B7100D - v - B7100HST, they are not the same size.

[Rob]

hi guys,
Bit of a strange question here, i have two B7100's , a 4wd-D version and the 4WD-HST vesrion.
I was in the workshop this evening when i noticed a strange thing, they are differerent sizes.
when they are parked side by side with the rear axle shafts alined, the hst if longer and the front axle is further forward than on the normal D version,and by a noticable amount.
also the chassis is longer at the front, it appears like the steering, instrument panel etc are also further foward.
Is this normal? I looked at the specs for both model and they are staed the same. wheelbase 49.5" and overall lenght 78.75 " , there is no way they are both the same, so where is the difference coming from.
I know the footplates are longer due to extra plates at the rear, is the clutch tunnel to blame, and if so what also is effected by it.
I lookforward to some enlightenment.
rgds
rob

 

[hodge]

The B7100 was made for a long time- I would assume that there is an age difference between the two? Changes over the years?

On a different note, not many folks have two of the same model- which do you prefer? Gear or hydro?

 

[Rob]

thanks for the reply, i did trawl through a lot of spec for all the 7100 versions since its introduction, the dimensional spec were all the same, which seems odd to mebecuase the hst is longer.
as far a preference between the two goes, i think the manual 4wd is the best way to go, it is just a more robust setup, i prefer the option of selecting the gear i want rather than relying on fluid power to interact between the the two.
Hst is great for mowing and stuff like that, but its way behind the manual version in the messy rough stuff.

cheers
rob

 

[Marvnordeen]

I am new to these machines, but as best I can tell there are three versions of the B7100. The original from the 70's, which is the manual gear driven version. Then in the early 80's, they moved to the HST version until about 86? It then went off-line until around 90. When it came back into production, it had some subtle differences, including frame length. Though the differences were subtle, they are sufficient enough to require different attachments for each version. Marv