B2610 Skid Plate

[Guv]

Does anyone know of a skid plate for the "B" series tractors? I have found them for the Bx models but not for the B's.
Maybe the B is not as exposed on the underside as the Bx?
I'm not meaning to bash the Bx's, I plan on getting one in the future with a belly mower.

 

[kghenson]

Careful, boy did I get beat up when I suggested the BX might not be as well protected as it should be. A few slammed me for having the audacity for using the little tyke as a tractor.

If you keep the B on paved surfaces or freshly mowed lawns only you will lower the need for a skid plate..

 

[lugbolt]

If you see a need for a skid plate, I see a need for a real tractor (or bull dozer), and a B is still not a real tractor. A B series has a big square tubing frame similar to what lawn mowers use. Little better than a BX but still not a real tractor. Actually the B series has several little hydraulic pipes and tubes that protrude. Couple of them, if damaged, require splitting the little tractor to get to them for replacement. And splitting a B isnt' as easy as splitting an L series-which is a real tractor (no frame, just the trans case and engine). I hate working on the BX and B series for that reason. Everything's packed tight and you need little bitty hands and optical magnification to work on them.

 

[kghenson]

See, knew it.


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[BadDog]

and a B is still not a real tractor. A B series has a big square tubing frame similar to what lawn mowers use. Little better than a BX but still not a real tractor. <snip/> I hate working on the BX and B series for that reason. Everything's packed tight and you need little bitty hands and optical magnification to work on them.

Based on the profile thumb on your post, you've been around a while and posted a fair bit, but that post makes me unsure if you've ever worked on a B? It doesn't appear a typo, so perhaps just a moment of confusion? It is true that the BX (that I've seen) is a beefed up perimeter frame design reminiscent of a lawn mower, but they do seem to do pretty well for what they are. And from what I've read, it's clear that they do need protection, particularly for the HST fan. However, I have not owned one, though I've now owned a couple of B series. A tired little ancient B7100, and a newer B2150 that I've found surprisingly dainty for it's size, plus a bit expensive and aggravating to repair. But they both most certainly are "real tractors" with the drive train as the primary stressed member in the chassis. The tractor itself has is no frame whatsoever other than the "hangers" for bits of sheet metal and such. And of course the loader or backhoe require sub-frames, as do all general purpose tractors (including Ls, as opposed to dedicated loader/hoes, skips, etc), and those frames can prove problematic, or as in my case a nice aid in supporting the split tractor for an insanely overpriced dual clutch replacement. Anyway, I'm certainly no Kubota fanboy at this point, quite disillusioned vs what I expected to be honest, but I wanted to weigh in regarding the inaccurate comments regarding the general design of the B tractors. If any had a frame, I've never seen one.

So regarding the OP, I would say there are some parts of the design that could use some protection. The lower hydraulic lines mentioned earlier are quite exposed, though they seem to hold up well enough in reality. If I was going to spend a lot of time in rough cut stob cleanup or something, it might be worth it. But the B seems more than suited to typical small lot/yard/arena/garden work without any real need for skid plates and such.

 

[CountryBumkin]

Not an expert for sure - but I would say that BX only needs a skid plate because of the exposure of the flimsy HST fan (and Kubota added some protection for this in the new BX series), but the B series doesn't have this HST fan, so there isn't any concern - and probably why there is not an aftermarket skid-plate sold.

 

[Guv]

Thanks guys, and I meant a B2601.
I use mine mostly for cutting brush (Mesquite, cactus, etc...) so I do have some concern about the hydraulic lines. Do any of you know of any pre-fabed covers/guards for these areas?

 

[Guv]

See, knew it.


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I'm keeping my head down!

 

[kghenson]

I'm keeping my head down!

I hear you. There are some who think only the Abrams is a real tractor, the rest are lawn mowers.

 

[RCW]

I'm keeping my head down!

I hear you. There are some who think only the Abrams is a real tractor, the rest are lawn mowers.

I'm only speaking from what I see here, but sounds like there are not many aftermarket plates for the B - good thing in that the need may not be as common, but doesn't mean there aren't some soft spots on the tractor.

Mr. Henson -

I did agree with your position regarding lack of protection for the BX TRACTOR. I have one, and use it as such, lawn mowing included. Will be moving/grooming a few ton of driveway stone in the morning with FEL and box blade, before snowblower and chains go on for a possible 8-12" of snow coming this weekend.

I grew up with a 1953 Minneapolis-Moline ZAU. My dad still has it. At 30 hp, narrow front end, and 5,000lbs it's pretty basic, but I could take it places and do things with that I would never dream of with the BX Kubota. Damn thing is nearly bullet-proof. I could back it and a manure spreader down a 100 foot barn floor at 7 years old. Couldn't do it today...... Skid 100's of cords of firewood with it after we sold the cows.

I meant no offense regarding the lawn mower on steroids comment, and I hope none was taken. It just seems many of these modern machines have an Achilles Heel somewhere, whether it be exposure to damage, software, etc.

I wish you both well enjoying your TRACTORS, I know I do!

 

[kghenson]

Mr. Henson -

I meant no offense regarding the lawn mower on steroids comment, and I hope none was taken. It just seems many of these modern machines have an Achilles Heel somewhere, whether it be exposure to damage, software, etc.

I wish you both well enjoying your TRACTORS, I know I do!

None taken Sir. I realize this is not a real farm tractor of my youth but that wasn't what I needed or wanted anyway. Love my BX and it does all I need it to. I do wish it was better protected, but having paid the butchers bill once I will attempt to be more careful in the future. One thing I did learn is next time I punch a hole in a hydraulic line or do whatever I will fix it myself. The Kubota shop rates are a bit pricey for something that can sit in the barn till I have time to fix it.



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[Guv]

Well I crawled under my B yesterday and the need for any kind of skid plate doesn't seem that great. I did see the frame and it is made out of 1/4" steel and very compact. It was kinda hard to see the solid (sressed) connection between the engine and rear drive unit. I feel better after a look around.

 

[RCW]

Well I crawled under my B yesterday and the need for any kind of skid plate doesn't seem that great. I did see the frame and it is made out of 1/4" steel and very compact. It was kinda hard to see the solid (sressed) connection between the engine and rear drive unit. I feel better after a look around.

That's good news!

I was under my BX yesterday putting the mid-PTO on for snow blower.

I have not put a skid plate on it, and it does go in the woods occasionally.

HST fan was still there in good shape.

 

[Guv]

RCW,
My first tractor was born in 19953 also, a JD 60 narrow font end. The only thing exposed under that old girl was my mouth and all the bad words coming out of it while removing the starter!! These bloody South Texas fire ants on several occasions decided to build a nest in the starter and bugger the whole thing up! My second tractor was a 231S MF and it was every bit the tank that the JD was. It also had a loader so in some ways got abused more than the JD 60 did. I'm not as active on my tractors any more and my B2601 is a real pleasure to use, I just have to remember to be a little bit more careful with it out in the brush.

 

[RCW]

RCW,
My first tractor was born in 19953 also, a JD 60 narrow font end.

Nice tractor! We had a B NFE with cultivators and flat spoke wheels. Originally had steel lug tires, but was converted to rubber. We had another Moline WFE, and our big tractor was a MF Super 90, which are kinda rare today.

Neighbor has almost the whole X30 series, which would have followed your 60 by a few years, I think 1959 and 1960. I think he's just short the 330, which are huge $$, when/if you find them. He uses them all on his dairy farm; I think their newest machine is his son's AC 165 with loader - vintage late-'60's or so. His son has almost the whole AC DXX series.

As a kid of 12 or so, my school bus turned around in my driveway. One winter, slid of the side of driveway on the ice. Nothing tragic, just couldn't get out. Maybe 10-15 kids on the bus.

I went and got the Moline, and yanked it out...all was well in 5 or 10 minutes...

Today, you'd have 5 police cars, 10 ambulances, and the NTSB on site for a full investigation!

As you say, these new ones are such a joy to run. I did a lot of work with mine yesterday, then got it ready for winter operations with chains and snowblower after oil change.

 

[BadDog]

When I saw the comment regarding "I did see the frame and it is made out of 1/4" steel and very compact", I was thinking "what could he be seeing, the loader frame or something?" So I went searching. And as usually, it's nearly impossible to find good photos from anything other than the Kubota advertising angle, and takes some effort to even get the right model. Anyway, I did find some and posted below for anyone else that may be unfamiliar with the later Bs. Just from the pic, it certainly does appear to have more of a BX "law mower" design than I've ever seen on a B. I guess I'm just way behind on the times. And while it looks like that's a given, I'll further guess that they traded the trans extension + bell housing as stressed member for either perimeter or sub-connector frame in order to get a the flat step-through floor? Just from the pics I found (mostly advertising type shots) it certainly does seem it was targeted more at lawn mowing, but like the BX capable of much more. In the last few years I've looked at quite a few B series tractors, and never saw one like this. But my budget (and needs) pretty much blocked out anything made in the last 10 years or more, so somewhere in there it changed a lot.

Hopefully that image works, it does for me. But if the site does not allow deep linking, then this link to the page where I found the image should work.

 

[Guv]

On the Kubota parts website you can find a parts breakdown showing the frame rails. The engine is however bolted solid (16 bolts) to the frame on either side, no rubber mounts like on the BX.
Could the HST be the reason for needing the frame rails and because they use a drive shaft between the engine and transmission?