Questions from a soon-to-be B7100HST-D owner

[torch]

My uncle is moving to a retirement community, and I have agreed to purchase his one-owner 1994 B7100. It's 4wd and hydrostatic transmission, which I believe makes it a B7100HST-D or B7100HSD?

It comes with turf tires, a well-worn front mount blower in need of serious repair, a 2 year old 3ph blower in good shape, a belly mount mower in decent shape, and a 3rd party 3ph cultivator - that I probably don't need.

The tractor has less than 1,000 hours on it. The engine was replaced a year ago due to a "failed bearing". The speed control mechanism apparently does not work -- I say "apparently" because he says he never used it and is a little foggy on how it's supposed to work.

He tells me the clutch is seized, the disks being rusted together, but that doesn't matter (to him) since it has the hydrostatic drive. In the winter he starts the engine with the PTO disengaged, let's it warm up, shuts it off and restarts with the PTO engaged. I'm not sure I like that approach, but that's been his SOP for years. He thinks it's still seized, even after the engine swap, which seems a bit odd. I would have thought the mechanic would have done something while the tractor was split and the clutch was right there, but maybe that's just me...

I have no current need of the cultivator, but think a small loader would be extremely handy around here. I'm trying to figure out the options, searching this site and others. From what I can tell, there's three possible Kubota FEL models:

LA300. This seems like it might be compatible with a belly mower -- I found one picture on the net showing this model mounted to a B7100 with belly mower. And the travel position seems to place the bucket closer to the tractor than the other options. I'm not sure what the weight capacity of this loader is, but closer is probably a good thing in a small tractor, right?


1630 (C?) I think this is the one that Kubota sold with this model back in the day. 510 or 520lbs capacity 67.7" lift height 48" square back bucket or 54" light material bucket. "Rigid mount" -- is that the FEL to tractor or bucket to FEL? Photos I found look like the bucket is reasonably close to tractor. AFAIK, this is not compatible with a belly mower.

1640 (A?) Possibly incompatible with belly mower. I gather it is similar to the 1630 but with a quick-attach bucket and possibly closer to 600 lbs capacity. It definitely looks like the bucket is further out from the tractor, so while the FEL could have a higher capacity, I think the tractor might be overstressed to use it.

I've found pictures of at least two aftermarket options. One by Woods, model unknown, that seems to place the bucket a fair ways out from the tractor. Another by Hardy (in Quebec), model 25ST, that looks good. Unfortunately the manufacturer doesn't have a website and I can't find any further details.

Of course, all that research may be mute. Any and all seem as rare as hen's teeth.

The third option is to build one. I do have a small home-machine shop, welders, torches, etc. I don't have any experience designing hydraulic power equipment however. So while I could make something, it would either be over-engineered and therefore too heavy, or under-engineered and subject to catastrophic failure.

Any comments and suggestions would be welcome.

 

[85Hokie]

You will enjoy the tractor, if you get it like you want.

"Of course, all that research may be mute. Any and all seem as rare as hen's teeth. "

this is very true.

It will be EASIER to find ANOTHER B7100 with the loader on it, than a separate loader.......

if you dont mind me being nosey - what is the "purchase" price?

AND - I agree, an engine replacement.....and the clutch is still frozen?

LOOK very carefully at the MMM - things are not what they seem, the closer you look the more you "can" find wrong.

That machine is all most bullet proof - it has a few kinks, but if taken care of, it will last a very long time.

WE do need some pictures however!

 

[torch]

The purchase price is "family deal" pricing -- it does not reflect current arms length market value. Probably about 1/2 to 1/3 market value. I offered him more, he refused.

I will not take possession until mid-August. He needs it to maintain the property until closing. I'll get some pictures at the next opportunity.

 

[hodge]

Without knowing exactly what you will be paying, I would think that it is a great deal- and worth fixing the issues. Like Hokie said, the B7100 is an extremely tough and capable little tractor- it will do much more work than you would think possible. And, parts are still readily available for it.

Welcome to the forum! You came to the right place, that's for sure. This is the best place on the net for Kubota-specific info, and a great community.

 

[jonness]

I live in Olympia, WA. There's a guy an hour or so away that builds FEL's and ships them around the country. He also sells tractors locally with his FEL's added.

Coldwater Tractors:
360 533 2160

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/196284-my-new-coldwater-front-end.html



Here's another place that sells FEL's in the mid US.

http://www.koykermfg.com/index.php/products/loaders/info/

 

[torch]

WE do need some pictures however!

I picked it up today:

I found the problem with the clutch -- bent rod. For the moment I heated it up and straightened it, but I'll probably make a new one. There must be some rust, it is still a bit sticky, but it's getting better as it burnishes in:

Note the pins holding the belly mower mount. Apparently the threads stripped out. I guess there's some heli-coils in my future. I think there's one good bolt left in 4 mounts:

Besides the mower deck, there's a B2550 front mount mower:

But it's not in good condition:

Hmmm. 10 picture limit. Ok, to be continued in the next post...

 

[torch]

He's been using this B2789 that he bought 3 years ago. They must use a lot of salt on his road:

And finally, a Berg cultivator that he bought used when he bought the tractor in 1994. Fortunately, it hasn't seen salt:

(that's my youngest grandson showing off)

I found another bent rod for the speed control. Straightened that and now it kind of works. The hour meter and the headlights are not working. Checked the 3 fuses behind the dash and they all seem ok. Bulbs are ok. So some further investigation will be required there. Other than that, everything seems to work properly. It also came with a few spare parts from the original motor, including a complete head, starter motor, injectors, generator, front PTO hub and assorted bits.

Immediate plans are to build a FEL and a box blade. It may not be practical, but I'd like to incorporate a quick-change bucket mount on the FEL and adapt the front mounted blower to fit. The drive shafts could be a challenge but a front mounted blower would be a lot easier for SWMBO to handle (she has a lot of back problems). I'd also like to build some sort of a cab for winter use. It doesn't have to be sealed up tight, but something to keep the blowing snow off the face when doing the drive.

 

[D2Cat]

How bad do you need the belly mower? The B7100 is a nice tractor and a good mower, however the mower is limited in height. It's also a pain to remove and service the blades. And it's in the way with the snow blower and other rear implements.

I'd consider a 3 pt. landscape mower, and not worry about the tapped holes. Then your tractor would be freed up for other implements and you could mow your grass at a higher height with little trouble.

 

[Lil Foot]

Not that I think you will have any better luck finding one, but there are more B7100s out there with B219 FELs that all others combined. Never seen one with a belly mount mower though.

 

[85Hokie]

"The B7100 is a nice tractor and a good mower, however the mower is limited in height. It's also a pain to remove and service the blades."

Aint that the truth!!! Well said.

I use my FEL to pick up the front of the B7100's to "work" on the decks, it is a true PITA to get it out and back in........did it once on a very slight slope - about killed me to get it to get back together.

It is a great cutting machine however.

 

[D2Cat]

85Hokie, I guess that's the benefit of having an extra tractor (with a loader). I do the same, using my L305 to lift the front of the B7100 and drag the deck out.

 

[85Hokie]

85Hokie, I guess that's the benefit of having an extra tractor (with a loader). I do the same, using my L305 to lift the front of the B7100 and drag the deck out.

I shudder at the thought of NOT have the FEL, it would be......such a royal PITA that the deck would neverrrrr come out! I need to slide a "rebuilt" deck back under one.....one day! I need to get that ol girl up and out too!

 

[torch]

How bad do you need the belly mower? The B7100 is a nice tractor and a good mower, however the mower is limited in height. It's also a pain to remove and service the blades. And it's in the way with the snow blower and other rear implements.

I'd consider a 3 pt. landscape mower, and not worry about the tapped holes. Then your tractor would be freed up for other implements and you could mow your grass at a higher height with little trouble.

I'm not sure what you mean by "limited in height". Do you mean finished height of the grass? The mower manual indicates it can be set as high as 4"; I usually cut it about 2-1/2" or maybe 3".

However, now that I have it home, I realize it may be too wide for some areas of my property. It's waterfront with a lot of shade trees, etc. We have a green GT that is a lousy snowblower but has a nice 44" mulching deck; I may end up keeping it after all. The idea of a 3pt mower does not seem very maneuverable to me.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm not sure what you mean by "limited in height".

He means the height of the deck when it's fully lifted, it's very low and does not travel well on uneven ground.

 

[torch]

He means the height of the deck when it's fully lifted, it's very low and does not travel well on uneven ground.

Ah, that makes more sense. Yes, there's not an excess of ground clearance even when lifted.

 

[85Hokie]

Ah, that makes more sense. Yes, there's not an excess of ground clearance even when lifted.

There are some adjustments to make it raise higher........BUT!!!!!!!

if you get too cocky and adjust the turnbuckles and what not, the linkages will hit the underside and the pto can bind too.

there is some slack in the rear "lifts" (see picture - orange lifts at bottom)

[/IMG]

But it can bind if you adjust it too much.

 

[torch]

I'll get more efficient lift if I replace those loose pins and stripped bolts.

I managed to get the headlights and hour meter working again. In the process, I discovered the WSM wiring diagram is not accurate. Also that I don't have a horn or a decompression valve.

 

[D2Cat]

"Also that I don't have a horn or a decompression valve."

That makes your tractor "normal" for that model. You can add a horn easy enough though.

 

[torch]

I guess that's the benefit of having an extra tractor (with a loader). I do the same, using my L305 to lift the front of the B7100 and drag the deck out.

And for the rest of us: do we drive forward (ie:the rear wheels over the deck) or back over it? The mower manual says drive forward in one spot but implies reverse in another. Reverse makes more sense to me. Looking at it without measuring yet, I'm not even sure there's sufficient width for the rear tires to clear the dolly wheel arms.

I'm really starting to question the veracity of Kubota's manuals.

I've come across references to a possible mulching conversion kit, but no part numbers or pictures. Possibly using mulching blade 70000-25034. Is anyone familiar with this? I guess I should mention that the deck itself is an RC54-71B.

 

[D2Cat]

I don't think you can drive over the deck in either direction. I scooted it out sideways ONCE! It wasn't designed for easy maintenance, in my opinion!!