Red Flag?

[TigerfaninAR]

Looking for an older tractor to leave at some land we have to keep the grass mowed. May use a BB at some point. Found a B7100 at a dealer about 30 miles away. Online it says the pistons, rings, head gasket, seat, and fuel tank have been replaced. Tractor only has about 800 hours on it. Talked to the guy and says has a little blow by when starting but doesn't smoke at all afterwards.

My question is this a big concern to have so many parts replaced for a tractor with only 800 hours? I've seen many who say its just getting broke in. Or, could this be a good sign of a good dealer who's replacing parts that maybe another dealer would have tried to pass on?

 

[rpraymond]

The parts that were replaced are only as good as the work performed by the mechanic. I've rebuilt Harley engines for years as a hobby. I can't tell you how many "just rebuilt" engines I've re-rebuilt so that they run correctly. I would question why a Kubota with only 800 hours would have needed such a major repair. Plus it should run as new when the work was completed. So, IMHO, I would be a bit hesitant unless you can verify who did the work and the quality of the work that was done.
Good luck.

 

[workmytractor]

I think rpraymond hit it right on. If all the work mentioned was completed properly it shouldn't have any blow by when starting.

 

[TigerfaninAR]

Thanks guys for the quick response. I sent him a message asking about the history and why would it still smoke if all the work was done. Going tomorrow afternoon to see it personally. Any other thing to look for as a red flag? Had a friend, correct me if he's wrong, that said to take out the dipstick when the tractor is running to see if any smoke is there, if so, not a good sign. True?

Thanks again.

 

[Bird]

A little puff of smoke when it first starts is quite normal. But like the others, I'd want to know why it needed all that work with so few hours on it.

 

[MarkV]

I was wondering what type of mowing and how much you need to do. The B7100 is a pretty small tractor which will not run a very big mower well.

MarkV

 

[TigerfaninAR]

I was wondering what type of mowing and how much you need to do. The B7100 is a pretty small tractor which will not run a very big mower well.

MarkV

Flat land, 7 acres, about four to mow now. The B7100 has a 60 in bellymower on it. I mowed a little more than 5 of it (before we had a pond dug, drive put in, and house pad etc) with a 42 in. JD X300 last year. That took a while.

 

[firemech]

I too would be suspect of any kubota with 800 hrs that had to have this amount of repair. Until 2005 I had a B6100 with 11,000 hrs (thats right eleven thousand) that had not required anything more than a clutch. I will admit the engine was "making oil" from a diesel leak and the hydraulics were creeping but the unit had been flawless untill 9500 hrs. I had owned it new since 1985. I traded it for a B7510 in 2005 that now has about 1800 hrs on it and even though being submerged in about 25 ft of water at 600 hrs (yes I had a mental lapse and didn't set the parking brake) the tractor has required no repairs other than a new starter (probably due to the bath) and an annual replacement of the clutch pedal return springs. I have pulled the trigger on a second tractor (L3400 HST with FEL and QA bucket and forks) and look forward to many years of service from this unit as well. I would for sure be afraid of ANY Kubota with 800hrs that needs this much work.

Larry

 

[Thomas]

By the sounds B7100 been work hard or mistake to have motor work done w/such low hours..I would wonder about transmission..take tractor for test spin etc. if you can.