What year is this tractor?

[ThatTractorGuy]

Hey all. Great looking forum, I'm happy to be here!

Looking at buying this Kubota. Anyone have any idea what year it is? Or where the serial number is? I visited a local Kubota dealer and they couldn't tell me. Seemed odd. I'm guessing one of you can! Thanks in advance!

 

[jyoutz]

If nobody knows, post your question at orange tractor talks forum. The moderator there seems to be able to identify any Kubota.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Tractordata.com = TractorData.com Kubota B20 backhoe-loader tractor information

Serial number that you provided (72260?) indicates that it's a 1994 year.

 

[ThatTractorGuy]

G'day! Excellent, thanks for that. I wasn't sure which number was the serial number. The dealer tried 72260 with no luck. Not sure how he missed that.

Would you mind explaining how you found this info? I wasn't able to find much with that number. Thanks!

 

[CliffordK]

Hmmm.... I was going to say 70's or 80's based on the sheet metal. But, the ROPS probably pushed it into the 90's. Those are also pretty wide tires.

 

[azbinder]

1994 B20 TLB. Does it have the backhoe?. Came from the factory as a TLB.

TractorData.com Kubota B20 backhoe-loader tractor photos information

www.tractordata.com

 

[Wagtail]

G'day! Excellent, thanks for that. I wasn't sure which number was the serial number. The dealer tried 72260 with no luck. Not sure how he missed that.

Would you mind explaining how you found this info? I wasn't able to find much with that number. Thanks!

No worries... tractordata.com is a very handy research website when it comes to finding information and, often, serial number/year. The site also lists 'Industrial', 'Lawn tractor', 'Zero-turn', etc...

In your case I Googled "Kubota B20", spotted the tractordata.com result and clicked on it. Fortunately, 'serial numbers = year of manufacture' were listed when I scrolled down.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The condition it's in and the hours on it is MUCH more important than the year it was made.

SR

 

[ThatTractorGuy]

Yes, condition is key. Hours too, but the gauge broke at 790 hours about 15 years ago. I was just wanting to know the year out of curiosity mainly. That being said, the condition is questionable to me. I'm no expert though. Perhaps you all have some opinions on the condition. I gave it a real good once-over and everything worked like it should except for what you'll see below.

It has a backhoe with it but hasn't been attached in a decade because the release pins on the hoe are rusted. Owner tried PB Blaster and heat, wasn't able to remove them. Overall there's a lot of little things. There's a short in the gauges, they cut in and out. As I mentioned, the hour meter stopped working 15 years ago at 790 hours. Throttle cable doesn't work, needs replaced. None of the lights work. The emergency brake sets any time the brakes are pushed in, although with the hydro drive they aren't needed much. Probably just a spring. It needs all the fluids changed except the hydraulics, they were done a few years back.

It fired right up cold and purred like a kitten. All hydraulics worked properly. I couldn't find any leaks anywhere. The trans worked fine in all speed ranges. PTO worked fine.

The owner seems legit, told me stuff wrong with it that I wouldn't have even noticed (intermittent gauge problem). It's obviously got some neglected maintenance but the owner also says he's very busy and only uses the tractor an hour or two per month. He's selling because he bought a new one.

I really like this tractor but not knowing the hours is a bit scary. I want this thing for the backhoe and it may be timely and/or expensive to fix the rusted pins. He's asking 12.5k which honestly doesn't seem that bad to me. That being said, I'm tempted to spend $10k more and get something bigger/newer.

What's everyone think? What's the risk not knowing the hours?

 

[ThatTractorGuy]

No worries... tractordata.com is a very handy research website when it comes to finding information and, often, serial number/year. The site also lists 'Industrial', 'Lawn tractor', 'Zero-turn', etc...

In your case I Googled "Kubota B20", spotted the tractordata.com result and clicked on it. Fortunately, 'serial numbers = year of manufacture' were listed when I scrolled down.

Good to know, thanks a lot!