New B2601 TLB and Kubota won't let me have spacers?

[Hillhigh Guy]

Hi, I posted this over in the buying section as well. I've purchased a B2601 TLB and it is set to be delivered this week and due to all the hill work I need to do, I wanted spacers for the rear wheels for added stability. The "build your Kubota" site flags the factory spacers as not available with BH. One dealer I was talking to said that Kubota and his mechanic claimed the spacers could be used. I ended up buying from my local dealer and he said that the spacers would void the warranty on the machine and he would not put them on.

I don't have the MMM and don't plan on getting one. Is the issue with the BH? Is it the weight? Confused as I really want that extra stability?

Thanks!

 

[Redlands]

I have no idea. Have you talked to any other dealers ?

 

[TRA]

Curious about this too.

I need spacers bad on my hilly terrain.

 

[Dave_eng]

Hi, I posted this over in the buying section as well. I've purchased a B2601 TLB and it is set to be delivered this week and due to all the hill work I need to do, I wanted spacers for the rear wheels for added stability. The "build your Kubota" site flags the factory spacers as not available with BH. One dealer I was talking to said that Kubota and his mechanic claimed the spacers could be used. I ended up buying from my local dealer and he said that the spacers would void the warranty on the machine and he would not put them on.

I don't have the MMM and don't plan on getting one. Is the issue with the BH? Is it the weight? Confused as I really want that extra stability?

Thanks!

I am not completely familiar with your BH but believe it is carried on the tractor frame and not the 3 pt hitch.

The 3 pt hitch has a relief valve but also a safety valve. The safety valve is to protect the tractor from heavy wights bouncing on the 3 pt hitch.

With the BH weight carried on the tractor frame, any shock load from going over a bump means a serious load applied to the rear axle as the safety valve is not there to protect the tractor.

From a theoretical engineering point of view, carrying a backhoe is greatly increasing the stresses on the rear axle assembly. By moving your wheels further outboard, you are magnifying the backhoe weight and shock loads as far as the axle assembly is concerned.

You don't want to hit a bump and hear a loud crack as the rear casting fails.

Dave

 

[troverman]

I think Dave is correct. I have a B2920 which is essentially the same tractor you have. I do not have the backhoe but I do have the 60" belly mower and routinely put a 500lb flail mower on the back.

I installed 2" Bro-Tek aluminum spacers last year and have added another 100 hours of mowing with the flail mower since then. No issues. They also work with the belly mower. Definitely tighter, but do-able.

That said, the BH is quite heavy and if you push the tires further out, it adds a lever-like effect to the rear axles. My rear tires are loaded, but that shouldn't add stress to the axles.

 

[TRA]

My math may be off, but with 2” spacers, and the backhoe on, it would add 66ftlbs of added downward force to each axel at the differential?

 

[Hillhigh Guy]

I read about folks adding a whole bunch of weight to the rear with boxes etc... Way more than the back hoe weighs. They (manufacturers) sell spacers as well as tell you to add weight for picking up heavy objects with the loader. I think the BH weighs approx 700lbs right? What is the difference?

 

[adventure bob]

From a safety margin perspective, I can understand Ks reluctance to suggest this mod. They don't suggest filling the tires on a 6060 either but I did. So here's the actual issue: If you make a non-recommended mod, will you accept the responsibility for anything that happens associated with the mod? Your not going to get it both ways.

 

[SDT]

I am not completely familiar with your BH but believe it is carried on the tractor frame and not the 3 pt hitch.

The 3 pt hitch has a relief valve but also a safety valve. The safety valve is to protect the tractor from heavy wights bouncing on the 3 pt hitch.

With the BH weight carried on the tractor frame, any shock load from going over a bump means a serious load applied to the rear axle as the safety valve is not there to protect the tractor.

From a theoretical engineering point of view, carrying a backhoe is greatly increasing the stresses on the rear axle assembly. By moving your wheels further outboard, you are magnifying the backhoe weight and shock loads as far as the axle assembly is concerned.

You don't want to hit a bump and hear a loud crack as the rear casting fails.

Dave

I agree.

Spacing the wheels magnifies forces applied to the transaxle assembly and axles.

I'm confident that Kubota restricts spacer usage for this reason.

You will assume the risk for related damage if you use such.

SDT