I hope the Kubota forum is also resilient enough to have critical posts rather than just fan mail.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Neil and Art frequent the Kioti forum and they are welcome to bring their critical views there. They often stimulate good discussions with their criticism and I for one do not want the Kioti forum limited to Kioti sychophants. I hope the Kubota forum is also resilient enough to have critical posts rather than just fan mail.

Amen Brother!

 

[Buster57]

You read any of my posts about my BX1850?

Hardly fan mail.

At the same time I don't really need to know how great Kioti is in a Kubota buying/pricing section. I think there is a different fourm in TBN that does brand comparrisons isn't there?

 

[TBDonnelly]

Neil and Art frequent the Kioti forum and they are welcome to bring their critical views there. They often stimulate good discussions with their criticism and I for one do not want the Kioti forum limited to Kioti sychophants. I hope the Kubota forum is also resilient enough to have critical posts rather than just fan mail.

Everything in moderation.

I see dealers as an important part of the TBN framework. With that said, Brand specific forums are exactly that. Brand specific. I see brand specific dealers primarily in their brand specific forum. Dealers are good resources for forum participants and in turn, good sales contacts for the dealers.

With that said......The general forums for 'multiple' brand questions would certainly favor open discussion by forum participants and dealers from the brands represented in the question. Perhaps more vigilance is needed to relocate multiple brand questions posted in brand specific forums.

Also......Neil has made notable strides in restraining his past foray's into the Kioti forum.

It's a covert way of keeping the Kubota's dealers in their own forum.

Please note smiley faces at the end of above sentence.

_______________________________________________________

Meanwhile back on the ranch.....Chuck in NH.....Have your seen the new "B" series catalog??

Don

 

[Volfandt]

Back to the original question.... Volfandt, I suspect that you find the new B series suspended decks, depth of cut adjustment, and drive over features interesting. Would you consider an upgrade to these models? If not, why?

Sure, I'd consider an upgrade to a new std B series but allow me to qualify.
Likes:
1) suspended MMM, this was one of the main reasons I chose the BX over the B in the 1st place.
2) as much or more engine HP at lower rpm. Less fuel consumption and lower noise at pto speed is very desireable.
3) greater FEL & 3PH lifting capacity and height. 'nuff said.
4) larger rear wheels. My new BX seat is a vast improvement over the original but larger rears would provide much more cushion and less jarring.
5) large easy to read tach. My BX23 doesn't even have the small electronic one that the later model BX's do.
6) ablility to add a quick attach to the loader.

Dislikes: ( or things I hope they corrected/changed)
1) smaller operators station. The B7510/B7610 was too cramped for me, especially when getting in and out. Everytime I tried one out I'd get hooked on the levers and had to contort around the steering wheel in quick regress. The BX just has more room.
2) Loud HST whine. I thought both the B's I tried out had too loud of an HST whine. After yrs of reading up on them I know that this is just the way they are and do not signify any kind of problem(s), but since my BX23 sans the BH & FEL barely whines in normal operation I expect the B's should too.
3) The overall width seems to be too narrow when compared to how high they sit but I now know that filled rears and setting them out more makes them almost as steady as my BX23 sans the BH & FEL when mowing an incline.

All that said I'd have probably went with one of these new B's over the BX23 had they been around at the time. That is if the BH was as affordable an add-on as it was to the BX ( approx $4K more).

Now my BX23 continues to do whatever it's tasked to do for me and hasn't given me one iota of trouble in 300 hrs, course I could be living on borrowed time with regards to the PS hoses but thats another irritating topic, so if I was to upgrade it wouldn't be because of a "need", it would be just having a desire for something newer and bigger. And, with that in mind any thought of an upgrade HAS to include at least a cursory checkout of a B3030HSDC as a conditioned cab is VERY high on my list of an unecessary upgrades