Kubota b6001 and l1500

[kubquestion]

Hi all, so with needing to purchase a small tractor as surprisingly a lawn mower does not till all that well, I've begun to look at the smaller Kubotas since that's all we have in aus. Generally I've only really been stumped by a few things

1. A b6000 has a counter clockwise pto, and as far as I know kits are unheard of, yet a seller is looking to part with a b6001, so would this have a standard pto or have a counterclockwise like the 6000?


2. Is the l1500 a standard pto? And if so how well is it recommended for tillage versus a smaller Kubota?


3. How important is 4wd, as the main cost point I'm noticing is the jump from 2wd to 4wd tractors, I'm planning on breaking virgin soil so as you can imagine I do need some grip, however I also am trying to spend as little money as possible.

4 how are the parts in general for Kubotas? From what I've heard the grey market models are a PITA to get parts for, and with sofar all these tractors being grey market it does concern me a little bit, especially considering the price bump I'm getting from buying Kubota.


5. What damage is generally accepted? I did find a yanmar that was absolutely perfect and all, however it was only 2wd. But I'd very much purchase the yanmar if parts are available, especially with the b6001 needing a 3pl, bonnet, seat to be purchased and fitted. And the l1500 generally being in rough shape.

The prices are:
B6001: 3000aud
L1500: 3950aud
Yanmar: 2950aud

My general budget is around 3000~aud, and my largest comfortable size would be not much larger than the current bx series, so if you know of any other machines please let me know

Photos 1&2 are the b6001, 3 is the l1500, and 4 is the 17hp yanmar

 

[PaulL]

I'm not familiar with those machines, but I am wondering why you'd buy instead of rent if this is the only task you really need a tractor for. You can't be tilling virgin soil forever, you'll run out. You could rent a big machine and a tiller and it wouldn't be your machine you're beating up doing it.

 

[kubquestion]

I'm not familiar with those machines, but I am wondering why you'd buy instead of rent if this is the only task you really need a tractor for. You can't be tilling virgin soil forever, you'll run out. You could rent a big machine and a tiller and it wouldn't be your machine you're beating up doing it.

I have thought about renting, but discovered the cost would very quickly exceed that of a cheap second hand tractor.

Adding on most of the rentals around us are designed for for slashing as it's a horse-heavy area, meaning 35-60hp tractors are the norm, at which point I would also be better off purchasing a smaller furgeson.

The last nail in the coffin is that if anything breaks, it comes out of my pocket, which makes me nervous especially with the idea of damaging a part and having to fork up the money immediately. I also just heavily prefer using my own equipment,as I feel more comfortable actually using it versus babying it

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The B6001 is better than the B6000
The b6001 is essentially a B6100 which is not a grey, so getting parts for the b6001 is fairly easy.
The B6001 is a standard rotation and size PTO and a class 1, 3 point hitch, so again standard.

 

[PaulL]

I have thought about renting, but discovered the cost would very quickly exceed that of a cheap second hand tractor.

Adding on most of the rentals around us are designed for for slashing as it's a horse-heavy area, meaning 35-60hp tractors are the norm, at which point I would also be better off purchasing a smaller furgeson.

The last nail in the coffin is that if anything breaks, it comes out of my pocket, which makes me nervous especially with the idea of damaging a part and having to fork up the money immediately. I also just heavily prefer using my own equipment,as I feel more comfortable actually using it versus babying it

Reasonable logic. I'm in NZ (not so different to Aus). I rented a tiller to grind up a driveway. I don't own a tiller. My impression was that they knew that tiller would be worked hard, and they weren't surprised when I took it back with a couple bits broken. I worked it hard, they welded it up. It wasn't cheap to rent, but much cheaper than breaking my own equipment (which I didn't own anyway).

I guess it depends how often you're doing this. If it's a one time job, then I struggle with buying a tractor just for that. If you plan to keep the tractor and use it for other stuff, then I'd focus on that other stuff in your buying decision, not the tilling. In particular, if you're keeping a tractor long term you really need a loader. And if you have a loader, 4WD is generally better.

 

[cthomas]

I find I need 4WD for pulling gravel back up the hill for the driveway, so 4wd would be mandatory for me(I have had to pull the JD lawn mower out after it collapsed a ground hog tunnel). That Yanmar might be in better condition as it can't do the work the others have done. Also 4wd does make it safer to operate on a hill as traction and braking are improved. Yes, I could see the 3 point parts getting expensive, the seat you could build something, and the bonnet(hood) I envision a plastic sled upside down.

 

[Lencho]

I think Paul has some good points - is this a one time tilling job or do you have more tractor work in mind?

 

[kubquestion]

I think Paul has some good points - is this a one time tilling job or do you have more tractor work in mind?

Most definitely a multi use thing, I'm planning on using it for garden work, so tilling ect as well as a "backup mower" for when the wet season comes so I have something other than the lawnmower, which gets stuck all the time.

I would prefer something like a b7200/8200hst but when they're asking 12000 for something from the 80s, when I can get a brand new bx for 20'000 it just isn't worth it

 

[PaulL]

I don't think you can get a brand new BX for $20K in Aus. $27K for a BX1880. Unless you mean without loader, which would sort of miss the point to me.

BX1830 for $10K.
B7100 for $8K. No mower.
B7100 for $10Kish with loader and mower.

It looks like they may go cheaper via auction sites such as Grays. But all the risks that go with that.

Perhaps a BX would make sense? So many uses, especially if a mower is useful to you as well. If you're tilling you're gardening, so you're moving mulch, toting stuff from place to place, turning compost, perhaps chipping waste? Maybe there's a business case in there, a BX replaces a wheelbarrow very well.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I had exactly 1, 2wd truck.

I got that damn thing stuck just parking on a muddy drive way.

Sold it 2 days later.

From that point on, I would never even consider getting a 2wd truck or tractor.

Just my $.02

Paul