Tractor Sizing B2320 FEL

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've had several BX's and still have one. I've had a B7800, L3240HST Grand, B3200 and just bought a B2320. It's still at Barlows, they've been playing with it today and filling the tires. Only using it for pulling implements, no FEL have one of those on my BX2350.
I obviously chose to not pay the extra money for the higher HP B.
From what I paid and what you say you were quoted, you need to contact Barlows. They deliver all over the country.
I you plan on doing a lot of FEL heavy lifting then get the highest capacity loader on the model you get. My BX25 will lift a full bucket but when digging into a high wall of dirt it loses steam which is more the loader lifting strength and not necessarily the HP of the tractor but usually high HP has higher lifting capacity/strength.
Here are some pictures I took a couple of days ago.

 

[displacedPA]

So I went on Kubota's motor site here are my findings.

this is the motor found on the B2320
Kubota Engine America - Compact Diesel Engines
23.5


here is the motor on the 26
Kubota Engine America - Compact Diesel Engines
HP=24.8

so there really is not a ton of difference number wise just wonder how it is in the real world?

either way still cant go wrong.

 

[bp fick]

The smaller tractor makers cannot and do not build 80 models with these microscopic differences between models. But Deere and Kubota can afford to do this and market them accordingly. Back in the day, Farmall, Ford and the other small tractor builders did not offer anywhere near the mind numbing number of models.

While you'd quickly notice the power of an L3800 if you're accustomed to using a B--20, but in our work-a-day world, we rarely notices a tick of 2 or 3 horsepower more or less for 99% of our chores.

This can easily become minutia.

 

[TripleR]

I have often wished for more horsepower, never less.

 

[bigbull338]

you can never have to much hp,i dont care what size tractor you have.

 

[bp fick]

you can never have to much hp,i dont care what size tractor you have.

Never? To each his own, but at 23,26 and 29 hp, Kubota has put just about powered these 20 series to their useful limit. Given a choice, some buyers gravitate toward the biggest hp offered in a given series. Thanks fine.

I understand the sentiment expressed above, but frankly, to me? Just me? Features, traction, weight to hp balance, and on and on, in keeping with the price points, is far more important. There is a point, and I don't know where that is, but just saying, where even more and more hp becomes unimportant.

Again, bigbull, completely understand the sentiment, good buddy, but I suspect 29 hp on these little Bs is not going to leave anyone asking for more. If they do, they might do well to start looking up at an L series perhaps. Best regards,

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If it's all the same price take the most HP available.:thumbsup: I support that with no reservations. An absolute.
Not considering storage space size, ground clearance, transport equipment, etc.
If the additional HP costs extra money then one has to move past the simplicity of "can't have to much HP" to how much do you need to do the job and at what cost.
I think most of us have a limit to how much we can spend and try to get the most bang for the buck. If we spend all of our money for HP and have no money left for implements then I think that's a bit unwise.
So, moving past "I wish" land into the realities of our modern day world of each horse costing extra money then how many horses do we need to get our garden plowed? Or how many horses do we need to till a garden? Not how many horses do we need to move a house which we don't ever see doing in our lifetime.
The basic question that always/should come up here on TBN is "What jobs do you see now and in the near future needing to be done" then some here can tell you which tractor or size tractor to buy. I think that question is key, past, present and future. :thumbsup:

 

[displacedPA]

Hello all,
I have seriously been looking at the B2320 and 2620. I was quoted 14,460 for a B2320 FEL HST. I think before tax. Is this quote resonable? That quote was via phone so I feel like I could maybe get a better quote if i went in and sat down with the guy.
Thanks for any input any of you tractor pros have.

I agree with you statment BP Fick in regards to HP.

What does everyone think is a fair price for a B2320 FEL HST? See quote above. I was going to ask Bartlow for a quote on the 2620 and the 2320 configured in the same maner.

 

[TripleR]

If it's all the same price take the most HP available.:thumbsup: I support that with no reservations. An absolute.
Not considering storage space size, ground clearance, transport equipment, etc.
If the additional HP costs extra money then one has to move past the simplicity of "can't have to much HP" to how much do you need to do the job and at what cost.
I think most of us have a limit to how much we can spend and try to get the most bang for the buck. If we spend all of our money for HP and have no money left for implements then I think that's a bit unwise.
So, moving past "I wish" land into the realities of our modern day world of each horse costing extra money then how many horses do we need to get our garden plowed? Or how many horses do we need to till a garden? Not how many horses do we need to move a house which we don't ever see doing in our lifetime.
The basic question that always/should come up here on TBN is "What jobs do you see now and in the near future needing to be done" then some here can tell you which tractor or size tractor to buy. I think that question is key, past, present and future. :thumbsup:

Exactly and therein lies the rub. The OP has one set of needs now, but indicated he will be getting additional property. We are not telling BP Fick what he needs as it appears he already knows that as through your experience so do you as do others. Those with some experience and unchanging tasks/land size are much easier to advise and need less of it.

I certainly don't need to tell you that money is a variable. I have actually lost money trying to save money by having to buy twice. I have chronicled the times my father in law had to trade for new, bigger tractors after a month or two. It is the unknowns that will get you.

I have learned some almost "universal truths" in my 64 years and two of which are build a bigger shed than you think you need and get the most horsepower you can afford in a tractor.

Now keep in mind these don't necessarily apply to you or I as "having" to buy another tractor is not something we view as a bad thing.:laughing:

 

[bp fick]

My guidance is this, and it isn't worth much.

Buy the series first. If you need a 30 series B, then you do so. If you want a 20 series B, then there ya go. That is where the BIG differences lie. The differences within a series is a whole of marketing and minutia, with some reality and you got sort it out, but not go berserk over it.:laughing:

Next, you start with what kind of deal with dealer X and Y make on one from that series?

It happens more often than you think that if a dealer has B2620 in stock and had the FEL out back, from two price hikes past, he can sell you the package cheaper than if he's got to run go find you a B2320. That influences my purchase greatly!!! If my dealer had had a 26 that he wanted to sell badly? You know I'd have been on it. Turns out, my dealer had a smoking deal on what he did sell me, a B2320. He'd had the loader and sold it bundled in, for way below normal. I wouldn't have cared a tin nickel which one he sold me.

displacedPA- I pm'ed you.

 

[TripleR]

bp, if it was only that easy. I owned a BX2200 for about 6 years when I decided I absolutely, positively HAD TO HAVE a B2x20 Series, I spent months over the winter researching them, had my wife convinced to the point we sold our BX2200. After crawling all over the various models, we brought home a, ready for it...BX2660 and love it. Absolutely the right tractor.

Last year, I got tired of ferrying tractors between farms and decided to buy a B3200 or maybe L3400. I brought home a L5030 HSTC.

Last summer our Case CX80 went toes up and I went to buy a M8540 and that is actually what we got.

So it would appear, I am right far less than I am wrong. The more I learn about tractors, the more I realize how little I really know.

 

[bp fick]

TripleR

Actually your story agrees with my way of thinking a whole bunch.

I started out by saying to the OP way, way back at the beginning, if you can use the PTO horse power to run a tiller or snowblower, then by all means, put it to use and don't settle for less. But I know this. You can throw all the HP in the world at B and it ain't a gonna make it an L. That's just all I was trying to say. And, nothing makes a 20 B into a 30 B either.
As I used to say about my BX. Loved it to death, but nothing was gonna make it taller.

A feller just has got to spend wisely and do the best he can, that's all.

This ain't about what tractor I bought anyhow. Just general thoughts of guys typing inbetween working today. You know, we gotta sit every little bit and catch our breath anyhow. :laughing:

 

[kuboman]

So I went on Kubota's motor site here are my findings.

this is the motor found on the B2320
Kubota Engine America - Compact Diesel Engines
23.5


here is the motor on the 26
Kubota Engine America - Compact Diesel Engines
HP=24.8

so there really is not a ton of difference number wise just wonder how it is in the real world?

either way still cant go wrong.

What you want to look at when comparing hp is the % difference in the hp. Also when comparing tractors is look at the hp to weight ratio.
More hp requires more weight to be able to make use of it.
I went from a b2620 to a b3200 and noticed a huge difference in hp but I could not make use of the hp or loader capacity till I added weight to the 3pt.
Now it is very capable and I can make use of the hp.
Buy as much hp as you can afford.:licking:

 

[TripleR]

TripleR

Actually your story agrees with my way of thinking a whole bunch.

I started out by saying to the OP way, way back at the beginning, if you can use the PTO horse power to run a tiller or snowblower, then by all means, put it to use and don't settle for less. But I know this. You can throw all the HP in the world at B and it ain't a gonna make it an L. That's just all I was trying to say. And, nothing makes a 20 B into a 30 B either.
As I used to say about my BX. Loved it to death, but nothing was gonna make it taller.

A feller just has got to spend wisely and do the best he can, that's all.

This ain't about what tractor I bought anyhow. Just general thoughts of guys typing in between working today. You know, we gotta sit every little bit and catch our breath anyhow. :laughing:

Yeah, I know, nor what I bought either as I got so far off track I had to go back and read the original post and was just speaking in generalities.

At least your information will be more on point as you own such a tractor and do the things the OP intends.

I am all for sitting and taking a breath, I took a spill a few days ago and was just now able to drive up and at least look at one of our tractors today; getting a little cabin fever I am.

As someone's tag line says, "TBN, the next best thing to seat time." or something to that effect.:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Now keep in mind these don't necessarily apply to you or I as "having" to buy another tractor is not something we view as a bad thing.:laughing:

:laughing::laughing::laughing:
Being a ponderer I think I have come up with a new theory concerning tractor buying for a first time buyer that will make the decision easier and with less self doubt and self punishment when you realize you bought the wrong tractor.
Right up front tell yourself you are buying a test/evaluation tractor. It's prpbably not going to be the end decision/final tractor. Pick a tractor for the best possible price that will retain the most resale value. If you get cheaper out of town, buy out of town and buy your real final tractor in town if that makes you feel better.
Buy new so there won't be any costs other than the monthly payment and count that as the cost of determining the right tractor. Buy the tractor that best suits your current needs because if things change it won't cause distress because it's only a temporary tractor anyway. If things don't change then it could possibly move in to the actual life time tractor slot and could become a lucky unexpected break.
OK a pmnt of $200 a month for the test tractor with no money down. You work it for 12 months and get some benefit out of using it. That's a cost of $2400 for using a tractor for 12 months. If you can keep the hours down to below 200 hours for that time, service the tractor properly at the 50 hours and keep the tractor clean. Remember, your not keeping it and are going to resale it. That's actually only a cost of about $12 per hour used. That's actually fairly cheap, less than renting one I would imagine.
Now while your using it determine which jobs would be done much easier or faster with a larger, more HP or smaller tractor or if your test tractor does the job well enough to suit you. Also find out if your tractor always stays at one location or if you maybe need/want to move it around and then determine how easy/difficult it is to move with the trailer/truck/vehicle you have. Will it be as easy/easier/more difficult to move a bigger/smaller tractor (the final tractor).
Now after 12 months I believe you could maybe sell/trade the tractor in on the final tractor and only be out the monthly pmnt, maybe a little more or a little less. Keep it clean and serviced these suckers retain their value very well. Look at prices for used tractors.
Now if you ended up with a lucky guess and the first test tractor ends up "The One" you've been lucky and done well. If it doesn't just like you planned from the beginning that ir wouldn't then you've been really smart and exactly what you planned has happened and you now can choose the right final tractor based on your actual needs and personal experience on your property.
Now, If this looks like a good plan, then try it. If you disagree then do it your own way and forget my plan.:laughing:

 

[TripleR]

John, I think you are on to something there. You do realize I have had one of my tractors right at the one year mark, hmmm...:licking:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John, I think you are on to something there. You do realize I have had one of my tractors right at the one year mark, hmmm...:licking:

My plan is flexible enough that one can use the wrong tractor for two or even more years if further evaluation is needed. I actually did two different tractors (BX1500 MMM B7800 FEL) for a three year study/evaluation (Got them paid off) before trading them to less than one year wrong tractors (BX2350 bad reverse stop L3240HST to big).
I'm thinking I now have the right combination for my current needs/wants. Course some of you wise as..s will say I've said that before and I have but I really believe I have this time. Really.:thumbsup::laughing:

 

[TripleR]

My plan is flexible enough that one can use the wrong tractor for two or even more years if further evaluation is needed. I actually did two different tractors (BX1500 MMM B7800 FEL) for a three year study/evaluation (Got them paid off) before trading them to less than one year wrong tractors (BX2350 bad reverse stop L3240HST to big).
I'm thinking I now have the right combination for my current needs/wants. Course some of you wise as..s will say I've said that before and I have but I really believe I have this time. Really.:thumbsup::laughing:

John, I believe you believe that, but I could not help but notice the escape clause contained therein.:laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John, I believe you believe that, but I could not help but notice the escape clause contained therein.:laughing:

Didn't you also used to be a gvmnt employee? I was. Learned to always be obscure with answers or add an escape clause or hidden word that can be interpreted two opposite ways for the courts.