Tough choice, B7500 or B2410?

[Will]

I've got a link below with some pricing info that might be useful. I traded up from a B2100 (which is basically a B7500 with position control) to a B2410. I made the trade to so that I could keep position control and so that could upgrade from gear to hydrostatic transmission.The extra power didn't make much of a difference for my uses, but the extra weight now that I've got a FEL and I keep the MMM on makes a huge difference when I use the box blade.Will

 

[crown]

Dave that sounds like a good deal to me. I have a similar setup and I run a Woods RD 6000 it does a great job. The B-7500 is a very capable machine, you will not be dissapointed, have fun and be safe./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[jhgnag]

I think reading this forum over the last few months has considerably added to my confusion. I have no idea what to do. Just bought a place w/3 acres that will need some dirt & rocks moved around. A lot of watermelon size rocks in the soil. I will also be digging some fence post holes, and need to clean up all the brushy crap/vines along a fence and an old stone wall. The grass is pasture grass. Pretty tough, but I see my neighbors using lawn tractors, so must not be too bad. Also want to be able to move snow on my 150' driveway. It sounds like the BX is the best grass cutter, but I still don't understand why. I hate the fact that if I wanted to buy a BH later, it can't be mounted on the BX also. No...for the price of the BX22, I think I should just get a bigger B series. I also hate to be underpowered. That's why I was considering the 7500 or 2410, but TresCrows has me concerned about the mowing ability. Is the MMM working any better on the 2410?

So at this point, it's either the BX2200, B7500 or B2410. MMM, FEL on whichever.

Also, we would like to end up in a place w/more property in a few years, or buy more where we are at. So that should be in my decision making.

I also have this thing with not wanting to be driving around a MONSTER tractor for my 3 acre lot when my neighbors are using garden/lawn tractors.

What does everyone think?

 

[Gomez]

Hey neighbor!

Although this is a much discussed topic, I'll put in my two cents.

I have the same size lot as you. Had the BX been around three years ago when I bought my B2400, I would probably looked at that very closely. The B2400 is a bit overkill for what I have used it for so far, but who knows what projects are ahead. I'm currently shopping around for a loader, so I expect it to see much more use than the present mowing and snow plowing (not an issue this year). Most of the lots in my area are 2-10 acres. Two neighbors bought ZTRs last year. There's a BX, and a couple of 2150s all with loaders down the road. I don't think you need to worry about looking out of place.

Of course, any of the models you mention will fit the bill nicely. Since you're looking to buy more property in the future, you might want to lean toward the larger units.

 

[jhgnag]

Gomez,

I guess we are practically neighbors. We are actually up in Haycock. Anyway, thanks for the advice. I guess there are really no easy answers.

How do you like the MMM on yours? What condition is your lawn. My is basically a field. Kind of bumpy, but not too bad.

Thanks.

 

[Gomez]

Haycock, I have a few of cousins up there. I remember when they we putting up their houses, nothing but rocks. Had to blast for the foundations.

The MMM works great for me. My lawn is pretty smooth, although I've cut some brush with it. The blades are substantial, so I wasn't too worried about the heavy brush. Of course, the concrete property line marker put up a fight./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif Just keep the gage wheels well lubed.

Good luck.

 

[jhgnag]

Yes. A lot of rock. They had to blast our cellar out as well.

 

[TresCrows]

Well, get the tractor that makes you happy, consider also if your field is bumpy the BX suspended deck rides on the tractor wheels and the 2410/7500 deck rides with it's weight down on those tiny little castors. The BX deck glides over the ground whereas the deck on the 7500/2410 clangs and bounces along over every little bump. Those little wheels leave worse ruts than the tractor does especially when turning. A few other brave souls have verified this and posted it. I am beginning to figure my 2410 MMM out and like I have said it is not totally terrible but it is nothing like the BX suspended MMM. Some JD tractors have suspended units--check one for JD! J

 

[Dave41]

Also, depending on your lot, a rear mounted deck may be better than the MMM. Definetely easy on and off.

 

[PaulT]

For the folks in a quandry over the bx/75/24 sizes, I have been thinking of the uses for position control. If you have a gravel driveway to maintain, or if you plan to use a box blade for ground leveling, or if you have a landscape rake and NO gauge wheels, position control is a MUST! I just re-surfaced my 800 foot driveway with crusher run that was tailgate spread (although not entirely, since he had to lower the bed to miss some overhead wires in spots). The secret to a smooth surface is many passes just skimming off the top. THis is best done with a box blade at the appropriate angle AND height. Using position control helped me immensly.

Another idea I just had about position control is for mowing over severely bumpy gound. Although the B series mower decks roll on the ground, the hydraulics can suspend them easiliy, with no damage to the system. THe concern is evenness of cut, not machine damage. Here, you could find the right position to raise the deck to over the bumpy stuff, get a pretty even cut, and avoid the dreaded castor ruts from sharp turns/soft ground. I vote for position control unless you have a paved driveway and a smoothly finished, manicured lawn. Then, I vote for the larger machines just on general principle/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[jhgnag]

Paul,

What do you mean "the hydraulics can suspend them (deck) easily". I'm trying to decide between the B7500/2410 vs. the BX2200 and I'm interested in exactly what you are talking about.

Thanks.

 

[TresCrows]

What he means is that the 2410 and other such as 2710 and 2910 because they have position control which allows you to accurately position your 3-point implements and as well it can accurately position your MMM. I do the same trick and it is useful with the 2410, it is not of course needed on the BX since it is already suspended. OK, when in a rough area or needing to cut a little higer or during a sharp turn I just reach for the PC lever and sligtly raise the deck's weight of it's wheels. It causes no harm that I can see and in fact I have my MMM now adjusted so that it has about 90 percent weight on wheels and the rest carried by the linkage. Just get the 2410 and be done with it. It is the most tractor you can get and stay kind of small. The 2710 and up have more power of course but they are too big for many uses--despite the TBN mantra to always get a big honking machine Kubota and JD and NH would not make smaller machines if there were not legitimate needs for such machines by many people--I mean, they could just tell customers we are going to save money for you and from now on produce nothing smaller than a L3010 and if they did some new tractor company would appear to fill the void.
Ruts in clay soil are not so easily smoothed out and the grass dies out from the weight and the compaction. I still have dead spots where I let a guy hay my broam and clover 2 years ago with a larger JD (4400 size). The ground was plenty dry for the BX so I thought he would be OK--he was not he rutted my field and the ruts and the dead spots are still there though I am slowly working them away. I cannot accept any ruts in my front lawn area. Good luck. Go get yourself a tractor, man. J

 

[jhgnag]

TresCrows,

Sounds like you are somewhat happier w/the MMM on the 2410???

 

[TresCrows]

Hi, I never said I was totally unhappy with it, like all things an attitude adjustment and some practice and some adjustments here and there seem to have all happily moving along----nonetheless---Kubota needs to supply suspended decks in this class of machine--they really are better especially if the machine is designed to take full advantage of them.
Here is a pic of my 2410 sunning itself on my green Fescue lawn, no ruts here and I think the machine itself is sufficiently impressive that the Sears mower crowd will at least be orange with envy even if the guys on TBN dismiss everything below a L3010 as a toy /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif . Heck, I thought I was in high cotton with my BX--and I was /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif . Oh, most of that smooth green grass there is courtesy of the hard working BX, it's gift to my 2410. Green grass and an orange 'bota, cannot be any better /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif .
J

 

[jhgnag]

OK. I will make a decision this weekend. I'll let you know. I really like the 2410 if I can make the #'s work. Realistically, the 2200 would be more than enough, but I hate being underpowered for anything! We'll see what the local dealer has to say. I appreciate all the info available on the site & particularly from Tres Crows. Seems like you spend a lot of time in here.

 

[jhgnag]

Went back to the dealer today & negotiated an acceptable deal. Went for the 2410 w/60" MMM, 352 FEL & 5' Rear Blade.
Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Gomez]

Congrats!

As Tom Petty said, "The waiting is the hardest part".

 

[PaulT]

Way to go/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Now get out there and find out what all the fuss is about/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[RFischer]

So can you please tell us what is the final price you got for the entire package?

 

[jhgnag]

$17K. Not the greatest deal, but the best of the 3 dealers in my area, and I like the dealership.