New Tractor owner with a not so new tractor

[PappaWheeliee]

Hey all just wanted to say Hi!

I'm new on here and the proud owner of a Kubota B1750 with 4X4 and a B1640A loader. I have a ton of questions! Im having a hard time figuring out if I got a good deal or not. I will try and post some pics. I paid $5k for the tractor loader and back blade. The tractor is not in that good of shape and was left outside but everything works with a few glitches here and there. I guess the reason I would like to know is I just started dumping money into it. All the manuals, parts lists, filters, changing all the oils, on top of that just spent about $800.00 at Kubota for things like the hydraulic piston rebuild kits, parts for the valve body that are missing, new seat, and the list goes on and on. Im using the tractor for my own firewood. I get free logs from tree companies and need the tractor to help me get the logs around which it did an excellent job at. Im also going to use it for plowing my moms driveway in upstate NY lake George area. The driveway is about 800 feet up a mountain. I have worn out turf tires and plan on replacing with new turf tires and using chains on the back Kubota's tire chain guy said he wouldn't recommend chains on the front for some reason. Does anyone know why? I think my main question is should I fix\ restore the tractor or save my money and get a newer one a year or two from now? Ill be doing all the work on the tractor myself. Any info or advice is greatly appreciated

 

[PatasColo]

Hey Pappa! :thumbsup:

Glad you already got it bought. As such, if it's doin' the work, and you're enjoyin' it, and you can do some of your own maintenance, you got a fine deal... forget the money and enjoy what you gave yourself! :thumbsup:

And when it breaks down (as most tractors do in some ways, little or big, from time to time ), you have all the know-how and familiarity to fix it, and it's just part of life, usin' your tractor!

Looks fine, and great that you're doing the maintenance work! And yes, some other tires (R1's or other with more aggressive tread) would help out if you're going through any terrain where you need more traction. But if what it's got is working for now, don't fret on it.

Best to you! -Mitch

 

[dodge man]

How many hours on it? Unless it has a ton of hours on it, I'd say its worth fixing/maintaining. A tractor thats sits outside and gets used a lot starts to look pretty rough after a few years, but still may function great.

 

[NTEXSAM]

HEY PAPPA SIR THE TRACTOR LOOKS GREAT. DONT GET ME WRONG BECAUSE IM SURE NOT A MEMBER OF THE SAFETY POLICE, BUT SIR PLEASE BE CAREFUL RAISING YOUR LOGS VERY HIGH IN THE BUCKET. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE LONG ROLLED BACK AN INJURED OR KILLED THE OPERATOR. ENJOY YOUR TRACTOR AN BE SAFE. SAM

 

[Bob77064]

Looks good you got a good deal.

 

[RoyJackson]

Hey all just wanted to say Hi!

I have worn out turf tires and plan on replacing with new turf tires and using chains on the back Kubota's tire chain guy said he wouldn't recommend chains on the front for some reason. Does anyone know why?

If you buy new turfs, you may as well plan on keeping the tractor and fix it up as you can afford to.
BTW, I suggest you price those turfs before you do much else...also, don't buy the chains before you replace the tires.
Being a Deere guy, I'm sure you'll get more and better advice from the Kubota folks..

Now, chains...
The front wheel assist gearing and axles are not as robust as the rear axle. There will be a degree up slippage up front...for steering if nothing else. If the front axle is pulling more load then the rear or don't slip, the axle/gears can fail. I haven't read too many instances in which this happened, but it has happened.
Believe me, rear chains and learning to use your steering brakes will handle most traction problems in the snow.
Don't wait until the winter to buy the chains, BTW. The size you need may not be available then (common sizes sell out pretty fast)...but look into those turf tires first.

 

[RoyJackson]

HEY PAPPA SIR THE TRACTOR LOOKS GREAT. DONT GET ME WRONG BECAUSE IM SURE NOT A MEMBER OF THE SAFETY POLICE, BUT SIR PLEASE BE CAREFUL RAISING YOUR LOGS VERY HIGH IN THE BUCKET. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE LONG ROLLED BACK AN INJURED OR KILLED THE OPERATOR. ENJOY YOUR TRACTOR AN BE SAFE. SAM

Very good point...that log shown in the 3rd picture...wouldn't take much of a bump to put that in the operator's lap...or chest...or head.

 

[PappaWheeliee]

Wow you guys are quick! Thanks!
The tractor has 1200 hrs on. Judging by other tractors that have the same hrs mine looks like 1200 hard hrs! Maybe the hrs meter was disconnected not sure how hard it is to do.

My reply to Mr. Jackson is I had figured that was the reason to not use chains up front. I was thinking the same thing about replacing the tires thats why I held off on buying the chains today. I am going to wait till I pick out the tires and get the rear chains at the same time. I saw the firestone tires that are on the tractor now for the 6 ply it was like $600 a tire and 3 ply was $300.

Where were you guys when I brought the tractor home!!! In the third pic that was just for the pic but ummm yea I had modified my hood with in 15 minuets of bringing it home. I got a little greedy and put too many logs in the bucket and one rolled out onto my hood denting my hood and broke the hood emblem. Thank God no one saw cuz my ego can't take that kinda pain. Maybe i should be wearing my dirt bike helmet! When my friends came over to look at the tractor they were like nice tractor what happened to the hood! uummm eerrr thats the way I got it!

Thanks

 

[devildog1]

Hey Papa,
tractor looks good and the Kubota line is built real well, that being said all tractors do have items that break. You were given excellent advice before I posted, so enjoy your tractor It's doing the work you needed done Correct? So why buy an other unless you want to. Oh tires, many options on them some will say turfs or some will say R1's I like the R4's industrials as they tend to have a higher rated load for FEL or loader work which your doing.

 

[George2615]

Couldn't see any counterweight (rear ballast) in the pics.
For safety you might want to put some on before lifting heavy items with the loader.