Used B6100

[JWE]

A fellow in my area is selling a B6100 with a 42 inch Woods deck. I haven't seen the tractor but here is what he told me about it:

manual trans (dual range)
2 WD
turf tires
18 HP 3 cyl. engine (the Kubota WEB page says 14 HP)
He said it is 14 years old (when did they stop selling new B6100?)
No hour meter (he said that he only used it to mow 1.2 acres)
paint is in excellent condition

He wants $2800 for it, that seems high to me. What are your thoughts?

 

[JacknCoke]

My price guide shows that B-6100 were made from 1978 to 1984so that would make it at least 20 years old. The guide also list the retail price range to be $2000-$4000. So he is right in there on price.

J.d.

 

[JWE]

Thanks for the information J. D.

Does the price guide differenciate between 2WD vs 4WD, Manual vs Hydro or engine HP?
Was there a 18 HP engine?

John

 

[Kelvin]

JWE,
In anwer to your question </font><font color="blue" class="small">( What are your thoughts? )</font>, I thought I'd throw in some of my thoughts.

Here are some lead-in questions for you:
(1) How do you intend to use the tractor?
(2) Is the 42" mower a mid-mower or rear mower?

My thoughts:
(1) The price seems high to me, even if it is in the proper range mentioned in the other post. I would think the price would be okay if the tractor had either 4wd or hydrostatic transmission, and would definitely be a good price if it had both. I have seen several B7100 4wd/gear drive units for sale in the $3000 range, and the B7100 has a slightly larger (16hp) engine.
(2) My biggest complaint with my B7100 (4wd/manual trans) was the lack of live PTO. Mowing with my B7100's 48" mid-mower was pretty convenient (it operated off of a front mounted PTO), but operating with rear-mounted mowers (or other 3-point PTO equipment) was a royal pain unless operating in wide open areas that didn't require the tractor to change speeds or directions. EXCEPTION: Using a small 3-point hitch Kubota tiller wasn't too bad.
(3) It is my opinion that you will find the 2wd frustrating if you try to do much beyond mowing (plowing snow, etc).
(4) Parts will be generally available for the tractor and mid-mower, but you will not be able to find NEW ATTACHMENTS designed specifically for the B6100 (mid-mowers, FELs, etc).
(5) Based upon my experience with my B7100, I would say that the B6100 is a very good tractor. If you get the tractor, make sure you understand the unique operting requirements associated with its thermo-siphon cooling system. I have heard of (and personally experienced) engines with thermo-siphon cooling systems suffering overheat damage due to greater than 50% antifreeze mix in the coolant fluid. I (as well as others on this board) have made many posts on this subject (search for thermo-siphon).

Good Luck,
Kelvin

 

[Kelvin]

JWE,

I just now looked at your profile to see that you already have a BX2200, so by knowing what your BX2200 will do in 2wd mode you'll already have an idea about the traction ability of the B6100. The BX2200 has a lot more hp and power steering over the B6100.

Regarding horsepower, I'm pretty sure that the B6100 is about 2hp less than the 16hp B7100. My statement is based upon the specifications listed in my shop manual which covers the B5100/B6100/B7100 tractors. While is doesn't list the engine horsepower, it does list the B6100's PTO hp at 11 hp and the B7100's PTO hp at 13hp. It also list all other engine specifications (bore, stroke, displacement, compression ratio, etc).

To help you look up B6100 data...

B6100E = 2wd manual transmission (like the one you are looking at)
B6100D = 4wd manual transmission
B6100HST-E = 2wd hydrostatic
B6100HST-D = 4wd hydrostatic

Kelvin

 

[JWE]

Kelvin

The mower is a belly mower. I would not be using it for mowing. I have a BX2200 that I use for mowing, snow removal and tilling. This would be a second tractor for me that I would mainly use for pulling a cart; hauling mulch around the yard and firewood out of the woods. I do not want to invest a lot of money for a 2nd tractor. I was hoping that I could pickup a 20 - 30 year old tractor for a very reasonable price.

John

 

[JWE]

One more question... is the B6100 about the same size and weight as the BX?

John

 

[frank_f15]

again . what are u r intened uses for the tractor. kelvin pretty much says it all i wil just add that if u intend much snow removal, 2wd on a small cut is not very efective.

 

[JWE]

Frank

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This would be a second tractor for me that I would mainly use for pulling a cart; hauling mulch around the yard and firewood out of the woods. I do not want to invest a lot of money for a 2nd tractor. )</font>

John

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I just sold on on eBay for $3800, seems pretty fair to me.

 

[Kelvin]

JWE,

It is probably good that you have the BX2200 and won't rely upon the B6100 for mowing tasks. My older B7100's mid-mower did a pretty good mowing job, but was a real PAIN to remove and install (about 15 minutes to remove and about 30+ minutes to install).

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( is the B6100 about the same size and weight as the BX? )</font>

Based upon Kubota sales brochures, I can compare the BX2200 with the B7100HSD. If I understand the brochures correctly, all weight and size values are for the tractor without mid-mower. I used to have manuals and such on the B7100D (gear drive) but I let them go when I sold the tractor.

WEIGHT: The BX2200 weighs 1300lbs, while the B7100HSD weighs 1257 lbs. I believe the B7100D weighed around 1200 lbs, and that the B6100E (2wd/manual trans) used pretty much the same frame with slightly smaller engine. Thus, I'd "guess" that the B6100E weighs in the 1100 - 1200 lb range. Stated another way, I'd say that the B6100E weight with fluid in the tires would equal or exceed the weight of the BX2200 without fluid in the tires.

SIZE: I believe that the B7100 has taller tires (turf and AG) and thus is taller with slightly more ground clearance, and that the B6100's tire height would be equal to or taller than the BX2200s. The width of the BX2200 with turf tires is about the same as the B7100 with AG tires; the B7100 with turf tires is wider than the BX2200 with turf tires. Again, the B6100's width with turf tires should be equal to or greater than the BX2200 with turf tires.

As far as whether the 2wd B6100 will be adequate for towing the trailer around your yard, using your BX2200 in 2wd mode to tow the same trailer around your yard (with whatever yard conditions & hills you decide to throw at it) can give you a much better answer than we can; if the BX2200 will do it then the B6100 will most likely do it also. For safety reasons I would recommend that you use the drawbar and NOT use the 3-point hitch to tow loaded trailers.

The general impression that I now have is that as a 2nd tractor the 2wd B6100 will most likely do just fine for you and the tasks that you've described. You'll just have to utilize the BX2200 in 4wd mode on some occasions.

Kelvin

 

[JWE]

Thanks for all of the information. I plan to take a look at the B6100 when I return home this weekend. It sounds like it is a fair deal if the tractor is in good shape.

 

[texbaylea]

I have a B6100E that I will be selling or trading on a B2910 in the near future. I am using a Woods 15-48 48" pull behind mower am I have been very pleased with it. It has given good service since new. As near as I can tell with turf tires it is taller an wider than the BX2200. Note: it is the same frame and block as the B7100 with a different bore and stroke giving 14 HP gross. I looked at the BX series and decided to move up to the 30 HP B series since the BX's are too small for my 20 acres.

It will do a satisfactory job with a mower no bigger than 48" or pulling a small trailer.

 

[fractal]

I can not add much to the thread other than ...

kubota has a VERY cost efficient ROPS kit for all their earlier tractors. If you do buy the b6100 and the previous owner did not add one, please spend the less than 100 dollars kubota charges for a rops.