New Kubota owner...overwhelmed!

[walmcollc]

My what a machine! I brought my new B7800 home from Arkansas to Arizona last week and I'm blown away by the quality and capability of this tractor. I have never owned a tractor before so please excuse the naive questions that follow...

BTW, fantastic site. I could not have gathered the knowledge I needed to purchase the tractor that was right for me without the help of everyone here (I've been lurking ready to pounce for a while now). Thank you all!

I have a couple of quick questions for any operators that have used their tractors in desert enviornments.

1. Should I be worried about the massive amount of cactus needles I am collecting in my tires? They are not filled and are industrial tread. I am cleaning them out at the end of the day, but some are still remaining in the tires. Pressure has not dropped.

2. In dusty conditions...how often should I replace the primary air filter? I have ben blowing it out after each use with compressed air.

 

[duber34]

walmcollc,

I can't answer either one of your questions. Sorry.

I'll just say welcome and congrats on the new tractor! It's a nice looking machine. Be safe and enjoy! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Regards,
Duber

 

[Stef]

Welcome to TBN

You've a nice rig. Thanks for the pic

I'd say about your air filter that it's a good thing to blow it after a dusty work day, but I don't know when you should change it in such conditions.

Have fun /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MarkStewart]

If I were you I would look into getting some tire slime. You shouldn't have a problem with flats if you install that in your tires. I've seen it for sale in wal-mart. Slime
Check your owners manual for the frequency of filter changes, it should definately state when it should be changed etc. Nice machine btw.

 

[DmansPadge]

Nice ride! I own a B series myself and I've found it to be a very capable machine.

The tire slime like someone mentioned would probably be a good idea. As for the air filter... if you blow it out make sure you blow from the inside to the outside. If you blow off the outside you are simply pushing a lot of dust through the filter. I would just keep an eye on it and change it as needed. Even in a dusty enviroment you shouldn't have to change it that often. I would change both primary and secondary filter at the same time.

Have fun! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[grandad]

Good lookin' b7800 there! Glad the trip home went OK with your cargo.

Dust and grit are hard on all internal combustion engines. Your little Kubota diesel will last a long time if given good care, but the accumulation of grit would eventually take its toll.

Considering your dusty climate conditions, it would be cheap insurance to keep a spare air filter set handy and replace them on an accelerated schedule.

In addition to the Slime product others have mentioned, you may want to investigate having your tires foam filled. There are pro's and con's to it, but they say it definitely handles the puncture problem if you really need it. Maybe some local contractors operating skidsteer equipment could tell you what works for them.

 

[Henro]

walmcollc,

Like Grandad said, consider getting your front tires filled. I got the fronts on my B2910 foam filled a couple years ago and would do it again in a heart beat. Flats are a drag when you are trying to get something done! One was enough for me. Cost me $70 per front tire. The rears seem less likely to puncture. I think the rears would have cost about $250 per tire to fill on the B2910...decided not to do it unless necessary, which it has not been.

On the air filter side, I also in the beginning started blowing out the filter frequently. Then I got the impression that doing so can do more harm than good...when you take the filter off you can get some dust in where you don't want it, and that sort of thing.

Actually, I think I got the idea here at TBN that less is more with respect to excessive filter cleaning. Now it is not THAT dusty where I live...but if I blow the dust out of my filter now every 50 hours that would surprise me. Not because I can't do it more frequently. It is easy to do. But because I think it is better NOT to. I would be interested in hearing opinions on this. It seems to work for me...

You will be amazed at how much work that little tractor can do.

Enjoy!

 

[frank_f15]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM! but i can't ans your question about the cactus needles, but **** to the filter , depends on how much u use the tractor? and have no idea where you are , but my daughter lives in Tempe and i have seen some of those needles you are talking about.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> I would change both primary and secondary filter at the same time. </font>
The secondary filter is only a backup for the primary. If the secondary filter is <font color="red"> ever </font> dirty, it is because there was a problem with the primary. The problem could be damage or it could be that the filters seal was bad.

 

[Maka]

Hello walmcollc,

I am originally from Wickenburg. I think the tires will probably be OK if it is prickly pear type cactus. most of the bigger needles will probably not make it through I would think.

The little ones are just an annoyance.

We never really had a problem with our old tractors but then again we never directly ran one over. I would still take some kind of precaution I guess with such a fine machine.

Maka