Just quit dreaming and finally went "orange" when I found this 1979 B7100DT tractor on Craigslist here in eastern WA. For cheap, like cheap (just 20 Ben's!) He didn't even know what model it was so I took the serial number & saw through the painted decal (and later found the model on the left side of the tranny)
Carefully, I poured over all the forums to learn as much as I could (and from the articles, immense wealth!) Since I had little help from the previous owner as he doesn't seem to know much about it as he bought it for his father-in-law who pretty much neglected it by leaving it unattended for two years in one spot, I was pretty much starting from scratch. At least he was honest. At the time of sale, the tractor was started with starting fluid, FEL moved very slow, but the transmission and the 3-point was very strong. Good AG tires. (I got the warning for using starting fluid later, I know now)
After purchasing it, I brought it home and went over it. The FEL just quit working so I was ready to accept that because one of the cylinders for the bucket was leaking significantly. The hoses on the FEL was in old condition as well and guessed that the fluid was low. I took off the cylinder and took it in to have it serviced and had replacement hoses made to replace those on the FEL itself (for the bucket & arm). I also swung by a local Kubota dealer and got some new oil, fuel, air filters and a bunch of fluids & stuff at the local auto parts store.
Believe it or not, I'm excited about my new tractor while my wife thinks it should belong in a museum! I forgot to take "before" pictures so you'll see the new hoses & missing cylinder in these two.
What I've done so far was to replace fuel filter and the air filter. I moved on to the FEL hydraulics which runs off the pump at front. I replaced the hoses & temporarily blocked off the ports for the missing cylinder for the bucket so I can get it working & identify other areas to work on while waiting for the cylinder to come back. I drained (not much came out) from the bottom by removing the hose & filled up the reservoir through the port on top with a funny looking cap. Started it up & ran the FEL through the motions at least 5 times both ways, full stops, I was happy that it started working well until the fluids started coming out through the over flow from that funny cap (which I assume is built just for that). I thought it was too much so I continued to "exercise" the FEL by moving wet snow and it would occasionally spurt fluid and I'd continue to mop up. Eventually, it quit working (wouldn't go up) so I parked it without lowering the FEL. As an afterthought, I did measure the position of the FEL before quitting for the day. Next day, I came out and the FEL was dead-on at the same spot and no leaks from the new hoses so the hydraulics is holding them up strongly.
Leaking cylinder before taking it off for repair...
Old hoses...
New hoses...
I don't know if the FEL is a Kubota part or an aftermarket (I'm thinking it is) and I have absolutely no reference or identifying sticker except for the warning label. If anyone knows, I'd be grateful for the info or at least, some idea about it. I KNOW there has to be a filter somewhere and hopefully any of you can give me some insight where it is, how to properly drain & fill this, and what the problem might be?
Warning label...
View of the right side with the fill port and what I assumed is a built-in vent?
What's this black-capped thing near the top?
Some images of the pump & controls... the suction hose was replaced (foreground) but the fittings were different sizes. I should replace the fitting on the pump to match the inner diameter of the hose so I wouldn't have to clamp it down so far to compensate.
I also noticed that some of the B7100's mufflers are pointed forward while mine's pointed up. Is it a choice or?
Everything on the tractor works very well except for starting as I still had to use starting fluid to start it twice to work on the FEL & no more. I will try testing the glow plugs for resistance, replace the battery cables with 6g (I'm reading somewhere that it uses 8g?), check connections and try it again while using the decompression as part of the start-up procedure to move oil around. Temp is in the 35-40's during the day, 25's at night if it helps.
About myself...
I'm a 43 yo "retired" emergency vehicle upfitter (read: 12vdc electronic guru) from So. Calif. Started my own OEM company manufacturing electronic components for emergency vehicles across the US & International 5 years ago & running strong. I plan to enjoy working outdoors, thinning my property of trees & making a walking / bike / atv path through 10 acres of wood with my new tractor. I've always liked tractors and my head spins whenever I see one in my new neighborhood (moved 3 years ago) and just-got-to-have-one.
Hoping to make new friends here and in person from the area?
Sean
Carefully, I poured over all the forums to learn as much as I could (and from the articles, immense wealth!) Since I had little help from the previous owner as he doesn't seem to know much about it as he bought it for his father-in-law who pretty much neglected it by leaving it unattended for two years in one spot, I was pretty much starting from scratch. At least he was honest. At the time of sale, the tractor was started with starting fluid, FEL moved very slow, but the transmission and the 3-point was very strong. Good AG tires. (I got the warning for using starting fluid later, I know now)
After purchasing it, I brought it home and went over it. The FEL just quit working so I was ready to accept that because one of the cylinders for the bucket was leaking significantly. The hoses on the FEL was in old condition as well and guessed that the fluid was low. I took off the cylinder and took it in to have it serviced and had replacement hoses made to replace those on the FEL itself (for the bucket & arm). I also swung by a local Kubota dealer and got some new oil, fuel, air filters and a bunch of fluids & stuff at the local auto parts store.
Believe it or not, I'm excited about my new tractor while my wife thinks it should belong in a museum! I forgot to take "before" pictures so you'll see the new hoses & missing cylinder in these two.
What I've done so far was to replace fuel filter and the air filter. I moved on to the FEL hydraulics which runs off the pump at front. I replaced the hoses & temporarily blocked off the ports for the missing cylinder for the bucket so I can get it working & identify other areas to work on while waiting for the cylinder to come back. I drained (not much came out) from the bottom by removing the hose & filled up the reservoir through the port on top with a funny looking cap. Started it up & ran the FEL through the motions at least 5 times both ways, full stops, I was happy that it started working well until the fluids started coming out through the over flow from that funny cap (which I assume is built just for that). I thought it was too much so I continued to "exercise" the FEL by moving wet snow and it would occasionally spurt fluid and I'd continue to mop up. Eventually, it quit working (wouldn't go up) so I parked it without lowering the FEL. As an afterthought, I did measure the position of the FEL before quitting for the day. Next day, I came out and the FEL was dead-on at the same spot and no leaks from the new hoses so the hydraulics is holding them up strongly.
Leaking cylinder before taking it off for repair...
Old hoses...
New hoses...
I don't know if the FEL is a Kubota part or an aftermarket (I'm thinking it is) and I have absolutely no reference or identifying sticker except for the warning label. If anyone knows, I'd be grateful for the info or at least, some idea about it. I KNOW there has to be a filter somewhere and hopefully any of you can give me some insight where it is, how to properly drain & fill this, and what the problem might be?
Warning label...
View of the right side with the fill port and what I assumed is a built-in vent?
What's this black-capped thing near the top?
Some images of the pump & controls... the suction hose was replaced (foreground) but the fittings were different sizes. I should replace the fitting on the pump to match the inner diameter of the hose so I wouldn't have to clamp it down so far to compensate.
I also noticed that some of the B7100's mufflers are pointed forward while mine's pointed up. Is it a choice or?
Everything on the tractor works very well except for starting as I still had to use starting fluid to start it twice to work on the FEL & no more. I will try testing the glow plugs for resistance, replace the battery cables with 6g (I'm reading somewhere that it uses 8g?), check connections and try it again while using the decompression as part of the start-up procedure to move oil around. Temp is in the 35-40's during the day, 25's at night if it helps.
About myself...
I'm a 43 yo "retired" emergency vehicle upfitter (read: 12vdc electronic guru) from So. Calif. Started my own OEM company manufacturing electronic components for emergency vehicles across the US & International 5 years ago & running strong. I plan to enjoy working outdoors, thinning my property of trees & making a walking / bike / atv path through 10 acres of wood with my new tractor. I've always liked tractors and my head spins whenever I see one in my new neighborhood (moved 3 years ago) and just-got-to-have-one.
Hoping to make new friends here and in person from the area?
Sean
