questions on B2320

[debp]

We are about to buy our first tractor, as we have recently moved to 5.4 acres of old pasture land in SW Colorado. Based on advice from the general forum, I went to our local Kubota dealer today and tried out 3 Kubotas we were considering - a B2320 (gear) and L3200 (both DT and HST). I like the B2320 the best by far, as it was very easy to shift and move around, and I liked the smaller size- and smaller price. However, I realize that the L3200 would be better for moving the heavy snow we get here and for other occasional bigger work. So here are the questions we have about the 2320.

What are the implications of a "transmission PTO?" Is it a big problem for mowing tall grass with a brush hog?
We would like to cut our pasture grass when it is tall and still green to use for compost (not using as a pasture now) - can the 2320 handle that kind of mowing if we have a 4' brush hog?
If we get ag tires, will chains fit on the tires?
I lamented the lack of quick release loader, and the dealership said they could put on a non-Kubota quick release for about $400. Does anyone know if that would be a good option? We may want to eventually get a front plow blade.

Trying these machines today, I was thinking how much easier it would be to move around the ditch and garden edges, landscaping around the house, in the (future) orchard with the B vs. the L. I don't think we would use a belly mower or snowblower, so it is the price and size that are attractive with the B2320. I also didn't particularly like the location of the gear shift in the L3200 DT, and didn't enjoy the HST that much - though I did read the comment about the torn meniscus and the advantages of an HST as we age - so am considering that, as I'm sure we could get used to it quickly.

Thanks for any input.

debp

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I had a B2320 gear drive with ag tires. Also used a tiller and 4' bush hog on it. Have bought 15 Kubotas and it was my first and last gear drive. It will handle a 4' bush hog with no problem. It did not have a FEL: so had to add weights to front to keep it from doing wheelies. Would never have a tractor with FEL geared, well will never have any tractor again that's geared. You let the clutch out with geared and it goes at the speed you chose by the gear you chose. If to slow/fast then clutch, stop, change gear then go again which also stops the bush hog or tiller. With HST you determine your speed by just pushing the pedal and let off of the pedal and you stop and tiller and bush hog keep turning. Just one mans opinion, mine.

 

[case245]

i would look at the b series or a small l series like an L 3200 since you will be going orchred work in the future the l is on a bigger frame a little more fel cap more pto horse power for a 5 foot rotary cutter

 

[TripleR]

JOHNTHOMAS has owned about everything but an M Series and makes some good points.

I don't quite have the aversion to geared units as John. In many cases, we can adapt to and learn to live with just about anything if we "have to", question is going to be will the positives outweigh the negatives. I "can" use a transmission PTO and did it for years, I just much prefer not to have to and only buy independent PTO, might be able to live with live PTO on an HST. With the transmission PTO it is hard to keep the cutter going and change gears/directions. Good point on the whole aging thing, just an unknown, I own tractors I can't use and moved them to another farm where my brothers use them, one older and one younger, you just don't know what the aging process will bring. My dad was operating geared tractors until he died at 79. I still operate geared tractors, but they have Hydraulic Shuttle Shift which is not available in the small tractors.

The quick attach is well worth it to me, but keep in mind it will probably move your lift point further out and reduce your loader capabilities to some extent, so if you are operating on the margins, it may be important. For me the convenience is worth any reduction in performance. I use pallet for quite a bit and occasionally remove just the bucket to reduce weight and get better visibility.

Full disclosure, I don't much care for the Bxx20 Series or Lxx00either and much prefer theBxx30 and newer Bxx50 due to added weight and features plus position control and like the Grand L over standard L, but the cost increase is significant and many really like the economy models, so an actual owner will be able to give you better advice than I.

I realize this is a Kubota forum, but feel compelled to advise, if you have not already done so, to look at all the competitors.

 

[KenB2920]

I just turned in my B2920 for a L3540. The B is a great series tractor. You can use it and adapt it to just about whatever task you are trying to accomplish. It will handle a rotary mower excellent when matched properly. As far as pushing snow the heavier tractor is definitely nicer, but the B will do it without issues. I do a fair amount of plowing so the weight is nice. So how much snow are you moving? I plow a small subdivision in the thumb of Michigan, we really don't get tons of snow. If I was just doing my driveway (150') I would stuck with a 4 wheeler. Now some of these guys get snow dumped on them it seems weekly that blows my mind. So match you equipment with its task.

I love the b series but it does have limitations. I was never a fan of 1/4" valving on the 3 pt. write down all your goals of a tractor and know your budget. I would strongly suggest the L series. It really steps you up tractor class. Just as the B does over the BX.

Good luck and happy tractoring....

 

[debp]

Thanks for all the replies. I can see I haven't learned all I need to know yet, though, especially about 3 pt. What is 1/4" valving and what are the alternatives?

Deb

 

[murphy1244]

L series suffers from jerky hitch, some don't mind some do. before you buy put something heavy on your 3 point and slowly lift.

 

[whistlepig]

1/4" valving is a fancy term Kubota came up with for an engineering design mistake they made on their three point lifts. I have it my B7800. I don't like it but can live with it. I will never buy a tractor that has 1/4" valving again.

 

[debp]

Sorry to ask question that had been answered elsewhere on a TBN forum back in 2010 - about the 3 pt. hitch types. I now see the basic differences among up-down, 1/4 " valve and position control.

Debp

 

[azbinder]

If you are looking to compare a B series to an L3200. Look at the B2920. It's 29 HP. Both the B2620 and B2920 are available only with HST, while the B2320 is available as both gear drive and as HST. The nice thing about HST is that when you are cutting the high pasture grass, while the engine is at full throttle to keep the cutter up to speed, you can just use your right foot to maintain your ground speed in order to keep from lugging the engine.

 

[TripleR]

Sorry to ask question that had been answered elsewhere on a TBN forum back in 2010 - about the 3 pt. hitch types. I now see the basic differences among up-down, 1/4 " valve and position control.

Debp

Yes, there have been a lot of posts on hitch types and some changing attitudes once a person has had to live with one. Check chains to maintain height and bungee cords on lift levers to allow float have been used to mitigate some of the issues. Those who have no experience with position control "generally" have less trouble living with it than others, but as noted for some it is not an issue.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I'm not a farmer, I'm a home landscaper. TripleR is the farmer I go to for farmer advise and he to does home landscaping or his wife does.
Any way, I have a Boxblade, plow, tiller, bush hog mower and Ferguson Over seeder which I rarely use any of them on my 3pth. I mostly do FEL and BH work.
I had a L3240 with position control which makes it nice to set a lever on a number and that's the position over/on/in the ground where the implement stays till you change the number. All of the rest of the Kubotas I've owned had/have 1/4 inching position control, I drop it to the bottom and drive while tapping the lever till the implement attains the level I desire. Most of my implements are drop to the bottom and take off sooooo position control or 1/4 inching has never been of much concern to me. Have had a few times that I saw the value of numbered position control but it has been very rare. For my uses I'd never choose one tractor over another because of position control vs 1/4 inching unless the price was the same then I'd for sure take the numbered position control but wouldn't pay much more for it even back in the day when I used to trade Kubotas and was considering trade value.

 

[debp]

Thanks to everyone for advice. I think we are closing in on our tractor. We have gone from B2320, to L3200, now leaning strongly toward the B2620. I really like the size of the B series - they just seem to fit 5 acres of planned orchard, gardens and wildlife area. We would have them install after market skid steer quick attach, and at our dealership that requires a 5' bucket. My remaining concern about the B2620 is whether it will have enough lift capacity given you already have the power loss of an HST and the after market bucket is an extra 150 lbs. Does anyone have experience with this type of quick attach fix on the B2620? Is the B2620 up to that bucket and does it feel stable with that bucket? The quick attach is important to us, as we think we will eventually be getting forks.
Also, given the $650 cost of putting on the QA bucket, the price difference with an L3200 HST is only $2000, at least as quoted so far, and that seems a bit too close in price to the L3200 HST. Any thoughts on that?

 

[azbinder]

I'm not too sure, but if it is a regular skid steer style mount, a 48" Bobcat bu
cket should fit. It's been a while since I been around that size machine so I might be mistaken, but it is sure worth looking into. A 60" bucket is going to be way TOO BIG for a B2620.
By the way, who is the dealer you're working with?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

you already have the power loss of an HST
I'm not sure that minimal loss of power affects the hydraulic lift power of the FEL.
For me the biggest difference between the L and the B is the weight for traction and how high you sit offf of the ground. The B2320, B2620 and B2920 will all lose traction before they run out of power. Same with most of the BXs.
I did run low on power pulling the crest of a steep hill with a 6' Landpride RFM on the back of a Grand L3240HST and it never fazed the B7800 or B3200. The RFM would swing the Bs when I made the turn at the bottom of the hill but it didn't affect the L at twice the weight of the Bs and the same HP for both. I loved the L3240 but it was scary on my steep hills since I was so high off of the ground vs the feeling of the Bs which felt scary compared to the BXs and Fs. My mind said I was scared and facts didn't matter. :shocked: :confused3:
How much weight do you think you have to lift each time before you'll be satisfied for the amount of money you spent?

 

[debp]

So, it sounds like you would not worry that a 6' bucket and the extra 150 pounds would NOT be a problem for the B2620, JOHNTHOMAS. But azbinder is pretty sure it would be too big. We are on almost flat 5 acres. The dealer is a big Kubota dealer with a decent reputation around here. Has anyone else had this adjustment made on the B2620 or 2920?

 

[rider0]

Thanks to everyone for advice. I think we are closing in on our tractor. We have gone from B2320, to L3200, now leaning strongly toward the B2620. I really like the size of the B series - they just seem to fit 5 acres of planned orchard, gardens and wildlife area. We would have them install after market skid steer quick attach, and at our dealership that requires a 5' bucket. My remaining concern about the B2620 is whether it will have enough lift capacity given you already have the power loss of an HST and the after market bucket is an extra 150 lbs. Does anyone have experience with this type of quick attach fix on the B2620? Is the B2620 up to that bucket and does it feel stable with that bucket? The quick attach is important to us, as we think we will eventually be getting forks.
Also, given the $650 cost of putting on the QA bucket, the price difference with an L3200 HST is only $2000, at least as quoted so far, and that seems a bit too close in price to the L3200 HST. Any thoughts on that?

I wouldn't put a SSQA on the LA364 loader on a B2620. You simply don't have the lift capacity available on that loader/tractor combination to waste it on heavy buckets and QA components. If you need a SSQA (what are you planning on attaching to it?), I would go with the L series.

 

[debp]

Thanks, rider0. Even the dealer mentioned the added weight, leaving us with concern about it. I see on another thread that there is a Kubota QA (B- 1658) that others are using for Kubota attachments. Would this be a lighter weight solution?

 

[rider0]

Thanks, rider0. Even the dealer mentioned the added weight, leaving us with concern about it. I see on another thread that there is a Kubota QA (B- 1658) that others are using for Kubota attachments. Would this be a lighter weight solution?

The B-1658 is basically used for forks and bucket (I'm not aware of any other attachments it works with). It's very light and the major disadvantage is moving the bucket a bit farther from the pivot points. You can do an implement switch in under 60 seconds. It adds absolutely no weight to the bucket itself (it uses the stock bucket pins). I would highly recommend it if you only need to use forks and bucket. Kubota sells 48", 50", 54", and 60" (referred to as the "light material bucket") buckets with the same loader arm and pin spacing, so you do have a choice of buckets if you are moving bulky materials. The standard 50" bucket is probably the best primary bucket for the B2620 as it is just a bit wider than the wheel tracks but well matched to the power of the loader for moving dense materials.

 

[debp]

Thanks for this info. Very helpful.