Looking for some beginner tractor advice (B/LX + implements)

[bbxlr8]

I tried on the tractor. He’s keeping it. He sold a chunk of the implements at a large auction on the property last year (with 3 parallel auctioneers). They had an antique shop on the property so they had a lot of stuff.

A grapple is on my must have list. Part of the reason I’m leaning toward the LX over the B01. I also want pallet forks asap.

Tomorrow is home inspection day as well as “quiz the owner” to get a bunch of information ( he offered). I know which places I want to stop at to look at zero turn options tomorrow, as this place is 2 hours from me. Then after sorting that out, I’ll get tractor shopping, which I expect to be in a week or so.

Good luck & let us know how you make out!

 

[top gnome]

If you decide on the b2601 or b2301 and you are not going to mow consicer ag tires you will save money and have better traction you will also not need spacers for tire chains at least I did not for the b 2301.

 

[Shekkie]

I am a bit s/w of Cleveland with the same needs as you minus driveway maintenance and I recently closed a deal for a LX2610. I have 11 acres and have about 100 downed trees from a tornado a few years back. They are at the rear of my property so I have only dealt with the ones that were “in the way” but I wanna get the rest cut and stacked this year. That was the main reason for the recent purchase. BTW I also have a zero turn for lawn maintenance.

I used to own a JD 2320 (25hp, about the size of a B series) that I used for similar tasks at a previous property. It was a workhorse and handled the tasks but I was pushing it pretty hard much of the time. That is what led me to the LX. I wanted something a size up from what I had.

My local dealer has gone above and beyond thus far. Delivery is later this week. The few places in the general area I have checked seem to have reasonable stock.

Good luck!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

One thing to consider with a front PTO driven snowblower is that when it's on, the loader is off. Changing those probably isn't fun in the summer, in winter....brrrrrrr. Hopefully others who do the swaps will say how long it takes. I'm getting too old to crawl around and get beat up by 'machines'.
I chose the 3rd option, a selfpowered SSQA snoblower. BERCOMAC is one company that makes them, spec and prices online. Yes, they're pricey 'off the shelf', but allow you to quickly and easily change implements. I bodged my own and of course not enough snow has fallen to test it,maybe $500 in parts(engine was the big purchase).
You should consider the snowblower a 'lifetime' investment,while not used daily it's a great implement to have.

 

[RMS]

One thing to consider with a front PTO driven snowblower is that when it's on, the loader is off. Changing those probably isn't fun in the summer, in winter....brrrrrrr. Hopefully others who do the swaps will say how long it takes. I'm getting too old to crawl around and get beat up by 'machines'.
I chose the 3rd option, a selfpowered SSQA snoblower. BERCOMAC is one company that makes them, spec and prices online. Yes, they're pricey 'off the shelf', but allow you to quickly and easily change implements. I bodged my own and of course not enough snow has fallen to test it,maybe $500 in parts(engine was the big purchase).
You should consider the snowblower a 'lifetime' investment,while not used daily it's a great implement to have.

I did this swap last week for the 1st time. Reading the manuals every step of the way and taking my time the blower was off and teh fel back on in around 35 minutes. I'm sure it will get quicker with practice.

 

[MattN03]

Make sure you get SSQA on the front bucket so you can easily switch from bucket, to grapple, to pallet forks, etc. Option for the 3rd function so you can run a grapple. I just added a top hydraulic cylinder to my 3pt and that's really nice, so a top and tilt with a gravel drive or other grading chores is nice to have.

 

[fried1765]

First post on this forum. I'm closing on a home in NE Ohio in about 6 weeks - 10 acres, 3.5-4acres finish mowed, rest is driveway, home, outbuildings, and woods. Current retired owners used a couple riding mowers for the lawn and a Kubota B2620 tractor with a ton of implements, including a front mount snow blower. None of those tools are for sale, so my plan is to get a Zero Turn Mower asap, and order/wait in line for a tractor as it's not quite as time sensitive as a mower in the spring.

Uses I see for the tractor:
- Dragging downed trees for firewood. Property is mostly flat, but that's also coming from a current PA resident.
- Moving bucked logs (not sure of term). Home has a wood stove & propane furnace. 2 outbuildings (combined 3000 sq ft) use wood heat exclusively. I'll reduce the need for wood, but it's still a good option as a supplement.
- Gathering and moving brush.
- Driveway maintenance - currently about 800 feet of driveway to the state road. General shaping over time + fresh gravel distribution.
- Driveway addition - add 200 feet of driveway, perpendicular to current driveway, to reach one outbuilding. Would be cutting in on existing lawn, no trees or anything.
- Dealing with snow. Current owner said blade is fine most years, but this year it hasn't been, and they're scheduled for another 7-12" on top of the 12" that was there this weekend when i visited.
- Moving/lifting stuff - deliveries to the outbuildings, garage items, etc. Moving flat/open trailer around.

So, for the tractor side, I think I'm narrowing down to: B2601, LX2610, and LX3310.

BX - too small for that stuff - it can be done, people do it, but buying new, it seems to make sense to move up in size.
B2601 - similar to what current owner had.
LX2610 - increased loader/pallet capacity. Maybe a little more "oomph" with the heavier tractor for the plowing/blading (tbd) and dragging.
LX3310 - From what I understand just a HP bump isn't that noticeable more most tasks. I wasn't sure if the move from 19.5-27 PTO HP would be a big benefit.

I'll start with this tractor post. After solving that, I can move on to initial implements. Thank you all of the posts on the forum - I've spent a ton of time reading over the past few weeks as well as burning countless hours on Youtube (OWTM, GP Outdoors, Messicks, TTWT, etc).

-Rick

The most important!
"Buy ENOUGH tractor"

 

[johnjk]

I am down in central Ohio on 25 acres about 1/3 is wooded. I have a B3200 pin on bucket that is used for snow removal, back blade and FEL along with brush hogging and drive maintenance with a box blade. Open station, loaded tires and wheel spacers. I have a canopy that I use when doing a lot of work, mostly it stays off so I can fit it in my garage with the rops down. For lawn care I picked up my BIL’s B1700 with a mmm. Old but reliable. Not the fastest but my lawn is quite uneven. I do wish I had the SSQA for the 3200 and May even put an aftermarket system on it. Not seeing the need for the grapple at this time since I cut my wood in to rounds and haul them out in the FEL. Would like to have some forks though. I do have Pats Quick Attach on the 3200. Makes easier work hooking up implements.
Snow removal. If I was in the snow belt, I would have a blower. For me most snows are a quick 30 min clear with the bucket and blade. We get a couple that take me 3+hrs to clear. Bonus seat time.
My next tractor will have a cab, rear remotes and front auxiliary remotes for future attachments.
Good luck with whatever you buy and if you are in the West Mansfield, Marysville area and want to grab some seat time to try a different size out, PM me

 

[MattN03]

I am down in central Ohio on 25 acres about 1/3 is wooded. I have a B3200 pin on bucket that is used for snow removal, back blade and FEL along with brush hogging and drive maintenance with a box blade. Open station, loaded tires and wheel spacers. I have a canopy that I use when doing a lot of work, mostly it stays off so I can fit it in my garage with the rops down. For lawn care I picked up my BIL’s B1700 with a mmm. Old but reliable. Not the fastest but my lawn is quite uneven. I do wish I had the SSQA for the 3200 and May even put an aftermarket system on it. Not seeing the need for the grapple at this time since I cut my wood in to rounds and haul them out in the FEL. Would like to have some forks though. I do have Pats Quick Attach on the 3200. Makes easier work hooking up implements.
Snow removal. If I was in the snow belt, I would have a blower. For me most snows are a quick 30 min clear with the bucket and blade. We get a couple that take me 3+hrs to clear. Bonus seat time.
My next tractor will have a cab, rear remotes and front auxiliary remotes for future attachments.
Good luck with whatever you buy and if you are in the West Mansfield, Marysville area and want to grab some seat time to try a different size out, PM me

FYI, you can use Kubota part # B2366 SSQA loader brackets on the B3200. I converted my B3200 this way. You'll still have to purchase a bucket with SSQA or convert your factory pin on bucket to SSQA (which I did).

 

[johnjk]

FYI, you can use Kubota part # B2366 SSQA loader brackets on the B3200. I converted my B3200 this way. You'll still have to purchase a bucket with SSQA or convert your factory pin on bucket to SSQA (which I did).

Good to know. Thanks

 

[top gnome]

We had a terrible wind storm last night and today and lost many large spruce trees two across the driveway. So I used the grapple and the quick attach for the first time. Both are awesome the quick attach let me change over in a few minutes and I cleared the two trees across the driveway and moving the limbs and tops with the grapple took less than 1/2 the time of piling them on the loader.

 

[Tughill Tom]

I did this swap last week for the 1st time. Reading the manuals every step of the way and taking my time the blower was off and teh fel back on in around 35 minutes. I'm sure it will get quicker with practice.

I've got mine down to NASCAR pit stop, if I'm in a hurry about 10 min's most of the time it's about 25 min. I like to grease and inspect things that rotate..... LOL