B2910 Salvage Machine - Rebuildable?

[dwczerr]

Hi All,

I would like to upgrade from my current B7100 4wd/HST to something a little larger, 20-30hp, power steering, larger tires, and FEL. I'm trying to be frugal and I'm always willing to tackle a project, so I'd like your opinions on the following machine.

There's a totaled B2910 nearby coming up for auction soon, 2003 model with 499 hours on the clock with FEL. Was rear-ended by a vehicle and did significant damage to the rear of the machine. I visually inspected the machine and found the pictures to be fairly representative. The front of the machine seems fine, FEL not bent/tweaked, engine and compartment clean and straight, oil and coolant both clean and full. No key and likely dead battery so I cannot verify the engine runs, but it looked good, no cracks, weeping or seeping of any fluid.

The back is a mess, most all hitch components will need replacing or repairing but the biggest concern is the rear axle transmission. Pics show some of the damage and the cracked axle carrier housing, but the differential case is cracked wide open as well. Damage seems to stop at the transmission case and not extend into the hydrostatic unit.

I've looked up the obvious big parts, cast housings, axle shaft (left side), and assumed about 1/2 the other transmission internals need replacing (guess) and I'm coming up with about $2100 in parts.

I'm comfortable in straightening, repairing, or fabricating new hitch parts. I have a shop well equipped with lathe, plasma, welders, etc. so metal components of non critical dimension can be fixed as needed.

Tractor itself will have a 10% buyers fee plus NC tax at 8%, so you're adding $400-$500 to the selling price, assuming it stays in the low $2,000's. My pricing assumptions are $2,800 for the machine ($2,400 + tax + fee) and $2,100 in parts.....$4,900 total.

What's the value of similar sized Kubota's with a FEL and 500+/- hours? $10k?

Assuming I can supply the labor is this worth it? Will it ever be right, or plagued with constant problems? Is there something I'm missing?

Has anyone ever tackled something like this? Other thoughts?

Thank you in advance for your opinions, I'm really torn on the long term value in this project.

Here's the machine:

http://www.ironplanet.com/for-sale/Farm-Tractors-2003-Kubota-B2910HSD-4x4-Farm-Tractor-North-Carolina/812928?h=5000%2Cq%7Ckubota&rr=0.14286&hitprm=&pnLink=yes#

 

[dwczerr]

Just realized this may belong in the Buying Advice forum - it's 50% purchase advice and 50% repair! Apologies if I'm in the wrong spot with this.

Here's a couple of pics to start off with:

 

[D2Cat]

It looks like the tractor was hit on the right rear and really contorted it. I'd be concerned the frame was beyond getting it square again.

What makes you think it will sell for 2K? Is it already bid close to that?

I would bid on it thinking the loader and engine has value, then try to find more prices for parts/assemblies.

Have you contacted: http://wkytpstore.com/

See what they give you for prices.

 

[Daren Todd]

Guy I was talking to locally ran into one heck of a deal doing something similar to you. Except he was helping clean up from a tornado that struck the area when he found the deal.

He found a kubota tractor that had a tree fall on it. Persons insurance settled on it. So the guy bought the tractor from the guy for $150. While talking to the person, the former owner of the tractor said the buyer needed to run down the road and talk to this other fella. He had the same model tractor with a FEL that was damaged similar. The one he bought had the front end pretty much crushed, but the back half was good.

Went down and talked to the other fella. His tractor had a tree fall and crush the back half. Bought that tractor for $200.

So, he split the tractors, hooked the good halves together, and had a working 40 hp tractor for $350

 

[dwczerr]

It looks like the tractor was hit on the right rear and really contorted it. I'd be concerned the frame was beyond getting it square again.

What makes you think it will sell for 2K? Is it already bid close to that?

I would bid on it thinking the loader and engine has value, then try to find more prices for parts/assemblies.

Have you contacted: http://wkytpstore.com/

See what they give you for prices.

D2, I'm not sure that it will sell for $2k......just thinking that it's not worth much more than that. Loader is worth a grand, the engine a grand if it's running which can't be demonstrated. Given the hassle and headaches, and the possibility of additional parts expenses I can't see it being worth much more than the opening bid. If an equivalent machine on the used market is about $10k there would have to be enough $$$ incentive to make me want to tackle this project.

I haven't yet contacted Western Kentucky, but will be on Monday. The other tractor salvage yards that list their inventories online don't list a 2910, and I'm unclear about transmission compatibility with other models. The 2910 didn't seem to be a very popular model based on the limited number of used machines for sale.

Thanks for the responses, gives me some things to think about. -David

 

[dwczerr]

Guy I was talking to locally ran into one heck of a deal doing something similar to you. Except he was helping clean up from a tornado that struck the area when he found the deal.

He found a kubota tractor that had a tree fall on it. Persons insurance settled on it. So the guy bought the tractor from the guy for $150. While talking to the person, the former owner of the tractor said the buyer needed to run down the road and talk to this other fella. He had the same model tractor with a FEL that was damaged similar. The one he bought had the front end pretty much crushed, but the back half was good.

Went down and talked to the other fella. His tractor had a tree fall and crush the back half. Bought that tractor for $200.

So, he split the tractors, hooked the good halves together, and had a working 40 hp tractor for $350

Now that's a deal worth the work!! I've looked for a 2910 with engine issues or front end problems to no avail thus far.

Thanks! -David

 

[85Hokie]

dw,

my 2 little cents.....

IF you get it for 2k and pay the fees, you are really "guessing" as to what is really wrong with the rear of the machine - once you get down to the nitty gritty, you might find it needs a few more 5 dollar parts, or a couple of $500 parts. You will not know till the green backs have been spent.

I know you would not count your hours as you build it back, but if you did - I truly think you would exceed what you could find a used one. Now - if you can steal this, lets say, 1K - I would sell the engine and other stuff and then take the money and move forward.

That machine is a good one - my BIL has the 2920 and it is a fantastic machine......hell being on it for 4 hours MADE me buy my first Kubota.

I think the parts are worth more than the whole, again just my two little cents.

 

[lugbolt]

The price is fair. But there's a fair amount of work/labor. Do you have time, place, and will power to do all that work? Myself, as much pain as I have on a daily basis, working on stuff is becoming a real pain...thus if I can afford it and NEED it, I'll try to get one already running/working. Minor stuff I'm ok with. Major not so much.

The HST is mounted to the front side of the transmission/differential cases. So when you split, you're removing the HST as well. I absolutely hate working on the B series for this reason.

I found it nice to have a bunch of heavy duty zip lock bags for all of the nuts and bolts, label each bag as to what hardware goes where. Also, I like to use bus boxes (plastic trays like that are used in restaurants and airports), kinda makes things go smoother. Especially when you have the HST/trans/differential apart-because there's a thousand bolts and nuts and some are only slightly different than others.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Let me give you another thing to think about.

Looking at that picture it was hit hard enough that it moved the steering column out of place, and the seat which is attached to the top of the rear end is way out of place, and that means that a lot of parts moved.

If the HST drive shaft was shoved forward into the engine there will probably be parts broken in there, if it broke the HST your looking at 4K or so to replace it.
If it shoved the rear end forward it also shoved the front axle drive shaft forward, if it's enough to collapse it into the front end is yet to be seen.

I'm not against it, I just think you could be opening a Jack in the Box!

 

[dwczerr]

Thanks for everyone's opinion on this machine, and I tend to agree with most of the thoughts that there is a lot of unknowns about such a project. Given the price of the machine and the possibility of more extensive damage, I'm leaning towards giving this project a pass.

If the machine could be purchased cheaper, or the damage was less severe it would be worth the risk and time to undertake the project, but for me there's just not enough of a reward.

Again, thanks for the thoughts and I'll keep on working my B7100 until something else comes along! -David

 

[D2Cat]

David, I think you just made a good decision. I'm one that likes to work on a challenge, but you have to know when to cut bait.

And, I've found out when North Idaho Wolfman looks at a picture he sees the details others miss. His monitor is bigger then the TV in my front room.

 

[Lil Foot]

His monitor is bigger

he sees the details others miss.

I think his brain is bigger also.

 

[dwczerr]

Thought I'd provide a conclusion to this story. Machine sold for $3,600, plus 10% fee and sales tax....total in the $4,200 range. And, in case you're wondering, the buyer was not me

Add in my rough estimate of $2k - $2.5k in parts and I just don't see the value here with the unknown additional damage and labor to fix it all....obviously some one else did Maybe they'll find this website and post their progress!

Thanks to everyone! -David

 

[Tooljunkie]

for that price it would be parted out to just break even. I prefer items priced closer to free,or as i say- my favorite color-free!

Then at least theres room to throw a few dollars at it.

 

[Donystoy]

I totally agree that the right decision was made here. That tractor sustained a major hit that appears to have twisted the frame as well as all the other damage. Your own labor has to be calculated into the equation as well.
Wondering how badly the driver was injured in the accident.